An overhead cranes manufacturers directory including jib cranes, gantry cranes, bridge cranes, tower cranes, hoist crane, overhead bridge cranes, crane manufacturers, used overhead cranes, crane fork, work cell cranes, overhead traveling cranes, and crane rail.  

Overhead Crane Types and Terms

Types of Overhead Cranes

• Automated cranes fall between completely manual and completely robotic systems and are used in applications in which robotic systems are much too expensive and complex to operate. Automated cranes are equipped with encoder-based fixed belt position and drive assemblies, and operate through a preset cycle or cycles.
  
• Bridge cranes, the most common type of overhead crane, consist of girders, trucks, end ties, a walkway and a drive mechanism, which carries the trolley and travels in a direction parallel to the runway.
  
• Gantry cranes are a type of overhead crane in which the bridge for carrying the trolley or trolleys is rigidly supported by two or more legs running on fixed rails or a runway.
  
• Hoist cranes is a generic term for a crane that is capable of lowering and lifting a load. Most cranes have hoists.
  
• Jib cranes are designed with the bridge girder, commonly called the "boom," fixed at one end, allowing the opposite end to cantilever. The fixed end generally is hinged to allow rotation, and the jib can be telescopic
  
• Powerhouse cranes have crane bridges to carry a heavy-lift hook trolley that is sometimes equipped with an auxiliary host. Powerhouse cranes are able to be accurately, reliably and safely operated due to their nearly infinitely variable speed controls.
  
• Tower cranes consist of a base bolted into a large concrete pad, and a mast (or tower) that gives the tower crane its height. The mast is connected to the base and the gear and motor—called a slewing unit—that allows the crane to rotate. Tower cranes are used in construction of tall structures.
  

Overhead Crane Terms


Beam – A rolled structural steel member, typically used as a bridge girder for short span or low capacity cranes.
 
Bogie – A type of short end truck that is attached to the end of one girder or to a connecting member if more than one truck is utilized per girder. Bogies are used when the design of the runway necessitates more than four wheels on the crane.
 
Boom – A mechanism mounted horizontally on the trolley of an overhead crane. A load is lowered or hoisted by the boom at a point other than directly under the hoist drum or trolley.
 
Box Section – An enclosed, rectangular cross-section of girders, trucks or other members.
 
Bridge – The part of an overhead crane that carries the trolley and travels parallel to the runway. Bridges consist of girders, trucks, end ties, a walkway and a drive mechanism.
 
Bridge Conductors – An electrical conductor, at times incorrectly referred to as a “trolley conductor,” that provides power and control circuits to the trolley. Bridge conductors are located along the bridge girders.
 
Cab – The compartment from which the operator controls the crane.
 
Camber – The slight upward vertical curve given to girders to partially compensate for deflection due to hook load and weight of the crane.
 
Carrier – An assembly, also called a “trolley,” that supports a load and runs on a monorail track or crane girders.
 
Cover Plate – The top or bottom plate of a box girder.
 
Dead Load – The loads on a structure that remain in a fixed position relative to the structure.
 
Footwalk – The walkway with handrail and toe-boards, attached to the bridge or trolley for access purposes.
 
Girder – The principal horizontal beams of the crane bridge, which support the trolley and are supported by the end trucks.
 
Hoist – A mechanism used for lifting and lowering a load.
 
Hook – The lifting attachment point suspended from the hoist machinery, typically single- or double-pronged. Double-pronged hooks are known as "sister hooks."
 
Idler Sheave – A sheave used to equalize tension in opposite parts of a rope.
 
Load Block – The assembly of hook, swivel, bearing, sheaves, pins and frame suspended by the hoisting ropes.
 
MEL (Mean Effective Load) – A load used in durability calculations accounting for both maximum and minimum loads
 
Sheave – A grooved wheel or pulley used with a rope or chain to change direction and point of application of a pulling force.
 
Trolley – The unit carrying the hoisting mechanism that travels on the bridge rails.
 
Web Plate – The vertical plate connecting the upper and lower flanges or cover plates of a girder.