Kinds of Jib Cranes
Jib cranes are made up of a trolley hoist on a horizontal load-bearing boom. This boom is connected 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 used within factories and warehouses for loads weighing as much as 5 tons. The website BestJibCranes.com features the major jib crane types as being either mast mounted, free-standing or wall-mounted.
Free Standing
Free-standing jib cranes are able to stand alone not requiring support from the building structure. The horizontal boom in this specific situation is attached to a pivoting vertical column that is firmly anchored to the building floor. This kind of jib crane requires a foundation made of either concrete or steel and is able to rotate a full 360 degrees.
Mast-Type
The vertical column on the mast-type jib cranes are supported by pivot points at the top and the bottom. These pivots 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 needed for free-standing units.
Wall Mounted
The wall-mounted jib cranes offer a horizontal boom that is connected to the wall of a building as opposed to the regular vertical column. These machine offer up to 200 degrees of rotation and are great in places 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 attached from above the wall to the boom. The other type supports the boom from below by utilizing a cantilever brace that is also connected to the wall.