All Terrain Crane
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[edit] History
[edit] Liebherr Cranes for the USSR
In 1981, crane manufacturer Liebherr won a huge order, perhaps the biggest in the company’s history, for 323 telescopic cranes worth approximately US$200 million for the USSR to be used in the construction of 3,100 miles (5,000 km) of gas pipelines and pumping stations running through Siberia.[1]
The cranes to be designed had to feature capabilities not exhibited in any other crane on the market at the time. They had to be adaptable for both smooth driving on roads and accelerated speeds despite their heavy frame as well as possess excellent off-road abilities all while maintaining a comfortable suspension system that would still enable the crane upper to be raised. Hans Liebherr sketched the crane out on paper; the resulting design resembled what would become the company’s first flagship all terrain crane, the LTM 1055 S 4. The four-axle model crane would serve as the “father” of all terrain crane technology. The crane could travel at speeds reaching 40 miles (65 km) per hour and each of the crane’s four single tired axles could be both driven and steered. The crane could also operate in temperatures as low as –50 degrees centigrade, a feature necessary for working in the harsh cold climate of Siberia.[2]
[edit] Grove Enters the Market
In the mid 1980s, Grove decided it was also time break into the all terrain crane market. The company launched its version in the AT 400. The crane was manufactured in the U.K. and the U.S. and featured twin axle, all-wheel steering and drive, a 69-foot (21-m) boom and a maximum hook height of 119 feet (36 m) when fitted with an extension jib. By 1989, Grove became a dominant contender in the all terrain crane market introducing over five different all terrain crane models that included the AT700B, AT700BE, AT880, AT1100, and the AT1500.[3]
As other companies came into the market, the range and versions of all terrain cranes expanded from the two-axle compact city crane versions to larger, mobile cranes. In 2005 the focus on all terrain crane development was on five-axle, long boom, easy to transport models. The latest five-axles cranes were being developed to be even more compact and lightweight than before but still offer very long boom lengths of 190 to 197 feet (58 to 60 m) with lifting capacities of 95 to130 tons.[4]
[edit] Features/How it Works
The all terrain crane is power-driven by one or two engines and is typically all-wheel drive. The crane component of the machine features hydraulically operated winches and a telescopic boom with multiple extended sections.
[edit] Common Manufacturers
[edit] Additional Photos
[edit] References
- ↑ Bachman, Olive and Cohrs, Whiteman and Wislicki. The History of Cranes. pg 230 - 231
- ↑ Bachman, Olive and Cohrs, Whiteman and Wislicki. The History of Cranes. pg 231
- ↑ Bachman, Olive and Cohrs, Whiteman and Wislicki. The History of Cranes. pg 243
- ↑ All Cranes Rule OK, ALL Terrain. 2008-09-08.
