Cranes are invaluable tools for construction projects, emergency response missions, and investigatory missions. In the past few decades, cranes have proven that their use value expands well beyond just land-based projects. Here is a look at how cranes have improved production in the air, sea, and space.
Air
Did you know that cranes can be used in the sky? Aerial cranes are delivered to the construction scene via a helicopter that is either specifically designed to carry the crane, or manufactured with the crane already connected. Certain aerial crane models frequently lift loads as heavy as 20,000 pounds!
Aerial cranes are extremely versatile. They can lift tangible items, like cars, swimming pools, and boats, or infrastructure pieces, like highrise and shopping center materials. These cranes can also aid in the construction of power line systems and sky-high antennas.
Aerial cranes also assist emergency response teams, providing access to places that are otherwise too dangerous or difficult to access. These emergency situations include forest fires, combat zones, and hurricane disaster sites.
Sea
Sea-based cranes have also successfully contributed to construction sites. Floating cranes are among the most impressive of all cranes, capable of lifting almost 2,000 tons! Floating cranes are also available in less powerful but still impressive models, boasting remarkable load capacities over 100 tons. Regardless of whether the water is salt or fresh, floating cranes are indispensable to many construction sites, particularly those involving bridge and port reconstruction. Floating cranes can also be used to help researchers and rescue teams access sunken ships and downed aircraft.
Another useful crane service, called a vessel crane, effectively lifts and totes heavy duty materials from waterways. Unlike floating cranes, which are mounted on pontoons or barges, vessel cranes are based atop ships. Thus, vessel cranes can often access work sites faster than floating cranes, and many vessel cranes' load capacities exceed that of the typical floating crane. The record load capacity for a vessel crane is slightly over 11,000 tons! Thus, vessel cranes are indispensable in many construction and underwater salvaging projects.
Space
Cranes have also assisted mankind in the final frontier: space exploration. One out-of-this-world example, called a gantry crane, helps explorers move and use equipment, like heavy rocket engines. Outer space gantry cranes also capture and manage man-made space garbage so that it can be returned to earth.
America's monumental Mars landing has also given rise to the use of cranes on that planet. In 2012, a great crane helped deliver a rover into one of the most intriguing craters on this red planet. Without the use of this "sky crane," the rover had little chance of successfully surviving the fall into this foreign landscape.
Share25 April 2015
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