Hi! I'm Chris Whitney with Progressive Crane. If you're wondering about the
different types of overhead cranes and what applications need them, you've come
to the right place. Welcome to Cranes 10.
If you've done your research or watched our previous video "What is an Overhead
Crane" you've already learned about what an overhead crane can do to increase
productivity and safety within your plant. But with so many different types
of cranes you may find yourself struggling to find out which type fits
your application at your business. That's where I come in. Since no two cranes are
alike, we'd like to use our 40 plus years of
experience to help you choose the appropriate crane for your application
to help your business. From the high power Bridge Crane, to the every man's
Work Station crane, we'll discuss the strengths and
weaknesses of each type. We will also discuss the differences in common types
of cranes: Top Running versus Under Running, Single Girder versus Double
Girder. And how each one suits certain needs. Our goal is to help establish a
deeper understanding of overhead crane so that you can use that information in
choosing an Overhead Crane that will Benefit your Business. Are you ready?
Let's go!
So, What is an Overhead Bridge Crane? If you remember from our last video, it's that
machine you keep losing money on trying to win your date a stuffed animal, or
the machine that Sid from Toy Story used to win a rubber alien. The Bridge
Crane system consists of two overhead rails connected by a single or double
girder bridge. The bridge is supported by End Truck that rides on top of the rails and
moves your bridge from one end of the runway to the other. So, let's start by
unpacking the Single Girder versus Double girder argument. So, why use one over the
other? It really depends on your application and your budget.
A single girder crane consists of a single beam with a hoist trolley riding on
the lower flange. Typically these are less expensive due to lower freight
costs, easier installation, a more simpler hoist design and also allows for a
lighter runway beam. The main reason you would want to upgrade from a single girder to a
double girder crane, is that the capacity you're lifting is over 15 tons or you
need to have a higher hook height within your existing space. If you wanted to,
you can engineer a single girder crane to go to a higher capacity or for a
wider span, but the higher you go the less cost effective it is to use a single
girder crane and you'll want to pursue a double girder. Double girder systems use
two bridge beams instead of one typically you'll see a double girder crane used
for higher capacities, wider spans, and also higher duty cycles. In addition if
you have specialty equipment or need a service platform, you also want to take a
look at a double girder crane. On a Top Running design, they also provide a better
hook height since the hoist is running on top of the beams instead of on the
lower flange.
Okay. So, do I need a top running or an under running crane? Again,
what's your application? Top Running cranes have no limited capacity. They can
be used for very small loads to very heavy. They're ideal for heavy lifting
applications. Under Running cranes otherwise known as under hung cranes,
ride on the lower flange of the runway beam.
These types of cranes are typically designed for lighter capacity and
lighter duty cycle. However, they're designed to maximize your building
spaces as they're hung from the ceiling and don't have any column that reach the
floor. In addition, the hoist can travel further across the bridge and also along
the runway which gives you a greater hook travel. When we talk about under
running cranes we have two different types of bridge girder beams we can
use. You have structural steel shapes and
then you also have patented track. Structural steel is rolled from a
softer mild steel. Is typically used for lighter duty cycle applications. Patented
track however is engineered and built from a stronger steel and is used for
higher duty cycle applications. So enough about the beams, let's get back into the
cranes. Do you need a process crane or do you need a modular crane?
Process cranes are built for a specific need. Typically, they're in a higher capacity, in a
steel mill or container yard. And you see those lifting 10 to 20 lifts per
hour at 50 to 75 percent of the rated capacity. CMAA
typically rate these at a Class D, E, or F. A modular crane or more commonly known
as a kit crane, is typically used in a machine shop or a small mill environment.
These types of cranes are more economical and affordable. CMAA rates them
at a Class C or below because they're only used five to ten times per hour and
have roughly forty percent of the capacity of the crane. If needed, extra
engineering can bump it up to a class D. So bridge crane doesn't sound right for
you? Lucky for you we've got other options.
Gantry cranes are similar to an overhead bridge except they don't have overhead rails to run on.
They have two legs that run on embedded rail on the floor or can also run on top of the concrete.
Gantry cranes are typically used in an outdoor environment at a rail yard or
shipyard where overhead supports are not available in addition they can be used
inside when overhead obstructions prevent the use of an overhead crane
First type of gantry crane that I want to talk about it as a portable gantry.
It's typically used in the maintenance or warehousing application where there's
lifts required in different areas of the plant. There are two types of portable
gantry cranes. You have adjustable and fixed. first time adjustable allows you
to raise and lower the boom, depending on overhead obstructions in a certain area
of your plant. In a fixed height gantry the boom is in a single position and does
not move up or down. The other type of gantry crane is track mounted
gantry. This is similar to a bridge crane in that it only moves in a single plane.
Again you'll have a hoist trolley that is mounted on there that gives you the
same types of motions but it is mounted on the floor. In addition to portable and
track mounted gantry's, I also want to talk about engineered gantry'a. These are
a more permanent fixture in that they have rail mounted to the floor and
can also be tied to a overhead crane runway.
Monorail cranes are used in an assembly line of production line.Typically these
are used when you don't need any side-to-side motion and you just want to
stick to a single plane. In addition they can also be used to move materials from
one Bay into another by way of a track switch. These are perfect for when a full
blown overhead crane is not needed.
Jib cranes come on a number of different types and sizes. They're typically used
when an overhead crane and runway system is not available. You have a
free-standing or you can have one mounted off of a column. These come in a
number of different capacities and spans depending on your need. A jib crane can
also give you a range of 180 degree rotation to 360 degrees.
Not sure if a jib crane is the right application for you? Consider the
following. What kind of floor space do you have? What is the capacity and the
usage? Can we mount it off of a column? What other special options or
considerations are required? What is your budget for the project? The more
information you have the better suited you are to make a decision.
Work station cranes are designed for an individual user. They can be ceiling hung
or free standing. With a rated capacity of 250 pounds to 2 tons, the key here is
that the user can ergonomically move a load from one end of the system to the
other.
And that's it! It's up to you to consider the following:
how many cranes do you need? What is the capacity of the crane and the hoist?
How many lifts per hour? And what percentage of the capacity are each lifts
being performed? Also, you'll want to consider; span, hook height, existing
runway, operating conditions for the crane, or any other special
considerations. Progressive Crane is a leading manufacturer of world-class
overhead cranes. With over 40 years of experience, we engineer and build
customer solutions using all the cranes that we discussed. Our capabilities range
from light duty light capacity applications, to high duty cycle high
capacity overhead cranes. If you're interested in learning how overhead
cranes can increase the efficiency and safety within your facility or to
schedule a crane consultation, please contact us and we will get you in touch
with one of our crane specialists. For all of us a Progressive Crane, I'm Chris
Whitney. Thank you for watching Cranes 101