This portable crane can hoist millions of pounds all
day long, then drive home like any other 18-wheeler
Posted 03.23.2009 at 10:57 am
10 Comments
Feet Firmly Planted, Head Held High: Hydraulic beams keep the rig steady and propel it off the ground to create a torsion frame Paul Wootton
Outrigging
An X-shaped array of hydraulic beams extend away from the vehicle, plant their feet firmly, and lift the truck off the ground, forming what’s called a torsion frame. This distributes the weight evenly among the beams and prevents the crane from twisting under its enormous load.
Counterweights
A crane is all about balance, and balance means counterweighting. The crane body itself is a hefty counterweight; without the boom, the 11200 weighs 108 tons (that doubles when the boom is in place). But the crane also holds up to 445,000 pounds of counterweights—giant, 5- to 20-ton steel plates filled with scrap metal and concrete that are stacked on the truck’s back.
Steel Cables
These support the boom and direct the force down to the counterweights on the truck body.
Lattice Jib
This short, stiff extension contains a pulley that changes the direction of the rope. The jib is set at a slight angle. This gives the operator more maneuverability while keeping heavy loads (like a windmill generator) close to the boom’s tip, sending the weight down the boom and into the truck body, counterweights and outriggers.
Page 2 of 2
« first‹ previous12
Want to learn more about breakthroughs in electronics, medicine, nanotech, and more?
Subscribe to Popular Science and enter to win $5,000!
Subscribe to Popular Science and enter to win $5,000!
10 Comments
To comment, please Login.
Download Our iPhone App
Stay up to date on the latest news of the future of science and technology from your iPhone with full articles, images and offline viewing
Follow Us On Twitter
Featuring every article from the magazine and website, plus links from around the Web. Also see our PopSci DIY feed
Become a Fan On Facebook
Share links with friends, comment on stories and more
December 2009: Best of What's New
In our December issue, Popular Science names the 100 best innovations of the year: bombproof wallpaper, self-parking cars, the fastest helicopter, and 97 more. Plus inventor profiles and videos.
Check out the best of what's new here.
Popular Science Photo Pool
Popular on Popsci
Most Viewed
Science
- Mesmerizing, Isn't It?
- New Reactor Uses Sunlight to Turn Water and Carbon Dioxide Into Fuel
- Man Diagnosed 'Comatose' For 23 Years Was Actually Conscious All Along
- Implantable Device Allows Mastectomy Patients to Regrow Own Breasts
- Modified Algae Produce Clean, Easy Hydrogen
- Moon-Bombing Mission Finds Significant Amount of Water in Lunar Soil
- Yikes: Peruvian Jungle Gang Arrested for Selling Fat of Its Murder Victims
- Liquid Cooling Bags For Data Centers Could Trim Cost and Carbon By 90 Percent
- This Week in the Future, November 6-13, 2009
- World's First Osmotic Power Plant Goes Live in Norway
Most Commented
Science
- This Week in the Future, November 6-13, 2009
- This Week in the Future, November 16-20, 2009
- So Much For "Hopenhagen"
- New Reactor Uses Sunlight to Turn Water and Carbon Dioxide Into Fuel
- President Obama Hopes to Jumpstart Science and Technology Education With New Initiative
- Modified Algae Produce Clean, Easy Hydrogen
- Revitalized LHC Manages to Collide Protons
- Mesmerizing, Isn't It?
- NASA Scientists Say Martian Meteorite May Have Brought Life to Earth
- Moon-Bombing Mission Finds Significant Amount of Water in Lunar Soil
Most Emailed
Science
- New Reactor Uses Sunlight to Turn Water and Carbon Dioxide Into Fuel
- World's First Osmotic Power Plant Goes Live in Norway
- President Obama Hopes to Jumpstart Science and Technology Education With New Initiative
- Modified Algae Produce Clean, Easy Hydrogen
- This Week in the Future, November 23-26, 2009: Thanksgiving Special
- NASA Scientists Say Martian Meteorite May Have Brought Life to Earth
- DOE Announces $620 Million in Smart Grid Project Grants
- Take Down Rampaging Elephants with Automatic Entangling Leg-Cords, Star Wars Style
- Future Then Video: Braniff Goes Supersonic
- Revitalized LHC Manages to Collide Protons
Today on PopSci.com
Copyright © 2009 Popular Science
A Bonnier Corporation Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
I really doubt it will lift 2.6 million pounds.I just dont think you could get a strap around it for one thing.ha ha
from Commack, New York
EO- Haha...I don't know how true that could be...but there are very advanced materials out there that might be able to.
The company's website says 1200 tons (2.4 million pounds) at 2.5 m radius. Not sure what the exact measurement technique is, but they claim that it's pretty stout.
ok 1200 ton = 3x40 tons
3x80,000lbs tractor trailers ( out side your suv window)
walk in the park people!!
there was a coal stripmining shovel built years ago that could load like six train cars with one bucket. i think it was called the "big muskie" had to have cranes with this capasity then
P.S. what weighs more a ton of lead or a ton of turkey feathers( my dad got me with this wat to many times)
Sowerofcrop is missing a zero. we're talking 30 tractor trailers. That's a bit more impressive, even if it is only at 2.5 meter (~8 foot) radius.
from Singapore, Singapore
Hey Guys,is seems like you guys no nothing about cranes.I wonder how you can doubt something that you don't even know them.I do not agree with the comments from you guys.Especially,Mr.electrodynamic,don't you feel ashame of your comments?
When manufacturer claims the crane can lift 2,600,000 pounds,well it is equivalent to approx 1200 Metric Ton.It sure can!!! as it was tested at a very close working radius.Nonetheless,when it comes to the real application,you won't have a chance to lift 1200 M-Ton due to the space,height,etc...
Mr.Electrodynamic,you shouldn't need to anyhow laugh..In turn,people will laugh at you!..Hahaha!
I don't believe that. To compare an industry with fairly large lifting requirements - The oil and gas drilling industry. A national 1625 draw works is 3000 horsepower and the second most powerful made. ( They make a 4000HP capable of drilling in excess of 40k feet ). It is powered by 3 EMD Model 16-645-E8 2200 BHP each @ 900 RPM - 5400kW. It's lifting capacity is approx 750 tons ( 1.6 million pounds ) on a 16 line block with a verticle mast of 2 million pound capacity.
So this crane is lifting 2.5 million pounds with a 6 cylinder turbo diesel producing 240kW ?
Why does it take 6600HP and 5400kW to lift 1.6 million pounds one place and only 350HP and 240kW to lift 2.5 million pounds someplace else ? Is this a magic crane ?
So theoretically, you could hoist not only the pipe that a 1625 national is lifting but you could lift the derrick, substructure and draworks along with it, in one piece, with this mobile crane.
Wow, that's impressive. BS, but impressive.
hey satex, I guess that is what gearing is for eh? check it out for yourself on the Liebherr. com website
This is the coolest crane ever!
__________________________
http://empoweringparents.com/blog/boot-camps/alternative-to-military-schools/
wow, i have never seen something similar before.
www.emailextractor14.com