Liebherr is a German-Swiss multinational equipment manufacturer based in Bulle , Switzerland, with its main production facilities and origins in Germany.
81-569: Liebherr consists of over 130 companies organized into 11 divisions: earthmoving , mining, mobile cranes , tower cranes , concrete technology, maritime cranes , aerospace and transportation systems, machine tools and automation systems, domestic appliances, and components. It has a worldwide workforce over 53,000, with fourteen billion euros in revenue for 2023. By 2007, it was the world's largest crane company. Established in 1949 by Hans Liebherr in Kirchdorf , Württemberg-Hohenzollern , West Germany,
162-478: A mechanical advantage of 3:1, it has been calculated that a single man working the winch could raise 150 kg (330 lb) (3 pulleys x 50 kg or 110 lb = 150), assuming that 50 kg (110 lb) represent the maximum effort a man can exert over a longer time period. Heavier crane types featured five pulleys ( pentaspastos ) or, in case of the largest one, a set of three by five pulleys ( Polyspastos ) and came with two, three or four masts, depending on
243-558: A central vertical axle, were commonly found at the Flemish and Dutch coastside, German sea and inland harbors typically featured tower cranes where the windlass and treadwheels were situated in a solid tower with only jib arm and roof rotating. Dockside cranes were not adopted in the Mediterranean region and the highly developed Italian ports where authorities continued to rely on the more labor-intensive method of unloading goods by ramps beyond
324-635: A concerted action required a great amount of coordination between the work groups applying the force to the capstans. During the High Middle Ages , the treadwheel crane was reintroduced on a large scale after the technology had fallen into disuse in western Europe with the demise of the Western Roman Empire . The earliest reference to a treadwheel ( magna rota ) reappears in archival literature in France about 1225, followed by an illuminated depiction in
405-516: A constant pressure, thus increasing the crane's load capacity considerably. One of his cranes, commissioned by the Italian Navy in 1883 and in use until the mid-1950s, is still standing in Venice , where it is now in a state of disrepair. There are three major considerations in the design of cranes. First, the crane must be able to lift the weight of the load; second, the crane must not topple; third,
486-623: A conveyance, usually a wheelbarrow , or a cart or wagon drawn by a draft animal . In antiquity, an equivalent of the hand shovel or hoe and head basket—and masses of men—were used to move earth to build civil works. Builders have long used the inclined plane , levers, and pulleys to place solid building materials, but these labor-saving devices did not lend themselves to earthmoving, which required digging, raising, moving, and placing loose materials. The two elements required for mechanized earthmoving, then as now, were an independent power source and off-road mobility, neither of which could be provided by
567-873: A growing concern for heavy equipment manufacturers with manufacturers beginning research and technology acquisition. A number of companies are currently developing ( Caterpillar and Bobcat ) or have launched ( Built Robotics ) commercial solutions to the market. These subdivisions, in this order, are the standard heavy equipment categorization. Tractor Grader Excavator Backhoe Timber Pipelayer Scraper Mining Articulated Compactor Loader Track loader Skid-steer loader Material handler Paving Underground Hydromatic tool Hydraulic machinery Highway Heavy equipment requires specialized tires for various construction applications. While many types of equipment have continuous tracks applicable to more severe service requirements, tires are used where greater speed or mobility
648-407: A height of about 34 m (111.5 ft) (see construction of Trajan's Column ). It is assumed that Roman engineers lifted these extraordinary weights by two measures (see picture below for comparable Renaissance technique): First, as suggested by Heron, a lifting tower was set up, whose four masts were arranged in the shape of a quadrangle with parallel sides, not unlike a siege tower , but with
729-624: A large expense on any construction project, careful consideration should be given to prevent excessive wear or damage. A heavy equipment operator drives and operates heavy equipment used in engineering and construction projects. Typically only skilled workers may operate heavy equipment, and there is specialized training for learning to use heavy equipment. Much publication about heavy equipment operators focuses on improving safety for such workers. The field of occupational medicine researches and makes recommendations about safety for these and other workers in safety-sensitive positions. Due to
810-422: A long history; the ancient Roman engineer Vitruvius (1st century BCE) gave descriptions of heavy equipment and cranes in ancient Rome in his treatise De architectura . The pile driver was invented around 1500. The first tunnelling shield was patented by Marc Isambard Brunel in 1818. Until the 19th century and into the early 20th century heavy machines were drawn under human or animal power. With
891-524: A manuscript of probably also French origin dating to 1240. In navigation, the earliest uses of harbor cranes are documented for Utrecht in 1244, Antwerp in 1263, Bruges in 1288 and Hamburg in 1291, while in England the treadwheel is not recorded before 1331. Generally, vertical transport could be done more safely and inexpensively by cranes than by customary methods. Typical areas of application were harbors, mines, and, in particular, building sites where
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#1732844060500972-418: A maximum pulley height of 248 metres (814 ft ). This is achieved with the attachment of an additional 126-metre-long (413 ft) lattice jib to the 248- metre (814 ft ) main boom. The height of the crawler chassis is an additional 2 m (6 ft 7 in), which gives the lattice structure a total height of 248 m (814 ft). The maximum hoisting height is 245 m (804 ft) and
1053-609: A much greater lifting capability than was previously possible, although manual cranes are still utilized where the provision of power would be uneconomic. There are many different types of cranes, each tailored to a specific use. Sizes range from the smallest jib cranes, used inside workshops, to the tallest tower cranes, used for constructing high buildings. Mini-cranes are also used for constructing high buildings, to facilitate constructions by reaching tight spaces. Large floating cranes are generally used to build oil rigs and salvage sunken ships. Some lifting machines do not strictly fit
1134-408: A point over the center of gravity, they are regarded by archaeologists as the positive evidence required for the existence of the crane. The introduction of the winch and pulley hoist soon led to a widespread replacement of ramps as the main means of vertical motion. For the next 200 years, Greek building sites witnessed a sharp reduction in the weights handled, as the new lifting technique made
1215-444: A primary source of motion. The word plant , in this context, has come to mean any type of industrial equipment, including mobile equipment (e.g. in the same sense as powerplant ). However, plant originally meant "structure" or "establishment" – usually in the sense of factory or warehouse premises; as such, it was used in contradistinction to movable machinery, often in the phrase "plant and equipment". The use of heavy equipment has
1296-434: A system of a boom , hoist , wire ropes or chains , and sheaves for lifting and relocating heavy objects within the swing of its boom. The device uses one or more simple machines , such as the lever and pulley , to create mechanical advantage to do its work. Cranes are commonly employed in transportation for the loading and unloading of freight, in construction for the movement of materials, and in manufacturing for
1377-443: A vertical lift, and not used to move loads for a considerable distance horizontally as well. Accordingly, lifting work was organized at the workplace in a different way than today. In building construction, for example, it is assumed that the crane lifted the stone blocks either from the bottom directly into place, or from a place opposite the centre of the wall from where it could deliver the blocks for two teams working at each end of
1458-455: Is near the deck. Additionally, the DLF increases further when lifting objects that are underwater or going through the splash zone. The wind speeds tend to be higher than onshore as well. Though actual DLF values are determined through crane tests under representative operational conditions, design specifications can be used for guidance. The values vary according to the specification, which reflects
1539-418: Is noteworthy that medieval cranes rarely featured ratchets or brakes to forestall the load from running backward. This curious absence is explained by the high friction force exercised by medieval tread-wheels which normally prevented the wheel from accelerating beyond control. According to the "present state of knowledge" unknown in antiquity, stationary harbor cranes are considered a new development of
1620-667: Is required. An understanding of what equipment will be used for during the life of the tires is required for proper selection. Tire selection can have a significant impact on production and unit cost. There are three types of off-the-road tires, transport for earthmoving machines, work for slow moving earthmoving machines, and load and carry for transporting as well as digging. Off-highway tires have six categories of service C compactor, E earthmover, G grader, L loader, LS log-skidder and ML mining and logging. Within these service categories are various tread types designed for use on hard-packed surface, soft surface and rock. Tires are
1701-570: Is the world's second-largest truck (after BelAZ 75710 ). The group's nine-axle mobile crane, the LTM 11200–9.1—with a 100-metre (328 ft) telescopic boom—in 2007 received the heavy-lifting industry's Development of the Year award for being the world's most powerful example of such a machine. Over the years, the family business has grown into a group of varied companies, and has locations in many countries, including Germany, Australia, Britain, Ireland, Turkey, and
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#17328440605001782-405: Is usually part of the crane's type approval . In offshore lifting, where the crane and/or lifted object are on a floating vessel, the DLF is higher compared to onshore lifts because of the additional movement caused by wave action. This motion introduces additional acceleration forces and necessitates increased hoisting and lowering speeds to minimize the risk of repeated collisions when the load
1863-539: The Elswick works at Newcastle , to produce his hydraulic machinery for cranes and bridges in 1847. His company soon received orders for hydraulic cranes from Edinburgh and Northern Railways and from Liverpool Docks , as well as for hydraulic machinery for dock gates in Grimsby . The company expanded from a workforce of 300 and an annual production of 45 cranes in 1850, to almost 4,000 workers producing over 100 cranes per year by
1944-580: The Industrial Revolution . For many centuries, power was supplied by the physical exertion of men or animals, although hoists in watermills and windmills could be driven by the harnessed natural power. The first mechanical power was provided by steam engines , the earliest steam crane being introduced in the 18th or 19th century, with many remaining in use well into the late 20th century. Modern cranes usually use internal combustion engines or electric motors and hydraulic systems to provide
2025-457: The Roman Empire , employing the use of human treadwheels , permitting the lifting of heavier weights. In the High Middle Ages , harbour cranes were introduced to load and unload ships and assist with their construction—some were built into stone towers for extra strength and stability. The earliest cranes were constructed from wood, but cast iron , iron and steel took over with the coming of
2106-621: The implement , traction , structure, power train , and control/information. Heavy equipment has been used since at least the 1st century BC, when the ancient Roman engineer Vitruvius described a crane powered by human or animal labor in De architectura . Heavy equipment functions through the mechanical advantage of a simple machine that multiplies the ratio between input force applied and force exerted, easing and speeding tasks which often could otherwise take hundreds of people and many weeks' labor. Some such equipment uses hydraulic drives as
2187-480: The polyspastos indicate that the overall lifting capability of the Romans went far beyond that of any single crane. At the temple of Jupiter at Baalbek , for instance, the architrave blocks weigh up to 60 tons each, and one corner cornice block even over 100 tons, all of them raised to a height of about 19 m (62.3 ft). In Rome , the capital block of Trajan's Column weighs 53.3 tons, which had to be lifted to
2268-585: The 101st Light Infantry Division and fought under Army Group South in the German-Soviet War. After the war, he started by building affordable tower cranes ; Liebherr expanded into making aircraft parts, it is a significant supplier to European Airbus airplane manufacturer—and commercial chiller displays and freezers, as well as domestic refrigerators . The group also produces some of the world's biggest mining and digging machinery, including loaders , excavators , and extreme-sized dump trucks . The T 282 B
2349-455: The 15th century also by windlasses shaped like a ship's wheel . To smooth out irregularities of impulse and get over 'dead-spots' in the lifting process flywheels are known to be in use as early as 1123. The exact process by which the treadwheel crane was reintroduced is not recorded, although its return to construction sites has undoubtedly to be viewed in close connection with the simultaneous rise of Gothic architecture. The reappearance of
2430-456: The 361 t heavy Vatican obelisk in Rome. From his report, it becomes obvious that the coordination of the lift between the various pulling teams required a considerable amount of concentration and discipline, since, if the force was not applied evenly, the excessive stress on the ropes would make them rupture. Cranes were also used domestically during this period. The chimney or fireplace crane
2511-426: The DLF. More sophisticated methods, such as finite element analysis or other simulation techniques, may also be used to model the crane's behavior under various loading conditions, as deemed appropriate by the designer or certifying authority.To verify the actual DLF, control load tests can be conducted on the completed crane using instrumentation such as load cells , accelerometers , and strain gauges . This process
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2592-655: The Liebherr Group owns six hotels in Ireland, Austria and Germany. In April 2014, Liebherr announced that it would invest €160 million at its production site in Bulle. By 2017, Liebherr had expanded its workforce to 43,869 employees. That same year, the company announced it had achieved the highest turnover in the Group's history, with sales of €9,845 million. In 2018, Liebherr generated a turnover of €10,551 million, exceeding €10 billion for
2673-882: The Middle Ages. Unlike construction cranes where the work speed was determined by the relatively slow progress of the masons, harbor cranes usually featured double treadwheels to speed up loading. The two treadwheels whose diameter is estimated to be 4 m or larger were attached to each side of the axle and rotated together. Their capacity was 2–3 tons, which apparently corresponded to the customary size of marine cargo. Today, according to one survey, fifteen treadwheel harbor cranes from pre-industrial times are still extant throughout Europe. Some harbour cranes were specialised at mounting masts to newly built sailing ships, such as in Gdańsk , Cologne and Bremen . Beside these stationary cranes, floating cranes , which could be flexibly deployed in
2754-411: The Middle Ages. The typical harbor crane was a pivoting structure equipped with double treadwheels. These cranes were placed docksides for the loading and unloading of cargo where they replaced or complemented older lifting methods like see-saws , winches and yards . Two different types of harbor cranes can be identified with a varying geographical distribution: While gantry cranes, which pivoted on
2835-664: The Para Hills facility. In the U.S., the group in 2012 started spending US$ 45.4 million (about €34.1 million) on a three-year renovation and expansion of its Newport News, Virginia , factory, offices, and warehouse. The company sought to increase its production there beyond 100 mining trucks a year. On 19 February 2013, representatives from the Commonwealth of Virginia and the cities of Newport News and Hampton announced that they would make grants and incentives available for transport improvement, training, and property investment. In addition,
2916-556: The United States. Since 1958, its Irish factory in Killarney , County Kerry , has built container cranes, exporting them worldwide through the port of Fenit . In Australia, the group in 2013 commenced an AU$ 65 million expansion of their local headquarters in Adelaide . The development includes adding a new three-storey office, workshops, warehouse, component plant, and distribution centre to
2997-600: The above definition of a crane, but are generally known as cranes, such as stacker cranes and loader cranes. Cranes were so called from the resemblance to the long neck of the bird , cf. Ancient Greek : γερανός , French grue . The first type of crane machine was the shadouf , which had a lever mechanism and was used to lift water for irrigation . It was invented in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) circa 3000 BC. The shadouf subsequently appeared in ancient Egyptian technology circa 2000 BC. A crane for lifting heavy loads
3078-633: The administrative board and several other family members are actively involved in corporate management. In 2005, Forbes magazine listed them as billionaires . In 1974, the Franklin Institute awarded Hans Liebherr the Frank P. Brown Medal . Hans Liebherr was drafted for military service in World War II. During the war, Liebherr served with the Ulm Pioneer Battalion 101, which was subordinate to
3159-546: The advent of portable steam-powered engines the drawn machine precursors were reconfigured with the new engines, such as the combine harvester . The design of a core tractor evolved around the new steam power source into a new machine core traction engine , that can be configured as the steam tractor and the steamroller . During the 20th century, internal-combustion engines became the major power source of heavy equipment. Kerosene and ethanol engines were used, but today diesel engines are dominant. Mechanical transmission
3240-417: The assembling of heavy equipment . The first known crane machine was the shaduf , a water-lifting device that was invented in ancient Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) and then appeared in ancient Egyptian technology . Construction cranes later appeared in ancient Greece , where they were powered by men or animals (such as donkeys), and used for the construction of buildings. Larger cranes were later developed in
3321-469: The autocratic societies of Egypt or Assyria . The first unequivocal literary evidence for the existence of the compound pulley system appears in the Mechanical Problems ( Mech . 18, 853a32–853b13) attributed to Aristotle (384–322 BC), but perhaps composed at a slightly later date. Around the same time, block sizes at Greek temples began to match their archaic predecessors again, indicating that
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3402-400: The bulldozer. The largest engineering vehicles and mobile land machines are bucket-wheel excavators , built since the 1920s. Until almost the twentieth century, one simple tool constituted the primary earthmoving machine: the hand shovel —moved with animal and human powered, sleds, barges, and wagons. This tool was the principal method by which material was either sidecast or elevated to load
3483-597: The business is still entirely owned by the Liebherr family. After his death in 1993, Isolde and Willi Liebherr , Hans' daughter and son led the company, becoming vice president and president of the administrative board respectively of the Switzerland–based Liebherr-International AG in 1999. In March 2023, Stéfanie Wohlfarth became vice president and Jan Liebherr president of the administrative board. Isolde Liebherr and Willi Liebherr remain members of
3564-405: The column in the middle of the structure ( Mechanica 3.5). Second, a multitude of capstans were placed on the ground around the tower, for, although having a lower leverage ratio than treadwheels, capstans could be set up in higher numbers and run by more men (and, moreover, by draught animals). This use of multiple capstans is also described by Ammianus Marcellinus (17.4.15) in connection with
3645-447: The construction of the ancient Egyptian pyramids , where about 50 men were needed to move a 2.5 ton stone block up the ramp (50 kg (110 lb) per person), the lifting capability of the Roman polyspastos proved to be 60 times higher (3,000 kg or 6,600 lb per person). However, numerous extant Roman buildings which feature much heavier stone blocks than those handled by
3726-464: The crane must not fail structurally. For stability, the sum of all moments about the base of the crane must be close to zero so that the crane does not overturn. In practice, the magnitude of load that is permitted to be lifted (called the "rated load" in the US) is some value less than the load that will cause the crane to tip, thus providing a safety margin. Under United States standards for mobile cranes,
3807-409: The cylinder and a valve regulated the amount of fluid intake relative to the load on the crane. This mechanism, the hydraulic jigger , then pulled on a chain to lift the load. In 1845 a scheme was set in motion to provide piped water from distant reservoirs to the households of Newcastle . Armstrong was involved in this scheme and he proposed to Newcastle Corporation that the excess water pressure in
3888-474: The design dynamic factor, is a critical parameter in the crane design and operation. It accounts for the dynamic effects that can increase the load on a crane's structure and components during lifting operations. These effects include: The DLF for a new crane design can be determined with analytical calculations and mathematical models following the relevant design specifications . If available, data from previous tests of similar crane types can be used to estimate
3969-417: The dynamic load on the crane due to vessel motion. Additionally, the stability of the vessel or platform must be considered. For stationary pedestal or kingpost mounted cranes, the moment produced by the boom, jib, and load is resisted by the pedestal base or kingpost. Stress within the base must be less than the yield stress of the material or the crane will fail. The dynamic lift factor (DLF), also known as
4050-462: The early 1860s. Armstrong spent the next few decades constantly improving his crane design; his most significant innovation was the hydraulic accumulator . Where water pressure was not available on site for the use of hydraulic cranes, Armstrong often built high water towers to provide a supply of water at pressure. However, when supplying cranes for use at New Holland on the Humber Estuary , he
4131-457: The engineers Vitruvius ( De Architectura 10.2, 1–10) and Heron of Alexandria ( Mechanica 3.2–5). There are also two surviving reliefs of Roman treadwheel cranes , with the Haterii tombstone from the late first century AD being particularly detailed. The simplest Roman crane, the trispastos , consisted of a single-beam jib, a winch , a rope , and a block containing three pulleys. Having thus
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#17328440605004212-465: The equipment while minor repairs are costed to a project. Another common costing strategy is to cost all repairs to the equipment and only frequently replaced wear items are excluded from the equipment cost. Many firms keep their costing structure closely guarded as it can impact the bidding strategies of their competition. In a company with multiple semi-independent divisions, the equipment department often wants to classify all repairs as "minor" and charge
4293-472: The equipment. These costs are as follows: The biggest distinction from a cost standpoint is if a repair is classified as a major repair or a minor repair . A major repair can change the depreciable equipment value due to an extension in service life , while a minor repair is normal maintenance . How a firm chooses to cost major and minor repairs vary from firm to firm depending on the costing strategies being used. Some firms will charge only major repairs to
4374-452: The exact circumstances of the shift from the ramp to the crane technology remain unclear, it has been argued that the volatile social and political conditions of Greece were more suitable to the employment of small, professional construction teams than of large bodies of unskilled labour, making the crane preferable to the Greek polis over the more labour-intensive ramp which had been the norm in
4455-460: The first time in the company's history. In March 2020, Liebherr launched their first APAC HQ in Singapore, alongside their bespoke $ 35,000 SGD Bespoke Luxe Refrigerator. The line of products manufactured by the company includes: Liebherr has the world's most powerful and tallest crawler crane in its LR 13000. It is capable of lifting 3,000 tonnes (2,953 long tons ; 3,307 short tons ) and has
4536-456: The initial stages of construction on the ground, often within the building. When a new floor was completed, and massive tie beams of the roof connected the walls, the crane was dismantled and reassembled on the roof beams from where it was moved from bay to bay during construction of the vaults. Thus, the crane "grew" and "wandered" with the building with the result that today all extant construction cranes in England are found in church towers above
4617-562: The lifting of the Lateranense obelisk in the Circus Maximus (c. 357 AD). The maximum lifting capability of a single capstan can be established by the number of lewis iron holes bored into the monolith. In case of the Baalbek architrave blocks, which weigh between 55 and 60 tons, eight extant holes suggest an allowance of 7.5 ton per lewis iron, that is per capstan. Lifting such heavy weights in
4698-572: The lower masts of the vessel under construction or repair. These lower masts were the largest and most massive single timbers aboard a ship, and erecting them without the assistance of either a sheer hulk or land-based masting sheer was extremely difficult. The concept of sheer hulks originated with the Royal Navy in the 1690s, and persisted in Britain until the early nineteenth century. Most sheer hulks were decommissioned warships; Chatham , built in 1694,
4779-538: The lower part of town could be used to power one of his hydraulic cranes for the loading of coal onto barges at the Quayside . He claimed that his invention would do the job faster and more cheaply than conventional cranes. The corporation agreed to his suggestion, and the experiment proved so successful that three more hydraulic cranes were installed on the Quayside. The success of his hydraulic crane led Armstrong to establish
4860-491: The maximum load. The polyspastos , when worked by four men at both sides of the winch, could readily lift 3,000 kg (6,600 lb) (3 ropes x 5 pulleys x 4 men x 50 kg or 110 lb = 3,000 kg or 6,600 lb). If the winch was replaced by a treadwheel, the maximum load could be doubled to 6,000 kg (13,000 lb) at only half the crew, since the treadwheel possesses a much bigger mechanical advantage due to its larger diameter. This meant that, in comparison to
4941-418: The more sophisticated compound pulley must have found its way to Greek construction sites by then. The heyday of the crane in ancient times came during the Roman Empire , when construction activity soared and buildings reached enormous dimensions. The Romans adopted the Greek crane and developed it further. There is much available information about their lifting techniques, thanks to rather lengthy accounts by
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#17328440605005022-442: The observation of the labor-saving qualities of the waterwheel with which early treadwheels shared many structural similarities. The medieval treadwheel was a large wooden wheel turning around a central shaft with a treadway wide enough for two workers walking side by side. While the earlier 'compass-arm' wheel had spokes directly driven into the central shaft, the more advanced "clasp-arm" type featured arms arranged as chords to
5103-566: The simplest is the straight-line method. The annual depreciation is constant, reducing the equipment value annually. The following are simple equations paraphrased from the Peurifoy & Schexnayder text: m = some year in the future N = equipment useful life (years) and D n = Annual depreciation amount Book value (BV) in year m example: N = 5 purchase price = $ 350,000 m = 3 years from now For an expense to be classified as an operating cost, it must be incurred through use of
5184-432: The small profit margins on construction projects it is important to maintain accurate records concerning equipment utilization, repairs and maintenance. The two main categories of equipment costs are ownership cost and operating cost . To classify as an ownership cost an expense must have been incurred regardless of if the equipment is used or not. These costs are as follows: Depreciation can be calculated several ways,
5265-546: The stability-limited rated load for a crawler crane is 75% of the tipping load. The stability-limited rated load for a mobile crane supported on outriggers is 85% of the tipping load. These requirements, along with additional safety-related aspects of crane design, are established by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in the volume ASME B30.5-2018 Mobile and Locomotive Cranes . Standards for cranes mounted on ships or offshore platforms are somewhat stricter because of
5346-601: The technology of that time. Container cranes were used from the 1950s and onwards, and made containerization possible. Nowadays such is the importance of this machinery, some transport companies have developed specific equipment to transport heavy construction equipment to and from sites. Most of the major equipment manufacturers such as Caterpillar, Volvo, Liebherr, and Bobcat have released or have been developing fully or partially electric-powered heavy equipment. Commercially-available models and R&D models were announced in 2019 and 2020. Robotics and autonomy has been
5427-519: The total ballast used is 1,900 tonnes (1,870 long tons; 2,094 short tons), including 1,500 tonnes (1,476 long tons; 1,653 short tons) of derrick ballast. Heavy equipment Heavy equipment , heavy machinery , earthmovers , construction vehicles , or construction equipment , refers to heavy-duty vehicles specially designed to execute construction tasks, most frequently involving earthwork operations or other large construction tasks. Heavy equipment usually comprises five equipment systems:
5508-404: The treadwheel crane may have resulted from a technological development of the windlass from which the treadwheel structurally and mechanically evolved. Alternatively, the medieval treadwheel may represent a deliberate reinvention of its Roman counterpart drawn from Vitruvius ' De architectura which was available in many monastic libraries. Its reintroduction may have been inspired, as well, by
5589-568: The treadwheel crane played a pivotal role in the construction of the lofty Gothic cathedrals . Nevertheless, both archival and pictorial sources of the time suggest that newly introduced machines like treadwheels or wheelbarrows did not completely replace more labor-intensive methods like ladders , hods and handbarrows . Rather, old and new machinery continued to coexist on medieval construction sites and harbors. Apart from treadwheels, medieval depictions also show cranes to be powered manually by windlasses with radiating spokes , cranks and by
5670-436: The type of crane and its usage. Here are some example typical values: The methods for determining the DLF vary in the different crane specifications. The following formulas are examples from one specification. The working load (suspended load) is the total weight that a crane is designed to safely lift under normal operating conditions. It is W = g ⋅ ( m w l l + m
5751-470: The use of several smaller stones more practical than fewer larger ones. In contrast to the archaic period with its pattern of ever-increasing block sizes, Greek temples of the classical age like the Parthenon invariably featured stone blocks weighing less than 15–20 metric tons. Also, the practice of erecting large monolithic columns was practically abandoned in favour of using several column drums. Although
5832-463: The vaulting and below the roof, where they remained after building construction for bringing material for repairs aloft. Less frequently, medieval illuminations also show cranes mounted on the outside of walls with the stand of the machine secured to putlogs . In contrast to modern cranes, medieval cranes and hoists — much like their counterparts in Greece and Rome — were primarily capable of
5913-538: The wall. Additionally, the crane master who usually gave orders at the treadwheel workers from outside the crane was able to manipulate the movement laterally by a small rope attached to the load. Slewing cranes which allowed a rotation of the load and were thus particularly suited for dockside work appeared as early as 1340. While ashlar blocks were directly lifted by sling, lewis or devil's clamp (German Teufelskralle ), other objects were placed before in containers like pallets , baskets , wooden boxes or barrels . It
5994-473: The wheel rim, giving the possibility of using a thinner shaft and providing thus a greater mechanical advantage. Contrary to a popularly held belief, cranes on medieval building sites were neither placed on the extremely lightweight scaffolding used at the time nor on the thin walls of the Gothic churches which were incapable of supporting the weight of both hoisting machine and load. Rather, cranes were placed in
6075-451: The whole port basin came into use by the 14th century. A sheer hulk (or shear hulk) was used in shipbuilding and repair as a floating crane in the days of sailing ships , primarily to place the lower masts of a ship under construction or repair. Booms known as sheers were attached to the base of a hulk's lower masts or beam, supported from the top of those masts. Blocks and tackle were then used in such tasks as placing or removing
6156-522: The work to a job – therefore improving their 'profit' from the equipment. Die-cast metal promotional scale models of heavy equipment are often produced for each vehicle to give to prospective customers. These are typically in 1:50 scale . The popular manufacturers of these models are Conrad and NZG in Germany, even for US vehicles. Crawler crane A crane is a machine used to move materials both vertically and horizontally, utilizing
6237-460: Was developed by the Ancient Greeks in the late 6th century BC. The archaeological record shows that no later than c. 515 BC distinctive cuttings for both lifting tongs and lewis irons begin to appear on stone blocks of Greek temples. Since these holes point at the use of a lifting device, and since they are to be found either above the center of gravity of the block, or in pairs equidistant from
6318-631: Was in many cases replaced by hydraulic machinery. The early 20th century also saw new electric-powered machines such as the forklift . Caterpillar Inc. is a present-day brand from these days, starting out as the Holt Manufacturing Company . The first mass-produced heavy machine was the Fordson tractor in 1917. The first commercial continuous track vehicle was the 1901 Lombard Steam Log Hauler . The use of tracks became popular for tanks during World War I , and later for civilian machinery like
6399-455: Was the first of only three purpose-built vessels. There were at least six sheer hulks in service in Britain at any time throughout the 1700s. The concept spread to France in the 1740s with the commissioning of a sheer hulk at the port of Rochefort. A lifting tower similar to that of the ancient Romans was used to great effect by the Renaissance architect Domenico Fontana in 1586 to relocate
6480-441: Was unable to do this, because the foundations consisted of sand. He eventually produced the hydraulic accumulator, a cast-iron cylinder fitted with a plunger supporting a very heavy weight. The plunger would slowly be raised, drawing in water, until the downward force of the weight was sufficient to force the water below it into pipes at great pressure. This invention allowed much larger quantities of water to be forced through pipes at
6561-413: Was used to swing pots and kettles over the fire and the height was adjusted by a trammel . With the onset of the Industrial Revolution the first modern cranes were installed at harbours for loading cargo. In 1838, the industrialist and businessman William Armstrong designed a water-powered hydraulic crane . His design used a ram in a closed cylinder that was forced down by a pressurized fluid entering
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