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5. Components of an Electrical Overhead Traveling Crane
Components of an Electrical Overhead
Traveling Crane
By Mike Bailey, eHow Contributor




Electrical overhead travelling cranes operate in hazardous environments.
Electrical overhead traveling (EOT) cranes -- indispensable in many industries -- allow heavy
items to be lifted and transported with ease. An EOT crane may be required to move a load that
weighs thousands of pounds to a positional accuracy of less than one inch. The potential for
automated or radio-controlled operation allows factory owners to specify EOT cranes for use
under extremes of temperature and pressure, and in hazardous environments including the
nuclear industry.
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1. Runway and Conductors
o An EOT crane travels on a steel runway along the length of a building, typically a
factory workshop. The runway attaches directly to the building structure and must
be strong enough to support the weight of the crane together with its maximum
load. Electrical conductors, positioned along the length of the runway, supply
power to the crane. Bus bar conductors are common and connect via a collector
that travels with the crane. Alternatively, festoon conductors use flat cables, that
travel in a separate track alongside the runway, wired directly into the crane.
Crane Bridge
o
The crane bridge is the principal structural component of an EOT crane. The
bridge spans the width of the building and comprises one or more load bearing
beams or girders. These may be fabricated steel box-girders or rolled-steel joists.
Wheeled end-trucks, resting on the runway and connected at right-angles to the
ends of the girders, join the beams at each end of the crane bridge. The bridge
carries the hoist trolley, which travels along the length of the girders during
operation.
o
End-Trucks and Drives
o End trucks on an EOT crane typically comprise rolled steel hollow section frames
fitted with a combination of driven or free running load wheels. Electric drive
motors -- typically two-speed or variable-speed alternating current (AC) units --
power the wheels and move the crane into the required position. Brakes are
mounted on the drive motors and are essential to prevent uncontrolled loads
becoming dangerous, and are often electrically operated. Electrical limit switches
cut power to the drive motors and prevent the crane colliding with the building
structure at the end of the travel range.
Hoist Trolley
o
A top-running trolley on an EOT crane runs on rails fitted to the top of the crane
bridge, and comprises a fabricated steel structure with end trucks and drives. An
underhung trolley on a single-girder crane runs on the bottom flange of the crane
beam, with drive units connected directly to the trolley. The trolley carries the
electric wire rope hoist that supports the load block and hook through a system of
pulleys, and a variable-speed AC motor on the hoist drives the load up or down.
Limit switches prevent the load block from colliding with the trolley.
Control System
o Controls for an EOT crane are usually mounted in an operator pendant or remote
console and comprise various push buttons and switches that operate relays and
contactors mounted on the crane. Drive motors and the hoist motor draw
substantial currents during operation and require appropriately rated contactors to
switch them on and off. Variable frequency inverters provide speed control for
motors where accurate positioning is essential. A master contactor is triggered by
a main switch and cuts off all power to the crane if a dangerous situation occurs.