Detailed Overview of Cranes and Hoists



Overhead Travelling Cranes
Overhead travelling cranes, also known as bridge cranes, consist of parallel runways with a travelling bridge spanning the gap. A hoist, the lifting component, moves along the bridge.

- **Design**: Single or double girder construction, with the hoist moving horizontally across the bridge and vertically for lifting.
- **Advantages**: High precision, reliability, and efficient handling of heavy loads.
- **Applications**: Frequently used in factories, workshops, and assembly lines for material handling.


Hoists – Wire Rope
Wire rope hoists are devices that lift heavy loads using wire ropes rather than chains. They are powered electrically, pneumatically, or manually.

- **Features**: Durable, capable of handling heavier loads than chain hoists, and resistant to environmental wear.
- **Common Use**: Construction sites, manufacturing plants, and shipyards.




Portal or Semi-Portal Cranes
Portal cranes, also called gantry cranes, are supported by legs that run on ground rails. Semi-portal cranes have one leg supported by a wall-mounted rail.

- **Advantages**: Versatile and can lift large and heavy items outdoors or indoors.
- **Applications**: Common in shipyards, freight terminals, and construction sites.


Portal or Semi-Portal Bridge Cranes
This category combines the bridge crane with portal support structures.

- **Design**: Features a bridge with either full or partial portal support.
- **Functionality**: Ideal for specific lifting needs in confined spaces where ground access is limited.

Cable and Portal Cable Cranes
These cranes use cables for lifting and moving loads, often equipped with a hoist and trolley mechanism for horizontal motion.

- **Advantages**: Efficient for long-span lifting operations.
- **Applications**: Dams, high-rise construction projects, and large industrial areas.




Truck-Mounted Cranes

Crawler Cranes

Rough Terrain Cranes
Mobile Cranes
Mobile cranes are mounted on wheeled or tracked vehicles, allowing them to move to different locations easily.

- **Types**:
  - **Truck-Mounted Cranes**: Suitable for urban construction projects.
  - **Crawler Cranes**: Operates on tracks for stability on uneven surfaces.
  - **Rough Terrain Cranes**: Designed for off-road construction sites.

- **Applications**: Versatile use in infrastructure projects, disaster relief, and general construction.



Tower Cranes
Tower cranes are fixed structures widely used in constructing tall buildings. They consist of a tall mast, a rotating slewing unit, and a horizontal jib.

- **Capabilities**: High lifting capacity and the ability to reach extreme heights.
- **Applications**: Ideal for skyscraper construction and heavy lifting tasks in urban environments.



Railway Cranes
These cranes are specifically designed to operate on railway tracks.

- **Features**: High mobility along the track, designed for lifting train cars or performing track repairs.
- **Use**: Railway maintenance, construction, and emergency recovery operations.



Floating Cranes
Floating cranes are mounted on pontoons or barges, making them suitable for waterborne applications.

- **Characteristics**: High load capacities and stability in marine conditions.
- **Applications**: Offshore construction, bridge building, and ship unloading.



Deck Cranes
Deck cranes are mounted directly on ships and are used for cargo handling at sea or ports.

- **Advantages**: Compact design, capable of handling various cargo types.
- **Industries**: Used in maritime shipping and logistics.


Derrick and Guy Derrick Cranes
Derrick cranes are stationary lifting devices with a mast and a rotating boom. Guy derricks use cables for structural support.

- **Features**: Simple, sturdy, and capable of lifting heavy loads.
- **Applications**: Oil rigs, construction, and mining operations.

Derrick Cranes with Rigid Bracing
This variation of derrick cranes incorporates rigid braces instead of cables, increasing stability.

- **Advantages**: Better structural support for handling heavier loads.
- **Use Case**: Industrial construction and heavy equipment lifting.



Wall-Mounted

Pillar-Mounted
Cantilever Cranes (Pillar, Jib, Wall, or Walking)
Cantilever cranes have a horizontal arm extending outward from a fixed point.

- **Variants**:
  - **Pillar-Mounted**: Attached to a floor-mounted column.
  - **Wall-Mounted**: Fixed to vertical structures.
  - **Walking Cantilever**: Movable designs for specific operations.

- **Applications**: Suitable for tight spaces, assembly lines, and workshops.

General-Purpose Offshore Cranes
These cranes are specifically built for offshore operations, designed to handle harsh marine environments.

- **Key Features**: Corrosion-resistant materials and high lifting capacities.
- **Applications**: Offshore oil rigs, wind farms, and underwater construction projects.