Different Types of Crawler-Mounted Cranes
Industrial wheel tractors in the 1920s, like those made by Fordson and McCormick-Deering were rapidly modified in order to be able to power a huge variety of equipment. Like for instance, half-swing shovels and cranes were made by some companies around the power train and engine of the tractor and the wheels became replaced by crawlers.
Crawler tractors came into widespread use during the 1930s. Soon after, many manufacturers started manufacturing attachments for them, including various lifting machine devices.
Side-mounted booms for instance, were used primarily for pipe-laying at first and the machinery got the nickname "pipelayer." These machinery are frequently used now for attending to cleaning up railroad derailments. Due to their size, compact design and mobility, along with outstanding lifting capacity, these kinds of machines are ideal for this application. Furthermore, swing booms which mounted on top of the engine compartment became available also.
Crawler cranes are similar to the crawler tractor in that it travels along crawler tracks. These equipments can not move fast due to their intense weights. Usually, the crane is powered by one engine and may be controlled by 2 or more cable operated drums. The crawler cranes come equipped with a telescopic arm or a lattice boom that is easy to extend by utilizing hydraulics. The lattice boom has to be assembled by hand by adding many sections.
Tower Cranes
Typically found in big construction projects, tower cranes are required to be built and broken down on location. They must be transported by truck each time they are relocated. These tower cranes are exceptionally tall. They allow construction crews to transport heavy steel or concrete building components to the tops of tall buildings. Tower cranes utilize a hydraulic system to push each and every new crane section up into place and thus, are self-erecting.