The basic definition of a crane is that it is a mechanical lifting machine used to carry materials from one place to another. They are equipped with many parts which are used for many different tasks.
Fun fact, the Liebherr type 357 HC-L is the tallest crane in the world and it lifts up to 18 tons at 44 metres a minute.
Cranes are in a league of their own when it comes to construction equipment because, at their most basic function, they do not require another machine to function. A workhorse in the construction trade, cranes face heavy-duty material handling tasks. This blog lists what the basic crane components are and how they function so you can choose the best style of crane for your upcoming project.
The Parts
The Hook – This could be viewed as the most important part of a construction crane. The hook is the primary connecting point between the crane and the load it is required to lift. When maneuvering items around the site you can trust the hook to hold them so the rest of the crane can do its job.
The Hoist – This is part of the crane which lifts, using a cranking mechanism and a wire that raises and lowers the hook. Without this, the material would not get off the ground.
The Boom – one of the largest parts of the crane is the boom. It’s the supporting structure, it’s the long steel arm that spans the length of the machine. The type of boom you require depends on your project. The options are lattice or hydraulic. The lattice boom consists of a welded steel structure, which has the appearance of a lattice. This gives the machine great strength while reducing the weight of the boom. In comparison, hydraulic has telescoping sections, allowing it to expand its reach when required and collapse for transportation.
The Jib – This feature of the crane is an arm that extends horizontally. At times a crane needs to move materials to an area that may be out of reach of the boom, this is when a jib is required.
Counterweights – This is how the crane keeps balanced when lifting heavy loads. It is positioned across from the boom. The counterweight required will depend on your project, so weights are interchangeable. Also, they are removable for transportation.
Outriggers – Similar to counterweights, outriggers are stabilizing components. Often in the shape of a H, this part sits at the bottom of the crane and stabilizes it from the ground.
History of The Crane
it was the Ancient Greeks who were miles ahead of the rest of the world when using lifting equipment. The first human-made crane was built around 500 BC by the Ancient Greeks. Although it looked very different from what we know today and was powered by humans or animals, it still built some of the most beautiful and impressive structures in the ancient world.
Over time the crane was modernised, and its design developed, but it wasn’t until The Medieval Period, at some point between the 5th and 15th century, that the jib was added to the crane.
Fast forward to the Industrial Revolution when steam power was invented, animals and manpower were no longer required to power the crane, it now ran on steam. Also, around this time the structure of the crane evolved, and it was now iron and steel which made up the frame.
Then in the 1950’s the idea of a “mobile” crane was produced, which basically consisted of a small crane bolted onto the frame of a flatbed truck.
Here at Omnia Machinery we have a wide selection of quality used cranes for sale, ready to be put to work on your upcoming projects. We offer mobile cranes, crawler cranes and off-shore cranes from a selection of leading manufacturers such as Liebherr, Grove, Tadano Faun, Terex Demag and more. We will ensure that the specification of the machine matches up to the project it is required for. Before shipment, we always ensure that our cranes are up-to-date and fully tested. Should you require something more specialist, please contact us and our expert team will aim to source the machine required for your project.