The base of the tower crane is usually bolted to a large concrete pad which provides really crucial support. The base is connected to a tower or a mast and stabilizes the crane which is affixed to the inside of the structure of the building. Often, this attachment point is to a concrete lift or to an elevator shaft.
Usually, the mast is a triangulated lattice structure measuring 0.9m2 or 10 feet square. The slewing unit is attached to the very top of the mast. The slewing unit is made of a gear and a motor which allows the crane to rotate.
Tower cranes are able to have a maximum unsupported height of 80m or 265 feet. The maximum lifting capacity of a tower crane is 16,642 kilograms or 39,690 lbs. with counter weights of 20 tons. Furthermore, two limit switches are used in order to ensure the driver does not overload the crane. There is even another safety feature called a load moment switch to make sure that the operator does not exceed the ton meter load rating. Last of all, the maximum reach of a tower crane is 70 meters or 230 feet.
There is definitely a science involved with erecting a tower crane, especially due to their extreme heights. First, the stationary structure has to be transported to the construction site by utilizing a large tractor-trailer rig setup. Then, a mobile crane is utilized in order to assemble the equipment portion of the crane and the jib. These sections are then attached to the mast. Next, the mobile crane adds counterweights. Forklifts and crawler cranes can be some of the other industrial machines which is typically utilized to erect a crane.
When the building is erected, mast extensions are added to the crane. This is how the crane's height is able to match the building's height. The crane crew uses what is referred to as a top climber or a climbing frame which fits between the slewing unit and the top of the mast. A weight is hung on the jib by the work crew in order to balance the counterweight. Once complete, the slewing unit is able to detach from the top of the mast. In the top climber, hydraulic rams are used to adjust the slewing unit up an extra 20 feet or 6.1m. After that, the crane operator uses the crane to insert and bolt into place another mast part piece.