Generally the base that is bolted into a big concrete pad provides the necessary support for a tower crane. The base is attached to a tower or a mast and stabilizes the crane that is affixed to the inside of the structure of the building. Normally, this attachment point is to a concrete lift or to an elevator shaft.
Generally, the mast is a triangulated lattice structure measuring 10 feet square or 0.9m2. The slewing unit is connected to the very top of the mast. The slewing unit consists of a gear and a motor that allows the crane to rotate.
Tower cranes are able to have a maximum unsupported height of 80m or 265 feet. The maximum lifting capacity of a tower crane is 16,642 kilograms or 39,690 pounds with counter weights of 20 tons. Moreover, two limit switches are used to be able to ensure the operator does not overload the crane. There is even another safety feature known as a load moment switch to make sure that the operator does not surpass the ton meter load rating. Finally, the tower crane has a maximum reach of 230 feet or 70 meters.
Due to their extreme heights, there is a science involved to erecting a crane. The stationary structure will at first have to be brought to the construction site by using a big tractor-trailer rig setup. After that, a mobile crane is utilized in order to assemble the machine part of the jib and the crane. Then, these sections are attached to the mast. The mobile crane then adds counterweights. Forklifts and crawler cranes may be some of the other industrial equipment that is usually utilized to erect a crane.
As the building is erected, mast extensions are added to the crane. This is how the crane's height could match the building's height. The crane crew utilizes what is known as a top climber or a climbing frame that fits between the top of the mast and the slewing unit. A weight is hung on the jib by the work crew in order to balance the counterweight. Once complete, the slewing unit is able to detach from the top of the mast. In the top climber, hydraulic rams are used to adjust the slewing unit up an additional 20 feet or 6.1m. Next, the crane driver utilizes the crane to insert and bolt into place another mast section piece.