Hoists
Hoists ~ these are designed for the vertical transportation of
materials, passengers or materials and passengers (see page 184).
Materials hoists are designed for one specific use (i.e. the vertical
transportation of materials) and under no circumstances should
they be used to transport passengers. Most material hoists are of
a mobile format which can be dismantled, folded onto the chassis
and moved to another position or site under their own power or
towed by a haulage vehicle. When in use material hoists need to be
stabilised and/or tied to the structure and enclosed with a
protective screen.
183
Hoists
Passenger Hoists ~ these are designed to carry passengers
although most are capable of transporting a combined load of
materials and passengers within the lifting capacity of the hoist. A
wide selection of hoists are available ranging from a single cage
with rope suspension to twin cages with rack and pinion operation
mounted on two sides of a static tower.
184
Rubble Chutes and Skips
Rubble Chutes ~ these apply to contracts involving demolition,
repair, maintenance and refurbishment. The simple concept of
connecting several perforated dustbins is reputed to have been
conceived by an ingenious site operative for the expedient and safe
conveyance of materials.
In purpose designed format, the tapered cylinders are produced
from reinforced rubber with chain linkage for continuity. Overall
unit lengths are generally 1100 mm, providing an effective length of
1 m. Hoppers and side entry units are made for special applications.
Ref. Highways Act † written permit (licence) must be obtained from
the local authority highways department for use of a skip on a
public thoroughfare. It will have to be illuminated at night and may
require a temporary traffic light system to regulate vehicles.
185
Cranes
Cranes ~ these are lifting devices designed to raise materials by
means of rope operation and move the load horizontally within the
limitations of any particular machine. The range of cranes available
is very wide and therefore choice must be based on the loads to be
lifted, height and horizontal distance to be covered, time period(s)
of lifting operations, utilisation factors and degree of mobility
required. Crane types can range from a simple rope and pulley or
gin wheel to a complex tower crane but most can be placed within
1 of 3 groups, namely mobile, static and tower cranes.
186
Cranes
Self Propelled Cranes ~ these are mobile cranes mounted on a
wheeled chassis and have only one operator position from which
the crane is controlled and the vehicle driven. The road speed of
this type of crane is generally low, usually not exceeding 30 km
p.h. A variety of self propelled crane formats are available ranging
from short height lifting strut booms of fixed length to variable
length lattice booms with a fly jib attachment.
187
Cranes
Lorry Mounted Cranes ~ these mobile cranes consist of a lattice
or telescopic boom mounted on a specially adapted truck or lorry.
They have two operating positions: the lorry being driven from a
conventional front cab and the crane being controlled from a
different location. The lifting capacity of these cranes can be
increased by using outrigger stabilising jacks and the approach
distance to the face of building decreased by using a fly jib. Lorry
mounted telescopic cranes require a firm surface from which to
operate and because of their short site preparation time they are
ideally suited for short hire periods.
188
Cranes
Lorry Mounted Lattice Jib Cranes ~ these cranes follow the same
basic principles as the lorry mounted telescopic cranes but they
have a lattice boom and are designed as heavy duty cranes with
lifting capacities in excess of 100 tonnes. These cranes will require
a firm level surface from which to operate and can have a folding
or sectional jib which will require the crane to be rigged on site
before use.
189
Cranes
Track Mounted Cranes ~ these machines can be a universal power
unit rigged as a crane (see page 178) or a purpose designed track
mounted crane with or without a fly jib attachment. The latter
type are usually more powerful with lifting capacities up to 45
tonnes. Track mounted cranes can travel and carry out lifting
operations on most sites without the need for special road and
hardstand provisions but they have to be rigged on arrival after
being transported to site on a low loader lorry.
190
Cranes
Gantry Cranes ~ these are sometimes called portal cranes and
consist basically of two `A' frames joined together with a cross
member on which transverses the lifting appliance. In small gantry
cranes (up to 10 tonnes lifting capacity) the `A' frames are usually
wheel mounted and manually propelled whereas in the large gantry
cranes (up to 100 tonnes lifting capacity) the `A' frames are
mounted on powered bogies running on rail tracks with the driving
cab and lifting gear mounted on the cross beam or gantry. Small
gantry cranes are used primarily for loading and unloading
activities in stock yards whereas the medium and large gantry
cranes are used to straddle the work area such as in power
station construction or in repetitive low to medium rise
developments. All gantry cranes have the advantage of three
direction movement †
1. Transverse by moving along the cross beam.
2. Vertical by raising and lowering the hoist block.
3. Horizontal by forward and reverse movements of the whole
gantry crane.
191
Cranes
Mast Cranes ~ these are similar in appearance to the familiar
tower cranes but they have one major difference in that the mast
or tower is mounted on the slewing ring and thus rotates whereas
a tower crane has the slewing ring at the top of the tower and
therefore only the jib portion rotates. Mast cranes are often
mobile, self erecting, of relatively low lifting capacity and are
usually fitted with a luffing jib. A wide variety of models are
available and have the advantage over most mobile low pivot
cranes of a closer approach to the face of the building.
192
Cranes
Tower Cranes ~ most tower cranes have to be assembled and
erected on site prior to use and can be equipped with a horizontal
or luffing jib. The wide range of models available often make it
difficult to choose a crane suitable for any particular site but most
tower cranes can be classified into one of four basic groups thus:-
1. Self Supporting Static Tower Cranes † high lifting capacity
with the mast or tower fixed to a foundation base † they
are suitable for confined and open sites. (see page 194)
2. Supported Static Tower Cranes † similar in concept to self
supporting cranes and are used where high lifts are required,
the mast or tower being tied at suitable intervals to the
structure to give extra stability. (see page 195)
3. Travelling Tower Cranes † these are tower cranes mounted
on power bogies running on a wide gauge railway track to
give greater site coverage † only slight gradients can be
accommodated therefore a reasonably level site or specially
constructed railway support trestle is required. (see page 196)
4. Climbing Cranes † these are used in conjunction with tall buildings
and structures. The climbing mast or tower is housed within the
structure and raised as the height of the structure is increased.
Upon completion the crane is dismantled into small sections and
lowered down the face of the building. (see page 197)
All tower cranes should be left in an `out of service' condition
when unattended and in high wind conditions, the latter varying
with different models but generally wind speeds in excess of 60 km
p.h. would require the crane to be placed in an out of service
condition thus:-
193
Cranes
194
Cranes
195
Cranes
196
Cranes
197
