Capacity (how to quote a crane system)

The capacity requirements needed for the crane system your quoting (assuming your quoting one) is, by far, the most important item. Capacity helps a crane manufacturer determine:
-the type of system
-what size runways/bridges need to be used
-the maximum distance between two support locations
-the maximum cantilever that can be achieved
-the overall bridge rating requirements
-the number of supports needed
-what bridge spans can be achieved with that capacity
-floor rating requirements (free-standing)
-ceiling rating requirements (ceiling hung)
-trolley/endtruck requirements

see more at http://ping.fm/v5cF9…a-crane-system/

Bays and Multiple Bridges

Systems can utilize multiple bridges. The systems just have to have a capacity rating high enough to accommodate the weight if both bridges we MAX loaded. This is where it gets a little complicated.

If you want the two bridges to be able to travel in the same bay, the bay must be rated to accommodate both bridges MAX loaded.

If you have multiple bridges, however, and stop the bridges from entering the same bay together (In other words, you will never have a bay with more than one bridge in it), each bridge can be rated at 6,000lbs (if we follow the two above examples). Bridges can be stopped from entering bays by installing what's called "runstops" inside the runway. Runstops prevent bridges from traveling any further.

see pictures at http://ping.fm/Ilxad

The Importance of Capacity

Our next few posts will revolve around quoting a Kundel Crane. We will start the series with the importance of knowing what is being lifted, the Capacity.

The first, and foremost important thing to understand before quoting a Kundel crane system is what is being lifted (The size and weight of the object). Knowing this piece of information tells us a lot.

Kundel has three different crane series, The SnapTrac, K-Trac, and T-Trac. Each of these series is rated for different capacities. SnapTrac is rated for anything less than 1/2ton. K-Trac is rated for anything less than 3ton. T-Trac is rated for anything less than 10ton. Knowing the capacity allows us to pinpoint which series we need to focus on. Let us say for instance, we get a customer that needs a crane rated for 2ton. Knowing the 2ton capacity tells us that this eliminates the possibility of using the SnapTrac(1/2ton) for the application.

The capacity also helps us design the layout of the crane system. Knowing the capacity also tells us how far we can span with our runways and bridge. In other words it tells us how many posts will be needed, and how far apart they need to be. The further the span the less posts needed. Less posts not only means less expensive, it means more room to work. More room means you can now install that much needed CNC machine or pull in one more car into your garage... the list goes on.

These are just two small examples of the "behind the scenes" information we get from knowing the capacity. We will touch more on capacity later as we go through the various topics. Thanks for reading, and remember… Always ask yourself “What is being lifted?”

Kundel Crane Qualification Sheet

Here are some basic questions/qualifications to ask yourself or the customer before quoting a overhead workstation crane. My next few posts will outline the importance of each qualification, and give examples of how we can attack different applications. Check back!

Crane Qualifications (Click on a qualification to see a preview)

CAPACITY ______
CEILING OR FLOOR _______
CEILING HEIGHT OR MAX HEIGHT _______
ANY OBSTRUCTIONS _______
BRIDGE LENGHT_______
NUMBER OF BRIDGES _______
RUNWAY LENGTH _______

OPTIONS: (check if applicable)
INTERNAL ELECTRIC _______
LOW HEADROOM RAISED BRIDGE _______
MOTORIZATION _______