Various Types of Crawler-Mounted Cranes
In order to be able to power a large range of machines, industrial wheel tractors were modified during the 1920s, by McCormick-Deering and Fordson. Like for instance, half-swing shovels and cranes were made by some companies around the engine and power train of the tractor and the wheels became replaced by crawlers.
Crawler tractors came into widespread use during the 1930s. Soon after, numerous manufacturers began making attachments for them, like for instance various lifting equipment devices.
Side-mounted booms for example, were utilized mainly for pipe-laying at first and the equipment got the nickname "pipelayer." These types of machinery are presently normally used for attending to cleaning up railroad derailments. Because of their size, compact design and mobility, along with excellent lifting capacity, these types of machines are ideal for this application. Furthermore, swing booms which mounted on top of the engine compartment also became available.
Similar to a crawler tractor, crawler cranes travel on crawler tracks. Due to their intense weight, these equipments do not move really fast. Normally, the crane can be controlled by 2 or more cable operated drums and is powered by one engine. The crawler cranes come equipped with a telescopic arm or a lattice boom that is easy to extend by using hydraulics. The lattice boom has to be assembled manually by adding multiple sections.
Tower Cranes
Tower cranes are those found in large construction projects. These kinds of cranes are essential to be erected and broken down on location. They must be transported by truck each and every time they are relocated. These tower cranes are very tall. They allow construction crews to move heavy steel or concrete building parts to the tops of tall buildings. Tower cranes use a hydraulic system to push every new crane part up into position and therefore, are self-erecting.