How to Mount a Bridge to a Crane Rail
A bridge crane is a device that lifts a load vertically and moves it horizontally on crane rails. The bridge is the component of the crane that carries the hoisting device. The crane rails, similar to railroad track rails, are the runway rails that the bridge travels on to move horizontally. Mounting the bridge to the crane rails requires precision and patience, because of the size of the bridge. Most bridge crane manufacturers send the crane in one piece, which allows the installer to mount the crane to the rails in one operation.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
Unloading
-
1
Bridge cranes are often shipped by flatbed trucks. Unload the crane with a front-loader forklift. A front-loader forklift has the lifting device located in the front of the machine. Slide the forks under the bridge of the crane with the hoisting device centered on the bridge. Tie the bridge down to the forks with lifting straps before raising the bridge of the crane.
-
2
Tie lanyards to each end of the bridge so you can have two people stabilize the bridge. Slowly move the bridge off the flatbed truck. Ensure that there is enough room to enter the building where the bridge will be mounted. Overhead bridges can be mounted indoors or outdoors.
-
-
3
Slowly move the entire bridge to its mounting location. Set the bridge down and tighten the lifting straps to ensure that the bridge is secured before lifting the crane to its desired height.
-
4
Raise the bridge to the desired height, parallel to the crane rails. Once the bridge has cleared the height of the crane rails, turn the bridge perpendicular to the crane rails. The end trucks on the bridge must be located just above the crane rails before lowering the bridge into place.
-
5
Position one person on each end of the bridge to determine if the end trucks are being lowered into place. Each person can be raised into position by a manlift. As the forklift operator lowers the bridge into place, the people on each end of the bridge can ensure that the bridge wheels are positioned on top of the crane rails.
-
6
Set the bridge wheels directly on top of the crane rails. When the wheels are resting on the rails, remove the lifting straps. You can move a manlift along side the bridge and in front of the forklift to remove the lifting straps from the bridge and the forks of the forklift.
-
7
Contact the electricians to power the bridge crane and test the hoisting device. The bridge is electrified by festoon running parallel to the crane rails. This electrified festoon, or wires, power the entire bridge crane, including the bridge motors, trolley and hoisting device.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Measure the bridge from the center of the wheels to make sure that it will fit the span of the crane rails before lifting the bridge to its desired height.
Do not mount a bridge to crane rails without the assistance of two other people.
Ensure that the forklift has the load capacity to lift the entire bridge. An overloaded forklift can tip forward.
References
- Photo Credit Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
