The knuckle
The design element that gives a knuckle boom spider crane its special capability. In this case, it is located between a five-section main boom and a three-section telescoping negative-angle jib.
The main boom provides up to 12m of working height, or a maximum radius of 9.4m. The jib adds a further 4.9m of reach or 4.95m of working height.
Negative angle jib
A negative angle jib allows the position of the tip (from which the wire holding the load hangs) to be below the level of the crane’s main boom. This extends the knuckle boom crane’s reach into hard-to-access areas.
The hydraulically-controlled jib can also be positioned at an angle above the main boom. This is helpful for fine control of loads in constrained space, where every centimetre counts in terms of allow loads to be lifted out or in to position.
Up and over reach
Knuckle boom spider cranes have exceptional up and over reach.
This means it can operator at greater heights over obstacles, or the boom can reach into confined spaces to lift in or out loads.
For example, this Maeda knuckle boom crane can reach out nearly 5.5m from a near-vertical boom height of 12m, with a safe working load of 445kg.
Battery electric power
This knuckle boom crane combines fantastic lifting performance with equally impressive sustainable operation.
It is an electric mini crane powered by lithium electric batteries that can be charged while in use, so there is zero downtime, with zero emissions and a very small carbon footprint.
Wireless remote control
With a spider crane that can reach into areas that other spider cranes just cannot, it is important that the crane operator has full control of the lift.
This is achieved by using a radio remote control unit, so the lift can be managed from the best position for optimum safety and productivity.
Stepless outrigger settings
A spider crane that can provide such flexible lifting needs the most flexible support to deliver the full range of its capabilities.
That is achieved with this knuckle boom mini crane’s automatic stepless outriggers.
The outriggers can be placed in the optimum position, and the onboard computer will ensure the lift can be carried out safely. It means the knuckle boom crane can operate in the most challenging of constrained spaces.
Variable track positions
Another useful function on this knuckle boom crane is its variable tracks. The tracks aide movement across uneven and unstable ground.
They also assist with crossing low load-bearing and sensitive surfaces, both indoors and outdoors.
The hydraulically-powered variable tracks enhance that advantage.
They improve the knuckle boom crane’s stability when being tracked across sloping or uneven ground.
Their fully-extended width is 1050mm. In the closed position, the mini crane is just 780mm wide, for moving through narrow access points or congested space.
Non-marking tracks
This knuckle boom crane is fitted with non-marking white rubber tracks.
This supports the mini crane’s use in internal spaces, especially clean environments.
These can be office or retail centre atriums, clean manufacturing facilities, such as pharmaceutical or food processing units, or museums.
Compact dimensions
As with all other spider cranes in Hird’s mini crane hire fleet, this knuckle boom crane is designed specifically to be as compact as possible when stowed, with the best performance (weight and working envelop) when set up for lifting.
In its most compact configuration for tracking it is just 780mm wide, 1945mm high, and 3195mm long.
This allows it to be tracked through many doors and navigate constrained spaces with least disruption.
Full colour LMI monitor
This knuckle boom crane has a 7-inch colour load moment indicator monitor (LMI) that provides all the information the crane operator needs to control the crane.
It is fitted with programmable and automated alarms and load limits that ensure every lift is carried out safely, productively and sustainably.
Two-position jib head
Small details can count in crane design.
This knuckle boom crane spider crane has a jib head that allows the hook to be set at two positions.
It allows for fine adjustment when setting up the crane to carry out a lift. It is a particularly useful function when lifting in confined and constrained space.
Anatomy of a Knuckle Boom Crane
Spider cranes are among the most impressive and flexible cranes in the lifting world. Insert a joint into a spider crane’s boom, and that capability is extended to a new level.
That is precisely what a knuckle boom spider crane delivers. Crook your finger and see how the top of it juts out at a right angle. A knuckle boom spider crane can do the same, giving it a major lifting advantage
Click on the buttons located around the machine to reveal specific information about what makes these spider cranes special.