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