Overhead Cranes

Using the overhead area of a manufacturing plant, an overhead crane is a form of heavy-duty machinery that can safely and accurately transport extremely large goods and equipment from one place to another. They are precisely constructed and intended to match a certain loading application because of the nature of their task.

There are several sizes, styles, combinations, forms, and components for overhead cranes. They are employed when loading and unloading, transporting objects, removing dies from stamping equipment, or feeding raw materials.

Efficiency and safety are the two basic justifications for deploying an overhead crane. Overhead cranes can work much more quickly than land-based or floor-based equipment. With hot metals, chemicals, or poisonous materials, overhead cranes can transfer things securely and without exposing personnel to risky, extreme situations.

Components of an Overhead Crane

The overhead crane is comprised of:

1. Hoist
2. Trolley under running/underhung
3. Top running
4. Bridge – single girder or double girder
5. Runway rail or tracks
6. End trucks
7. Bumpers
8. Controls
9. Electrification

Types of Overhead Crane

1. Bridge Cranes

   The most popular type of bridge crane on the market is the overhead model. Two above runway beams on a bridge crane are connected to the building's support framework. There are two girder configurations available for this crane: single and double.

   

2. Gantry Cranes

   Rather than being suspended from a support beam, the girder in a gantry crane stands on legs. The legs can be installed on, or below, ground.

   

3. Monorail Cranes

   Because it lacks a rafter, a monorail crane is unique from the others. A trolley attached to an I-beam that moves the hoist is part of the crane. The tracks of a typical monorail crane can be modified to fit the application, but the weight must travel in a straight path.

   

4. Jib Cranes

   A jib crane hangs on a wall with a boom that extends over the coverage area; it lacks a runway system. Additionally, these overhead cranes may stand alone.

   

5. Workstation Cranes

   Constructed for usage in regions with limited space, workstation cranes are lightweight. It has a straightforward design and has a lifting capacity of up to two tonnes of material.

   

Construction of an Overhead Crane

• Beyond what has to be lifted or the items being loaded, several more considerations exist in designing and selecting an overhead crane.
• It is crucial to fully comprehend how the overhead crane will fit into the operation because these cranes are made, formed, structured, and manufactured to match certain situations.
• No matter how a crane is configured, all overhead cranes require the same three fundamental building blocks: a bridge, a trolley, and a hoist.
• In bridge and gantry cranes, the bridge spans two supports; however, in jib cranes and cantilever cranes, bridges are carried in the air from one support; in these circumstances, the load carrying arm is sometimes referred to as a boom.

Working of an Overhead Crane

• Overhead cranes are powered by hydraulics, internal combustion engines, or electric batteries.
• The hoist and crane hook are moved along the bridge by a mechanical or electrically-driven system known as the trolley.
• The device that lowers and raises the crane attachment, hook, grapple, fork, or auger is called a hoist.
• The main electric, internal combustion, or hydraulic lift of the crane, located at the bottom or top of its support, is connected to the crane attachment by a wire rope or nylon cables. Electric motors are used for smaller applications, while internal combustion or hydraulic power is used for larger, heavier work.

Benefits of Overhead Cranes

1. Quickly transferring bulky objects from storage to the shipping port is a key advantage of an overhead crane in warehousing.
2. They lessen the potential of material or product damage.
3. Overhead cranes reduce expenses and improve workflow.
4. These cranes reduce environmental impact via a green solution.

Applications of Overhead Cranes

1. The first industry to come to mind while considering the need for an overhead crane is warehousing since equipment, supplies, and materials are constantly being moved, set up, and prepared.
2. Overhead cranes are frequently employed in refining steel and other metals like copper and aluminum. Metal is handled by an overhead crane throughout the production process until it exits the plant as a finished product.
3. Large-equipment assembly firms employ overhead cranes because they need a way to lift and move unfinished assemblies from one place to another so they may be finished.
4. When big, bulky items need to be placed into cars, trains, or trucks for transportation, the same rules apply to storage. Large goods may be arranged for shipment with ease using overhead cranes.
5. By gently moving and arranging items for easier access, overhead cranes help to facilitate repairs of punch presses and other production equipment.