Typically the base that is bolted into a huge concrete pad provides the essential support for a tower crane. The base is connected to a mast or a tower and stabilizes the crane which is attached to the inside of the structure of the building. Normally, this attachment point is to a concrete lift or to an elevator shaft.
The mast of the crane is normally a triangulated lattice structure which measures 0.9m2 or 10 feet square. Connected to the very top of the mast is the slewing unit. The slewing unit is made of a gear and a motor which allows the crane to rotate.
Tower cranes are able to have a maximum unsupported height of 80m or 265 feet. The maximum lifting capacity of a tower crane 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 referred to as a load moment switch to ensure that the driver does not surpass the ton meter load rating. Finally, the tower crane has a maximum reach of 230 feet or 70 meters.
Because of their extreme heights, there is a science involved to erecting a crane. The stationary structure would first have to be transported to the construction location by using a big tractor-trailer rig setup. After that, a mobile crane is used in order to assemble the machine part of the jib and the crane. These sections are then attached to the mast. Next, the mobile crane adds counterweights. Crawler cranes and forklifts can be a few of the other industrial machinery that is used to erect a crane.
When the building is erected, mast extensions are added to the crane. This is how the crane's height is able to match the building's height. The crane crew uses what is called a climbing frame or a top climber that fits between the slewing unit and the top of the mast. A weight is hung on the jib by the work crew in order to balance the counterweight. When complete, the slewing unit can detach from the top of the mast. In the top climber, hydraulic rams are utilized to adjust the slewing unit up an additional 20 feet or 6.1m. Next, the operator of the crane utilizes the crane to insert and bolt into position one more mast part piece.