For large building construction projects, tower cranes are used quite often. These equipments are rather required for heavy lifting as well as placing materials and equipment. Tower cranes provide a unique design which offers numerous benefits over more traditional cranes. These advantages consist of: quiet electrical operation, higher vertical lift, reduced space requirements and increased capacities.
Hammerhead Crane
The hammerhead crane is usually associated with a tower crane. The long horizontal jib is connected to a vertical tower, in this case. One end of the jib extends horizontally over the worksite and the other end of the jib acts as a counterweight. There is a trolley on the hammerhead crane. This trolley has the lifting cable and travels along the length of the jib. The tower crane is capable of operating anywhere within the jib's radius.
Self-Erecting Tower Cranes
Self-erecting cranes are normally assembled on site with the assistance of a different crane. This greatly saves time in equipment expenses and provides a huge benefit in setup time as well. Self-erecting cranes are normally remote-controlled from the ground, even if there are some models which have an operator cab built onto the jib.
Self-erecting cranes are usually freestanding and this allows them the opportunity to be able to be moved around. There are several models which have a telescoping tower that allows the crane to work at various heights without the need to reconfigure the tower.
Luffing Jib Tower Crane
Nearly all urban work settings do not have enough clearance or space for the jib to rotate freely without existing buildings blocking its movement. A luffing jib tower crane is ideal for such confined areas. Nearly all tower cranes have a fixed horizontal jib. The operator can lower or raise a luffing jib in order to allow the crane to swing in a reduced radius.