What exactly is an overhead crane?
An overhead crane, also termed a bridge crane, is a kind of hoist commonly found in manufacturing environments. An overhead crane consists of parallel runways linked by a movable bridge. A crane’s hoist, or elevating element, travels along the bridge. If the bridge is securely supported on two or more legs running on a fixed rail at ground level, the crane is called a gantry crane or a goliath crane.
Overhead cranes, unlike mobile or construction cranes, are generally employed in manufacturing or maintenance applications where efficiency and downtime are important.
Types of Overhead Crane
There are six types of Overhead Crane.
European Style Overhead Crane
European style overhead cranes are designed and built to FEM Europe standards and are powered by high-performance ABM or SEW engines. Variable speeds, box girder design, low headroom monorail hoist, Schneider brand inverters, and electrical components There is very little noise.
Overhead Crane with a Single Girder
The most popular form of overhead crane used for light to moderate lifting tasks is the LD type Single Girder Overhead Crane. It is widely used in manufacturing workshops, repairing and assembly lines, warehouses, and storage yards to perform various lifting duties. Overhead Crane repair requires different techniques.
Overhead Crane with Double Girders
A double girder overhead crane with a hook, also known as a bridge crane or an EOT crane, is a big and strong heavy-duty lifting equipment that may be used for loading, unloading, and transporting in industrial and mining businesses, workshops, or open areas.
Overhead Grab Bucket Crane
A heavy-duty overhead crane with a grab bucket that may be used frequently is known as a Grab Bucket Overhead Crane. Grab cranes have a lifting capacity of 5 to 25 tons, including the dead weight of the grab bucket. The grab crane’s working class is A6.
Electromagnetic Overhead Crane
An electromagnetic overhead crane is a type of material handling equipment with a detachable electromagnetic chuck and associated operating system for handling and lifting metal items. The weight of the electromagnetic overhead crane was included in the lifting capability of the electromagnetic overhead crane, which ranged from 5 to 32 tons. Overhead Crane repair requires different techniques.
Explosion Proof Overhead Crane
The LB-type explosion-proof overhead crane is a single-girder crane with an HB explosion-proof electric hoist that is typically used in hazardous lifting settings. This crane’s engine and electrical components are also explosion-proof, ensuring the high degree of safety necessary in an explosive environment. The A3 working-class explosion-resistant single girder overhead crane has a lifting capacity of 1 to 20 tons.
How to Repair an Overhead Crane?
Safety and compliance inspections
“How Overhead Crane Repairs?” may be found here. Crane inspections are carried out to assess the safety of the equipment, detect wear and tear, and establish maintenance requirements for safe and productive operation. Inspections may also ensure that your equipment is compliant with current local standards and laws, saving you money and preventing downtime.
A complete strategy of preventative maintenance planned repairs, and advanced services that take a closer look at your crane and its components are helpful in addition to regular crane inspections. You may more effectively manage a safer, more dependable, and compliant operation with a coordinated program.
Three distinct checks are included in an overhead crane repair checklist.
Examine the surrounding area
This inspection ensures that the space around the crane is free of obstructions. These are some of the activities:
- Know where the crane disconnect switch is located.
- Make sure there aren’t any warning indicators.
- Check to make sure no one is working in the area where the load will be transferred. Look ahead to make sure there is nothing in the area where the load will be transported.
- Check to see that the below-the-hook devices are compatible with the crane in operation and can safely lift the weight.
- Ascertain that the load capacity is equal to or less than the crane’s capacity.
Preliminary Inspection
After the operator has completed the area check, he or she can begin the equipment’s preliminary inspection. Before he or she touches any controls, this should be done. You can learn here “How Overhead Crane repairs?”.
- Check the electric systems, the bridge, the runway, the trolley, and the hoist for any loose, broken, or damaged parts.
- Make sure the wire rope is correctly placed in the grooves of the drum.
- Ascertain that the open power source is secure and that nothing is in near proximity.
- Verify that no wires have been removed from the strain reliefs or brushings.
- Make that the pushbutton pendant is in good condition.
Safety Inspection of the Equipment
After the initial check, the site engineer would have to do an inspection of the hoist to check that this is in proper working condition. This is designed to decrease the possibility of failure.
When inspecting the equipment, several distinct categories must be signed off on. You can learn here “How Overhead Crane repairs?”.
- Ensure that all powered systems are in good working order. Check that the power button is not stuck, that the hoist hook raises, and that the higher limit switch works correctly.
- Ensure that all hooks are in good functioning order. On any section of the hook, there should be no more than 10% wear.
- Check the bottom block assembly for any damage or fractures. Sheaves should be able to rotate easily and smoothly.
- Make sure the wire rope and load chain don’t have any damaged wires. Any ropes or chains should be free of kinks, cuts, or heat damage.
