crane beam
 

crane beam
i'm extending an existing 7-1/2 ton monorail beam. the beam is a "patented" welded plate beam spanning 28' between supports. the existing beam measures 18.75" tall, with a 5/8"x10" wide top flange, a 7/8" x 3 1/4" wide bottom flange, and a 5/16" thick web.
the supplier wants an arm and a leg for this beam and the hangers. does anyone know a source for this member near southwest north carolina? i have to match the bottom flange to keep the trolley running smoothley, but the other dimensions are variable.
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i have designed many overhead cranes and runways. my master’s degree thesis was about the subject of overhead crane and runway design.
well my friend, i think the system you are describing is a proprietary track system. if it is what i think it is, it is a hybrid i-shape meaning the flanges and web have different yield strength.
before you make the beam, make sure that you are not infringing on copy rights or anything of the sort.
i have many overhead crane reference data. let me know if you need more help.
very few options. even though the patent on this (upper flange & most of web is a36, bottom flange and lower web is a high strength, wear resistant steel) probably expired about 50 years ago, don’t even consider making your own (unless your company has huge capabilities).
i bought patent rail in 1997 for a bridge crane. only found 3 suppliers: cleveland tramrail, tc/american and trambeam. paid for flatbed trailer transportation from alabama to california, but the vendor (trambeam) did have a discount rate hauler.
it looks like the same supplier cartel exists at present:
cleveland tramrail [maybe your original supplier?]
kenvlach , what an excellent input and good information. i agree with you 100%. i added a star by your name.
by the way, i happen to one of the few lucky people and own a copy of the whiting crane handbook. they have been out of print for years. i am not sure they are going to print a new one. do you know anything about this?
lutfi
thanks lutfi,
i have nowhere near your experience; did some civil & structural engineering after my company bought most of a bridge crane at an auction. excavated a containment pit and raised the support columns on piers to get sufficient clearance for handling 6' tall parts in/out of 6.5' deep electropolishing tank in a rather short building.
re whiting crane handbook. a used books search found
whiting crane handbook, 3rd edn., [full title: whiting, crane handbook. design data and engineering information used in the manufacture and application of cranes.] 208pgs., greiner, h. g., whiting corporation 1967.
the burnett equipment website says
"trambeam components are interchangeable with cleveland tramrail, tc/american and spanmaster.
formerly 'whiting trambeam.'"
so, perhaps whiting (whiting corporation, harvey, ill) was merged into trambeam. ask the folks at burnett and trambeam.
thanks for the information. i never intended to make my own crane beam, i just needed some additional sources for the beam. sounds like there is a bit of a supplier monopoly on this!
the whiting crane book is a good resource. i have one as well.
thanks again.