Parts of a Tower Crane
Several of the most remarkable structures around the world are made using cranes. The newer cranes are used to be able to reach higher heights. Tower cranes provide the way to move and raise building parts, supplies and tools around a construction site. There are several different components which assemble a tower crane once they are put together. Putting a tower crane together uses different pieces of construction machinery.
Base
The base of a tower crane is usually made from a steel unit. The base of the unit attaches to a custom pad made of concrete. This kind of set-up gives the structure stability. Generally, the construction should be engineered and built well in order to operate at optimum safety.
Mast
The mast on the tower crane provides the machinery with its overall height. The mast is constructed out of separate steel sections that are connected together. The amount of sections determines the crane's height. Usually, a tower crane has a design which enables the mast to grow during construction by adding more parts as the building process goes on. This way the crane's height can be specified, making sure that it has adequate height to safely and efficiently carry out the required work.
Slewing Unit/Top Climber
Over the mast is the slewing unit. It houses the motor and equipment that enables the crane to rotate. A top climber is the piece of machinery that enables the mast to grow. The top climber sits just beneath the slewing unit. Hydraulic rams inside the top climber enable the slewing unit to be detached from the mast by raising it higher.
Boom
The term "boom", refers to the working arm of a tower crane. The boom is made up of individual steel parts which are connected together, extending out from the top of the slewing unit and parallel to the ground. There is a trolley attached to the bottom which can extend the length of the boom. This trolley holds the hoisting mechanism.