24.05.2013

Unusual slewing brake

Spotted by a reader in Oman, a tower crane that uses an alternative form of slew brake.

The crane, on an apparently abandoned building project managed by Platinum Development LLC in Muscat, has not operated in a least a month and seems to have found its ‘sweet spot’ with the counterweight resting on the building wall.
Please register to see all images

Construction on this building has stopped and the tower crane seems to have found its position

If the wind did cause it to move and then allow it to swing back it could of course become a bit of a battering ram.
Please register to see all images

A closer look at that brake

One hopes that the wall is strong.