Bridge crane, overhead crane, overhead bridge crane introduction

What is a bridge crane? What is an overhead crane? And what’s overhead bridge crane machine? Actually, they are refereeing the same type of lifting crane. The terms used to describe the lifting crane may This issue may be too elementary for many of you, but you would be surprised at how many people incorrectly interchange one or more of the following terms.  This results in the customer meaning one thing while the design engineer is thinking of something entirely different.

The following quick review will make sure we’re all on the same page and you get exactly what you’re looking for.

Bridge Crane = Overhead Crane = Overhead Bridge Crane

The main travelling structure which spans the width of the bay is the Overhead Bridge Crane. The bridge consists of two end trucks and a bridge beam (bridging between the two end trucks).

Overhead Bridge Crane：End trucks

Located on either end of the bridge beam are the end trucks. They provide a connection point between the bridge beam and the house the wheels on which the entire crane travels. These wheels ride on the runway beam allowing access to the entire length of the building.

Overhead Bridge Crane：Bridge Girder(s)

The horizontal beam of the crane bridge supports the hoist. There can be either one or two bridge beams, but we’ll get into that in a later issue.
overhead crane component

Basic crane configuration

Bridge

The main travelling structure of the crane which spans the width of the bay. The bridge consists of two end trucks and one or two bridge girders depending on the Equipment Type.

Overhead Bridge Crane：End trucks

Located on either side of the span, the end trucks house the wheels on which the entire crane travels. These wheels ride on the runway beam allowing access to the entire length of the bay.

Overhead Bridge Crane：Bridge Girder(s)

The principal horizontal beam of the crane bridge which supports the trolley and is supported by the end trucks.

Trolley Hoist

The unit consisting of both the hoist and the trolley frame. In situations where more than one hoist is required on one crane, both hoists can be supplied on a single trolley or on separate trolleys.

Hoist

The hoist is mounted to the trolley and performs the actual lifting function via a hook or lifting attachment. There are two basic types of hoist. The Munck brand is a Wire Rope Hoist which is very durable and will provide long term, reliable usage. The other type of hoist is the Chain Hoist.

Trolley

The trolley carries the hoist across the width of the building.  It traverses along the bridge girder covering the lateral motion.  Remember, the lengthwise travel is the bridge motion.

Runway

The runways are the gray item in the picture.  They provide the rolling surface for the bridge cranes to travel the length of the building.
Takeaway Points:
Bridge Crane, Overhead Crane and Overhead Bridge Crane are different titles for the exact same thing.
Horizontal Motion is the bridge crane travel (lengthwise) and trolley travel (widthwise).  Lifting motion (up/down) is the hoist motion.
Terminology matrix
Bridge crane, overhead crane, overhead bridge crane introduction