BOOM CRANE

The major components of a lattice boom crane are shown in figure 12-11.
Inspecting each of these components is part of the operator’s prestart
inspection.

The lattice boom supports the working load and is the most common boom
used in the NCF. It is used on all types and makes of cranes and is mounted
at the boom butt on the revolving superstructure. The basic boom
consists of the boom butt and boom tip, and the length is increased by
adding boom extensions.

Boom Sections

Lattice boom sections are made of lightweight, thin wall, high strength
alloy tubular or angle steel and are designed to take compression loads. The
most common boom is tubular. Terminology of a lattice boom section is
shown in figure 12-12.

Manufacturers have set a zero tolerance on rust, bent lacings or cords,

cracked welds, and other problems that affect the strength of the lattice
boom. This zero tolerance requires crane crews to use extreme care when
handling unused sections with forklifts, storing unused sections away
from traffic areas, transporting and securing sections on tractor-trailers,
and preventing equipment or obstacles from running into the boom while
mounted on the crane during transport, performing operations, or when
parked.

As outlined in the Management of Weight-Handling Equipment,

Maintenance and Certification, NAVFAC P-307, all lattice boom cranes
with structural damage to the main cords of the boom must be
immediately Figure 12-11.—Lattice boom crane components. 12-6
Figure 12-11.—Lattice boom crane components
33Figure 12-12.-Lattice boom terminology

removed from service. When the main cords of tubular boom sections are
damaged in any manner, including slight dents, they are severely
weakened and have failed at loads significantly below capacities. As
outlined in the 11200.1, structural repairs will not be made without written
approval from COMSECOND/COM- THIRDNCB equipo offices.

In the NCF, sections normally come in 10- to 20-foot lengths. When

adding several sections of different lengths, check the operator’s
manual for boom section configuration. If this information is not in
the operator’s manual, a rule of thumb used when mixing short boom
sections with long sections, you install the shorter sections closest to the
boom butt; for example, if you use two 10-foot sections and one 20-foot
section, install the two 10-foot sections closest to the boom butt. The boom
sections are bolted by plate (flange) connections (fig. 12-13, view A)
or pin and clevis connections (fig. 12-13, view B). The most common is
the pin and clevis.

All boom sections that come with a crane will have an attachment
identification number attached that assigns the boom section to a specific
crane.

Boom Angle Indicators

Boom angle indicators are normally mounted on the boom butt, visually
readable by the operator. On most models in the NCF, the boom angle
indicator is a metal plate with degree numbers (0 to 90 degrees) and a freely
swinging arm that reacts as the boom angle changes (fig. 12-14). The
numbers and arm should remain clean and visually readable at all time.
The capacities that are listed on the crane load charts are also based on and
vary with the boom angle of the crane. On hydraulic cranes, the boom angle
is the angle between the bottom of the boom butt and the horizontal
while the boom is under load (fig. 12-15, view A). The

To check the accuracy of the boom angle boom angle on lattice boom
cranes is the angle between indicator, place a 3-foot builders level on
the the center line of the boom (from the boom butt pins to center boom
section and raise or lower the boom the boom tip sheave) and the
horizontal while the boom until the level indicates the boom is level is
under load (fig. 12-15, view B). (fig. 12-16). At this point the boom
angle indicator

Figure 12-15.—Boom angle configurations.

Figure 12-16.-Check accuracy of boom angle indicator. 12-8

should show the boom is at zero degrees or adjusted to read zero degrees.
The boom angle indicator is a quick reference for the operator to know
what angle the boom is at. However, do NOT rely on the boom angle
indicator for radius accuracy especially when the lift exceeds 75 percent of
the rated capacity. Use the radius measurement to determine the
capacity of the crane from the load charts and to avoid any possibility of
error.

Sheaves

Sheaves are located in the hook block boom tip, boom bridle, gantry, and
boom mast. Sheaves rotate on either bearings, or bushings, and are
installed basically anywhere wire rope must turn or bend.

Boom Pendants
A pendant line is a fixed-length forming part of the boom suspension
section of boom has two boom pendants. of wire rope, system. Each
Both pendants must stay with the section of the boom they came with. When
storing a boom section, secure the two pendants to the boom section with tie
wire or rope. If a pendant is bad, both pendants must be replaced. If you only
replace the one bad pendant, the new or replaced pendant could be of a
different length or be different in manufacture. This difference will cause
an uneven pull or twist on the boom when the boom is put under a load or
strain.

Jib and Extension

Figure 12-17 shows one type of jib and boom extension. A jib is an
extension of a boom capable of being mounted on either a hydraulic or
lattice boom. The jib is equipped with its own forestay pendant lines,
connected from the jib tip to the jib mast. The jib mast is connected to the
boom tip. The jib backstay pendant is normally manually adjustable to
change the angle of the jib.

Figure 12-17.—Jib and boom extension mounted on a hydraulic boom

On most cranes the function of the jib is to increase the lift height and to aid
in increasing load radius. The operator’s manual will have instructions on
how to install a jib or extension. You must remember if lifts are made with
the main hook block the weight of the jib assembly will reduce the lifting
capacity of the crane; therefore, you must deduct the effective weight
of the jib assembly from the gross capacity of the crane.

Gantry

The gantry, or A-frame, is a structural frame, extending above the

revolving superstructure (fig. 12-18). The gantry supports the sheaves in
which the

Figure 12-18.-Gantry.

boom hoist lines are reeved. The height of the gantry provides an angle
between the boom pendant lines and boom that reduces the compression
forces placed on the boom during raising and lifting operations. On some
models of cranes, the gantry is adjustable, allowing it to be lowered so the
crane can travel bridges.

WARNING Refer to the operator’s under wires and manual for

instructions on how to raise and lower the gantry. A trial-and-error
method of lowering or raising the gantry can cause serious injury or death.
NOTE: Raising the boom while the gantry is in the lowered position
lowers the angle between the pendants lines and boom. This places
unseen compression stresses on the boom; therefore, always raise the
gantry before raising the boom or lifting a load.

Boom Mast

Some models of cranes are equipped with a boom mast instead of a

gantry. The boom mast, sometimes called live mast, consists of a
structural frame hinged at or near the bottom of the boom butt (fig. 12-19).

Figure 12-19.—Boom mast. 12-10

The tip of the boom mast supports the boom hoist sheaves and boom
pendant lines. The boom mast works like the gantry, as it increases the
angle between the boom pendants and boom, decreasing the compression
forces placed on the boom.

Bridle Assembly

The bridle assembly is part of the boom suspension system and is

sometimes called a floating harness. The bridle assembly may be
connected to the boom mast or as a floating harness on a crane equipped
with a gantry. The bridle assembly is the connection point for the boom
pendant lines and is an assembly of sheaves in which the boom hoist
wire rope reeves through.

Boom Stops

Boom stops are designed to prevent the boom from going over
backwards in case a load line breaks. They will not stop the boom if the
operator forgets to disengage the boom hoist control lever. However,
some models of cranes are equipped with a boom upper limit switch
that prevents the operator from raising the boom past a preset boom
angle. This switch also prevents operators from raising the boom into
the boom stops. Most cranes that are equipped with the upper limit
switch also have a bypass switch that allows the operator to raise the boom
past the preset boom angle. Two types of boom stops are shown in
figures 12-18 and 12-19.

House Assembly

The house assembly is a revolving superstructure that sets on top of the

carrier frame (fig. 12-20). It provides a mount for the hoist mechanisms and
engine and is sometimes called the machinery deck. The operator’s cab
and counterweight are attached to the home assembly.

OPERATOR’S CAB.—

The control levers for a lattice boom crane are located in the operator’s cab.
The control levers that are shown in figure 12-21 are typical of most
cranes. Typical crane controls areas follows:

1. The swing lever, when pulled towards you, rotates the house
assembly in one direction, and when pushed, the house assembly rotates in
the opposite direction.
2. The left drum brake pedal is used to hold and lower loads placed on the
hoist line. When locked, it prevents the hook block and wire rope from
unwinding on the hoist drum. Figure 12-22 shows a typical hoist brake
assembly
Figure 12-22.—Hoist brake assembly

3. The main drum lever engages power to raise and, on some models,
support lowering of loads placed on the main hoist drum. 4. The master
clutch engages the power from the power source to the hoist and swing
mechanisms.
5. The secondary drum lever engages power to raise and, on some
models, support lowering of loads placed on the secondary hoist drum.

6. The right drum brake pedal is used to hold and lower loads placed on the
hoist line. When locked, it prevents the hook block and wire rope from
unwinding on the hoist drum.

7. The boom hoist lever allows for the raising and lowering of the boom.

HOISTING MECHANISM.

— The hoisting mechanism provides the mechanical power to lift

and lower loads. The hoisting mechanism usually has two hoist
drums that are mounted side by side on one shaft or in tandem. A
separate clutch and brake controls each hoist. The control levers,
 operating the clutches and brakes, are normally power-assisted
with hydraulics or air pressure. A lifting operation requires the use
of one drum; whereas the clamshell, dragline, and pile-driving
operations require the use of two.

ENGINE
.— The engine provides power to the hoisting mechanism through a
gearbox or, in some 12-11
cases, a drive chain reduction. In most lattice boom cranes, the engine is
mounted in the crane house.

COUNTERWEIGHT.— The counterweight on the rear of the crane

house creates additional stability when lifting loads. The counterweight
rotates with the house as it swings. Most counterweights are removable
to reduce the overall weight of the crane for transporting. Part of your
prestart inspection is to check the counterweight mounting.

Lattice Boom Breakdown The bridle assembly plays an important part

when changing the length of the boom. If you forget to disconnect the
boom pendants lines from the boom tip, and not connect the bridle
assembly or pendant lines behind the boom section you plan to remove or
install, and you drive out the bottom pins, the top pins will act as a hinge and
the boom will fall, as shown in figure 12-23.
If you make this mistake and a crew member is under the boom, a tragedy
could result, as shown in figure 12-24.

WARNING NEVER WORK UNDER A CRANE BOOM. Because

so many accidents have occurred while personnel were changing
booms, some manufacturers have made a one-way connecting pin that
can only be installed from the inside. This requires the pin to be removed
only from the outside, keeping personnel from getting underneath the
boom (fig. 12-25).

A common practice in the NCF is to install the pins from the inside out to
prevent personnel from maneuvering inside the boom to drive out the
pins. Several methods are used to break down lattice booms to add or take
out sections. If the boom sections
Figure 12-24.-Never work under a crane boom.

Figure 12-25.-Drive pins from the outside in. are bolt-connected, you must
use dunnage for support under each section. The most common boom
connection is with pins. To break down a pin-connected boom, make
sure you

Figure 12-23.—Incorrect way to disconnect the lattice boom. 12-12