Reference project: Modular Ringer Crane Bogies

1. Modular Ringer Crane Bogies
Ivo van Donselaar
Jan 2012 Page 1 of 1
When you’re building the worlds largest mobile land based-crane and want to ensure smooth
slewing action, you cannot rely on soil preparation alone. The forces imposed by the crane
structure, up to 170 metric ton per wheel, would cause such significant deformation of the
ground that the crane would tilt more than the allowable limit if no proper measures were
taken.
A modular bogies system was designed to distribute the crane loads equally over the rails,
while compensating local deformations in the foundation. An innovative design allowed the
same bogie wheel carrier to follow different ring diameters. Thorough study was conducted to
the crane wheels and rail interaction especially around the rail transitions as the crane was
designed to last.
The modular rail was designed to act as one stiff ring, transferring the wheel loads directly to
the load spreaders, without the chance of metal fatigue caused by the overrunning motion of
the crane wheels. The reinforced spreaders will further
distribute the loads, reducing local ground pressure and
subsequent sag.
Analysis of over all system behaviour and structural design of
the load bearing components was performed in The
Netherlands. Components were manufactured in Poland,
Romania, Germany and the Netherlands under supervision of
Lloyds Register.