What are the four main categories of cranes?
3 Answers
Cranes are divided into four categories: small lifting equipment, elevators, cranes, and overhead monorail systems. The following is a detailed introduction to the four types of cranes: Introduction to small lifting equipment: Mainly includes lifting pulleys, slings, jacks, manual hoists, electric hoists, and ordinary winches. Most are small in size, lightweight, and easy to use. Except for electric hoists and winches, the vast majority are manually operated, suitable for less demanding work situations. They can be used individually, and some can also serve as the lifting mechanism of cranes. Some small lifting equipment has a very high lifting capacity, such as hydraulic jacks with a lifting capacity of up to 750 tons. Introduction to elevators: Elevators mainly perform vertical or near-vertical lifting movements with fixed lifting paths, including elevators, lifting platforms, mine hoists, and bucket elevators. Introduction to cranes: Cranes are multi-action lifting machines that vertically lift and horizontally move heavy objects within a certain range. Introduction to overhead monorail systems: Overhead monorail systems have rigid suspended tracks that form routes, enabling the transportation of materials to various parts of a factory building and can also extend to the outside of the building.
Having worked on construction sites for most of my life, I've encountered countless cranes, which can basically be divided into four major categories. The first is the overhead crane, those massive machines running on workshop tracks, working steadily—the bridge crane is a typical example. The second, the gantry crane, is the most distinctive, standing like a large gate frame in freight yards, commonly seen in container terminals. The third, the tower crane, is probably familiar to everyone, towering over construction sites, often called 'tower hoists' by workers. The fourth, the mobile crane, is the most flexible, including truck cranes and crawler cranes, which can drive directly to the site. These machines differ in structure and purpose. Overhead cranes suit fixed workshops, tower cranes specialize in high-rise buildings, and mobile cranes go wherever needed. However, all require strict adherence to safety regulations. Two years ago, our site had an accident due to a malfunctioning overload warning system.
From an engineering classification perspective, cranes are primarily divided into four major types. Bridge cranes include single-girder and double-girder overhead cranes, which operate on fixed tracks and are suitable for factory workshops. Gantry cranes are supported by portal legs on tracks, making them particularly suitable for port container handling. Tower cranes, commonly seen on construction sites, can rotate 360 degrees. Mobile cranes include truck cranes, wheel cranes, and crawler cranes, offering strong mobility for easy site relocation. These classifications are mainly based on structural characteristics and usage scenarios. For example, bridge cranes use truss structures for load-bearing, while mobile cranes have specialized chassis. Practical selection should consider factors such as lifting capacity and working radius. Special types like cable cranes, often used in large hydropower station construction, can be categorized under gantry cranes.
