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Various Types Of Cranes

A crane is a tower or derrick that is equipped with cables and pulleys that are used to lift and lower material. They are commonly used in the construction industry and in the manufacturing of heavy equipment. Cranes for construction are normally temporary
structures, either fixed to the ground or mounted on a purpose built vehicle.

They can either be controlled from an operator in a cab that travels along with the crane, by a push button pendant control station, or by radio type controls. The crane operator is ultimately responsible for the safety of the crews and the crane.

Mobile Cranes
The most basic type of crane consists of a steel truss or telescopic boom mounted on a mobile platform, which could be a rail, wheeled, or even on a cat truck. The boom is hinged at the bottom and can be either raised or lowered by cables or hydraulic cylinders.

Mobile Cranes

Telescopic Crane
This type of crane offers a boom that consists of a number of tubes fitted one inside of the other. A hydraulic mechanism extends or retracts the tubes to increase or decrease the length of the boom.

Telescopic Mobile Crane

Tower Crane
The tower crane is a modern form of a balance crane. When fixed to the ground, tower cranes will often give the best combination of height and lifting capacity and are also used when constructing tall buildings.

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Tower crane picture

Truck Mounted Crane
Cranes mounted on a rubber tire truck will provide great mobility. Outriggers that extend vertically or horizontally are used to level and stabilize the crane during hoisting.

Truck Mounted Crane Knuckle Boom picture

Rough Terrain Crane
A crane that is mounted on an undercarriage with four rubber tires, designed for operations off road. The outriggers extend vertically and horizontally to level and stabilize the crane when hoisting. These types of cranes are single engine machines where the same engine is used for powering the undercarriage as it is for powering the crane. In these types of cranes, the engine is normally mounted in the undercarriage rather than
in the upper portion.

Rough terrain crane picture

Loader Crane
A loader crane is a hydraulically powered articulated arm fitted to a trailer, used to load equipment onto a trailer. The numerous sections can be folded into a small space when the crane isn’t in use.

Loader Crane picture

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Overhead Crane
Also refered to as a suspended crane, this type is normally used in a factory, with some of them being able to lift very heavy loads. The hoist is set on a trolley which will move in one direction along one or two beams, which move at angles to that direction along elevated or ground level tracks, often mounted along the side of an assembly area.

Overhead Crane picture

In the excavation world, cranes are used to move equipment or machinery. Cranes can quickly and easily move machinery into trenches or down steep hills, or even pipe. There are many types of cranes available, serving everything from excavation to road work.

Cranes are also beneficial to building bridges or construction. For many years, cranes have proven to be an asset to the industry of construction and excavating. Crane operators make really good money, no matter what type of crane they are operating.

This article was submitted by Er. Vikrant

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Kanwarjot Singh

Kanwarjot Singh is the founder of Civil Engineering Portal, a leading civil engineering website which has been awarded as the best online publication by CIDC. He did his BE civil from Thapar University, Patiala and has been working on this website with his team of Civil Engineers.

If you have a query, you can ask a question here.

85 comments on "Various Types Of Cranes"

olebile chimidza says:

i want to learn how to operate crane in south africa were should i go how should i contact

rajdeep says:

hi
even I want to learn the same
If u get get any info plzzz do reply

sachin says:

Wow!!! so many types of crane!!! Never knew that there were so many types!!! :/ AWSUM

Ajish krishnan says:

Which one is mostly used in construction sites

Bob the Builder says:

Crawler crane

Raghunath sahoo says:

Which is mostly used in construction sites?&I want to learn how to operate the crane in dubai

gift says:

tower crain is mostly used in the construction company.

Feyi Alli says:

Wao! This is great.
Thanks for brief and educating information provided. Now I know the different types as detailed.

Please mail me the basic technical system operations of the major segment and priciple of how each component system works (together) to perform the hoisting work. For Example a RT Crane.

Dada akinwale says:

I wana know parts of crane and their function.waiting 4ur ans.thanks

SUBAIR MUSA AFOLABI says:

I WANT TO LEARN HOW TO PRACTICALLY OPERATE RUBBER TYRE GANTRY CRANE IN NIGERIA

Ademola oladipo says:

What is the difference between the mobile crane and the loader crane?

Engr. Jerome says:

Nice job you guys are doing. Keep it up.

ongama phika says:

Wats the dffrence between a mast crane nd. A travelling crane?

Omodele Kolade Ojo says:

Dear Sir/Ma,
I like & love this site. But how can I be updated with the latest Civil Engineering materials & equipments?

kasim says:

I like no the type cranes using support piling,digging etc

Precious osuji says:

Which among this types of crane pays well

richard tayo says:

Where can i learn how to operate crane in nigeria

sena says:

I think some of the terms used above are overlapping each other. and because of that some of those terms above can be used to name more than one pictures for example the terms “telescopic crane” or “telescopic” could be used to for pictures no 1,2,5,and 6. because each of the cranes in the picture have telescopic boom attached to them. also the term “rough terrain” can be used for pictures no 2 and 5 because both show cranes with under carriage that can operate on rough terrain (i.e. big wheels with high traction, high ground clearance, etc). so the terms are ok I think but perhaps more pictures needed to explain what the terms refer to. but all in all I learned a lot from this article. including some new terms such as under carriage. but perhaps to add to more information you can also include explanation for the term “caterpillar crane”, or “lattice boom crane”. Bravo for the article!

Ephraim says:

Can someone that didnt go too school be a good crane operator?

Jimmy says:

I want to learn how to operate crane, where should i go and who can i contact?

salim says:

Plz say the value of certificate

Harrison Nemalamangwa says:

I need a crane that will load concrete and bricks on top of the ground floor

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