Some industrial and commercial buildings are capable of reaching heights of more than 60 stories. Obviously, while these buildings are being constructed, they need equally tall cranes to be able to move the materials to the higher floors. There are cranes that have their own vehicle connected or other kinds that are operated from the back of trucks. Tower cranes are the biggest types available on the market.
Tower cranes are stand-alone structures found as part of a major city's downtown skyline on high-rise building projects. When new construction like for instance skyscrapers or apartment buildings and commercial facilities like for instance shopping center are being constructed, chances are a crane will be on site.
Types
The two key kinds of cranes could be differentiated by the way in which their boom or jib raises supplies. The jib is the metal frame which extends from the main section. On a flat tower crane, the jib remains horizontal when it lifts things. On a luffing type of tower crane, the jib could ratchet to downward or upward angles. The lifting capacity for both types could vary from 30,000 lbs. to 10,000 pounds
Body
The body of the crane is composed of a vertical steel mast that is composed of separate [parts. The parts are added to increase the overall height of the equipment. The mast extends upward to wherever the desired height is, to the control module, that is a small room which has glass windows on all four sides or to the tower as it is also called. The driver of the crane works from inside of the tower.
Lift
The crane uses a braided metal cord to lift materials. This cord extends out from a motor situated next to the control module to the end of the jib or boom. There is a pulley system situated at the end of the jib, through which the cord is positioned and lowered down. The jib which holds the cord becomes balanced by a counter jib located on the opposite side of the tower. The counter jib has weights. These weights help to prevent the crane from toppling over when heavy materials are lifted.