Right type of overhead crane for your application is the most cost-effective way to improve your efficiency and streamlining workflow. What are the different types of overhead crane? Which type of overhead crane is for your application? Read on.
Overhead crane assembly 3 D video
After confirmation that an overhead crane system can help material handling and improve efficiency, you will be confronted by the various different types of overhead cranes. What type of overhead crane is right for your working application?
In terms of overhead crane specifications and configurations, there are no two overhead cranes are built in the same. An overhead crane, which is used in similar working application environment and transfer similar loads as yours, maybe is not the best choice for your specific application. Therefore, to select the right type of overhead crane for your application is the most cost-effective way to improve your efficiency and streamlining workflow.
In the following, these terms on overhead crane, such as, single girder overhead crane, double girder overhead crane, top running overhead crane, and under running overhead crane, and the difference between the overhead crane types will be demonstrated for your reference to select the right overhead crane type for your application and facility.
The major types of overhead crane will be presented for you, which includes;
With all the efforts, Dongqi Crane hopes it will help you to understand how each types of crane works, and the merits and demerits of each type of overhead cranes.What are the different types of overhead crane? Before starting the topic, could you please answer the question: “What is an overhead crane?”
An overhead bridge crane can be configured in a single girder overhead crane or double girder overhead crane design. In simple terms, a bridge girder, or beam, is the support structure that allows the trolley and hoist to move from side-to-side along the bridge. The trolley is used to precisely position the hoist prior to raising or lowering a load.
To a degree, both single and double girder cranes are equal in strength and durability. Single girder bridge cranes distinct itself from double girder bridge configuration mainly in terms of hook height, which is height your electric hoist can lift above the ground.
Due to the placement of electric hoist, the double girder crane offers more hook height, which is installed on the top of double girders rather than hung under the single girder.
A single girder bridge crane is usually designed for the lifts under 20 tons, span less than 31.5m, or the requirement for crane services classification is under A7 and A8.
Single girder overhead crane - Overhead crane types of Dongqi
The overhead bridge consists of one girder beam supported on each side by an end truck. The electric trolley and hoist commonly run on the bottom flange of the bridge, often called single girder underhung overhead crane. The single girder underhung crane is less expensive because of the following reasons:
When the lifts is more than 20 ton or the span is more than 31.5m, or the crane duty cycle is A7 and A8, the double girder overhead crane will be the first choice.
Double girder overhead crane - Overhead crane types of Dongqi
Two girder beams makes up the bridge, supported by an end truck or carriage on each side, with the electric trolley and hoist running on the rails, installed on the top of both bridge girders.
What a top running crane or under running crane is should be understand when you want to know the clear differences between bridge cranes.
Top running crane
Top running crane is very flexible and versatile, which can be used to handle lifts with small and large capacity.
Top running crane - Type of overhead crane
With no limiting capacity, the top running crane can be used to handle lifts with small capacities to very large capacities. Top running cranes consist a rail installed on top of each runway, with wheels move on the rail, rather than on the bottom flange of the runway beam. Supported by the building structure or runway support columns, or sister columns, top running overhead crane are the first option for moving extremely heavy loads.
Top running cranes can be designed in a single-girder or double-girder configuration:
Single Girder Top Running:
Double Girder Top Running Benefits:
Under running crane, also called under hung cranes, are used for lighter service and lower capacity applications, usually supported by ceiling or roof structures.
Under running or under hung crane - Overhead crane type
Due to the crane wheels are supported by the bottom flange of the overhead crane runway beams, functioned as the crane rail, the under running crane is also called under hung cranes. This type of overhead cranes can maximize the utilization of the floor space of your facility, because under running cranes are supported by the ceiling trusses or the roof structure.
With the utilization of an existing support structure (if adequate), or run on a newly-engineered support structure, the under running cranes may lower the cost of crane.
Features of underhung cranes
Process Cranes
“Process crane” and “Modular cranes” are two terms used to describe the two different types of overhead cranes, grouped based on crane service, lifting capacity, and application environment.A process crane is designed for a specific need. The process cranes are a type of overhead crane built for heavy-duty (mainly Class D & E cranes) service, and in constant, or near-constant, performance.
Process cranes are typically top running designed double girder cranes, for high capacity lifts, or for high frequency lifts.Process cranes are often used in factories and plants of automotive industry, steel industry, or in places, such as, container yards and lumber mills, etc.
Modular Cranes
Modular crane, also called “kit cranes”, is consisted of a more based level electric hoist or electric trolley, which are usually used in smaller manufacturing facilities, smaller-sized plants or mills, or workshops, etc.
Modular cranes are a types of crane which is economical and affordable material handling solution for most common lifting requirements.
Double girder gantry crane- A type of gantry crane of Dongqi Crane
Unlike overhead crane, a gantry crane runs on rails either embedded in or on the top of floor or ground structure and on the same time the legs support the bridge, electric trolley and hoist.
Gantry cranes also can be grouped into different crane types, in terms of gantry designs, including:
Adjustable Gantries
Adjustable gantry cranes is designed for warehousing applications, where the movement of materials is required to go through aisles, doorways, around obstacles, and over or under obstructions. Adjustable gantry crane is often used to lift parts and equipment into position in welding shops, fabrication shops and etc.
Adjustable gantry crane - A type of crane of Dongqi Crane
Portable Gantries
Portable gantry crane is flexible, which can be replaced and relocated, which is featured as fast, easy movement to and from a work site.
Portable gantry crane and movable gantry crane - Gantry crane type
Rail Mounted Gantries
Rail mounted gantry crane is used for transferring heavy loads, manually or motorized, over a fixed route.
Rail mounted gantry crane - A type of gantry crane of Dongqi Crane
Applications of gantry crane
The features of gantry cranes are as follow:
Monorail crane is consisted of a trolley or hoist, suspended from the lower flange of an I-beam for transferring loads on a straight or curved track.
Monorail crane - A type of overhead crane of Dongqi Crane
Monorail crane is used in a production or assembly line for transferring loads by a trolley or hoist along a single path. Monorail cranes uses an I-beam, usually built into the ceiling structure, and runs along the flat surface (flange) on the bottom of the I-beam. This type of overhead crane also can be designed to use a configured support structure.
With monorail crane, loads can be transferred in a straight line, or branches, with curves, switches, and with changes in elevation based on the rail designs. Monorail cranes are designed for lifts requiring no the side-to-side trolley movement provided by the bridge in an overhead crane or gantry crane. Monorail cranes are cost-effective and versatile solutions for many assembly lines and production applications.
Jib crane - Types of overhead cranes
Jib cranes have a wide range with many different styles and crane types. Jib cranes can be stand alone or mounted on columns or walls with a various lifting capacity, heights and spans.Jib cranes are featured as space-saving, economical, and are used for maneuvering or moving items for assembly within a smaller radius, with rotation of 180-360°.
Which type of jib crane is best for your application? The following questions will be answered:
Workstation cranes are designed for transferring with limited effort in a smaller size work area. Workstation cranes are lighter-duty systems for lifts from 0.25 ton up to 2 tons in capacity, in a repetitive way to lift and position loads, to improve working productivity and ease of work flow.
Workstation cranes can use modular design to build and install, offering high flexibility without requiring an existing supporting structure for installation.
workstation crane - A type of overhead crane of Dongqi Crane
Do you have a better understanding on what the best type of overhead crane for your application is. Maybe you will realize a workstation crane or monorail crane is needed for your specific lifting requirements instead of a full overhead crane installation. Maybe you need additional fabrication or engineering to have an overhead crane installed in the existing building structure. No matter what the situation is, you have to consider the following factors when selecting from the different types of overhead cranes:
If you still do not how to buy overhead crane for your application, please leave a message below. Free consultation from Dongqi Crane will helps find the right type of overhead crane for your application.
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