Tower Cranes - Learn The Basics

Tower cranes are those large buildings you can see on any large construction site, as they are used to move large construction materials and machines, such as steel structures, concrete slabs, various machines and others. There are many tower cranes in Australia, due to the increasing demand of building new objects.

The tower crane plays a vital role in the construction industry, as there is a huge demand for larger tower cranes in Australia. Especially during the initial phase of building an object, tower cranes are very important, helping the construction workers to complete the dangerous jobs safely. The tower crane is an extremely stable device, because its base is set into the ground. Although there are many types of tower cranes in Australia, they all consist the following basic parts.

Base – The base is the main component of each tower crane, as it is very essential component which allows contact between the tall steel structure and the concrete building top. The best comparison would be with a spine supporting a human body, because it has the same function. However, the steel structure of a tower crane is fixed with concrete.

Mast Section – The mast section is the second most important part of a tower crane and is connected to the base to give the required height to the tower crane. The mast section has guard and guide rails that guide the elevator. The operators gets in his cab with an elevator.

Horizontal Jib – The horizontal jib is also an important part of a tower crane and is commonly called working arm. The working arm extends horizontally, and with a trolley, it carries loads. Most tower cranes in Australia can move the jib for 360 degrees and reach any corner on construction sites.

Operator's Cab – The cabinet of the operator is located in a way that no crane operation would ruin the visibility of the crane. The cab is equipped with basic controls, foot pedals, features and joysticks, and some even provide a comfort for the operators.

Slewing Unit – The mobility of tower cranes is due to the slewing unit, which rotates the jib and the tower crane as well, for almost 360 degrees. The rotation of the tower crane around its own axis is called slewing, a set of combined huge gears and motors that enable the crane to rotate.

Crane House – The crane house extends behind the center of the crane and horizontally along the jib. It houses the motor of the crane and other electronic components, which are necessary for operation of the crane. Designed to eliminate water ingress and withstand winds, the crane house incorporates all safety devices for safe operation.