Various Types of Crawler-Mounted Cranes
In order to be able to power a large variety of machines, industrial wheel tractors were adapted in the 1920s, by Fordson and McCormick-Deering. For example, half-swing cranes and shovels were manufactured by some companies around the tractor's engine and power train and the wheels became replaced by crawlers.
During the 1930s, crawler tractors came into widespread use. Soon after, many manufacturers started making attachments for them, including a variety of lifting equipment devices.
For instance, side-mounted booms were mainly used for pipe-laying where it gained its nickname the "pipelayer." These types of machines are now usually used for attending to cleaning up railroad derailments. Because of their mobility, size and compact design, in addition to outstanding lifting capacity, these types of machines are great for this application. In addition, swing booms which mounted on top of the engine compartment also became available.
Similar to a crawler tractor, crawler cranes travel on crawler tracks. Due to their intense weight, these machinery do not move very fast. Typically, the crane is powered by one engine and could be controlled by 2 or more cable operated drums. The crawler cranes come outfitted with a lattice boom or a telescopic arm that is easy to extend by using hydraulics. The lattice boom needs to be manually assembled by adding multiple sections.
Tower Cranes
Typically found in large construction projects, tower cranes are required to be erected and broken down on location. They have to be transported by truck every time they are relocated. These tower cranes are exceptionally tall. They allow construction crews to transport heavy steel or concrete building components to the tops of tall buildings. Tower cranes use a hydraulic system to push each new crane part up into place and hence, are self-erecting.