Used in everything from mobile truck cranes to enormous multi-story tower cranes, counterweight systems are integral to the operation of crane operations. Put simply, a counterweight offsets the weight of the load being lifted and prevents the entire crane from tipping over during lifting.
The operation of a tower crane counterweight is full of calculations but reduced to its base elements, it works like this: the counterweight must have a mass equal to the weight being lifted in order to function optimally. This is actually not an equal weight: weight ratio, though, as the distance of the counterweight from the pivot point must also be factored in. This calculation (counterweight mass multiplied by the distance from the pivot), referred to commonly as the “moment of physics,” is the only thing that enables the correct operation of a crane. In fact, crane failures are frequently caused by miscalculations of this equation or failure to adjust the counterweight’s mass when varying the load on the “lift” side of the crane.
In truck cranes, these same principles apply. But, unlike tower cranes, mobile cranes are designed with varying lift capacities in mind, depending on what function the crane is serving at the time. To accommodate these shifting requirements, mobile cranes are equipped with compact cast-iron weights than can be added or removed as the lift requirements increase and decrease, ensuring that safe lifting practices are always in place.
Texas Hydrostatics is intimately familiar with the operation of counterweights on all forms of cranes, from mobile to tower. If you have any questions about your cranes or need a refresher on weights and calculations, contact us today and put the crane pros on the job!