For large building construction projects, tower cranes are utilized quite often. These equipments are quite necessary for heavy lifting as well as positioning supplies and equipment. Tower cranes provide a different design that provides many advantages over more traditional cranes. These benefits comprise: quiet electrical operation, higher vertical lift, reduced space requirements and increased capacities.
Hammerhead Crane
A hammerhead crane is another configuration that is most often associated with a tower crane. In this case, a long horizontal jib is connected to a vertical tower. One end of the jib extends horizontally over the worksite and the other end of the jib acts as a counterweight. On the hammerhead crane, there is a trolley. This trolley has the lifting cable and could travel along the length of the jib. The tower crane could operate anywhere within the jib's radius.
Self-Erecting Tower Cranes
Self-erecting cranes are usually assembled on location with the assistance of a different crane. This provides a huge advantage in setup time and really saves time in equipment expenses too. Self-erecting cranes are normally remote-controlled from the ground, although there are some models that have an operator cab built onto the jib.
Self-erecting cranes are generally freestanding and this allows them the opportunity to be able to be moved around. There are some models which have a telescoping tower that enables the crane to work at various heights without the need to reconfigure the tower.
Luffing Jib Tower Crane
Nearly all urban work environments 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 great for such confined spaces. Most tower cranes have a fixed horizontal jib. The operator is able to raise or lower a luffing jib in order to allow the crane to swing in a reduced radius.