Other KInds of Crawler-Mounted Cranes
Industrial wheel tractors during the 1920s, such as those made by McCormick-Deering and Fordson were rapidly modified in order to be able to power a huge range of equipment. Like for instance, half-swing cranes and shovels were manufactured by several companies around the tractor's engine and power train and the wheels became replaced by crawlers.
Crawler tractors came into widespread use in the 1930s. Soon after, numerous manufacturers started making attachments for them, such as a variety of lifting machine devices.
For example, side-mounted booms were primarily utilized for pipe-laying where it gained its nickname the "pipelayer." These machines are usually used nowadays for attending to cleaning up railroad derailments. Due to their compact design, mobility and size, along with excellent lifting capacity, these types of equipments are great for this use. In addition, swing booms which mounted on top of the engine compartment became available too.
Similar to a crawler tractor, crawler cranes travel on crawler tracks. Because of their intense weight, these equipments do not move really fast. Typically, the crane is powered by one engine and can be controlled by 2 or more cable operated drums. The crawler cranes come equipped with a telescopic arm or a lattice boom that could be extended easily using hydraulics. The lattice boom should be manually assembled by adding multiple sections.
Tower Cranes
Tower cranes are those found in large construction projects. These kinds of cranes are necessary to be built and broken down on location. They should be transported by truck each time they are relocated. These tower cranes are exceptionally tall. They allow construction crews to move concrete building components or heavy steel to the tops of tall buildings. Tower cranes utilize a hydraulic system to be able to push each and every new crane part up into place and thus, are self-erecting.