Other KInds of Crawler-Mounted Cranes
Industrial wheel tractors in the 1920s, such as those manufactured by Fordson and McCormick-Deering were rapidly modified in order to be able to power a large variety of machinery. For instance, half-swing shovels and cranes were made by some companies around the tractor's engine and power train and the wheels became replaced by crawlers.
During the 1930s, crawler tractors came into widespread use. Soon after, numerous manufacturers started making attachments for them, including a variety of lifting machine devices.
For example, side-mounted booms were mainly utilized for pipe-laying where it gained its nickname the "pipelayer." These types of machinery are currently normally utilized for attending to cleaning up railroad derailments. Due to their size, compact design and mobility, along with excellent lifting capacity, these equipments are ideal for this application. Additionally, swing booms which mounted on top of the engine compartment also became available.
Crawler cranes are like the crawler tractor in that it travels along crawler tracks. These machines can not move fast due to their intense weights. Typically, the crane is powered by one engine and can be controlled by 2 or more cable operated drums. The crawler cranes are available with a lattice boom or a telescopic arm that can be extended easily using hydraulics. The lattice boom should be assembled manually by adding multiple sections.
Tower Cranes
Typically found in big construction projects, tower cranes are required to be erected and broken down on location. They should be transported by truck every time they are relocated. These tower cranes are exceptionally tall. They allow construction crews to transport concrete building components or heavy steel to the tops of tall buildings. Tower cranes use a hydraulic system to push every new crane section up into position and therefore, are self-erecting.