Cranes are an essential part of the construction, transportation, and manufacturing process. These machines are known for their lifting capabilities and can be used for various tasks. Considering the variety of cranes today, it is quite easy to confuse lorry cranes with other types. But there are both minor and major differences that make lorry cranes stand out from the rest. If you are someone who plans to rent or purchase a lorry crane, you need to be well-informed about its features and functions so you can ask crane services the right questions. To help you with that, follow below for all the important information that will help you understand what lorry cranes are and how they work.
What Are The Main Components Of A Lorry Crane?
Lorry cranes consist of several components that work together to help the machine lift and shift heavy weights. Understanding and becoming familiar with the components helps you differentiate and match your needs and preferences.
Boom
The most important component of a lorry crane is the boom. Although the location of the boom may vary based on the model and variant of the crane, in most cases, it is located behind the operator’s cabin. The boom is specifically designed to lift and shift heavy loads at a certain height.
Not only that, the boom also helps balance weight when it is being shifted at particular heights. Depending on the model and type of lorry crane, the boom may vary as well.
The reason is that booms are designed to lift and manage different types of loads. Since the prime objective is balancing the weight to avoid accidents, the features and characteristics differ at the same time. A lorry crane designed to manage loads inside a warehouse is going to have a slightly different boom than the one made for loading and unloading concrete blocks.
Jib
The jib is yet another important part of the lorry crane and joins the boom as an extended part. The purpose of the boom is to extend to reach the weights and shift them to certain heights. This means, the jib not only has to be strong but also reliable to be able to tackle numerous weights throughout the day.
However, some lorry cranes might not come with a jib as they are designed to lift less amounts of weight. That said, you must consider such factors while choosing a lorry crane out there. The last thing you would want is hiring or purchasing a crane without a jib while having to lift weights at heights.
Cabin
The cabin of a lorry crane is the place from where the operator controls the crane. Cabins may look simple from the outside, which they are but they are designed keeping several factors in mind to make crane operation smooth. For instance, the clear visibility of the operator is the most important factor while performing lifting tasks.
Although there might be a team on the ground to assist the operator, they cannot be fully relied upon. This is why the cabin needs to provide a proper view of the surroundings for the operator to safely perform the tasks without risking the lives of the people working.
Modern cabins are loaded with features like air conditioners and a bunch of safety and security features. Using foot pedals and a joystick, the operator is able to reach heights within a few minutes and can easily put the loads right where they need to be.
Detachable Counterweights
They are there to keep the crane from tumbling and causing accidents. You would think that lifting weights might come off as an easy task but it requires a lot of power, skill, and experience to do it safely.
Before the weights can be lifted by the crane, the crew weighs them and ensures the total weight does not cross the maximum limit. If the location or terrain where the crane is performing is such that it poses a risk of imbalance, detachable counterweights are used to help balance the crane.
There is a wide variety of counterweights available in the market that are used for different types of cranes. The decision to choose a particular type is based on the terrain, weight, and angle of the lifting process.
Steel Cable
The steel cable is the only component that is directly attached to the jib and the weight. In other words, it serves as a strong connection between the crane and the weights allowing movement. These steel cables are made using heavy-duty materials and are specifically designed to hold weights for prolonged periods while in the air.
This means these cables not only need to be strong but also durable and reliable. The reason is that cables can easily snap and cause the weights to fall on people underneath causing extreme casualties.
Moreover, to avoid accidents, apart from using high-quality and well-maintained equipment, you should hire rigging services VA.
Outriggers
Outriggers are yet another important feature of lorry cranes that help with stabilization and balancing weights, especially on uneven terrains. You should that experts perform a thorough inspection and prepare the working site before cranes can be performed.
If the experts observe that the surface or the ground is not level and can pose a risk while lifting weights, they will deploy outriggers that will dig into the ground and ensure the crane does not topple over or move to prevent accidents.
What Are The Benefits Of Lorry Cranes?
Lorry cranes are quite popular across the globe for a wide variety of reasons. To begin with, lorry cranes are mounted on trucks allowing them to be transported to different job sites with ease via highways. Unlike other cranes that require assembling and disassembling, lorry cranes can simply be driven to different working sites.
Furthermore, lorry cranes can perform a wide variety of tasks at the working site. The versatility of these cranes is such that contractors are able to save a lot of time and money in hiring other cranes for different types of tasks. Since you can move the lorry cranes or adjust their position easily, it saves the experts a lot of trouble in the long run.
In addition to that, lorry cranes come with a compact design as well. This makes it a lot easier to operate in congested working sites. Due to their compact design, they do not require much working space and also prevent machines and weights from colliding with one another.
What Factors To Consider While Choosing A Lorry Crane?
When it comes to choosing a lorry crane, you need to consider several important factors. First, you should consider the lifting capacity and features. This helps avoid overburdening the crane and preventing accidents due to imbalance.
Additionally, you should also consider the reach and boom length to determine how easily or safely the crane will be able to transfer the weights. Next, safety and stability features are equally important as they prevent human errors. You might be tempted to opt for a crane with less safety features to save some expense but it is not going to be worth it for the risks you will be exposing yourself to.
Finally, you should choose a reputable crane manufacturer or supplier who ensures strict quality assurance and maintenance. There is no point in hiring or purchasing a crane from someone who does not want to hear your feedback or complaints if something goes wrong.
Conclusion
Fortunately, becoming familiar with the concept and making a decision accordingly in the case of lorry cranes is not that difficult. All you need to do is consider the information mentioned above and try to make a smart decision that matches your needs and preferences. And, if you still find it complicated, do not hesitate to consult crane truck rentals MD.