Various Types of Crawler-Mounted Cranes
In order to be able to power a large range of equipment, industrial wheel tractors were adapted in the 1920s, by McCormick-Deering and Fordson. Like for instance, half-swing cranes and shovels were made by some companies around the tractor's engine and power train and the wheels became replaced by crawlers.
Crawler tractors came into widespread use in the 1930s. Soon after, numerous manufacturers began manufacturing attachments for them, like for example a variety of lifting equipment devices.
Side-mounted booms for example, were used mainly for pipe-laying at first and the equipment got the nickname "pipelayer." These equipments are now often utilized for attending to cleaning up railroad derailments. Because of their compact design, mobility and size, along with exceptional lifting capacity, these types of machinery are great for this application. In addition, swing booms that mounted on top of the engine compartment became available too.
Similar to a crawler tractor, crawler cranes travel on crawler tracks. Due to their intense weight, these equipments do not move very fast. Typically, the crane is powered by one engine and can be controlled by 2 or more cable operated drums. The crawler cranes come equipped with a lattice boom or a telescopic arm which is easy to extend by using hydraulics. The lattice boom must be assembled manually by adding multiple sections.
Tower Cranes
Tower cranes are those found in large construction projects. These types of cranes are essential to be built and broken down on location. They have to be transported by truck each time they are relocated. These tower cranes are very tall. They enable construction crews to transport concrete building parts or heavy steel to the tops of tall buildings. Tower cranes use a hydraulic system to be able to push each new crane section up into place and hence, are self-erecting.