Tower cranes are being used frequently for big building construction projects. They are necessary for the heavy lifting and placing of supplies and machines. Tower cranes provide a different configuration that provides many benefits over more conventional cranes. These benefits include: higher vertical lift, quiet electrical operation, reduced space requirements and increased capacities.
Hammerhead Crane
A hammerhead crane is a different design that is most typically associated with a tower crane. In this situation, a long horizontal jib is connected to a vertical tower. 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 within the jib's radius.
Self-Erecting Tower Cranes
Self-erecting cranes are normally assembled on site with the help of a different crane. This greatly saves time in equipment expenses and provides a huge advantage in setup time too. Self-erecting cranes are usually remote-controlled from the ground, though 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 that have a telescoping tower which enables the crane to work at various heights without the need to reconfigure the tower.
Luffing Jib Tower Crane
Normally, in 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 great for such tight areas. Nearly all tower cranes have a fixed horizontal jib. The driver can lower or raise a luffing jib in order to allow the crane to swing in a reduced radius.