Parts of a Tower Crane
Tower cranes allow the construction industry to make some wonderful structures. These cranes have been designed to reach ever-increasing heights. Tower cranes offer the way to lift and transport building parts, materials and tools around a construction site. There are various components which assemble a tower crane once they are put together. Putting a tower crane together utilizes different pieces of construction equipment.
Base
The base of a tower crane is normally made from a steel unit. The base of the unit attaches to a custom pad made of concrete. This set-up provides the structure with stability. Generally, the construction should be well engineered and constructed so as to operate at optimum safety.
Mast
The mast on the tower crane provides the machine with its overall height. The mast is constructed out of separate steel sections which are attached together. The amount of parts determines the height of the crane. Typically, a tower crane has a design which allows the mast to grow during construction by adding more parts as the building process continues. This way the height of the crane can be specified, making sure that it has adequate height to safely and efficiently carry out the required work.
Slewing Unit/Top Climber
A slewing unit is located over the mast. This unit houses the machinery and the motor which allows the crane to rotate. A top climber is the piece of machine that allows the mast to grow. The top climber is located just below the slewing unit. Hydraulic rams in the top climber enable the slewing unit to be detached from the mast by raising it higher.
Boom
"Boom" is a term that specifically refers to the working arm of a tower crane. The boom is made of steel sections attached together, which extend out from the top of the slewing unit, parallel to the ground. There is a trolley attached to the base which could extend the length of the boom. This trolley has the hoisting device.