Other Types of Crawler-Mounted Cranes
Industrial wheel tractors in the 1920s, such as those built by Fordson and McCormick-Deering were rapidly modified in order to be able to power a huge variety of machines. For instance, half-swing shovels and cranes were manufactured by several companies around the tractor's engine and power train and the wheels became replaced by crawlers.
Crawler tractors came into widespread use throughout the 1930s. Soon after, many manufacturers started making attachments for them, like for instance various lifting equipment devices.
Side-mounted booms for instance, were used primarily for pipe-laying at first and the machinery got the nickname "pipelayer." These types of equipments are presently often used for attending to cleaning up railroad derailments. Due to their size, compact design and mobility, in addition to excellent lifting capacity, these machines are great for this application. Moreover, swing booms which mounted on top of the engine compartment became available too.
Crawler cranes are like the crawler tractor in that it travels along crawler tracks. These machines can not move fast thanks to their intense weights. Typically, the crane can be controlled by 2 or more cable operated drums and is powered by one engine. The crawler cranes are available with a lattice boom or a telescopic arm that is easy to extend by utilizing hydraulics. The lattice boom should be manually assembled by adding multiple sections.
Tower Cranes
Normally found in large construction projects, tower cranes are required to be erected and broken down on location. They need to be transported by truck each and every time they are relocated. These tower cranes are exceptionally tall. They enable construction crews to transport concrete building components or heavy steel to the tops of tall buildings. Tower cranes use a hydraulic system in order to push each and every new crane section up into position and hence, are self-erecting.