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Types of Cranes and their Classification

 Satyendra  August 28, 2013  3 Comments

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Types of Cranes and their Classi cation

Cranes play an important role in the handling of materials by raising and

moving loads, the mass of which is within their nominal capacity. There
can, however, be wide variations in the duty, both for a single crane type,
for example overhead travelling cranes, or between different crane types,
for example between a builder’s tower crane and a heavy-lift dockside
crane. The design of the crane has to take into account the conditions of
service, in order to reach an appropriate level of safety and useful life.

Cranes are industrial machines which are mainly used for materials
movements in construction sites, production shops, assembly lines,
storage areas, power stations and similar places. Their design features
vary widely according to their major operational speci cations such as
type of motion of the crane structure, weight and type of the load, location
of the crane, geometric features, operating mechanisms, and
environmental conditions.

A crane is having a hoist which consists of wire rope and hook. The crane
is used both for lifting and lowering of materials, and to move them
horizontally. Cranes uses one or more simple machines to create
mechanical advantage and thus move heavy loads. Several factors are
taken into consideration while selecting a crane. These factors include
lifting capacity, crane use and application, and the number of work cycles
which the crane is required to undergo.
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A crane normally consists of three separate motions. These are (i) hoist
which raises and lowers the material, (ii) cross travel which allows the
hoist to be positioned directly above the material for placement, and (iii)
long travel which allows the entire crane to move along the working area.

A crane is frequently a very large and complex piece of equipment. There

are several individual components and design features which can be found
on a typical crane. The components include brakes, wire ropes, electrical
drive systems, automatic sensors, wheels, rails, buffers, cable reels,
festoons, hoppers, over-load preventers, and anti-collision systems etc.
There is now a choice of drives available such as electric or hydraulic. The
components are required to be correctly sized. In addition, there are
various design features and preferred solutions such as the effect of wind
on cranes, design standards, welding methods, structural design and
fatigue calculations, and nally the maintenance of the crane.

There are number important parameters which are to be taken into

account to determine the suitability of a crane for a particular service.
These parameters are (i) speci cations, (ii) applicable codes and local
regulations (iii) crane capacity, (iv) required span, (v) lift needed by the
hoist, (vi) duty cycle (usage) of the crane, (vii) weight of the load and
requirement of auxiliary hoist for lifting of the load, (viii) hook approach,
(ix) desired length of runway system, (x) factors which are required to be
considered in the design of runway and building structure, (xi) the
operating environment (dust, paint fumes, outdoor or indoor etc.) of the
crane, (xii) the required crane and trolley speeds, (xiii) the supply voltage,
phases, and amperage, (xiv) the control system which is desired, (xv)
existing cranes on the runway, (xvi) safety considerations which are
needed to be followed, (xvii) maintenance requirements of the crane, and
(xviii) the requirements of other accessories such as lights, warning horns,
weigh scales, and limit switches, etc.

Basic components of a crane

The basic components of a crane are given below. Fig 1 shows major
components of a top running double girder electric overhead travelling
crane.

Bridge – It is the main travelling structure of the crane and spans the width
of the building bay. It travels in a direction parallel to the runway. The
bridge consists of two end trucks and one or two bridge girders depending
on the equipment type. The bridge also supports the trolley and hoisting
mechanism for the up and down lifting of the load.

End trucks – They are located on either side of the bridge. They house the
wheels on which the entire crane travels. It is an assembly consisting of
structural members, wheels, bearings, and axles etc., which supports the
bridge girder(s) or the trolley cross member(s).

Bridge girder(s) – A bridge girder is the principal horizontal beam of the

crane bridge which supports the trolley and is supported by the end trucks.

Runway – It consists of the rails, beams, brackets, and framework on

which the crane operates.

Runway rail – It is the rail which is supported by the runway beams on

which the crane travels.

Hoist – The hoist mechanism is a unit consisting of a motor drive,

coupling, brakes, gearing, drum, ropes, and load block designed to raise,
hold, and lower the maximum rated load. Hoist mechanism is mounted on
the trolley.

There can be the requirement for the use of a second hoist on the bridge
crane. This hoist can be used as an auxiliary hoist or be required in a
process such as tilting / tipping. In case of handling of the long materials,
like steel tubes and plates, the best solution are to have a crane with two
hoists (and hooks) for better stability of the load ensuring safe lifting.

Trolley – It is the unit which carries the hoisting mechanism. It travels on

the bridge rails in a direction at right angles to the crane runway. Trolley
frame is the basic structure of the trolley on which are mounted the
hoisting and traversing mechanisms.

Bumper (buffer) – It is an energy absorbing device for reducing impact

when a moving crane or trolley reaches the end of its permitted travel, or
when two moving cranes or trolleys come into contact. This device can be
attached to the bridge, trolley, or runway stop.
Fig 1 Major components of a top running double girder electric overhead
travelling crane

Types of cranes

There are several types of cranes. Some of them are given below.

Overhead travelling crane – An overhead travelling crane is also known as

a bridge crane. It is a type of crane where the hook and the line mechanism
runs along a horizontal beam that itself runs along two widely separated
rails normally in a long factory building and runs along rails along the two
long walls of the building. The crane includes a hoist to lift the items, the
bridge, which spans the area covered by the crane, and a trolley to move
along the bridge.

The bridge girders of the overhead travelling crane can be built using
typical steel beams or a more complex box girder type. The advantage of
the box girder type con guration results in a system which has a lower
deadweight yet a stronger overall system integrity. The con guration of
overhead travelling crane can be either under running or top running.

Under running crane is known as under slung crane. These cranes are
distinguished by the fact that they are supported from the roof structure
and run on the bottom ange of runway girders. Under running cranes are
typically available in standard capacities upto 10 tons (special
con gurations upto 25 tons and over 27 metres spans). Under running
cranes offer excellent side approaches, close head-room and can be
supported on runways hung from existing building members if adequate.
The advantages of the under running cranes are (i) very small trolley
approach dimensions meaning maximum utilization of the width and the
height of the building, and (ii) the possibility of using the existing ceiling
girder for securing the crane track. The disadvantages of the under
running crane are (i) reduced hook height because of the location of the
runway beams, (ii) the load being applied to the roof is higher than that of
a top running crane, and (iii) loading of runway beams needs careful sizing
of the anges otherwise, the anges can ‘peel’ off the beam.

In the top running cranes, the crane bridge travels on top of rails mounted
on a runway beam supported by either the building columns or columns
speci cally engineered for the crane. Top running cranes are the most
common form of crane design where the crane loads are transmitted to
the building columns or free standing structure. These cranes have an
advantage of minimum headroom / maximum height of lift. Fig 2 shows
important parameter of overhead crane.

Fig 2 Important parameters of overhead crane

There are different types of overhead travelling cranes with many being
highly specialized, but the great majority of the cranes fall into one of the
three categories namely (i) single girder bridge crane, (ii) double girder
bridge crane, and (iii) monorail.

Single girder bridge crane consists of a single bridge girder supported on

two end trucks. It has a trolley hoist mechanism which runs on the bottom
ange of the bridge girder. Single girder cranes cost less since (i) only one
girder is needed, (ii) the trolley is simpler, (iii) freight expenses are
reduced, (iv) installation is faster, and (v) runway beams are lighter.
However, not all cranes are to be designed with a single girder. Normally, if
the crane has to handle more than 15 ton or the span is more than 25
meters, a double girder crane is a preferred option. Double girder cranes
are also highly suitable where the crane needs to be tted with walkways,
cabins, magnet cable reels or other special equipment.

Double girder bridge crane consists of two bridge girders supported on

two end trucks. The trolley runs on rails on the top of the bridge girders.
Double girder bridge cranes are more typical when needing heavier
capacity systems from 10 tons and above.

Monorail is used for several applications such as production assembly line

or service line, where only a trolley hoist is needed. The hoisting
mechanism is similar to a single girder crane with a difference that the
crane does not have a movable bridge and the hoisting trolley runs on a
xed girder. Monorail beams are normally ‘I’ beams.

Gantry cranes – These cranes are essentially the same as the regular
overhead travelling cranes except that the bridge for carrying the trolley or
trolleys is rigidly supported on two or more legs running on xed rails or
other runway. These ‘legs’ eliminate the supporting runway and column
system and connect to end trucks which run on a rail either embedded in,
or laid on top of, the oor.

The crane frame is supported on a gantry system with equalized beams

and wheels that run on the gantry rail, normally perpendicular to the trolley
travel direction. This crane comes in all sizes, and some can move very
heavy loads.

Mobile crane – Mobile crane is mounted on a carrier normally a truck

which provides the mobility for the crane. This crane has two parts namely
(i) a carrier which is frequently referred to as the ‘lower’ and (ii) a lifting
component which includes the boom also referred to as the ‘upper’. These
are mated together through a turntable which allows the upper to swing
from side to side. The present day hydraulic truck cranes are normally
single engine machines, with the same engine powering the under-carriage
and the crane. The upper is normally powered through hydraulics run
through the turntable from the pump mounted on the lower. Earlier the
hydraulic truck cranes had two engines. One in the lower is used for the
crane to travel on the road and ran a hydraulic pump for the outriggers and
jacks. The second in the upper ran the upper through a hydraulic pump of
its own.

These cranes are normally able to travel on highways, eliminating the need
for special equipment to transport the crane. These cranes can have
special features for rough terrain movement and all terrain movements.
When working on the job site, outriggers are extended horizontally from
the chassis then vertically to level and stabilize the crane while stationary
and hoisting. Many truck cranes have slow travelling capability (a few
kilometers per hour) while suspending a load. Great care is to be taken not
to swing the load sideways from the direction of travel, as most anti-
tipping stability then lies in the stiffness of the chassis suspension.

Most cranes of this type also have moving counter-weights for

stabilization beyond that provided by the outriggers. Loads suspended
directly are the most stable, since most of the weight of the crane acts as
a counterweight. Manufacturer calculated charts (or electronic
safeguards) are used by crane operators to determine the maximum safe
loads for stationary (outriggered) work as well as (on-rubber) loads and
travelling speeds. Mobiles cranes can have a range in lifting capacity from
around 12 tons to around 1,200 tons.

Telescopic crane – A telescopic crane has a boom which consists of a

number of tubes tted one inside the other. A hydraulic or other powered
mechanism extends or retracts the tubes to increase or decrease the total
length of the boom. These types of booms are frequently being used for
short term construction projects, rescue jobs, lifting boats in and out of the
water, etc. The relative compactness of telescopic booms makes them
adaptable for many mobile applications. However, it is to be noted that
while telescopic cranes are not automatically mobile cranes, many of them
are. These are frequently truck-mounted.

Tower crane – The tower crane is a modern form of balance crane. It is

normally xed to the ground on a concrete and sometimes attached to the
sides of structures as well. Tower cranes frequently give the best
combination of height and lifting capacity and are used in the construction
of tall buildings and tall industrial structures. This crane frequently gives
the best combination of height and lifting capacity. The base of the crane
is attached to a mast which gives the crane its height. Further the mast is
attached to the slewing unit (gear and motor) which allows the crane to
rotate. On top of the slewing unit there are three main parts which are
namely (i) the long horizontal jib (working arm), (ii) shorter counter jib, and
(iii) the operator’s cabin.

The jib (colloquially being called the ‘boom’) and counter-jib are mounted
to the turntable, where the slewing bearing and slewing machinery are
located. The counter-jib carries a counterweight, normally of concrete
blocks, while the jib suspends the load from the trolley. The hoist motor
and transmissions are located on the mechanical deck on the counter-jib,
while the trolley motor is located on the jib. The crane operator either sits
in a cabin at the top of the tower or controls the crane by radio remote
control from the ground. In the rst case the cabin of the operator is
normally located at the top of the tower attached to the turntable, but can
be mounted on the jib, or partway down the tower.

The lifting hook is operated by using electric motors to manipulate wire

rope cables through a system of sheaves. In order to hook and unhook the
loads, the operator normally works in conjunction with a signaller (known
as a ‘rigger’). They are most often in radio contact, and always use hand
signals. The rigger directs the schedule of lifts for the crane, and is
responsible for the safety of the rigging and loads.

A tower crane is normally assembled by a telescopic jib (mobile) crane of

greater reach. In the case of tower crane which has risen while
constructing very tall skyscrapers, a smaller crane (or derrick) is frequently
be lifted to the roof of the completed tower to dismantle the tower crane
afterwards.

Tower crane can also be self erecting type. Self erecting type tower crane
is also called self-assembling or ‘kangaroo’ crane. It lifts itself off the
ground using jacks, allowing the next section of the tower to be inserted at
ground level or lifted into place by the partially erected crane itself. The
crane can thus be assembled without outside help, or can grow together
with the building or structure it is erecting.

Crawler crane – A crawler is a crane mounted on an undercarriage with a

set of tracks which is also called crawlers. These crawlers provide stability
and mobility to the crane. Crawler cranes have both advantages and
disadvantages depending on their use. Their main advantage is that they
can move around on site and perform each lift with little set up, since the
crane is stable on its tracks with no outriggers. A crawler crane is also
capable of travelling with a load. The main disadvantage is that these
cranes are very heavy, and cannot easily be moved from one job site to
another without signi cant expense. Typically a large crawler is to be
disassembled and moved by trucks, rail cars or ships to its next location.
Crawler cranes range in lifting capacity from around 35 tons to 3,000 tons.

Rail road crane – This crane has anged wheels for use on railroads. The
simplest form is a crane mounted on a at car. Most of these cranes are
normally purpose built and have high lifting capacities. The design differs
according to the type of work but the basic con guration is similar in all
cases. The con guration normally consists of a rotating crane body which
is mounted on a sturdy chassis tted with anged wheels. The body
supports the boom and provides all the lifting and operating mechanisms.
On larger cranes, a cabin for an operator is normally provided. The chassis
is tted with bu ng and coupling gear to allow the crane to be moved by a
locomotive, although several rail road cranes are also self-propelled to
allow limited movement around a work site.

Floating crane – These cranes are used mainly in the constructions of

bridges and ports. They are also used for occasional loading and
unloading of especially heavy or awkward loads on and off the ships.
Some oating cranes are mounted on a pontoon; others are specialized
crane barges with a lifting capacity sometimes exceeding 9,000 tons.
These cranes are used to transport entire bridge sections. Floating cranes
are also used to salvage sunken ships.

Aerial crane – This crane is sometimes called sky crane. It is helicopter

designed to lift large loads. Helicopter is able to travel to and lift in areas
which are di cult to reach by conventional crane. Aerial crane is normally
used to lift units / loads onto shopping centres and high rise structures.
This crane can lift anything within their lifting capacity. It is being used for
the erection of transmission towers in di cult terrains. It also performs
disaster relief after natural disasters for clean up, and during wild- res it is
able to carry huge buckets of water to extinguish res.

Jib crane – It is a type of crane where a horizontal member (jib or boom),

supporting a movable hoist, is xed to a wall or to a oor mounted pillar.
Jib cranes are used in industrial premises and on vehicles. The jib can
swing through an arc, to give additional lateral movement, or be xed.

Further to above cranes there are other types of cranes which are bulk
handling crane, loader crane, stacker crane, deck crane, level lu ng crane,
and hammer head crane etc.

Essential parameters for specifying electric overhead cranes

There are certain parameters which are essential for specifying electric
overhead cranes. These parameters are described below.

Crane capacity – It is the rated load, which is required to be lifted. Rated

load means the maximum load for which a crane or individual hoist is
designed and built by the manufacturer and shown on the equipment
identi cation plate.

The rated capacity of crane is the live load which can be lifted by the
crane. The rated load is de ned as the maximum working load suspended
under the load hook. Load block and ropes are not included in the rated
load.
The design load for the crane system is based on the rated capacity plus
15 % for the weight of the hoist and trolley (rated capacity x 1.15) and an
additional 25 % for impact (rated capacity x 1.25) for a total design
capacity (rated capacity x 1.4). 25 % impact factor is good for hoists
speeds upto 15 metres per minute.

The capacity of crane is the maximum rated load (in tons) which a crane is
designed to carry. The net load includes the weight of possible load
attachment. For example, a 10 ton crane allow to pick up a 10 ton load
provided the hoist weighs 1.5 ton or less and the hoist speed is less than
15 metres per minute. Under no conditions, the crane is to be loaded
beyond its rated capacity.

Lift height – The rated lift height means the distance between the upper
and lower elevations of travel of the load block and arithmetically it is
normally the distance between the beam and the oor, minus the height of
the hoist. This dimension is critical in most applications as it determines
the height of the runway from the oor and is dependent on the clear
inside height of the building. It is to be remembered that any slings or
below the hook devices which in uence this value are to be included.

Runway height – It is the distance between the grade level and the top of
the rail.

Clearance – It is the vertical distance between the grade level and the
bottom of the crane girder.

Clear span – It is the distance between columns across the width of the
building. Building width is de ned as the distance from outside of the eave
strut of one sidewall to outside of the eave strut of the opposite sidewall.
Crane span is the horizontal centre distance between the rails of the
runway on which the crane is to travel. Typically distance is around 500
mm less than the width of the building. The requirement of the span of the
crane depends on the crane coverage width dictated by the application.

The crane steel structure is selected to be either a single or double girder

crane construction according to the span and the maximum load handling
capacity.

Building height – Building height is the eave height which normally is the
distance from the bottom of the main frame column base plate to the top
outer point of the eave strut. Eave height is the distance from the nished
oor to the top outer point of the eave strut. There is to be a safety
distance between the top edge of the crane runway rail and the rst
obstacle edge in the building (e.g. roof beams, lights, and pipes).

Runway length – It is the longitudinal run of the runway rail parallel to the
length of the building.

Hook approaches – Maximum hook approach is the distance from the wall
to the nearest possible position of the hook. The smaller the distance is,
the better can the oor area be utilized. It is necessary to check the
optimum hook approaches of the crane so that when combined with the
true lift of the hoist, the most of the available oor space can be utilized.
This is also termed as side hook approach.
End approach – End approach describes the minimum horizontal distance,
parallel to the runway, between the outermost extremities of the crane and
the centre line of the hook.

Bridge, trolley and lift speeds – The rate at which the bridge or trolley
travels or at which the hoist lifts is normally speci ed in metres per
minute. The crane operating speeds are selected to allow safe operation
while using the pendant. Dual operating speeds, normally a fast and slow
speed with a ratio of 4:1 are normally used but for optimum control a
variable speed control system is the strongly recommended control
system.

Electrical and control requirements – There are two circuits in most hoist
electri cation systems, power and control. The rst is the power circuit.
The power circuit provides the energy to lift loads, and run other motors
that perform work. Since bridges, trolleys, and hoists move during
operation they are to be powered by appropriate means. The second is the
control circuit. It is the secondary low voltage electrical circuit to supply
power for the control functions.

The circuit voltage is not to exceed 600 volts for alternating current (AC) or
direct current (DC). The runway power is normally by conductor bar and
hoisting trolley by festoon cable. The control circuit voltage at pendant
pushbuttons is not to exceed 150 volts for AC and 300 volts for DC. Other
control options include radio control, free- oating pendant (festooned) or
hoist-mounted pendant.

The crane or hoist is normally operated by some type of push button

arrangement held in the hand of the operator. The bene t of reducing
shock hazard by reducing the voltage and current are obvious.

Other than the above parameters, there can be some speci c conditions
applicable to a particular application. Further, there are some other
conditions which are to be speci ed for the design of the crane. These
include (i) the existing operating environment (dust, paint fumes, outdoor,
etc.), (ii) existing cranes on the runway so that the use of a collision
avoidance or collision warning system can be considered, (iii) requirement
of a catwalk on the crane for maintenance access, and (iv) accessories
which are needed such as lights, warning sirens, weigh scales, and limit
switches etc.

Classi cation of cranes

Classi cation of cranes de ned in ISO 4301 part 1, considers only the
operating conditions which are independent of the type of crane and the
way it is driven.

Two cranes with the same rated capacity and span can differ in their
average load intensity and / or expected loading cycles. There are different
standards which classi es cranes based on the service class. The Crane
Manufacturer Association of America (CMAA) classi es bridge cranes
according to average load intensities and number of cycles. On the other
hand, the classi cation of hoists by the International Organization for
standardization (ISO), European Federation Standard FEM (Federation
Europeene de la Manutention) and Hoist manufacturer Institute (HMI) is
according to more rigorous requirements, which include number of starts
and maximum running time per hour.
CMAA crane classi cation and its comparison with other classi cation are
given below. There are six different classi cations of cranes by CMAA
based on the duty cycle of crane.

Class A (standby or infrequent service) – This crane is the lightest crane

as far as duty cycle is concerned. This service class covers cranes where
precise handling of equipment at slow speeds with long idle periods
between lifts. Capacity loads can be handled for initial installation of
equipment and for infrequent maintenance. Typical examples are cranes
used in power houses, public utilities, turbine rooms, motor rooms, and
transformer stations. This is the lightest crane as far as duty cycle is
concerned.

Class B (light service) – This service class covers cranes where service
requirements are light and speeds are slow. Loads can vary from no load
to occasional full capacity. Lifts per hour can range from 2 to 5, and
average 3 meters per lift. Examples of class B cranes include service
buildings, light assembly operations, repair and maintenance shops, and
light ware housing etc.

Class C (moderate service) – Class C cranes are those cranes whose

service requirements are deemed to be moderate. These cranes handle
loads which average 50 % of the rated capacity with 5 to 10 lifts per hour,
averaging around 5 meters per lift, with not over 50 % of the lifts at rated
capacity. In terms of numbers, most of the cranes are built to meets class
C requirements. Examples of class C cranes are the cranes normally used
in mill machine rooms and machine shops etc.

Class D (heavy service) – In class D service crane, loads approaching 50 %

of the rated capacity is handled constantly during the work period. High
speeds are desirable for this type of service with 10 to 20 lifts per hour
averaging around 5 meters per lift with not more than 65 % of the lifts at
the rated capacity. Typical examples of cranes with heavy service are steel
pant production shops, steel warehouses, foundries, fabricating shops,
heavy machine shops, container yards, and lumber mills etc. Cranes can
be with standard duty buckets or magnets operations where heavy duty
production is needed.

Class E (severe service) – Cranes with class E service are capable of

handling loads approaching the rated capacity throughout its life with 20
or more lifts per hour at or near the rated capacity. Application of canes
with class E include magnet, bucket, magnet / bucket combination cranes
or fertilizer plants, steel plants, cement plants, scrap yards, lumber mills
and container handling etc.

Class F (continuous severe service) – Cranes with class F service are to be

capable of handling loads approaching rated capacity continuously under
severe service conditions throughout its life. Typical examples of such
cranes include custom designed specialty cranes essential for performing
the critical work tasks affecting the total production facilities. This type of
crane is to provide the highest reliability with special attention to ease of
maintenance features.

HMI hoist duty ratings are given in Tab 1. The table provides an idea of the
relative signi cance of the duty cycle ratings for the different electric
hoists. It is to be noted that the duty cycle determination for a particular
application involves obtaining a signi cant amount of additional
information and expertly applying it to the intended use.
Tab 1 Duty cycle ratings of various electrical hoists

Operation based on 65 % capacity

Maximum Maximum Maximum Maximum

HMI
on time starts on time starts Details
class

minutes From cold

per hour
per hour start

Power-house
and utilities,
infrequent
handling,
hoists used
primarily to
install and
7.5 (12.5 service heavy
H1 75 15 100
%) equipment,
loads
frequently
approach
capacity and
hoist idle for
long periods
between use.

Light
machine
shop
fabricating,
service and
maintenance;
loads and
utilization
7.5 (12.5
H2 75 15 100 randomly
%)
distributed;
rated loads
infrequently
handled.
Total running
time not over
12.5 % of the
work period.

General
machine
shop
fabricating,
assembly,
storage, and
warehousing;
H3 15 (25 %) 150 30 200 loads and
utilization
randomly
distributed.
Total running
time not over
25 % of work
period.
 High volume
handling of
heavy loads,
frequently
near rated
load in steel
warehousing,
machine and
fabricating
shops, mills,
and
foundries,
with total
running time
not over 50 %
of the work
period.
H4 30 (50 %) 300 30 300 Manual or
automatic
cycling
operations of
lighter loads
with rated
loads
infrequently
handled such
as in heat
treating or
plating
operations,
with total
running time
frequently 50
% of the work
period.

Bulk handling
of material in
combination
with buckets,
magnets, or
other heavy
attachments.
Equipment
frequently
cabin
operated.
Not Not
60 (100 Duty cycles
H5 500 applicable applicable
%) approaching
(Note 1) (Note 1)
continuous
operation are
frequently
necessary.
User must
specify exact
details of
operation,
including
weight of
attachments.

NOTE 1 : Not applicable since there are no infrequent work periods in Class H5 service.
AISE (American Iron and Steel Engineers) also provides for different
service classes for cranes covered under AISE Technical Report No. 6,
‘Speci cations for Electric Overhead Travelling Cranes for Steel Mill
Service’. Like CMAA, AISE also provides a numerical method for
determining crane class based on the expected load spectrum. Without
getting into the speci cs of this method, AISE does generally describe the
different service classes (load cycles) as (i) Service Class 1 (N1) with less
than 100,000 cycles, (ii) Service Class 2 (N2) with 100,000 to 500,000
cycles, (iii) Service Class 3 (N3) with 500,000 to 2,000,000 cycles, and (iv)
Service Class 4 (N4) with over 2,000,000 cycles.

Further AISE describe the different load classes as (i) L1 which includes
cranes which hoist the rated load exceptionally, and normally hoist very
light loads, (ii) L2 which includes cranes which rarely hoist the rated load,
and normally hoist loads about 1/3 the rated capacity, (iii) L3 which
includes cranes which hoist the rated load fairly frequently, and normally
hoist loads between 1/2 and 2/3 or the rated capacity, and (iv) L4 which
includes cranes which are regularly loaded close to the rated capacity.
Based on the load classes and load cycles, the CMAA chart (Tab 2) below
helps determine the class of the crane.

Tab 2 Chart for determining class of crane

Load cycles

N1 N2 N3 N4
Load
Classes
20,000 to 100,000 500,000 – Over
100,000 -500,000 2,000,000 2,000,000
cycles cycles cycles cycles

L1 A B C D

L2 B C D E

L3 C D E F

L4 D E F F

For the determination of the crane duty group according to FEM, the
factors which are needed are (i) load spectrum which indicates the
frequency of maximum and smaller loadings during examined time period,
and (ii) class of utilization which is determined according to number of
hoisting cycles during lifetime of crane. By combining of these factors
duty group of the crane is to be selected. Tab 3 gives comparison of
different standards for crane classi cation.

Tab 3 Comparison of various standards

Standard Class

CMAA A B C D E F

FEM 1 2 3 4 5 6

FEM* 1Bm 1Am 2m 3m 4m 5m

ISO* M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 M8

HMI** H2 H3 H4 H5
 * Based on 63 % of mean effective load

** Based on 65 % of mean effective load

Ispat Digest

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Comments on Post (1)

Natu

Good article covering the entire range. Will be useful for the youngsters
who join heavy industries like the steel plants.
I have copied the contents and have asked my boys to go thro.
Thanks Satyender.
Posted: 12 September, 2013 at 16:36 pm Reply
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