Kinds of Jib Cranes
Jib cranes are made up of a trolley hoist on a horizontal load-bearing boom. This boom is connected to a pivoting vertical member and up to 20 feet long. Jib cranes are able to move loads between any areas within the boom's arc of rotation. Light duty units are utilized within factories and warehouses for loads weighing up to 5 tons. The website BestJibCranes.com features the major jib crane types as being either free-standing, wall-mounted or mast mounted.
Free Standing
The free-standing jib crane models do not require any support from the building structure and could stand by themselves. The horizontal boom in this case is connected to a pivoting vertical column that is solidly anchored to the building floor. This kind of jib crane is able to rotate a full 360 degrees and needs a foundation made of either steel or concrete.
Mast-Type
The mast-type jib cranes feature a vertical column that is supported by pivot points at the bottom and the top which are attached to the building floor and the overhead steel structure. These jib-cranes provide 360 degrees of rotation with the benefit of not requiring the massive foundation required for free-standing units.
Wall Mounted
The wall-mounted jib cranes offer a horizontal boom that is attached to the wall of a building as opposed to the regular vertical column. These machine are ideal in places where the full 360 degree rotation is not needed and offer up to 200 degrees of rotation.
There are two model varieties, depending on how the boom is supported. One of the kinds utilizes a tie rod that is connected from above the wall to the boom. The other variety supports the boom from below by utilizing a cantilever brace that is also connected to the wall.