A knuckle boom crane looks similar to a regular crane. The main difference is that the boom is capable of folding back similar to a finger as the boom articulates at the "knuckle" near the middle. This allows the equipment to be able to transform into a compact size for storage and maneuvering.
Usually, the arm on a knuckle boom crane is somewhat a bit lighter than boom truck cranes. The crane arm is designed to allow more payloads to be carried on the back of the mounted vehicle. Nearly all knuckle boom cranes are mounted at the rear of the cab. This leaves the entire bed of the truck empty.
Interestingly enough, smaller models of knuckle boom cranes could be used without a licensed crane operator, as long as the maximum capacity is less than 15,000 pounds or if the maximum boom length is less than 25 feet long.
Control systems for these cranes are normally different. Some could control from the ground, radio remote control, seated and stand up control. The radio remote systems could run the crane as well as starting it. Additionally, numerous models come outfitted with a computer readout system which provides system readouts at once reporting if the crane is overloaded or not.
Personnel Lifts
Snorkel Personnel Lifts are designed for facilities maintenance professionals and contractors. These lifts are portable, affordable, lightweight work platforms made for interior use. The patented Girder Lock mast design by Snorkel provides excellent reach and superb stability. This system, utilized in the UL Series, provides excellent lift capacity.
Snorkel's UL Series Personnel and PAM Series lifts are made so that only one person is needed to operate the equipment. These machinery are easy to transport. They can easily be pushed into position smoothly and pass through a regular sized doorway. These lifts can be erected in minutes and being able to provide working heights of up to 46 feet, they are an effective option to scaffold towers.