If you ever need to do any heavy-duty lifting, the best way to do it is by using a crane rental company to get your hands on a hydraulic crane. By using a boom crane rental near Austin, you can pick up and move just about anything. However, before you do, you should understand the science behind how a hydraulic crane actually works. Here are just a few of the things you need to know about a hydraulic crane.
The Hydraulic Cranes Basics
Like all hydraulic machines, a hydraulic crane works by transmitting forces from one point to another through the use of an incompressible fluid like oil. A crane has a hydraulic pump that creates pressure between two pistons and that pressure is what allows it to lift items that weigh thousands of pounds. It’s actually a fairly simple concept and, by creating pressure between the two pistons, a crane’s pump is able to extend the boom or the large arm that does all of the lifting for the crane.
The Hydraulic Cranes Parts
While a hydraulic system isn’t all that complicated, it does require quite a few moving parts to work properly. From the aforementioned boom, which is what does the actual lifting, to the counterweights, which are attached to the back of the crane and prevent it from tipping over, these parts are all equally important. Outriggers keep the crane balanced, the Rotex gear under the cab of the crane allows it to rotate, and the load moment indicator tells the crane operator when the crane is picking up too much weight.
The Hydraulic Cranes Operator
Operating a crane rental takes great skill. A good crane operator must be able to use a hydraulic crane’s joysticks as they control both the boom and the movement of the crane. They also must be able to use the foot pedals to control how much pressure is generated by the crane’s pump. Most importantly, they must communicate with an oiler and a signalman to make sure that everything is in place before a lift takes place.