any machine system that is dependent on compressed air; the brakes on certain carriers would be an example of this type of system
all-terrain (AT) crane
all-terrain cranes may have the option to be driven from both the carrier and the upper; they may have a “pick and carry” chart, and can be driven on public roads; they are rubber mounted (on tires); they have hydraulic suspension, which can be adjusted by the operator into “road” or “jobsite”; they may have hydraulic or lattice booms; these cranes usually have multiple axles, some of which may not be driven or steered and are for weight distribution only; they have various steering modes
boom
part of the crane that extends above the upper works or superstructure and supports the line or lines to which the load is attached
boom configuration
how the boom is utilized; the configuration, for example, may include the addition of extensions, jibs, etc.
cable cutter
mechanical or hydraulic device especially designed to cut wire rope
car body
frame of a chassis for a crawler crane to which the tracks and upper works attach
chassis
part of the carrier that includes the steering and braking mechanisms, suspension, drive train and tracks or wheels
clamshell
attachment installed at the lifting end of the hoist rope that is designed to open and close in order to move mud, sand or other loose materials
controls
mechanisms that include all levers, brakes, dogs, switches, buttons and other devices that the crane operator physically manipulates
counterweight
attachments (usually heavy metal or concrete), usually secured to the rear of the upper works, chassis or attachment; counterweights offset the weight of the extended boom and load
crawler crane
mobile crane that uses a track-driven carrier
dragline
attachment installed at, and suspended by, the lifting end of the hoist rope that is designed to scrape earth or other material into it as it is dragged toward the crane by a second drum
drum
cylindrical component that is used to store and dispense line; the line is wound or spooled onto the drum when the operator causes the drum to rotate
duty cycle
crane operations such as clamshell, magnet, concrete bucket and grapple work, where the operation comprises steady and repetitive work at short cycle time with fairly constant loading levels
extend the boom
hydraulic cranes, in most cases, have one or more telescoping sections to the main boom; this is one feature that allows the operator to control the length of the boom
freefall
capability of a hoist rope on a drum to unwind using only the weight of the load or lifting device attached to the hoist rope
gross load
weight of the load plus other items, such as the hook block, hoist ropes, rigging, etc. (as defined by the crane manufacturer)
hardware
usually refers to rigging hardware, which can be any of a wide range of bolts, hooks, chains, shackles, clamps, and other mechanical devices used to secure or attach to loads in preparation for hoisting
hoist rope
single line attached to a ball, lift hook, boom hoist or other assembly; the term hoist rope may also be used to describe the compound assembly of lines running through the hook block; these ropes are either wire rope or synthetic material
hoisting
act of manipulating the crane controls in order to move a load
hook block
weighted metal block containing sheaves or pulleys, located at the end of the hoist rope on some cranes; the hook block is equipped with a hook for attachment of loads
hydraulic system
system that relies on pressurized oil to make it function; the boom on hydraulic cranes is manipulated through the use of oil under pressure
levelling
process of positioning the crane so that it is level prior to lifting a load
lifting attachments
accessories supplied by manufacturers used to increase crane capacity or boom length or to perform additional crane functions
log book
book in which the operator is required to record information, such as inspection, maintenance, locations, hours worked as well as damage and repair details
magnet work
attachment installed at the lifting end of the hoist rope in order to lift and move metal
multi-crane lifts
lifts which are performed simultaneously by two or more cranes attached to the same load; in some instances, it is impossible to accomplish certain lifts using only one crane
net capacity
lift that can be made that is, gross capacity minus attachments, lifting devices, hooks and rigging
outriggers
supports that extend from the carrier vehicle to the ground to provide stability; outriggers are composed of beams and jacks
pawl (dog)
device or control that locks or stops machinery or components (usually winches) from rotating; a pawl locks rotation in one direction; a dog prevents rotation in all directions
piledriving
use of the mobile crane to force metal, concrete or wooden pilings into the ground
radius
horizontal distance from the centre of rotation of a crane to the centre of gravity of load with the load suspended
reeving
(n.) a rope system in which the rope travels around sheaves; (v.) installing the rope system around the sheaves
rig
act of attaching loads to the hoisting system
rig-up/rig-down
assembly and disassembly of crane and components
rigger
designated individual whose duty it is to ensure that loads are appropriately attached or rigged to the hoist rope of the crane
rough-terrain (RT) crane
rough terrain cranes are rubber-tire mounted and may be two or all-wheel drive and various steering modes; they may have solid suspension on the front axle and oscillating rear axles; RT cranes have off-road capability; they have “on-rubber” and “pick-and-carry” charts
sheaves
wheels or pulleys located in a hook block, boom heads, or other parts of the crane boom on which the line runs
signal
approved signs given to the operator by the signaller; the signaller may use hands and arms to relay the information, or may rely on a radio to give verbal cues to the operator
signaller
designated individual who relays information to the crane operator
sling
any metal or synthetic flexible device used to cradle or support a load
specialty equipment
equipment used for a specific operation
spooling
process of winding line either onto or off of a drum on which it is stored
superstructure / upperworks
part of the mobile crane above the carrier which rotates and supports the boom, winches, cylinders and other components
swing (slewing)
rotating the upper works horizontally through part or all of the radius or circle
tracks
carrier system used to move certain cranes that require the use of tracks rather than wheels
truck-mounted crane
truck-mounted cranes steer from the front axles only; and a lower deck and smaller tires than AT cranes; they may have either lattice or hydraulic booms; the cranes are rubber mounted (on tires); these cranes must be driven from the carrier; they can be configured to be driven on public roads
wire rope
material made of many extremely strong and flexible metal alloy wires wound in various configurations to suit a range of conditions; often referred to as cable