Did you know that one of the most common issues port cranes deal with is chain link problems? The links can start cracking from overuse or even improper use.
If you want to have ship-to-shore cranes that work efficiently, you need to know how each of their parts works. That will let you know when they are not working correctly.
Read on for a look at the essential parts of port cranes.
Main Boom
This is the part of the port crane that hangs over the ship. The main boom has a hinge above the quay to be lifted, giving space for the ship to move as it needs to. If the crane is smaller and used near airports, where visibility is critical, low-profile booms work best because you can pull them toward the crane when not in use.
Supporting Frame of Port Cranes
This is the structure that holds the boom and the spreader. It is significant, and when on the jetty and performing transverse movements, the frame can be on rubber wheels or rail mounted.
The boogie wheelsets are under the crane’s legs, and you can expect the crane to have eight wheels per corner.
Spreader
The spreader is attached to the rail structure and the operator’s cabin. It can also move transversely on the boom when lifting cargo, and it is connected to the trolley with cables.
This is the part of the crane that lifts the containers. Depending on the number of containers, it can open and close as needed. Some of them can lift up to four containers at the same time.
Trolley
This is the part that supports the spreader and the operator’s cabin. Finally, a trolley supports the mechanism that lets it ride over the boom while also supporting the hoisting mechanism.
Legs
The crane’s legs generate its height. The more modern cranes have higher legs since the stacking of containers has risen. So you can expect up to eleven containers stacked one on top of the other above decks; the crane has to accommodate that height.
The waterside leg, or WS, is thicker than the landside leg, or LS. This is because the WS has to withstand more moment forces.
Power Supply and Cable Reel
A port crane usually has two kinds of power supplies: the diesel generator powered by an engine and rests at the top of the crane and the electric power from the dock and the terminal facilities.
Cables create the electrical connection, and they lay in large gutters over the quay. When the crane moves, the motorized reel rolls them on or off.
Keep Your Equipment Working
By knowing the parts of port cranes and how they function concerning the rest, you will know when something is off. If you see parts that need repairs, turn to the experts for help.
Contact us today for repair parts!