A tower crane is a lifting machinery with a vertical tower and a rotating boom. Tower cranes are mainly composed of metal structures, working mechanisms, and control systems.

Metal Structure

Machine metal structural foundation components include the base frame, tower body, turntable, tower cap, crane arm, and balancing arm, etc.

(1) The construction form of the undercarriage structure for tower cranes is determined by the crane's structural type (top rotation and bottom rotation), mode of movement (track or tire), and installation method relative to the building (clinging or self-raising). Bottom rotation light rapid installation tower cranes commonly use a flat frame-type undercarriage, while medium or heavy bottom rotation tower cranes often feature a jellyfish-type undercarriage. Top rotation tower cranes, trackMiddleWhen used as a temporary storage yard or pedestrian walkway, a gate frame type base can be employed. The base of self-raising tower cranes commonly features a flat frame with diagonal bracing. Tyre-mounted tower cranes utilize a box girder structure.

(2) The tower structure can be divided into two main categories: fixed-height and variable-height. Light-duty cranes with relatively small hook heights typically use fixed-height tower structures, while the tower heights of other cranes are often variable. Variable-height tower structures can further be categorized into five different types: folding tower; telescopic tower; bottom-attachable tower; middle-attachable tower; and top-attachable tower.

(3) The tower hats come in various structural forms, including vertical, forward-tilted, and backward-tilted types. Like the tower body, the main chord members are made of seamless steel pipes, round steel, angle steel, or assembled square steel pipes, while the web members are constructed from seamless steel pipes or angle steel.

(4) The crane boom is typically a variable reach boom for a trolley, usually employing an equilateral triangle cross-section. The inclined variable reach boom commonly uses a rectangular section truss structure, composed of angle steel or steel pipe. Joints are connected by pin shafts, flange plates, or bolted covers. The boom structural steel is selected as 16Mn or Q235.

(5) The boom of the rotating tower crane on the balance arm typically features a flat frame structure, with the main beam made of channel or I-beam, and the connecting beams and web members are usually made of seamless steel tube or angle iron. The boom of heavy-duty self-elevating tower cranes often employs a triangular cross-section truss structure.

(6) Transmitter.

2. Work Agencies

Tower cranes are generally equipped with lifting mechanisms, jib mechanisms, rotating mechanisms, and walking mechanisms. These four mechanisms are the basic working components of tower cranes.