What’s a knuckle boom?

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A knuckle boom crane has a hinged arm that can be used to lift and hoist heavy materials. It is often built into the bed of a truck and can be used in various settings. The arm hinges at three points and can be folded or telescopic. It is typically operated outside the vehicle and can be equipped with a remote control. The jointed design allows for maneuvering in small spaces, but has limited lifting capacity compared to straight boom cranes.

A knuckle boom is a special type of crane that has a hinged boom. It is an alternative to traditional straight boom cranes for lifting and hoisting a variety of heavy materials. The knuckle boom crane is often built into the bed of a truck, where it can be used to load or unload the vehicle. These cranes are also found on large marine vessels, where they are designed to lift smaller boats in or out of the water. These articulated cranes can also be used in lumber yards, warehouses and other settings that handle heavy objects.

The knuckle-boom crane is characterized by the design of its arm, which hinges at three points like a human finger. The boom base raises and lowers to change the boom angle. A hinge along the middle of the arm allows it to be folded, and a third hinge near the end allows users to pick up items using a tackle or hook. One or more of these boom sections can also be telescopic to achieve greater reach. When the articulated arm is in operation, it may have a claw-like appearance or a beckoning finger.

These cranes are most often used to load and unload a flatbed truck and are typically a permanent integral part of the vehicle. Their placement behind the driver makes it difficult to operate the articulated arm from inside the vehicle. Instead, the operator goes outside to watch the loading or unloading process while operating the crane. These machines can be equipped with a remote control or other remote operating system to maximize safety and efficiency. Many fold automatically to fit compactly in a portion of the truck bed at the touch of a button.

Knuckle boom cranes offer many benefits to users in a large number of fields. Their jointed design allows them to maneuver objects in small spaces and also makes them easy to transport in busy urban areas. The hinged arm allows operators to maintain a high level of control over materials, resulting in more accurate positioning and fewer accidents.

A disadvantage associated with the knuckle boom is its limited lifting capacity compared to traditional straight boom cranes. These machines are designed to lift smaller loads and don’t offer as much power as a standard crane. The increased number of parts in an articulating boom can also lead to increased maintenance and repairs compared to other types of lift systems.




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