Parts of a Tower Crane
Some of the most wonderful structures around the world are made using cranes. The newer cranes are used to be able to reach higher heights. Tower cranes provide the means to raise and move materials, tools and building parts around a construction site. There are a few different components which assemble a tower crane once they are put together. Putting a tower crane together utilizes various pieces of construction equipment.
Base
The tower crane base is usually made from a steel unit. The base of the unit attaches to a custom pad made of concrete. This set-up gives the structure stability. Overall, the construction should be engineered and constructed well so as to operate at optimum safety.
Mast
The mast of the tower crane provides height to the machinery. The mast is made of connected steel parts. The amount of sections determines the height of the crane. Typically, a tower crane has a design which allows the mast to grow during construction by adding more parts as the building process goes on. This way the crane's height could be specified, making sure that it has enough height to efficiently and safely perform the required work.
Slewing Unit/Top Climber
Above the mast is the slewing unit. It houses the motor and equipment which allows the crane to rotate. A top climber is the piece of machinery that enables the mast to grow. The top climber sits just below the slewing unit. Hydraulic rams inside the top climber allow the slewing unit to be detached from the mast by raising it higher.
Boom
"Boom" is a term that specifically refers to the working arm of a tower crane. The boom is made of steel sections attached together, that extend out from the top of the slewing unit, parallel to the ground. There is a trolley connected to the underside that could extend the length of the boom. This particular trolley has the hoisting mechanism.