Different KInds of Crawler-Mounted Cranes
In order to be able to power a large variety of equipment, industrial wheel tractors were modified during the 1920s, by McCormick-Deering and Fordson. For instance, half-swing shovels and cranes were made by some companies around the tractor's power train and engine and the wheels became replaced by crawlers.
Crawler tractors came into widespread use throughout the 1930s. Immediately after, many manufacturers began making attachments for them, like a variety of lifting equipment devices.
Side-mounted booms for instance, were used primarily for pipe-laying at first and the machine got the nickname "pipelayer." These kinds of machines are usually used now for attending to cleaning up railroad derailments. Due to their mobility, size and compact design, in addition to excellent lifting capacity, these kinds of equipments are great for this use. As well, swing booms which mounted on top of the engine compartment became available also.
Crawler cranes are like the crawler tractor in that it travels along crawler tracks. These machines can not move fast thanks to their intense weights. Normally, 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 lattice boom or a telescopic arm which is easy to extend by using hydraulics. The lattice boom needs to be manually assembled by adding many sections.
Tower Cranes
Usually found in big construction projects, tower cranes are required to be erected and broken down on location. They should be transported by truck every time they are relocated. These tower cranes are very tall. They enable construction crews to transport heavy steel or concrete building parts to the tops of tall buildings. Tower cranes use a hydraulic system to be able to push each and every new crane part up into place and thus, are self-erecting.