An overhead crane consists of a movable bridge, trolley, and hoist that move on suspended girders. It can be configured as top or bottom glider and single or double girder. Overhead cranes have advantages over forklifts in terms of load capacity and lift height. Safety precautions include avoiding lifting loads with people on them and lateral pulls. Various safety standards are maintained by government agencies and professional societies.
An overhead crane, sometimes called an overhead crane, is a type of crane with a movable bridge that runs on suspended overhead girders. This allows a load to be moved on three axes to and from anywhere in the crane’s operating space. In addition to the bridge, an overhead crane system includes a trolley and hoist that can move along the length of the bridge and overhead beams, known as a track, on which the bridge moves back and forth. The trolley moves from side to side across the bridge, perpendicular to the direction of movement of the bridge, carrying with it the hoist, which can be raised and lowered from the floor to position the load at varying heights.
The overhead crane design allows for multiple configurations to accomplish this movement. The two main classifications are top-glider versus bottom-glider overhead cranes and single-girder versus double-girder overhead cranes. This allows for four general configurations: single girder, double girder, single girder and double girder overhead cranes.
Top running and under running refer to how the deck moves across the track. A top-slide overhead crane is one where the bridge runs over the tops of the elevated runway beams, while a bottom-slide overhead crane has a bridge that runs under the runway. When heavier loads need to be moved, top-scroll overhead cranes are typically the configuration of choice. If headroom in the work area is an issue, the top travel configuration is generally also the preferred configuration, because the hoist does not hang as much below the bridge as in the bottom travel configuration.
Single girder and double girder refer to the number of bridge girders supporting the trolley and hoist that run along the bridge. An advantage of the single-beam system is that it can be less expensive due to the smaller amount of material required to build it, lower shipping costs resulting from its lighter weight, and quicker installation of the system. A double girder system typically allows for more lift height, as the hoist is positioned between the bridge girders rather than under them, so more vertical operating space is left open.
An overhead crane, with its track suspended above the floor, can be selected over a forklift to move loads around a warehouse or factory when floor space is at a premium. Forklifts, on the other hand, not only take up valuable floor space, they can also act as obstacles around which loads need to be maneuvered. Overhead cranes also often offer greater load capacity and lift height than forklifts.
General safety precautions for overhead crane operation include refraining from lifting, lowering or moving a load while a person is on it, and avoiding moving a load on a person. Lateral pulls, where a horizontal force is applied to the side of a load suspended from the crane, are typically not recommended. On the rare occasions that they are conducted, they typically only occur under highly controlled circumstances. Many detailed safety standards related to design, installation, operation, inspection, maintenance and repair are maintained by various government agencies and professional societies.
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