Tower cranes are being used regularly for large building construction projects. They are necessary for the heavy lifting and positioning of supplies and machines. Tower cranes offer a unique design which provides lots of advantages over more traditional cranes. These advantages comprise: quiet electrical operation, higher vertical lift, reduced space requirements and increased capacities.
Hammerhead Crane
The hammerhead crane is frequently associated with a tower crane. The long horizontal jib is connected to a vertical tower, in this case. One end of the jib acts as a counterweight and the other end of the jib extends horizontally over the worksite. There is a trolley on the hammerhead crane. This trolley holds the lifting cable and travels along the length of the jib. The tower crane is capable of operating anywhere in the jib's radius.
Self-Erecting Tower Cranes
Self-erecting cranes are usually assembled on location with the assistance of another crane. This provides a huge benefit in setup time and greatly saves time in equipment expenses too. Self-erecting cranes are often remote-controlled from the ground, though there are some models which have an operator cab built onto the jib.
The self-erecting crane is generally freestanding to allow them the opportunity to be moved around. There are some models which have a telescoping tower which allows the crane to work at various heights without the need to reconfigure the tower.
Luffing Jib Tower Crane
Usually, within urban work settings, there is not enough space or clearance for the jib to rotate freely without being blocked by existing buildings. A luffing jib tower crane is ideal for such tight spaces. Nearly all tower cranes have a fixed horizontal jib. The operator is able to lower or raise a luffing jib in order to enable the crane to swing in a reduced radius.