Jib Crane Types
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 are able to move loads between any areas within the boom's arc of rotation. Light duty models are utilized inside warehouses and factories for loads weighing as much as 5 tons. The website BestJibCranes.com showcases the major jib crane models as being either free-standing, wall-mounted or mast mounted.
Free Standing
The free-standing jib crane units do not need any support from the building structure and can stand by themselves. The horizontal boom in this specific case is connected to a pivoting vertical column which is firmly anchored to the floor of the building. This kind of jib crane is able to 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 bottom and the top which are attached to the floor of the building and the overhead steel structure. These jib-cranes provide 360 degrees of rotation with the benefit of not requiring the massive foundation required for free-standing units.
Wall Mounted
The wall-mounted jib cranes provide a horizontal boom that is attached to the building wall as opposed to the normal vertical column. These equipments provide up to 200 degrees of rotation and are ideal in areas where the full 360 degree rotation is not needed.
There are two model varieties, depending on how the boom is supported. One of the types utilizes a tie rod which is connected from above the wall to the boom. The other type supports the boom from below by using a cantilever brace which is also attached to the wall.