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 inside warehouses and factories for loads weighing up to 5 tons. The BestJibCranes.com web site showcases the major jib crane types as being either mast mounted, free-standing or wall-mounted.
Free Standing
Free-standing jib cranes could stand alone not needing support from the building structure. The horizontal boom in this case is connected to a pivoting vertical column which is firmly anchored to the building floor. This type of jib crane requires a foundation made of either concrete or steel and can rotate a full 360 degrees.
Mast-Type
The vertical column on the mast-type jib cranes are supported by pivot points at the top and the bottom. These pivots are connected to the building floor and the overhead steel structure. These jib-cranes offer 360 degrees of rotation with the benefit of not requiring the massive foundation needed for free-standing units.
Wall Mounted
The wall-mounted jib cranes provide a horizontal boom which is attached to the wall of a building as opposed to the typical vertical column. These machinery offer up to 200 degrees of rotation and are great in places 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 utilizes a tie rod that is connected from above the wall to the boom. The other variety supports the boom from below by utilizing a cantilever brace which is also attached to the wall.