Today's engineers have access to a wide variety of heavy lifting equipment to help them reach new heights with their projects. Each machine has unique benefits and drawbacks, so it's crucial to choose the best equipment for the job.
Crawler cranes are among the most widely used cranes due to their adaptability and durability. Their undercarriage is attached to rubber tracks called crawlers on either side, which sets them apart from other cranes. These cranes are also perfect for navigating the tricky terrain found on many building sites.
This is only scraping the surface of what these cranes do. Keep reading to learn all about crawler cranes.
What is a Crawler Crane?
There are many various kinds of cranes, but the basic definition of a crane is any device having an extendable arm that helps with heavy lifting. Some are attached to a structure and resemble towers, while others are anchored to the ground or float on water thanks to barges or other attachments.
How Crawler Cranes Differ from Other Cranes
Crawler cranes are distinct from other cranes due to their unique movement. It is easier for crawler cranes to move than other non-stationary cranes since they don't have tires. In place of wheels, they have crawlers.
Crawler cranes are a little bit bigger than other cranes since they don't have tires. However, since they have crawlers, they are more stable and ideal for the rough terrain on construction sites. Many crawler cranes also have a telescopic boom that helps them reach items at a height.
Structure of a Crawler Crane
Crawler cranes consist of a standard cab placed on top of a crawler undercarriage. The undercarriage navigates the terrain on a project site using tracks rather than wheels. The upper deck also has a box or boom with a possible expansion, and it rotates 360 degrees. At the end of the boom, there is a wire rope with a claw-like attachment such as a grapple or hook.
Crawler Crane Mobility
Crawler cranes move using tracks similar to the tracks you'll see on a tank. Crawler cranes don't use outriggers for stability, which is a key difference between crawler and conventional cranes. These cranes can operate inside a larger space due to their lighter boom weight.
However, their enormous size makes it difficult for them to get from one location to another. Crawler cranes are normally assembled on-site, and you'll need another crane to help unload them. Renting a crawler crane is a good way to reduce delivery, maintenance time, and expenses.
Load Capacity
Crawler cranes offer some of the largest lifting capacity of any kind of crane. Their maximum load capacities can go well above hundreds of tons at times. A telescopic boom on a crawler crane is shorter and can carry less weight than a lattice boom.
Crawler Crane Uses
Crawler cranes are ideal for working in challenging driving circumstances since the crawlers make it easier for the crane to maneuver through rough terrain. For instance, if the terrain at your building site is soft and other crane types could get bogged, the crawler crane would be the best option since their rubber crawlers would allow them to move around as needed.
Crawler cranes also have the added advantage of providing a broader contact area, which increases stability, so you don't need to worry about outrigging. This is why crawler cranes are especially well suited for situations that require a high level of stability.
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