Crane Rail Fastening Systems - Gantrail (Gantry Railing Ltd)

GANTRAIL - Useful Information

On this page we have tried to include some of the information that is widely available but seldom to hand when wanted or presented in a complex form. The data comes from reliable sources but should be checked against current national or international standards.

Bolted connections

Bolted connections are widely used and some of the essential data is presented here for reference.

Bolts in steel construction are normally tightened to 85% of proof load. This gives the best protection against loosening in service. An appropriate grade nut must be used. See table below.

These figures do not apply to Gantrail clips. They are tightened to lower torque figures as given on the data sheets. The clips are self locking due to the unique double wedge action.

These figures may also be too high for some bolts set in grout or concrete. In such cases the strength of the embedment may be the governing factor.

Lots of Nuts to tighten correctly

In the USA they use bolts made to inch dimensions. However, the commonly used grades have equivalents to the ISO grades. ISO grade 4.6 is equivalent to ASTM A307 and ISO grade 8.8 is equivalent to ASTM A325. Note the metric grade for ASTM A325 is ASTM A325M

Crane Classification

Cranes are subject to repeated loads. They must be designed so that they will not fail in use by fatigue. In the design of cranes they are classified by type and duty. This whole process is essential for the crane designer and constructor. However it cannot easily be considered in the same detail when designing and installing crane rail tracks. The rail track is often the responsibility of the civil or structural engineer. The information is just not available to them at the right stage in the project for very detailed consideration to be possible.

Gantrail take a simplified approach to classification when specifying products for mounting and fixing crane rails. Broadly speaking we consider a crane to be in the category:

	light
	medium
	heavy

Gantrail use judgement to assess the category but our thinking follows the same path as the design codes.

The actual classification in the European crane design codes (FEM) and in most national codes combine the number of expected load cycles and the proportion of load cycles at full lift capacity. Two factors are determined and these then give one overall group classification. This ranges from A-1 light duty to A-8 heavy duty. The guidance is reproduced below for a number of types of crane with acknowledgement to FEM the European Handling Federation

The duty of the Trolley Rails is
higher than the Ground Rails

Type of Appliance	Particulars concerning nature of use	Appliance group
Designation	Particulars concerning nature of use	Appliance group
...	...	...
Hand-operated appliances	...	A1 - A2
Erection cranes	...	A1 - A2
Erection and dismantling cranes for power stations, machine shops, etc.	...	A2 - A4
Stocking and reclaiming transporters	Hook duty	A5
Stocking and reclaiming transporters	Grab or Magnet	A6 - A8
Workshop cranes	...	A3 - A5
Overhead travelling cranes, pig-breaking Cranes, scrap yard cranes	Grab or magnet	A6 - A8
Ladle cranes	...	A6 - A8
Soaking-pit cranes	...	A8
Stripper cranes, open-hearth furnace- Charging cranes	...	A8
Forge crane	...	A6 - A8
Bridge cranes for unloading, bridge cranes For containers Other bridge cranes (with crab and/or slewing jib crane)	Hook or spreader duty Hook duty	A5 - A6 A4
Bridge cranes for unloading, bridge cranes (with crab and/or slewing jib crane)	Grab or magnet	A6 - A8
Dry dock cranes, shipyard jib cranes, jib cranes for dismantling	Hook duty	A3 - A5
Dockside cranes (slewing, on gantry), floating cranes and pontoon derricks	Hook duty	A5 - A6
Dockside cranes (slewing, on gantry), floating cranes and pontoon derricks	Grab or magnet	A6 - A8
Floating cranes and pontoon derricks for very heavy loads (usually greater than 100 t)	...	A2 - A3
Deck cranes	Hook duty	A3 - A4
Deck cranes	Grab or magnet	A4 - A5
Tower cranes for building	...	A2 - A3
Railway cranes allowed to run in train	...	A4

To contact FEM
Fédération Européenne de la Manutention
Europäischen Vereinigung der Förder-und Lagertechnik
http://www.fem-eur.com
General Secretariat
c/o ORGALIME, Brussels
Phone +32 2 706 82 35
Fax +32 2 706 82 50
Secretary General: guy.vandoorslaer@orgalime.org
Documents are available in English, French and German.

Useful Links

Below are some hot links that may have excited your search and arrival at this site. The list includes some national standards bodies as well as other relevant organisations:

British Standards

German Standards - DIN Deutsches Institut für Normung
(DIN 536-1, Publication date: 1991-09 Crane Rails: dimensions, sectional properties, steel grades for crane rails with foot)

British Constructional Steelwork Association

Photograph Acknowledgements

Gantry wish to express their thanks for some of the photographs on this web site that have been supplied by Corus PLC and the Port of Felixstowe Swiss Log.

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