Mobile Cranes Key Terms

Get your equipment moving with the right mobile cranes vocabulary

Mobile cranes have followed the trend of other construction equipment, becoming more and more complex over time. Specialized training is required to safely operate these powerful pieces of machinery.

Having a basic understanding of certain key terms and concepts relating to mobile cranes is one of the best ways of making sure you've got qualified help on the job. The following key terms will give you a knowledge base from which to start.

 

Mobile cranes

Mobile cranes are a type of crane mounted on an independently mobile platform, which allows them to move to a load and transport it. Truck cranes, cranes mounted on the bed of a truck, are the most common example of mobile cranes.
Try: Industrial101 gives a detailed explanation of how mobile cranes compare to other types of cranes.

Hydraulic systems

Hydraulic systems, or simply hydraulics, are a system of components that use fluid to transfer pressure from one piston to another, resulting in movement of the equipment. The force produced by this transfer is what allows a hydraulic crane to move heavier loads.
Try: HowStuffWorks gives a detailed explanation of how hydraulic cranes work.

Power take-off

Power take-off units, drives and shafts all are essentially the same thing: a drive shaft connected to a power-driven piece of equipment, designed to take power from that equipment and transfer it to an accessory or additional piece of equipment. Power take-off units are used to drive many types of mobile cranes, such as truck cranes.
Try: The National Ag Safety Database gives a detailed explanation of how power take-off units work. Their primary purpose is the same in any given piece of equipment, whether it's a tractor or a truck crane.

Load chart

The load chart is a chart located in the cab of a crane, providing the crane operator with vital information about which loads are safe to lift.
Try: The Crane Tech Newsletter explains the different elements of the load chart and how it directly applies to the operation of a mobile crane.

Load Moment Indicator

The Load Moment Indicator, or LMI, is an electronic device that gives a graphical representation of how the crane's actual load and positioning relates to the specifications and limits of its load chart.
Try: Construction Equipment gives an overview of electronic LMI units and what they do.

Standard hand signals

Hand signals may be your only way of communicating with the crane operator to provide instructions and direction regarding the crane's load. These signals are especially important for mobile cranes, as they are operated in diverse conditions in which the crane operator may have an obstructed view, or no view at all, of the load being manipulated. Using standardized signals helps to ensure that there is clear communication.
Try: SS Crane & Rigging Corporation provides a helpful chart of standard hand signals, including when and how they should be used.

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