This issue may be too elementary for many of you, please kindly note that Bridge Crane, Overhead Crane System and Overhead Bridge Crane are different titles for the exact same thing. This results in the customer meaning one thing while the design engineer is thinking of something entirely different.
The main travelling structure which spans the width of the bay is the Overhead Bridge Crane. The bridge consists of two end trucks and a bridge beam (bridging between the two end trucks).
Located on either end of the bridge beam are the end trucks. They provide a connection point between the bridge beam and the house the wheels on which the entire crane travels. These wheels ride on the runway beam allowing access to the entire length of the building.
Bridge Girders/Crane beams:
The horizontal beam of the crane bridge supports the hoist. There can be either one or two bridge beams, but we’ll get into that in a later issue.
Trolley:
The trolley carries the hoist across the width of the building. It traverses along the bridge girder covering the lateral motion. Remember, the lengthwise travel is the bridge motion.
Hoist:
The hoist is mounted to the trolley and performs the actual lifting function. We can supply wire rope hoists, chain hoists, trolley hoists, winch trolley, etc.
Runway:
The runways are the gray item in the picture. They provide the rolling surface for the bridge cranes to travel the length of the building.
Overhead Bridge Crane Applications:
With versatile design options and heavy lifting capabilities, bridge crane systems are ideal for a wide variety of applications. Some key industries include:
Metal Refining: Overhead cranes handle raw materials and workpieces through every step of the manufacturing process.
Automotive Manufacturing: Overhead cranes are critical in handling bulky molds, components, and raw materials.
Paper Milling: Bridge cranes are used in paper mills for equipment installation, routine maintenance, and the initial construction of paper machines.
