Quick Guide to tower crane assembly

[Gaz]

Spent a couple of days putting up a Potain tower crane recently, I've taken a quick snap at most stages of the crane going up, gives you some idea what is involved in erecting a tower crane. This is quite a small tower, hence the reason a 150 was doing it but the principles are the same all the way up to the really big ones.

The tool for the job, Leibherr LTM1150 6.1


URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_1264.jpg

The base in and leveled, must be perfect, couple of millimeters out on the bottom will be greatly increased as the tower goes up!!!!

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_1268.jpg

32.5m radius, more wagons turned up and unloaded.

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_1269.jpg

Unloading a wagon.

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_1275.jpg

Base ballast going on, bottom of the thing needs to be weighed down!

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_1273.jpg

All the ballast on the base so we can start building up.

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_1276.jpg

Building the jib up on the floor, it will be lifted complete.

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_1278.jpg

Another tower section placed and the slew ring and cab lifted

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_1280.jpg

End of day 1!....we left the crane for 3 days now as the concrete base had not hardened enough to put the weight of the whole crane on.

Start of day 2, bright and early

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_1317.jpg

Back jib placed

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_1324.jpg

Started to cloud over.....put the winches and motors on the machinery deck

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_1325.jpg

Placing the A frame

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_1328.jpg

Once the A frame is fitted my crane is used to lift the back jib up to fix the pennant lines from the top of the A frame to the back jib.

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_1330.jpg

Then 2 of the 7 counterweight blocks are added

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_1331.jpg

Then we're ready for the jib we built up on day 1, you cant see but the hook block is attached to the end, that will be reeved when the jib is fixed in position.

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_1348.jpg

Whats happening here is i've moved the jib past where it needs to fix so the bridle can be attached to the pennants, the bridle is pre reeved on the ground on took up with the A frame earlier.

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_1350.jpg

Once that is sorted the jib is moved into position and attached.

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_1352.jpg

Its then all tensioned and the weight is taken of me as it takes the weight of its own jib

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_1356.jpg

Then we place the actuators for the variable position counterweight

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_1361.jpg

Rest of the counterweight is added

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_1362.jpg

And hey presto, one tower crane.

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_1366.jpg

Enjoy
Gaz

[Holger]

WOW! Thats a cool topic! Thank you!

[martyn williams]

Nice one

[John Mac]

Nice to get a crane operatives view,
Thanks

[topkit]

More Excellent pictures Gaz, Whereabouts has that one gone up. That site looks quite open i am supprised they could'nt get a Saddle Jib in there rather than a Luffer, Maybe there were oversailing problems. Great job keep them coming.

[topkit]

More Excellent pictures Gaz, Whereabouts has that one gone up. That site looks quite open i am supprised they could'nt get a Saddle Jib in there rather than a Luffer, Maybe there were oversailing problems. Great job keep them coming.

[XS650]

Interesting pics, I was once on a job with a tower crane that could insert its own sections into the tower and build itself up higher , fascinating.

[Gaz]

More Excellent pictures Gaz, Whereabouts has that one gone up

Gone up in Basilson in Essex, one of Kier's machines. Not sure why it was a luffer and not a saddle, there was a children's playground over the back so most likely not allowed over that in anyway.

Gaz