One of the more striking pieces of equipment you will find at a construction site is the crane. The invention of the crane is a modern marvel and a construction equipment mystery. You may not fully appreciate this fact until the crane is fully disassembled. Each component of the tower and crane play a unique role. It is fascinating to know how crane transport to and from construction sites take place.
Mobile cranes are transported using special earth moving trucks. In this article we will help you to identify cranes and their components as they are being transported to different construction sites.
Understanding How Crane Systems Work
Operators of a construction site generally receive cranes in small components. These are stored and the equipment is then used in between jobs. The larger types of cranes consist of a pulley system and can be used to transport massive loads in both vertical and horizontal directions. Cranes can be assembled and different components come together allowing it to reach the height of most skyscrapers.
A crane’s base will stay beneath a skyscraper with people usually seeing them as a tower like scaffold next to buildings currently under construction. Cranes are also able to be repaired on site with engineers keeping replacement kits and tools in a separate storage facility. The transport of heavy equipment to a construction area is usually accomplished by either driving the heavy machinery directly to it or by hauling it with specialized trucks.
Since cranes tend to reach several hundred feet above the ground level there is always a constant need for tower cranes. Tower cranes can be put together and disassembled by operators in between jobs. Prior to their assembly, each of the crane components are kept in the crane yard. Operators can then remove the crane by reversing the method used to erect them on site. The enormous size of these cranes doesn’t necessarily translate to difficulties in the transport process. Many drivers on the road may not notice cranes being transported since they are designed to be hauled as smaller pieces of construction equipment.
Ensuring A Solid Crane Installation
Cranes are installed by pieces using pressured systems like pneumatic or hydraulic rams. Crane operators will usually begin at the base level before the installation of a new bit underneath them. Its setup is somewhat similar to how a new telecommunications mast is installed. All of the crane’s components will lock onto one another and once the building’s construction is set to go higher the operators can then add another piece in order to reach the next level.
There is some mechanical skill involved in order to determine the weight of a crane. If the crane doesn’t have sufficient stabilizers it will not be able to gain adequate support to lift a heavy load. This is an essential process as it helps to avoid the collapse of the crane and prevent potential onsite hazards.
Crane Disassembly
Since a crane has separate components, the removal of it from the construction site will require proper planning. Civil engineers must first complete the heavy lifting process of bricks, concrete and building materials before the disassembly can take place. This is usually the last task to be completed after the skyscraper has been constructed. A crane can be dismantled piece by piece and doesn’t require a direct approach to accomplish this.
Depending on the type of crane and how large it is, hoists of its smaller components can be dismantled accordingly. The process begins with the primary crane and gradually moves with the goal to reduce the crane’s total height. This process must be done slowly. The mast is lowered with the assistance of a hydraulic ram. The final stages of the mast lowering will begin when operators reach the base. This may seem like an easy process to describe but keep in mind that structures with intricate designs may take some additional effort. Some of the tower crane’s components can be disassembled from the skyscrapers elevator shafts. A team of riggers, site engineers and crane operators all come together to ensure the safe removal of the entire crane and its components.
