Parts of a Tower Crane
Tower cranes enable the construction industry to make some amazing structures. These cranes have been designed to reach ever-increasing heights. Tower cranes provide the way to lift and transport materials, tools and building parts around a construction location. There are various components that assemble a tower crane when they are put together. Putting a tower crane together utilizes various pieces of construction equipment.
Base
The base of a tower crane is normally made from a steel unit. The base of the unit connects to a custom pad made of concrete. This set-up provides the structure with stability. Overall, the construction should be well engineered and constructed in order to operate at optimum safety.
Mast
The mast of the tower crane provides height to the machine. The mast is made of connected steel sections. The amount of sections determines the height of the crane. Usually, a tower crane has a design that enables the mast to grow during construction by adding more sections as the building process continues. This way the crane's height could be specified, making sure that it has enough height to carry out the required work safely and efficiently.
Slewing Unit/Top Climber
Above the mast is the slewing unit. It houses the motor and equipment which allows the crane to rotate. A top climber is the piece of equipment that enables the mast to grow. The top climber is situated just below the slewing unit. Hydraulic rams inside the top climber allow the slewing unit to be detached from the mast by raising it higher.
Boom
"Boom" is a term which specifically refers to the working arm of a tower crane. The boom is made of steel sections connected together, which extend out from the top of the slewing unit, parallel to the ground. There is a trolley connected to the underside which could extend the length of the boom. This particular trolley has the hoisting mechanism.