An industrial overhead crane is made up of five main components: the electric hoist, the long-travel drive, the cross-travel electrical supply, the safety devices, and the runway and crane rails. Anyone who operates or works with cranes, and any factory planning to install one, should understand these parts so the crane can be used safely and installed correctly.
1. Electric Hoist
The electric hoist reduces the effort needed to lift heavy loads up and down, and moves them left and right along the crane. A motor shaft transmits power to a gearbox, which increases the torque delivered to the drum that winds the chain or wire rope, increasing lifting power. The hoist runs on a trolley with wheels that travel along the crane.
2. Long-Travel Drive
The long-travel drive is mounted to the crane’s end carriages. Electric motors drive the axles and the drive wheels, and electrical controls move the crane forwards and backwards along the factory. The end carriages carry the full load and transfer it through the crane wheels to the runway rails, which are fixed to the building columns.
3. Cross-Travel Electrical Supply
The cross-travel electrical equipment hangs the power cables along the crane girder. It supplies power and control signals to the electric hoist so it can lift up and down and travel across the girder, allowing the crane to operate safely.
4. Safety Devices
A crane must have devices that make operation safer, including:
- Devices that can cut the crane’s travel movements
- Rubber buffers that absorb impact and protect against abnormal operation
- Signals that indicate crane movement
- Power cut-off devices in case the crane operates abnormally
5. Runway and Crane Rails
The runway and rails support the crane wheels and the load. The runway beams are mounted on brackets at the top of the building columns and welded to the load-bearing members. Their height and wide flanges help resist sideways sway from lateral forces.
Component Summary
| Component | Main function |
|---|---|
| Electric hoist | Lifts and lowers the load, travels across the crane |
| Long-travel drive | Moves the crane along the building |
| Cross-travel electrical supply | Delivers power and control to the hoist |
| Safety devices | Stop movement, absorb impact, warn and cut power |
| Runway and rails | Carry the crane wheels and transfer the load to the building |
Why Must Every Component Be Installed?
When installing a crane, check that every component is in place. An incomplete installation can endanger the people using it. For the next step, read about crane types: overhead vs. gantry.
ONVALLA provides industrial cranes, crane repair, crane training and crane installation. Contact ONVALLA to learn more.
