Kinds of Jib Cranes
Jib cranes are made up of a trolley hoist on a horizontal load-bearing boom. This boom is attached 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 inside factories and warehouses for loads weighing as much as 5 tons. The web site BestJibCranes.com showcases the major jib crane models as being either wall-mounted, mast mounted or free-standing.
Free Standing
The free-standing jib crane units do not need any support from the building structure and are able to stand by themselves. The horizontal boom in this case is attached to a pivoting vertical column which is anchored firmly to the building floor. This kind of jib crane needs a foundation made of either concrete or steel and could rotate a full 360 degrees.
Mast-Type
The mast-type jib cranes feature a vertical column which is supported by pivot points at the top and the bottom which are attached to the building floor and the overhead steel structure. These jib-cranes offer 360 degrees of rotation with the benefit of not needing the massive foundation required for free-standing units.
Wall Mounted
The wall-mounted jib cranes offer a horizontal boom which is attached to the wall of a building rather than the regular vertical column. These machine are great in places where the full 360 degree rotation is not needed and provide up to 200 degrees of rotation.
Depending on how the boom is supported, there are two model varieties. One kind uses a tie rod from above the boom that is connected to the wall. The other variety supports the boom from below by utilizing a cantilever brace that is also attached to the wall.