How are gantry cranes constructed and used?

A gantry crane is one type of roadway. Unlike the latter, the bridge of this device moves along the rails not directly, but through special supports. The rails themselves are installed not at the height, on the walls of the shop, but on the ground. The main distinguishing feature of such equipment as gantry cranes is their versatility.

There are both single-beam and double-beam structures. Any kind of this equipment does not require complex maintenance and is easily managed by one operator. The use of such structures as a gantry crane gantry will greatly increase labor productivity. According to the experience of using such models, the costs of output can be reduced by about 25%.

This equipment is used in many areas of industry. Here are the main areas of their application:

• Warehouses. In these premises, gantry cranes are used to move piece cargo, containers, etc.
• Open areas of production shops. In this case, this equipment is also mounted to move mostly piece products.
• When assembling prefabricated buildings - warehouses and industrial, as well as civil structures.
• In shipbuilding and hydroelectric power stations.

In all these cases, the cranes may differ slightly in their performance characteristics. When using for moving goods in warehouses, equipment with a sufficiently small lifting height (up to 12 meters) is used. For the assembly of prefabricated structures in industry and agriculture, special assembly and construction gantry cranes are used. For the movement of cargo in the shipbuilding industry, special models are also used. Most often this is CCS. Lightweight constructions are also available, which can be used even in individual construction. Such models are characterized by an unusual smoothness of stroke, and therefore very easy to manage.

To move the goods themselves, various tools can be used: hooks, like single-horned and two-horned, electromagnets, tongs, grabs (special buckets, used for carrying loose goods), etc. The lifting mechanism itself is located directly on the bridge, along which it moves. The work of the gantry crane can be carried out by the operator either from a cabin fixed to a support or a freight trolley, or from the outside, directly from the ground. In the first case, some models can be equipped with a remote control. In this case, a special key is used for control, without which it is impossible to turn on or turn off the engine.

It is this kind of bridge crane that is considered the most popular and often used. The point here is the ease of assembly, transportation and management. In addition, this equipment is not too expensive, and consumes very little fuel. The most simple in service are gantry cranes single-beam. Such an interesting name, most likely, is chosen for these models because they are somewhat similar to an ancient device for sawing firewood. Between the two supports is a bridge, and on it moves one or several freight trolleys.