SINGLE VS. DOUBLE GIRDER BRIDGE CRANES

Single Girder vs. Double Girder Top Running Cranes

Part of the application analysis for a crane system is to determine when to use a single girder crane vs. a double girder crane.  In most cases, a single girder crane is less expensive than a double girder crane; however, the cost is not the only deciding factor as both have their merits and shortcomings for particular applications.

The basic construction of an industrial overhead bridge crane consists of, and trucks with wheels running along the length of the runway system and the bridge crane girder fixed mounted to the end trucks with the hoist trolley suspending the hoist and traversing across the bridge.

The difference between a single and double girder top running crane is:

·       A single girder crane has only one bridge beam, and the hoist trolley operates or travels on the lower flange of the bridge girder.

·       A double girder crane will have two bridge beams, and the hoist trolley travels on rails, usually attached to the tops of the crane girder.