Typically the base which is bolted into a large concrete pad provides the essential support for a tower crane. The base is connected to a mast or a tower and stabilizes the crane that is affixed to the inside of the building's structure. Often, this attachment point is to an elevator shaft or to a concrete lift.
The mast of the crane is often a triangulated lattice structure which measures 0.9m2 or 10 feet square. Attached to the very top of the mast is the slewing unit. The slewing unit consists of a gear and a motor which enable the crane to rotate.
Tower cranes are able to have a maximum unsupported height of 80m or 265 feet. The tower crane's maximum lifting capacity is 16,642 kilograms or 39,690 lbs. with counter weights of 20 tons. Moreover, two limit switches are utilized in order to ensure the operator does not overload the crane. There is even one more safety feature called a load moment switch to ensure that the driver does not surpass the ton meter load rating. Last of all, the maximum reach of a tower crane is 230 feet or 70 meters.
There is certainly a science involved with erecting a tower crane, especially due to their extreme heights. At first, the stationary structure needs to be brought to the construction location by utilizing a large tractor-trailer rig setup. Next, a mobile crane is used in order to assemble the machine part of the crane and the jib. These sections are then attached to the mast. The mobile crane then adds counterweights. Crawler cranes and forklifts may be a few of the other industrial equipment that is utilized to erect a crane.
As the building is erected, mast extensions are added to the crane. This is how the crane's height can match the building's height. The crane crew uses what is called a top climber or a climbing frame that fits between the top of the mast and the slewing unit. A weight is hung on the jib by the work crew in order to balance the counterweight. Once complete, the slewing unit is able to detach from the top of the mast. In the top climber, hydraulic rams are utilized to adjust the slewing unit up an extra 20 feet or 6.1m. After that, the operator of the crane uses the crane to insert and bolt into place another mast part piece.