What is a Boom Lift: Definition, Classification Types and Application

Concept of Boom Lift

Boom Lift is a common lifting equipment in higher height aerial working platform solutions between Telescopic Boom Lift & Articulated Boom Lift, mainly composed of the following parts:

• Lifting mechanism: including electric motor, reducer, brake, wire rope, pulley, etc., used for lifting and lowering goods.
• Rotary mechanism: composed of electric motor, reducer, rotary support, rotary gear ring, etc., used to achieve the rotation of the arm equipment.
• Arm frame: composed of the main beam of the arm frame, the auxiliary beam of the arm frame, the arm frame bracket, the arm frame hydraulic cylinder, etc., used to support and adjust the working arm of the arm equipment.
• Walking mechanism: composed of electric motor, reducer, walking wheel, walking track, etc., used to achieve the walking of the arm equipment.
• Control system: including the main controller, operating console, remote control, etc., used to control the various actions of the boom.

The above are the main components of the boom. The different models and uses of the boom may vary, but the overall structure and composition are similar. The performance and quality of the boom depend on the design and manufacturing quality of each part.

Therefore, when purchasing and using the boom, it is necessary to pay attention to selecting the appropriate model and brand, and carry out regular maintenance and repair to ensure its safe and reliable operation.

Definition and Classification(Types)

There are two types of boom lifts popular in the market,  Articulated and Telescopic. They are both safe for indoor and outdoor jobs.

Telescopic Boom Lift

A telescopic boom is a multifunctional machinery mainly used for lifting, handling, stacking, transportation and other operations. It can complete various tasks that conventional forklifts and cranes cannot complete. According to their different functions and properties, straight-arm vehicles are mainly divided into four categories: agricultural, industrial, mining, and construction.

Structure and working principle

A Telescopic boom lift mainly consists of a chassis, a turntable, a body, and an arm. There is a rotating part in the center of the fuselage, and the arms consist of four smaller inner telescopic arms and a larger outer telescopic arm. The entire system can rotate 360 degrees to reach key job positions. During various tasks, the straight arm vehicle adjusts the length of the arm accordingly to achieve different functions.

The Telescopic Boom Lift mainly adopts an oil pressure forced telescopic structure, which has a large bearing capacity and stability. The main working principle is to use the boom extension of the crane to achieve the effect of lifting heavy objects.

Application field

Telescopic Boom Lift have the characteristics of compact structure, flexibility, simple operation, and high work efficiency, so they are widely used in logistics centers, warehouses, stations, docks, airports, mines, construction sites, and so on. At the same time, it can also be used for planting, harvesting, transportation and other operations in the agricultural field.

Advantages and disadvantages

The Telescopic Boom Lift is easy to operate, has stable performance, strong load-bearing capacity, and is not prone to overturning. At the same time, it can be extended and retracted according to work needs, with extremely high flexibility. But there are also some drawbacks, such as being too heavy on one side of the fuselage, which can easily cause instability of the center of gravity and have a significant impact on the ground, making it unsuitable for irregular terrain.

In summary, a Telescopic Boom Lift is a multifunctional mechanical device with a wide range of applications and good performance. However, it is also necessary to pay attention to its disadvantages and choose and use it based on actual situations.

Articulated Boom Lift

As an important component commonly used in modern Articulated Boom Lift, it is a key tool for lifting heavy objects. It usually consists of one or more curved arms, an electric motor, a set of reducers, and a set of gear profiles. The operation of the Articulated Boom Lift requires strict operating procedures to ensure safety and efficiency.

Firstly, the operator must check the overall condition of the Articulated Boom Lift, including the operation of components such as the boom, gears, electric motor, and reducer. If any problems are found, the maintenance personnel must be notified immediately for repair.

Next, the operator must ensure that the Articulated Boom Lift is correctly connected to the main body. These connections must be firm and reliable to ensure safe lifting.

After the connection is completed, the operator must check the weight limit of the Articulated Boom Lift. This limitation is determined based on the design of the Articulated Boom Lift, the ability of the electric motor, and the gear ratio of the reducer. If this limit is exceeded, it will result in equipment damage or dangerous lifting operations.

Once all inspections are completed and there are no issues, the operator can start the motor. The electric motor of the Articulated Boom Lift should gradually accelerate to ensure smooth and error-free lifting operation. At this point, the operator should adjust the height and direction of the Articulated Boom Lift as needed to ensure that the item is safely lifted.

After the item is safely lifted to the target position, the operator must follow the instructions in the operation manual to slowly lower the boom truck until the item is placed on the ground. Then, the operator must turn off the electric motor to complete the operation.

In short, the jib is an indispensable tool for modern Articulated Boom Lift, but the operation process needs to be cautious. During the operation, all safety regulations and instructions in the operation manual must be followed to ensure the success and safety of the lifting operation.

Difference between Telescopic Boom Lift & Articulated Boom Lift

The main difference between the Telescopic Boom Lift & Articulated Boom Lift lies in the number and length of arms, working height, working radius, and working field.

The number and length of arms: A Telescopic Boom Lift usually only has one telescopic arm, while an Articulated Boom Lift has two telescopic arms that can be changed in length to accommodate different operating heights.

Homework height: Because the Telescopic Boom Lift only has one telescopic arm, its homework height is relatively high, usually reaching a range of 12 to 56 meters, even 70 meters. The working height of the Articulated Boom Lift is relatively low, usually between 6 meters and over 40 meters.

Working radius: The Telescopic Boom Lift has a larger working radius and can be operated in different positions. The working radius of the Articulated Boom Lift is relatively small, and it can only operate within a certain range.

Applicable fields: Telescopic Boom Lift & Articulated Boom Lift are suitable for different fields. Telescopic Boom Lift is more suitable for high-altitude operations such as tall buildings and bridges, while Articulated Boom Lift is more suitable for high-altitude operations such as low buildings and gardens, and can also be used for operations in narrow spaces.

Price and maintenance costs: The price of a Telescopic Boom Lift is higher, while the price of the Articulated Boom Lift is relatively lower. In addition, the maintenance cost of the Articulated Boom Lift is also relatively low because of its relatively simple structure.

Function and application scenarios: The Articulated Boom Lift is suitable for short distances, low height restrictions, and higher requirements, such as urban construction, road construction, waste cleaning, etc; The Telescopic Boom Lift is suitable for operations with large spans, higher height restrictions, and the need for greater excavation depth, such as large-scale infrastructure construction and rural land improvement.

Improving speed and working environment: Due to inherent factors in its multi arm extension design, the lifting speed of the Articulated Boom is slower than that of the Telescopic Boom. Telescopic Boom Lift are more suitable for outdoor environments that require efficiency and reliability, such as shipyards. The Articulated Boom Lift can replace the Telescopic Boom Lift on a large indoor range, but if it is on the ground with light load-bearing capacity, the Articulated Boom Lift high-altitude work vehicle is generally chosen.

In summary, both Telescopic Boom Lift & Articulated Boom Lift have their own characteristics and usage scenarios, and suitable vehicle models need to be selected based on specific operational requirements.

How to choose Telescopic Boom Lift & Articulated Boom Lift separately?

Due to the particularity of high-altitude work equipment, these two types of Telescopic Boom Lift & Articulated Boom Lift high-altitude work equipment can rotate 360 degrees during the operation process. When the Telescopic Boom high-altitude work equipment reaches a certain height during operation, it will continue to rise according to the needs of the work height plating. As the working height increases and the boom continues to rise, the working radius of the boom becomes larger and larger as it rotates 360 degrees. When it reaches its maximum height, its working radius will be maximized because it can rely on the next oil cylinder to support and adjust the height of the working arm. This is still very easy to understand.

On the contrary, the Articulated Boom high-altitude work equipment can fully deploy its arms at low altitudes, and its arms can rotate 360 degrees at any time to work in a large radius area; And as the working height increases, the arms will gradually stand up, and the maximum height can form a vertical height of 90 degrees with the body of the equipment. Therefore, no matter how the vehicle is driven, it can rotate within a certain height range when working, without forming a radius, just doing a cylindrical upright rotation action.

It is not difficult to see that the arm of the Telescopic Boom high-altitude work equipment is inclined, and its height is the height from the ground, but the radius is the horizontal distance between the equipment base and the workplace; When the Articulated Boom high-altitude work equipment is working, the maximum height is a telescopic line to the equipment base, with a radius of almost zero. This is the difference in height and working radius between two high-altitude work equipment.

1. Increase speed

However, due to inherent factors in its multi arm extension design, the lifting speed of the Articulated Boom is slower than that of the Telescopic Boom. Compared to Articulated Boom, Telescopic Boom are more suitable for outdoor operations such as shipyards that require efficiency and reliability.

2. Working height

At present, the world’s largest Articulated Boom high-altitude work platform has a maximum height of 41 meters, while the maximum working height of a Telescopic Boom can reach 56 meters. Due to the simpler design of the telescopic arm, it is expected that the working height of the straight arm will be higher in the future.

3. Environmental adaptation

The Articulated Boom high-altitude work vehicle can replace the Telescopic Boom on a large indoor range, and is generally chosen for surfaces with lighter load-bearing capacity.

4. In terms of power system

There are two types of high-altitude work equipment with Articulated Boom: lithium battery power and diesel power. The Telescopic Boom type generally uses diesel power because outdoor noise and air pollution can be ignored.