The real reason why crawler cranes does not tip over or roll over is that the forces overturning the equipment is counteracted by the large and wide body that is rested on a compacted surface like concrete pavement or solid soil. The wide base distributes the forces to the ground and maintains its center of gravity within the base of the crawler crane.
There are also parts of the crawler crane that balance the position of the forces as to not let the center of gravity go out of the crane’s base. It is called the counterweight, which are concrete slabs that can be found at the other side of the boom. These counterweights are positioned at the right distance from the center pillar to counteract the weight of the lifted load at the front side of the boom. There must be spares of this crawler crane counterweights to accommodate different loads and smoothen the operation. There are spares available at Kato Crane Parts and the customer can contact them if they need some.
When a crawler crane is designed, the crane manufacturers then load tests the product with known weights to set the load limits so the operators don’t put too much weight or trolley out too far with heavy loads that might tip the crane over. There are also safety features of the cranes where an electronic panel sets an alarm off inside and outside of the crane if it is approaching the set limits.
When a crane picks up a heavy load in the working arm it is not unbalanced because of the different systems that were discussed above working together. The electronic panel will determine the lifted load and it also calculates how high the weight can be lifted and how far the working arm may extend to keep the balance of the crane.
It does not mean that the operator can use the full length of the boom or arm just because it can reach very long distances. Most tipping over accidents are caused by over extended arm of the crane which lifted very heavy loads outside of the set load limit.
In construction sites, the supervisors and engineers must always follow some key points to maintain safety and accident free site. They must make sure that the operator of the crane is qualified for the job and has proper education, knowledge and experience in operating the equipment. They must also choose the right equipment to execute the job properly and they must read the crane’s manufacturer’s operation manual to fully understand the operating quadrants and limits of the crane.
The operator must never ever try to lift loads that are over the crane’s limits to prevent accidents and tipping over. It is also important to account for the weather conditions. Heavy and strong winds can misdirect the loads to other positions and make the crane very unstable. If a storm is hitting the area, the use of cranes must be prohibited and put into the most stable positions. The best way to have safety in operating cranes is that being aware of the operation and dangers of crane failures.