Overhead cranes are designed in four types. These four types are divided into two categories. Selecting an overhead crane for your operations depends on the capacity, duty class, and lifting heights you require. Here are some things you should know when it comes to selecting an overhead crane for your project.

top running and the under running overhead cranes are the two most important configurations for overhead cranes and are also called underhung. In the case of a top-running crane, the end truck rides on the running beam’s top. However, when it comes to an under-running crane, the end truck rides on the runway beam’s lower flange. Both cranes have their own pros and cons. An under running crane allows a better end approach for the hoist. This is advantageous because it allows the hoist to get closer to the end truck or end of the runway than is possible when using a top running crane.

It is also beneficial in terms of price as the under running cranes are far less costly than top running cranes. Under running, cranes are also useful for operations, such as the ability to transfer hoists along bridges to interconnected monorails. On the other hand, the use of top running overhead cranes has its own benefits. First, the top running crane can lift a heavier load, which is advantageous over the under running cranes. It is also to be noted that the top running crane also had greater headroom than the running crane.

1. THE USE OF SINGLE GIRDER OR DOUBLE GIRDER

The singer girder or double girders are two other essential configurations for an overhead crane. Both single and double girders have significant use with top running as well as under running overboard cranes. The double girder crane is well-known for being a more supportive configuration than a single girder. However, there is no denying that it is also a little more expensive than the latter in overhead cranes. Regardless of the price difference, the double girder is considered more efficient as its designs also allow for a greater hook height than the single girder designs. The hoist could be fixed on top of the bridge instead of under it.

Even though single girder cranes are far less costly, their capacities lay lower than that of a double girder crane, which is why the latter is chosen more for operations. When it comes to a single girder crane, the hoist usually rides the crane girder’s bottom in both top running and under-running configurations, unlike a double girder crane. The ramification of this is that it creates a wider cooperative envelop for the hoist and is a solution for applications where headroom is not large enough, whilst a headroom larger in size will need a double girder crane to operate.