We often come across cranes used on construction sites which can be moved from one place to other and are considered as mobile cranes. In an industrial environment, usually overhead cranes are used or installed.
A crane overhead is commonly referred as a bridge crane that consists of parallel runways along with a travelling bridge spanning the gap.
The chief components of an overhead crane or a bridge crane include:
A hoist for holding, lifting or lowering the load using chain or wire rope. Hoist can be operated or powered manually as well as with the help of electric energy. Some of the advanced hoist may also be powered pneumatically i.e. with compressed air
• Hook – is connected to the hoist and helps lifting the load
• Trolley – that moves the material horizontally along the crane bridge. It can be designed or configured in under running or underhung and top running designs
• Bridge – which a beam that bears the load. It runs all through the width of the site or building and connects the runways and using trolley facilitates back-and-forth movement of hoist. As per requirement, you can have a bridge crane comprised of one or two beams. As per number of beams, a bridge is termed as a single girder or double girder bridge.
• Runway- on which bridge crane travels for moving crane up and down
• End trucks – located on either side of the bridge, the end trucks are meant to move the bridge up and down on runway using number of wheels riding on rail.
• Bumpers – are crucial for bringing the crane to rest in a controlled manner when crane or trolley completes its travel. By absorbing the crane’s energy, bumpers reduce impact of force and protect the crane.
Different types of overhead cranes
The overhead cranes come in various shapes, sizes and capacities and hence it is important to choose most appropriate type of overhead crane as required for streamlining your production needs and processes.
When it comes to common types of overhead cranes, you may have:
• Bridge cranes – that can be single or double girder overhead cranes. Bridge cranes can also be classified as Process and Modular cranes
• Gantry cranes – is similar to a bridge crane, but does not move on suspended runways. Instead uses legs to provide support to the bridge, trolley and hoist and allows crane to move on rails. The legs remain embedded in or on top of the floor or ground.
• Monorail – that uses a trolley to move hoist on a single path and is installed in a production or assembly line.
• Jib cranes –offer space-saving, economical and are ideal for moving objects within a smaller area
• Workstation cranes- are light duty cranes, ideal for moving or lifting loads in a smaller work area with less effort.
In addition, there are electric overhead travelling cranes, referred as EOT cranes which are invariably used in industrial units, warehouses, shipping, railway and material yards etc.
EOT cranes are operated with electric energy and controlled by a control pendant by operator or through remote.
Efficiency of an electric overhead travel crane or bridge crane depends on the expertise and material used for manufacturing by EOT Manufacturers.
In India, RMS industries (Loadmate) are the leading EOT manufacturers, largely due to their commitments for producing best quality cranes for domestic and international buyers.
