What is Crane? Its Types and Uses

Crane:

A crane is a type of machine which is used to shift materials, equipment, etc. It is consists of a hoist rope, wire ropes or chains, and sheaves, that can be used to lift and lower materials and to move them horizontally. Normally, a crane is used to lift heavy things. It is also used to transport things from one place to another place within a limited distance.

Different industries use different types of cranes due to distinct purposes. In the construction industry, it is used to shift materials, in the transportation industry for the loading and unloading of freight, and in the manufacturing industry for the assembling of heavy equipment.

Types of Cranes:

Tower Crane
Hydraulic Crane
Telescopic Crane
Mobile Crane
Rough Terrain Crane
Truck Mounted Crane
Overhead Crane
Bridge Crane
Aerial Crane
Crawler Crane
Carry Deck Crane
Floating Crane
Hammerhead Crane
Stacker Crane
Bulk-handling Crane
Railroad Crane
Level Luffing Cranes
Harbor Cranes

1. Tower Crane

A Tower crane is normally used in construction work. The fixed tower crane is suitable for high-rise big construction projects. Tower cran is designed in a way that can lift the maximum weight. They can lift the weight up to the height of 300 meters and a radius of up to 70 meters. Tower cranes can lift the weight from 5 to 25 tons.

The Tower cranes have two jibs, one is fixed and the other is moving. Fixed jib moves horizontally while moving jib moves up and down.

2. Hydraulic Crane

Hydraulic crane has a hydraulic system that permits lifting heavyweights. The fluid-filled hydraulic system in the hydraulic crane enables the crane to transport heavy equipment and objects. Hydraulic cranes are also used in the construction industry to transport heavy precast beams.

3. Telescopic Crane

A telescopic crane offers a boom that has a variety of tubes that are fitted inside one another. Then hydraulic mechanisms stretch or retract the tubes to length or shorten the boom.

This type of crane is mobile in the sense that they transport goods from one place to other palaces in a flexible manner. Telescopic cranes have height adjustment features when it comes to hauling and transferring the goods from one place to another, the problems related to height are completely eliminated.

4. Mobile Crane:

A mobile crane is the most fundamental sort of crane and comprises steel support or adaptive boom mounted on some kind of portable stage. This stage could be wheeled, a rail, or even a feline truck. The blast is pivoted at the base and can be raised or brought down by links or pressure-driven chambers.

The lifting arm in the mobile crane is normally articulated to permit lifting and reduction as needed. This can be achieved by using a system of cables, and the whole mobile structure may be coupled to a support to provide more stability during its operation.

5. Rough Terrain Crane

This type of crane is designed in a way that it can maneuver over many various types of surfaces. Rough terrain cranes are built on a body with four large rubber tires that are able to climb over uneven ground surfaces and keep traction on difficult terrain. It is mounted in an undercarriage with four rubber wheels, designed for operations off-road.

6. Truck Mounted Crane

As the name suggests this type of crane is mounted on the truck. It consists of both parts of the carrier, along with the boom. This type of crane can go easily from one place to another palace.

This type of crane is outfitted with counterweights and outriggers for insertion, allowing the crane to move slowly while carrying a huge load.

7. Overhead Crane

Overhead cranes are typically used in industrial buildings, factories, etc. They are used to lift heavyweights. Sometimes it is known as the suspended crane.

The hoist of the Overhead crane is set onto a trolley that can move one way along a bar, now and then the two beams.

8. Bridge Crane

The extension crane likewise called an overhead crane, is by and large found in modern conditions. Its name comes from the way that it takes after a scaffold upheld by both steel beams, which ride the responsibility, along with the hoist traveling along the bridge part of the crane.

9. Aerial Crane

An aerial crane looks like a helicopter. This type of crane is used to carry heavy loads. They are also known as flying cranes and sky cranes.

Aerial crane is used where reaching by land is not possible. These types of cranes are normally used for military operations. A Sky crane is very useful in a disaster such as a flood.

10. Crawler Crane

This type of crane has its boom hanging on an undercarriage fitted with a set of crawler tracks that gives both stability and movement. Crawler cranes can lift huge weights from about 40 to 4,000 tons. It moves with the help of tracks that are also called crawlers.

11. Carry Deck Crane

The carry deck crane is a portable type crane and can rotate up to 360 degrees. It is consists of 4 wheels and their small size easily permits them to navigate around open and restricted spaces.

12. Floating Crane

Floating cranes are used for offshore construction projects. They can lift heavyweights. A floating crane is also called a crane vessel or crane boat.

13. Hammerhead Crane:

The hammerhead crane is a fixed-jib crane comprising of a steel-propped tower on which revolves a large, horizontal, double cantilever. The forward piece of this cantilever or jib conveys the lifting streetcar, the jib is stretched out in reverse to frame a help for the apparatus and counterbalancing weight.

14. Stacker Crane

Stacker crane is used in cold warehouses. It is used for the automated storage and retrieval of unit loads. In extremely cold conditions, it is not possible for humans to work so a stacker crane is used.

15. Bulk-handling Crane

A bulk handling crane is very useful to carry minerals, coal, etc. It is used to shift a huge quantity of minerals. Unlike other cranes, this type of crane has a specialized hook that uses a grabbing mechanism along with a bucket to grab, hold, and lift materials.

16. Railroad Crane

A railroad crane is particularly used on the railway track. It is run on the railway track. It consists of a flanged wheel that restricts the railroad crane to run only on the railway track.

17. Level Luffing Cranes

In this type of crane, the hook remains at the constant level while luffing; moving the jib up and down. Due to the up and down motions of the jib arm is only going to move the hook towards, or away from, the base of the crane.

18. Harbor Cranes

Harbor cranes are used in the harbor area to load and unload ships.

Uses of Cranes:

Crane is used to shift material and things from one palace to other palaces.
Crane can move material into horizontal and vertical directions.
Crane load and unload ships.