2.1. Foundation Preparation

Now, let us see how the erection of the tower crane is done with climbing cage. In modern tower cranes, we have this climbing cage facility which facilitates the self erection process of the crane. So, basically, what you have to do is first, you have to prepare the foundation for the tower crane that is very important. You have to prepare a heavy foundation for the tower crane according to the requirement, put heavy reinforcement and then both the tower sections to the foundation after construction of the first few sections of the tower crane.

Before erecting a tower crane, proper foundation preparation is crucial. The foundation must be strong enough to support the weight and stress of the crane during operation. This involves creating a heavy foundation that meets specific requirements. Reinforcement, usually with steel, is included in the foundation to add strength and stability. After the initial section of the crane is constructed, it will be anchored to this foundation, allowing the crane to safely operate.

Think of a tower crane like a large tree; just as a tree needs deep roots to stand strong against winds and storms, a crane requires a solid foundation to support its high structure and heavy loads.

Now, what you do is, you erect your turntable or this slewing ring, operator cap and the tower top. For all these things, we need the support of another mobile crane. With the help of another mobile crane, you erect the turntable, climbing cage, this is your climbing cage, climbing cage with the hydraulic jack system. You will be seeing a hydraulic cylinder here which helps the lifting.

Once the foundation is set, the next step is to erect various components of the crane. This includes installing the turntable, which allows the crane to rotate, the climbing cage that aids in self-erection, and the operator's cabin (cap). A mobile crane is required to lift and position these heavy components accurately. The climbing cage features a hydraulic jack which assists in lifting these parts into place.

Imagine building a large model with parts that are too heavy to lift on your own. You'd need a friend's help (the mobile crane) to lift and position the parts accurately before you can continue with building your model.

Then now, you put the counter jib with few counterweights. First, you put few counterweights, then slowly increase the jib portion. As you increase the jib portion sections, you can increase the number of blocks here; number of counterweight blocks. Now, when this is done, till this, you need the support of another mobile crane. After this, you can do the erection process yourself with the climbing cage help without the help of another crane.

Counterweights are added to stabilize the crane. They help balance the load being lifted, preventing the crane from tipping over. Initially, a few counterweights are installed, and as the jib (the horizontal arm) is lengthened, more counterweights are added accordingly. The introduction of the climbing cage allows for self-erection, meaning cranes can continue to build themselves without external assistance after the initial setup.

Think of the crane as a seesaw. When a heavier child sits on one side, the other side needs more weight to balance. Similarly, counterweights ensure the crane remains balanced, especially when it lifts heavy loads.

Once this is done, then you can do the self-erection of the tower crane. So, how to do that? First, what you do is, you have to introduce a new section to increase the height of the tower crane with the help of trolling action. You know the trolling rate. There is a trolley here in the main jib. By the trolling action so, you can bring the, you see, here you can see, this is a new section. The new section is brought closer to the tower with the help of the trolling action.

To increase the height of the tower crane, new sections are added. This process, called self-erection, involves moving a new section into position with the help of a trolley mechanism. Once the new section is aligned with the current structure, it is bolted into place, allowing the crane to grow in height as required for the construction project.

Consider putting together a tall Lego tower. You must move a new Lego piece close to the existing structure and snap it on securely to increase the height of your creation.

Similarly, if you want to dismantle it, you do the entire thing in the reverse order. So, you can remove the section one by one with the tower crane. After the desired height is reached with the help of another mobile crane, you can remove the jib and the counter jib portion.

When it's time to take down the crane, the process is essentially the reverse of the erection procedure. Sections are removed one by one, starting with the outer parts like the jib and counter jib. A mobile crane may be needed initially for the larger, heavier pieces. This systematic dismantling ensures safety and organization during the process.

Think of taking down a tower of blocks you built. You would start by carefully removing the top blocks before tackling the larger base pieces, ensuring your whole structure does not topple dangerously.

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