Large-scale human creations always delight. People learned how to build high-rise buildings, extract fossils from the bowels of the earth and accumulate atomic energy. But how exactly are global structures built? What drives heavy beams and vaults? And the matter concerns the real heroes - cranes. Consider what is the largest crane in the world today and how it is used.
The leader among truck cranes
Without a doubt, the most impressive and powerful truck crane is the German creation LiebherrLTM-11200-9.1, popularly referred to as the “Mammoth”. In 2007, the largest crane of this type was listed in the Guinness Book of Records. The main power of the "Mammoth" is hidden in its arrow, which has eight telescopic sections. These are the largest length indicators in the world that exist today. So that the colossus can move and stand stably, it has nine main axles, which are driven by eighteen wheels.
The cargo with which the crane most often has to work has a weight of 363 tons. Permissible carrying capacity with the additional installation of special units is 1200 tons. The largest wheeled crane is designed to operate at a height of 180 meters, but at the same time its capabilities are reduced. The maximum load raised to such a height with the arrow extended as much as possible is 1.3 tons.
Technical specifications of the world's largest crane
Just imagine a huge colossus with an incredible arrow, the length of which exceeds all conceivable and inconceivable parameters. How to hold such power? How to make the largest Liebher crane still lift such loads? This requires powerful supports.
Under the main boom is a large counterweight system. It represents a base weighing 22 tons, on which ten plates of another 10 tons each are installed.
The crane is powered by a 240 kW 6-cylinder engine. The average speed when driving is 12 km per hour. Despite its powerful capabilities, the crane itself weighs only 220 tons.
Use of the Liebher crane
According to the Germans, most often they order this colossus for large-scale construction in Europe and the Middle East. The biggest problem is transportation. Even by land, at least 20 trucks are required to move all components. The installation of the crane takes from 8 to 10 hours. In Europe, the largest wheeled crane is universally used for the installation of wind generators.
A truck crane can often be found on construction sites of solar batteries and high-rise buildings, TV towers and bridges. The colossus is controlled by a whole group of operators who monitor the load and the overall performance by monitors, eliminating even the slightest error or error.
The world's largest Liebher crane can be used wherever maximum lifting capacity is required. Its great advantage is that, unlike its rival giants, it is very mobile. Often, the unit is used in the military sphere to mount experimental objects.
Tracked giant
The inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom do not cease to amaze. Chinese manufacturers claim their LR13000 is the largest crawler crane that can move on its own. Its maximum capacity is 3,000 tons, although in 2011 the world was presented with the development of the same Chinese in the construction of a new crane with a carrying capacity of 3,600 tons. The only caveat is that such a huge load can only be raised by 12 meters.
In fact, the height of the work is much greater. Such cranes are commonly used in the construction of oil and chemical plants. Also, the construction of dangerous parts of nuclear power plants is not complete without them.
The most interesting thing is that during its operation the LR13000 does not use a counterweight. Its design resembles a deployed arrow, which ensures stability. Powerful cables installed on two sides can provide a load capacity of up to 62 tons each. And the hook lifts the equipment to the height of a 74-story building.
"Titan" of our time
Ever wonder what is the largest crane capacity ? It is very hard to imagine, but the highest weight a machine can lift is 20,000 tons. Twenty thousand tons! These are 660 cars or 21,000 Lada cars!
It is difficult to imagine even the place where the crane can be used. A Chinese company is engaged in its construction, and the design itself is motionless, that is, it does not involve transportation. The purpose of its existence is the construction of oil wells in the deep sea. For this purpose, a crane is specially erected on the provided platforms, which are then simply removed. And after that, Teisun (the name of the modern Titan) begins to mount a borehole.
To date, the most famous instance is working in Shandong. It took 10 years to erect it, but already at its opening the crane set a record - 20133 tons at an altitude of 30 meters above water level.
Huge tower crane
The German company Wolffkran has created the largest tower crane in the world. His model has an identification of 1250V. The maximum crane can lift 60 tons, but not on a fully extended boom. With such a load, its capabilities are reduced to 11 tons, because the maximum radius of the boom reaches 80 meters.
The world's largest crane immediately after the public presentation went to its first job - to build a hydropower plant in Germany. Today, it can often be found in the process of working at facilities on all continents of the world.
The price of such a crane is simply sky-high. Any, even the most high-budget project is unlikely to be able to afford to buy and transport a high-altitude crane. Therefore, the Germans willingly arrange leasing. This increases the popularity of the unit and makes it more accessible for construction sites in the world.
The biggest floating crane
The immensity of the deep sea forces engineers to design more and more technological innovations. And in this case, China is leading again. Their largest floating crane is known as the DLV4000. From the bottom of the sea depths, he is able to lift cargo weighing up to 4400 tons.
Where can there be such cargo, you ask? Of course in places of oil and gas production. It’s more rational to lower the DLV4000 hook once than to do it a hundred times, but with a smaller machine. In addition, the world's largest crane used at sea is capable of performing its work in hard-to-reach places, on dangerous shelves or in cold weather.
It remains only to imagine the size of this giant. The length exceeds 174 meters and the width is 48 meters. It is powered by 7 diesel engines, which have their own power plant. The crane can work continuously for 60 days, but such overheating should not be allowed. A ship can lift a submarine, as they say, with one finger, and not even blink.