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 transport loads between any areas within the boom's arc of rotation. Light duty units are used within factories and warehouses for loads weighing up to 5 tons. The website BestJibCranes.com features the major jib crane types as being either wall-mounted, mast mounted or free-standing.
Free Standing
Free-standing jib cranes are able to stand alone not requiring support from the building structure. The horizontal boom in this specific situation is attached to a pivoting vertical column which is firmly anchored to the floor of the building. This type of jib crane can rotate a full 360 degrees and requires a foundation made of either concrete or steel.
Mast-Type
The mast-type jib cranes feature a vertical column that is supported by pivot points at the top and the bottom which are connected to the building floor and the overhead steel structure. These jib-cranes provide 360 degrees of rotation with the advantage of not needing the massive foundation needed for free-standing units.
Wall Mounted
The wall-mounted jib cranes provide a horizontal boom that is connected to the wall of a building as opposed to the typical vertical column. These machinery are ideal in places where the full 360 degree rotation is not required and provide 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 using a cantilever brace which is connected to the wall as well.