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The Science Behind Tower Cranes

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The Science Behind Power Cranes

If you have marvelled at a tower crane and asked yourself “how do those things work?” don’t worry, you are not on your own. A feat of engineering, tower cranes have been at the forefront of construction and innovation for centuries, yet knowledge of their mechanics and their functionalities are still reserved for experts and practitioners. To shed light on this industry, NMT Crane Hire study the science behind tower cranes.

Foundations For Tower Cranes

One of the most important aspects in ensuring a crane strays upright is making sure a suitable foundation has been laid. Like any building or skyscraper, a foundation needs to be sewn in order to secure the structure and to prevent any mishaps. Typically, a foundation for a tower crane will be secured with cement (again, like a building or skyscraper) and in certain cases, steel beams will be used for added security to the structure. The usual formatting of a crane’s foundation will consist of the base of the crane being attached to a concrete pad via large anchor bolts. Following on from this step, the pad will be connected to the steel beams, which are reinforced with concrete pillars. This foundation gives the crane a wider base platform, and as it is secured with concrete, this significantly reduces the chances of any tower crane toppling, even in extreme conditions. Modern-day cranes and their foundations are built to withstand winds of up to 145mph, meaning they should comfortably deal with category 4 hurricanes and storms.

Counterbalancing

Another vital component of a tower cranes structure is the counterbalance. Evidently, tower cranes are not built to just stand up and look pretty; they are responsible for manoeuvring large materials at great heights. When operating heavy materials at height, one of the main concerns is the risk of toppling, and that is why tower cranes are usually fitted with a counterweight. However, the equation for working out how much weight is needed for a specific load is far more sophisticated than one would think. Here is the equation in full to help you determine the appropriate counterbalance weight for your crane:

Step 1: Determine the amount of weight being applied to one end of your crane

Step 2: Measure the distance between the weight and the pivot point

Step 3: Multiply the amount of weight by the distance between the two points

Step 4: Measure the distance of the opposite side of the level (the space which is available for the counterbalance.)

Step 4: Divide the total applied torque (the force which causes the rotation) by the distance of the counterbalance weight.

How Heavy Can They Lift?

As mentioned in the equation above, the amount of counterbalance required depends on the weight of the materials. As cranes are required to lift high and to lift big, just how heavy can they haul? The maximum unsupported height for a crane is around 265 feet, but this height can increase if the crane is attached to the side of a building. With that in mind, the typical tower crane offers a lifting power of around 19.8 metric tonnes. As previously explained, this amount of weight changes depending on the height of the crane, the conditions in which the crane is lifting and a number of other variables, and with a number of safety concerns, it is important to air on the side of caution when deciding how you load your tower crane.

NMT Crane Hire are experts in the field of crane hire, so if you wish to find out more about all of our services, contact us today on 0800 026 6985 or leave us a message via our online contact form.

What Is Heavy Haulage and When Do You Need It?

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What Is Heavy Haulage and When Do You Need It

The grand statue of a tower crane is a symbol of sheer height, yet the whole process of constructing and transporting a crane to a new site is synonymous with size. For a big piece of machinery like a crane, you need an accommodating delivery service that can transport the largest objects both safely and efficiently. Heavy haulage is a specific industry that has been tailor-made for oversized objects such as cranes; the industry is an essential piece of the puzzle in sculpting our skyline.

What is Heavy Haulage?

The classification behind heavy haulage stretches further than the size of your object. There are a number of categories that diagnose your load with specific speed limits and weight restrictions. Category 2 and 3 vehicles, which is where the majority of heavy haulage vehicles reside, are limited to 40 mph on motorways and 35 mph on dual carriageways, and depending on the precise weight of the vehicle, you may need to be granted permission to transport the goods.

Heavy Haulage Weight Restrictions

With loads exceeding a gross weight of 78 tonnes, you will need to inform the Highway and Bridge Authorities with at least 2 clear days of notice. The same goes for loads over 147 tonnes, except in this case, the notice period is extended to 5 days and the Police must also be informed. There are a number of categories that require notice and special permission, so to familiarise yourself with all these guidelines, take a look at the Special types enforcement guide.

Despite the rules and regulations, heavy haulage is not an exclusive industry. Although this method of transportation is mainly reserved for agriculture, construction and in the delivery of static homes, there is a reason why so many companies opt for one big haul over multiple journeys with smaller lorries. Although the premium of heavy haulage may exceed the costs of smaller delivery options, the cost of multiple trips will soon add up to one higher than a single, larger service. This method is also less time consuming, and allows all the parts of a crane, for example, to be delivered in a more timely fashion, speeding up the entire construction process. Heavy haulage is only an option to consider if your use of a crane conforms with a CPA contract, where you will need to provide everything but the crane for your build.

If you are in the process of constructing all the parts to your latest build and need a crane transported to your site, you can call on the services NMT Crane Hire to deliver the goods. Just contact us on 0800 026 6985 or you can use our online form to leave us a message.

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NMT helps Comet fly again

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rn rnrn rnrn rnrn rnrn rnrn rnrn rnrnNMT Crane Hire were recently called in to lift a very delicate old aircraft.rnrnThe fusalage of the vintage comet was lifted into position for a museum

NMT perform complex rig & lift with AC700 and AC250

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NMT supplied their 700 ton Terex for a complex lift,which involved aerial rigging the 36 metre luffing jib at a site in Snetterton,Norfolk.rnrnIMG_1304Although it was a awkward set up and involved a 250 ton crane as the rigging crane,the crane was ready to work in less than 8 hours.

How to Operate a Crane in Bad Weather

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How to Operate a Crane In Bad Weather

Operating a crane is a job which requires nerves of steel and an eye for precision at the best of times, yet when this profession is combined with adverse weather conditions, the job requires a whole other level of expertise. As we head into the colder months, NMT Crane Hire explains how to operate a crane when the weather takes a turn for the worst?

Strong Winds

Unsurprisingly, the most pressing issue presented to crane operators is strong winds. Being such tall and slender obstacles, strong winds pose an imminent threat to the stability of a crane. Despite being equipped with counterweights of varying sizes to cope with different conditions, cranes are typically restricted to lifting in conditions in excess of 20 mph. The typical industry practice will see most lifts postponed if winds creep up to and around the 15 mph mark to err on the side of caution.

Due to the stature and structure of a crane, there is no definitive answer as to how to operate a crane is windy conditions. The general rule of thumb will be to wait until the wind settles as health and safety is the priority of any lift.

Thunder and Lighting

When storms are brewing, there are a number of other problems which must be considered by crane operators. Although there are no official guidelines which offer guidance for operating in thunder and lighting, it is generally advised to abandon any lifting once thunder is detected at least 10 miles away. If the last sighting of thunder has been detected 10 miles away, the very next strike could be in your location, no matter if it is raining or not. As cranes are large metal structures, they are more likely to be struck by lightning as they are conductors of electricity, which is why abandoning the crane once thunder and lightning have been detected is advised. Do not return back to the cockpit of the crane until 30 minutes has passed since the last thunder strike. Again, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Contact

For more information on how to operate a crane or other industry-relevant topics, head over to our news page. If you wish to learn more about our services, contact NMT Crane Hire on 0800 026 6985 or leave us a message via our online contact form.

NMT lift ‘Alice through the Looking Glass’ ship

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S1170016NMT used a 220 ton and 250 ton crane to tandem lift a ship, built especially for the latest ‘Alice through the Looking Glass’ film.  The same two cranes were also used to light the set.  The ship was constructed on site, filmed and then loaded onto transport to be moved to a new location.  A great piece of engineering.Well done to all concerned.

The Components of a Crane’s Design

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The Components Of a Crane’s Design

To help construct and sculpt buildings and all shapes and sizes, a crane’s design has to be sophisticated enough to be able to adapt to the needs and requirements of any project. Having been developed over centuries, the crane’s design has reached a stage where no project is too big, but what are the components of a crane’s design which enable contractors and builders to build bigger and bigger? NMT crane Hire outline all the features and components which make these machines a mainstay on every construction site.

Jib

Arguably the most practical element of a crane’s design, a jib is the arm of the crane which is responsible for lifting and manoeuvring the materials around the site. Although there are many different variations of jibs, including luffing jibs and fixed jibs, the main premise of this component is to hold and suspend the materials attached to the cranes…

Hooks

Although this feature may not compare to the other components in terms of size, hooks are undisputably just as important. Used to connect the materials to the crane, hooks are suspended from a hoist rope and can be connected to various points of the crane, depending on the size and weights of the materials.

Weights

Especially in the case of tower cranes, one of the main downfalls of a crane’s design is the potential for the structure to capsize. Cases of these tragedies are extremely rare, however, largely due to the role of weights on a crane. Placed at the rear end of the crane, these weights are designed to counter the weight of the materials being lifted, and an extensive level of care is taken to determine the appropriate amount of weight needed for the crane.

Operating Cabin

The control centre of a crane, the cabin is the area of the crane which houses the operator, as well as the controls, anemometer, scales and other essential features. Typically located above the sewing unit of a crane, the cabin is one of the most important elements to a crane, purely for providing an office for operators to carry out their work.

Our knowledge of cranes and their design features stems from over 30 years of industry practice with these machines. If you wish to enquire about over services, contact NMT Crane Hire today on 0800 026 6985 or message us via our online contact form.