Generally the base that is bolted into a huge concrete pad provides the necessary support for a tower crane. The base is connected to a mast or a tower and stabilizes the crane that is attached to the inside of the building's structure. Often, this attachment point is to an elevator shaft or to a concrete lift.
Usually, the mast is a triangulated lattice structure measuring 0.9m2 or 10 feet square. The slewing unit is connected to the very top of the mast. The slewing unit is made of a gear and a motor which enable the crane to rotate.
Tower cranes may have a max unsupported height of 80m or 265 feet, while the tower crane's maximum lifting capacity is 16,642 kilograms or 39,690 pounds with counter weights of 20 tons. Additionally, two limit switches are used in order to ensure the operator does not overload the crane. There is even another safety feature known as a load moment switch to make certain that the driver does not exceed the ton meter load rating. Finally, the tower crane has a maximum reach of 70 meters or 230 feet.
Because of their extreme heights, there is a science involved to erecting a crane. The stationary structure will at first have to be brought to the construction site by using a large tractor-trailer rig setup. Then, a mobile crane is used in order to assemble the machinery part of the crane and the jib. These parts are then connected to the mast. The mobile crane next adds counterweights. Crawler cranes and forklifts may be some of the other industrial machinery that is typically utilized to erect a crane.
Mast extensions are added to the crane when the building is erected. This is how the height of the crane can match the building's height. The crane crew utilizes what is referred to as a climbing frame or a top climber that fits between the top of the mast and the slewing unit. A weight is hung on the jib by the work crew in order to balance the counterweight. When complete, the slewing unit can detach from the top of the mast. In the top climber, hydraulic rams are utilized to adjust the slewing unit up an extra 20 feet or 6.1m. After that, the crane driver uses the crane to insert and bolt into place one more mast part piece.