Crane Rails 7

[ChipB]

O.K. This is a little bit embarrassing...….
In my 25 years of structural engineering, I have never had to call out a crane rail on a drawing. Do I just say ASCE 70 CRANE RAIL? Or is there a standard for calling them out?

Thanks in advance.

 

[phamENG]

Haven't called one out myself, but I've seen them called out as 70# Rail

 

[r13]

I believe crane rail usually made of S shapes, and was listed on older AISC manual, also the user manual of Bethlehem Steel (no longer in business).

 

[ChipB]

Ooooooooo!
I do have a couple of copies of the Bethlehem Steel Manual, at home in my "Geek Library". I also house AISC Steel Manuals editions 1 through 9, because I am such a geek.

Thanks guys!

 

[phamENG]

The bottom flange looks like an S shape, but the top flange (rail) is certainly very different. I'm assuming you've looked at Table 1-21 Crane Rails (p. 1-118) in the 14th edition of the SCM?

 

[r13]

ChipB,

Applauds for the old book keeper

 

[ChipB]

retired13,

Thanks! The 1st Edition was the most difficult to get. I'd see them on eBay for hundreds of dollars. I went to powellsbooks.com, and looked for it. Of course they didn't have it, but there was a button to "Notify me when it came available." So I clicked it. It took a few months, but they sent me an email stating that it was available. I picked it up for $35. :-O

phamENG,
Yes, that's the table I'm looking at. The equipment (a stacker) is coming from another country, but they did an excellent job of detailing the dimensions of the rail in mm. The ASCE 70 rail is within 1/16" for the size of the head. The web is slightly thicker, and the bottom about 1/4" wider. I am happy with the web being thicker. The bottom flange means I'll have to slightly increase my anchor spacing width, but the head dimensions being the most important, I'm extremely happy.

 

[FLCraneBuilder]

I'm seeing a lot of misunderstanding here

1- ASCE rails are NOT S shapes = S beams apply to underhung cranes, Asce applies to top running cranes
2 - Rail size is to be determined by the Crane manufacturer - in no way should an engineer be doing it that does have intimate knowledge of tolerances, durability requirements of wheels & rails. etc
3- ASCE 70 is an obsolete section and cannot be bought
4 - if this is a euro crane, the manufacturer probably prefers a euro rail - not asce... but this is hard to find in the states...
5 - Alternately, euro cranes VERY often use sold bar rails - that is why you are seeing MM dimensions. If they are calling out a bar size... select a close fractional dim & spec it
6- what about bar hardness? do they spec this? (we use Gr 1045 bar (hot rolled) & stock two diff widths. it is Special order)
7 - be reminded that when temps change, the girder length changes hence crane span changes... hence there is often float (space) between wheel Flanges & rail head
8 - the crane builder will be well aware of installation tolerances. the crane builder and installer should be doing this... no one else.
9 - Stacker cranes have VERY high lateral forces being transferred into the rails. Hence, the rail hold down system is critical - again - back to the crane manufacturer
10 - Yes I am on CMAA structural committee

 

[ChipB]

FLCraneBuilder,
Wow! You've helped me a lot.
Or...…
You've hurt me a lot... LOL
Thank you very much!!!
Chip

 

[oldrunner]

If I remember correctly, American crane rail is pounds per yard.

 

[FLCraneBuilder]

Thank you ChipB... there are many things on this site I do not know & come here to learn about... Cranes & their runway systems; I know quite well
Yes Old runner, asce rail is lbs/yard

 

[r13]

There is not much misunderstanding here, a slippage of my mind. All the efforts here were to locate source document for proper call out on the drawing, no design involved. Been in US Steel for 5 years, I don't know how could I forgot CMAA, and how crane rail looks.
I thought there was no need to elaborate my case, after other has pointed out the data source correctly. Thanks.