Tower cranes are being used frequently for large building construction projects. They are required for the heavy lifting and placing of supplies and machines. Tower cranes provide a different configuration that provides many benefits over more conventional cranes. These benefits include: quiet electrical operation, higher vertical lift, increased capacities, and reduced space requirements.
Hammerhead Crane
The hammerhead crane is frequently associated with a tower crane. The long horizontal jib is connected to a vertical tower, in this case. One end of the jib extends horizontally over the worksite and the other end of the jib acts as a counterweight. There is a trolley on the hammerhead crane. This trolley holds the lifting cable and travels along the length of the jib. The tower crane is capable of operating anywhere within the jib's radius.
Self-Erecting Tower Cranes
Self-erecting cranes are usually assembled on location with the assistance of a different crane. This provides a huge benefit in setup time and greatly saves time in equipment expenses as well. Self-erecting cranes are usually remote-controlled from the ground, though there are some models which have an operator cab built onto the jib.
Self-erecting cranes are usually freestanding and this enables them the opportunity to be able to be moved around. There are some models that have a telescoping tower which allows the crane to work at multiple heights without the need to reconfigure the tower.
Luffing Jib Tower Crane
Usually, within urban work environments, there is not enough clearance or space for the jib to freely rotate without being blocked by existing buildings. A luffing jib tower crane is great for such tight areas. Nearly all tower cranes have a fixed horizontal jib. The driver is able to lower or raise a luffing jib in order to allow the crane to swing in a reduced radius.