SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES TECHNICAL REVIEW

Gooseneck Boom Hoist Mechanism for Container Crane

Shingo SHIMADA, Osamu SASAKI, Atsushi MANABE, Takayuki MOTODA

In the global movement of containerization, demand for handling containers has increased at large harbors like Tokyo and in smaller local harbors. In response to this demand, small container cranes have been installed at local harbors for the handling. A small container crane has been developed to meet the requirements of the local market by adopting a monogirder construction to replace the traditional double girder design, which requires two of each component. The construction has reduced the associated component members for the upper structure from two to one, such as boom, girder, tension bar and backstay. Usually a boom needs to be raised, when it is idle, in order to avoid a conflict with a container ship. If the height is critical, for instance at a harbor located near an airport where the Aviation Law regulates the height of structures, a straight boom cannot be raised without infringement. Construction of the monogirder and the gooseneck boom, or the two-piece hinged boom, will effectively reduce the overall height of a container crane.