Various Types of Crawler-Mounted Cranes
Industrial wheel tractors in the 1920s, including those made by McCormick-Deering and Fordson were rapidly adapted in order to be able to power a large range of equipment. Like for example, half-swing shovels and cranes were manufactured by several 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 began making attachments for them, including various lifting machine devices.
For instance, side-mounted booms were mainly used for pipe-laying where it gained its nickname the "pipelayer." These types of machines are now often used for attending to cleaning up railroad derailments. Due to their compact design, mobility and size, along with outstanding lifting capacity, these kinds of machines are ideal for this application. Moreover, swing booms that mounted on top of the engine compartment became available too.
LIke a crawler tractor, crawler cranes travel on crawler tracks. Due to their intense weight, these machinery do not move very fast. Usually, the crane is powered by one engine and could be controlled by 2 or more cable operated drums. The crawler cranes are available with a telescopic arm or a lattice boom that is easy to extend by using hydraulics. The lattice boom must be manually assembled by adding many sections.
Tower Cranes
Typically found in large construction projects, tower cranes are required to be erected and broken down on location. They must be transported by truck each and every time they are relocated. These tower cranes are exceptionally tall. They allow construction crews to transport heavy steel or concrete building components to the tops of tall buildings. Tower cranes use a hydraulic system in order to push each new crane section up into place and thus, are self-erecting.