-NRLF 
 
GIFT OF 
 
General Specifications 
 
 for 
 
 Electric Overhead Traveling Cranes 
 Heavy Duty Steel Mill Service 
 
 , Association of Iron and Steel 
 Electrical Engineers 
 
 1007 Empire Building 
 Pittsburgh. Pa. 
 
Presented at the 
 
 Fifteenth Annual Convention 
 
 September 19-24, 1921 
 
 GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR ELECTRIC 
 
 OVERHEAD TRAVELING CRANES 
 HEAVY DUTY STEEL MILL SERVICE 
 
 AS RECOMMENDED BY 
 
 THE CRANE STANDARDIZATION COMMITTEE OF 1921 
 
 F. W. CRAMER,* Chairman 
 
 1. Title. 
 
 These specifications shall be known as the "Association of 
 Iron and Steel Electrical Engineers Specifications" and if in- 
 cluded in a contract as such, shall form a part of that contract, 
 whether attached to it or not. 
 
 2. Scope and Application. 
 
 It is intended these specifications shall apply to heavy duty 
 steel mill cranes, and as far as practical to cranes for special 
 service such as stripping ingots, charging ingots into and draw- 
 ing them out of soaking pits, ore handling, charging open hearth 
 furnaces, etc. It is not intended they shall take precedence 
 entirely over specifications for special cranes or over ordinary 
 or light duty cranes for general purposes. 
 
 3. Proposals. 
 
 When inviting proposals, purchaser shall submit supple- 
 mentary specifications containing principal dimensions, capacity, 
 electric current available, and any unusual requirements. 
 
 Builder shall submit with proposal full description covering 
 the design and construction of the crane. 
 
 *Engineer of Tests, Cambria Steel Company, Johnstown, Pa. 
 
 5078 j 7 
 
2 A.I &'$.*& 
 
 4. Drawings and Specifications. 
 
 On acceptance of proposal, two copies of specifications shall 
 be furnished to the purchaser and on completion of the crane 
 two sets of working drawings shall be supplied. Such specifica- 
 tions and drawings shall be treated by the purchaser as con- 
 fidential information and shall be used only for the purpose of 
 insuring the fulfillment of the contract or as a guide in main- 
 taining the crane in proper condition. 
 
 5. Superintendence and Acceptance. 
 
 If stipulated in the specifications, builder shall furnish super- 
 intendence for erecting and operating the crane for a fixed 
 period to demonstrate that it complies with all requirements. 
 Compliance with the specifications shall be determined by in- 
 spection after delivery and proper tests made under maximum 
 working load. 
 
 6. Material, Workmanship and Inspection. 
 
 Material and workmanship shall be of best quality and shall 
 be subject to the inspection by the purchaser at any time. On 
 request builder shall furnish purchaser or his representative full 
 information concerning the material entering into the con- 
 struction. 
 
 7. Strength of Material. 
 
 (a) Proper provision shall be made for all parts subject 
 to impact and rough usage. Journals and shafts shall be of suf- 
 ficient size to bring bearing pressures and deflections within safe 
 and practicable limits. 
 
 (b) Fibre stress in cast iron shall in no case exceed 2,000 
 pounds in tension, or 8,000 pounds in compression. Fibre stress 
 in cast steel shall in no case exceed 8,000 pounds in tension or 
 10,000 in compression. 
 
 (c) Wrought iron and structural steel as regards physical 
 properties, shall conform with "The Manufacturer's Standard 
 Specifications." 
 
 8. Kind and Quality of Material. 
 
 (a) All castings shall be of steel unless otherwise specified, 
 except brake shoes and drums, which may be of cast iron. 
 
 (b) If purchaser desires a special type of collector shoe 
 he shall supply builder with drawings of same. 
 
A. L & S. E. H. CRANE SPECIFICATIONS 3 
 
 (c) All castings shall be of best material, free from blow- 
 holes or other injurious defects. 
 
 9. Factor of Safety at Rated Capacity. 
 
 (a) Load hook not less than 10. 
 
 (b) Hoist shafting and all gears not less than 6. 
 
 (c) All other parts not less than 5. 
 
 10. Accessibility. 
 
 (a) All parts which may require occasional removal or re- 
 placement shall be readily accessible. 
 
 (b) All lubricating devices shall be conveniently located. 
 
 1 1 . Inter changeability. 
 
 As far as practical, corresponding parts of a crane shall be 
 alike and interchangeable. 
 
 12. Gears and Covers. 
 
 (a) All gears and pinions shall be cut to diametrical pitch, 
 Brown and Sharpe standard involute teeth. 
 
 (b) All pinions shall be made of open hearth steel unless 
 otherwise specified. 
 
 (c) No split gears shall be allowed. 
 
 (d) Overhung gears shall be used only with purchaser's 
 approval. 
 
 (e) All gears shall be protected by gear covers arranged 
 so that top part can be removed for inspection and repairs with- 
 out disturbing lower part. 
 
 (f) The builder shall use the motor manufacturers' standard 
 gear ratios. 
 
 13. Shafting. 
 
 (a) All shafting shall be increased at least ^6 -inch in 
 diameter for the hub fits of gears, pinions, track wheels or drums, 
 except when these are located at the end of the shaft. 
 
 (b) All shafting 6 inches or less in diameter not having 
 increased diameter for hub bearings may be cold rolled or drawn. 
 All shafting having increased diameters for hub bearings, and 
 all shafting above 6 inches in diameter, shall be forged and turned 
 to size. 
 
 '(c) The minimum diameter of bridge line shafting shall 
 be 3^ inches. Starting with 3^ inches, the standard diameters 
 shall run in even 34-inch sizes. 
 
4 A. I. & S. B. H. CRANE SPECIFICATIONS 
 
 (d) End sections of bridge drive shaft shall be 4 feet long 
 and interchangeable. 
 
 (e) Middle section shall be 8 feet long. 
 
 14. Press Fits. 
 
 All parts subject to torsion are to be pressed or shrunk on 
 to the shaft and keyed in place. 
 
 15. Brackets. 
 
 (a) Bearing brackets, if not cast integral with frame, must 
 be kept in alignment by male and female joints or other equally 
 effective method. Holding bolts shall not be depended on for 
 this purpose. 
 
 (b) Duplicate brackets shall have holding bolt holes drilled 
 to template so as to be interchangeable. 
 
 (c) Tie brackets, made in a single piece, shall be provided 
 to tie all driving and driven shafts, and shall be located as close 
 as possible to pinion and gear. 
 
 (d) Where brackets or other supporting parts requiring 
 accurate alignment, are attached to structural material, unless 
 such stuctural material is of sufficient thickness to allow for 
 finishing, heavy planing strips shall be riveted to structure ; these 
 strips and parts that are attached to them must be assembled 
 with their contact faces machined. 
 
 16. Bearings. 
 
 (a) All track wheels unless otherwise specified shall be 
 provided with type of bearings known as Master Car Builders 
 or "M. C. B." type. The bearing linings shall be flanged at 
 each end. Construction of bearings shall be such as to permit 
 "lining up" to compensate for wear. 
 
 (b) All bearings except on motors, sheaves and track wheel 
 pins, shall be fitted with caps, finished male and female. They 
 shall be accurately bored and lined with split bushings having 
 flanges on each end to hold them in place, and proper provision 
 shall be made to keep the bushings from turning. 
 
 (c) Bottom half of bearing lining shall be so designed as to 
 permit of removal and replacement without removing shaft. 
 
 17. Lubrication. 
 
 Grease cups shall be provided for all bearings except those 
 for wheels or motors. They shall have standard pipe threads 
 
A. I. & S. E. H. CRANE SPECIFICATIONS 5 
 
 and as far as possible, be located at points accessible from foot 
 walks. Type of grease cups to be specified by purchaser if 
 there is a preference. 
 
 18. Shaft Couplings. 
 
 (a) The standard A. I. & S. E. E. coupling shall be so 
 designed that the same coupling can be used on all sizes of line 
 shafting from 3^ inches to 4^ inches diameter inclusive. 
 
 (b) It shall have a straight face, a 10-inch bolt circle and 
 six 1-inch holes for body bound bolts. 
 
 (c) This coupling for safety reasons must be covered by 
 a guard. 
 
 19. Bolts, Ntits and Rivets. 
 
 (a) Bolts not otherwise specified, shall be rough machine 
 bolts, U. S. Standard threads, with cold punched hexagon nuts. 
 
 (b) Bolts shall be provided with lock nuts. Inaccessible 
 bolt heads shall be held in some way to prevent bolts from 
 turning. 
 
 (c) Studs or cap screws are not to be used. 
 
 (d) Bolts are to be so located if possible as not to require 
 the use of socket wrench or other special wrench. 
 
 (e) In fabricating and assembling structural work such as 
 gusset plates, brackets supporting foot-walks and bridge line 
 shaft, angles supporting operator's cab, and all other parts rivets 
 shall be used instead of bolts wherever practicable. 
 
 20. Stairs and Ladders. 
 
 (a) Stairs shall be provided in preference to ladders. Stair 
 treads shall be of material designed to prevent slipping, and shall 
 not be less than 18 inches in length. Where stairs are not con- 
 structed with risers, a plate shield shall be attached to the under 
 side, extending the entire length. 
 
 (b) Where ladders must be provided they shall be of steel 
 and constructed with square rungs to prevent turning. The rails 
 shall extend 42 inches above landing place at top, for safety in 
 getting on or off the ladder. 
 
 (c) Where the slope of stairs exceeds an angle of 55 degrees 
 from the horizontal, ladders shall be used in preference to stairs. 
 
6 A. I. & S. E. E. CRANE SPECIFICATIONS 
 
 21. Footwalks. 
 
 (a) Unless otherwise specified steel footwalks with rough 
 tread, not less than J^-inch thick and 24 inches wide shall be 
 provided on outside of both girders, extending to web of the 
 girders and full length of crane and where practical over end 
 carriages and cab making it continuous around top of crane. 
 Where only one such footwalk is installed on the crane, it shall 
 be on the side carrying the bridge motor. When motor is not 
 located entirely below floor of walk, the walk shall be widened 
 at the motor to give a clearance of not less than 15 inches be- 
 tween railing and motor. Where motor is located partly or 
 entirely below footwalk it must be surrounded by a plate cor- 
 responding to the footwalk. 
 
 (b) When practicable, a footwalk with railing of same 
 material and same general construction as walks and railings 
 on bridge girders, or just- a railing, shall be provided across ends 
 of trolley. 
 
 22. Railings. 
 
 All railings shall be made of structural steel ; shall be of 
 standard construction, not less than 42 inches high, with toe 
 boards not less than 4 inches high with intermediate member 21 
 inches high. 
 
 Railings shall be provided on girder footwalks and ends of 
 bridge, landing on cab, and on stairs leading to bridge girder 
 from landing on cab. 
 
 23. Box -for Supplies. 
 
 A steel box for storing oil, grease and waste, made of steel 
 plate and provided with hinged lid, shall be fastened to girder 
 side of .footwalk. 
 
 24. Bridge End Carriages. 
 
 (a) Carriages shall be made either of cast or structural 
 steel. 
 
 (b) They shall, where practicable, have bearings on both 
 sides of driving pinions cast integral with carriage. Flanges 
 shall be on outside to afford easy access for bolting or riveting. 
 
 (c) Heavy lugs shall extend across the bottom of each car- 
 riage near each track wheel and one-inch above the rail to pre- 
 vent excessive drop of crane in case of breakage of track wheel 
 pin or carriage. 
 
A. I. & S. H. E. CRANE SPECIFICATIONS 7 
 
 (d) No part of carriage or track wheel gears shall project 
 below the flange of track wheels. 
 
 (e) Pads shall be provided for use of iacks or wedges 
 when changing track wheels. Carriage and track wheels shall 
 be so designed as to permit of changing the wheels by raising the 
 carriage just enough to free the bearings. 
 
 (f) Bumpers shall be provided on each end. of the carriages 
 for protection of crane in case of collision or one crane being 
 required to push another. Location and type of bumpers to be 
 specified by purchaser. 
 
 (g) Where necessary, steps or ladders must be provided to 
 give access to compensating trucks from track girders. 
 
 (h) Guards which will shove forward or off the track any 
 object placed across it, like a person's foot or arm, shall be 
 attached to each end of the carriages. 
 
 25. Track Wheels. 
 
 (a) Track wheels shall preferably be of rolled or forged 
 steel. Cast steel wheels may be used if specified. 
 
 (b) The standard tread diameter of bridge track wheels 
 shall be 18-inch, 24-inch, 27-inch and 30-inch, and tread shall 
 be made to suit a standard rail not smaller than 85 pounds sec- 
 tion. Treads for heavier rails to be made to suit. 
 
 (c) The standard bores of these wheels shall be as follows: 
 
 18-inch diameter 45/6-inch bore 
 
 24-inch diameter 55/6-inch bore 
 
 27-inch diameter 65/6-inch bore 
 
 30-inch diameter 75/6-inch bore 
 
 (d) A standard increase in diameter of J/^-inch for all bridge 
 track wheel axles in the wheel hubs is recommended. 
 
 (e) All bridge track wheels on same crane to be inter- 
 changeable. 
 
 (f) The A. I. & S. E. E. standard for bridge runway rails 
 shall be an 85-pound open hearth rail for ordinary cranes, and 
 for special cranes requiring over an 85-pound rail, purchaser 
 shall specify type and size of rail. 
 
 (g) The standard tread diameters of trolley track wheels 
 shall be 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 inches. 
 
8 A. I. & S. H. E. CRANE SPECIFICATIONS 
 
 (h) The standard bores of these wheels shall be as follows: 
 
 12-inch diameter 3^-inch bore 
 
 15-inch diameter 35^-inch bore 
 
 18-inch diameter 45^-inch bore 
 
 21-inch diameter 5%H n ch bore 
 
 24-inch diameter 5^-inch bore 
 
 (i) With maximum load on crane track wheel bearing- 
 pressures must not exceed 750 pounds per square inch projected 
 area. 
 
 26. Bridge Girders. 
 
 Top and bottom cover plates and angles of box section 
 girders shall be in one piece throughout the girder length, but 
 splicing of approved design will be allowed in web plates. Web 
 plates shall be not less than 5/16-inch thick. The top cover 
 plate of box girders carrying rails, shall be supported at frequent 
 intervals by structural steel distance pieces which shall bear 
 against it and be riveted to both web plates. Girders shall be 
 rigidly fastened to end trucks and shall be tied together at top 
 and bottom by plates which shall be as broad as possible without 
 interfering with the trolley travel. To further assist in keeping 
 crane "square" and stiff, a heavy angle shall be riveted across 
 top of girders at extreme ends, and the entire end covered by a 
 plate riveted to this angle, to angles on end of all web plates, 
 and riveted or bolted to end carriages. Box girders shall be 
 drained to prevent accumulation of oil and water, holes to be 
 not less than ^4-inch diameter. 
 
 27. Rails for Trolley. 
 
 Rails for trolley cross travel shall be of only open hearth steel. 
 Joints shall be made by means of standard splice bars, and pro- 
 vision shall be made to prevent creeping of rails on girders. Rails 
 shall be fastened in place by steel clamps and through bolts spaced 
 not more than 36 inches on centers, and those on one side shall 
 have a lead of about three inches over those on the other side. 
 
 The standard trolley rails shall be 60 and 85 pound sections. 
 
 28. Bridge Drive. 
 
 The line shaft pinion shall drive directly into the track wheel 
 gears. 
 
A. I. & S. E. E. CRANE SPECIFICATIONS 9 
 
 29. Operator's Cab. 
 
 (a) Cab shall be made of structural steel and be of fire- 
 proof construction. It shall be of weather-proof construction 
 if crane is to be operated on outdoor runways. It shall be made 
 substantial and rigid by proper gusset plates and bracing, but 
 such bracing shall not interfere with access to cab or vision of 
 the operator. Particular attention to be given these features 
 in case cab is located at center of bridge. 
 
 (b) Such slope as the roof may have shall be toward the 
 rear of the cab. Floor shall be extended to form a landing plat- 
 form outside the door, which platform shall be equipped with 
 standard railing. 
 
 (c) A suitable warning signal appliance shall be provided. 
 
 30. Trolley. 
 
 (a) Side frames of trolley shall be of cast or structural 
 steel. The requirements for bridge end carriages shall apply as 
 far as possible to side frames. Frames shall be connected with 
 structural steel cross girts. Drum bearings and supports for 
 sheaves shall be located so as to equalize the load on track wheels 
 as nearly as possible. 
 
 (b) Wheel fenders as described in specifications for bridge 
 end carriages shall be attached to the trolley frame at each end 
 of each side frame. 
 
 (c)' Trolley to have floor plate under motors, shafts, drums, 
 etc., forming a working platform with provision made for reach- 
 ing footwalk on either side of frame. 
 
 31. Drums. 
 
 (a) Drums shall be keyed to their shafts on driving gear 
 end. They shall have turned grooves of depth equal to one-half 
 the diameter of the rope, and pitch at least l /$ inch greater 
 than this diameter. They shall be designed so as to leave not less 
 than two complete wraps of the rope on drum when hook is in 
 the lowest position. They shall have flanged ends of depth and 
 thickness as required for size of cable. 
 
 (b) Pitch diameter of drums shall be not less than 30 times 
 diameter of hoisting rope. 
 
 (c) Where a drum for lifting magnet cable is specified it 
 must be so located that cable will not interfere with hoist ropes- 
 
10 A. I. & S. E. E. CRANE SPECIFICATIONS 
 
 Weather protection shall be provided for magnet cable drum on 
 cranes for outdoor service. 
 
 (d) The crane builders shall use the motor manufacturers 
 standard gear ratios. 
 
 32. Brakes. 
 
 (a) Unless otherwise specified, and where direct current is 
 used, lowering shall be by electro-dynamic control with one 
 magnetic brake on armature shaft of hoist motor. 
 
 (b) Magnetic brakes shall be capable of retarding the full 
 load at double speed and holding same when stopped, unaided by 
 other brakes. 
 
 (c) Brake wheels shall be accurately balanced. 
 
 (d) Brake coils shall be so designed that the temperature 
 rise shall not exceed that of motor and shall be protected by 
 metal casing. 
 
 (e) Brakes for same size motor shall be alike and inter- 
 changeable. 
 
 (f) Mechanical retaining brakes, if specified shall be of 
 sufficient capacity to absolutely prevent load from descending 
 unless motor is revolved by power in the lowering direction. 
 
 (g) Foot brake shall be provided for bridge movement, 
 capable to stop crane under any load condition with 100 pounds 
 pressure on foot lever in a distance not exceeding 10 per cent 
 of the speed in feet per minute at which the crane is traveling 
 when the brake is applied. 
 
 (h) Means shall be provided to prevent any parts of brake 
 from falling to the ground in case they become detached or 
 broken. 
 
 33. Sanders. 
 
 Track sanders .operated from the cab by the crane operator, 
 shall be provided for sanding the runway rails when the rails are 
 too slippery at any time for operating. 
 
 34. Ropes. 
 
 (a) Ropes shall be suitable for the service they are cm- 
 ployed for. 
 
 (b) Where double ropes are provided for safety or for 
 double drive, each rope shall have the same capacity that would 
 be required if only one rope was provided. 
 
A. I. & S. B. B. CRANH SPECIFICATIONS 11 
 
 35. Sheaves and Blocks. 
 
 (a) Sheaves shall be bronze bushed and have finished 
 grooves not less than \V 2 times the diameter of the rope. 
 
 (b) Sheaves shall have a pitch diameter not less than 30 
 times the diameter of the rope and shall be protected by guards 
 which fit close to the flanges so as to prevent rope coming off. 
 
 (c) Bottom block shall be of structural steel and plates, and 
 hook shall swivel on ball bearings so constructed as to exclude 
 dirt. All parts of block shall be so arranged as to be readily 
 lubricated, grease cups being so located as to be protected from 
 injury as far as practical. 
 
 (d) All sheaves to have guards, to keep rope in grooves. 
 
 36. Conductors. 
 
 Conductors across the bridge shall be of rigid type. 
 
 37. Motors and Controllers. 
 
 Purchaser shall specify make, type and sizes of motors and 
 controllers to be used. 
 
 38. Wiring. 
 
 (a) Purchaser shall submit detail wiring specifications or 
 install his own wiring. 
 
 (b) An enclosed double pole safety switch shall be mounted 
 on the foot walk adjacent to the cab and be so connected, that 
 it will disconnect the main circuit between the collectors and 
 the switchboard. 
 
 39. Switchboard. 
 
 A protective switchboard panel shall be 'provided. Location 
 and type to be specified by the purchaser. 
 
 40. Limits. 
 
 Overtravel limits shall be provided. They shall open main 
 motor circuit at any predetermined point, and where limited 
 space for travel may require it, dynamic braking shall be applied 
 to prevent drifting of load. 
 
 41. Painting. 
 
 All structural work and parts usually painted shall be thor- 
 ougly cleaned and painted with two coats of paint. Parts that 
 
12 A. I. & S. E. E. CRANE SPECIFICATIONS 
 
 are inaccessible after they are assembled shall be cleaned and 
 painted before assembling. 
 
 42. Safety Devices. 
 
 In addition to the safety appliances specified in these General 
 Specifications the builder shall supply and install all appliances 
 necessary for compliance with the Factory Laws of the State 
 in which the crane is to be operated. 
 
 APPENDIX A 
 
 HOT METAL CRANES 
 
 1. For cranes handling hot metal the following additional speci- 
 fications shall apply: 
 
 2. Operator's Cab. 
 
 (a) Operators' Cabs shall be so constructed as to enable 
 the operator to completely enclose himself by means of doors 
 and windows. 
 
 (b) When crane is handling molten metal and no provision 
 is made for the quick escape of operator, by runway or other 
 means, in case molten metal gets spilled, there shall be provided 
 a compartment for operator to get into that will resist unbear- 
 able heat for at least 10 minutes. The door to such compartment 
 shall be at least 18 inches wide and it must be so attached that 
 it can be tightly closed. 
 
 (c) Cab that will be subject to heat from below, shall have 
 a shield plate not less than 3/16 inches thick, six inches below 
 floor of cab. It shall be attached with bolts having spacing 
 sleeves on them. 
 
 3. Trolley. 
 
 On cranes for handling molten metal, where the main hoist 
 drums carrying two sets of ropes are driven by two motors, each 
 through its own train of gears, each motor and set of gears 
 must be capable of handling the full load independently of the 
 other. 
 
 4. Brakes. 
 
 (a) Each main hoist on a hot metal crane shall be equipped 
 with two magnetically operated brakes, one mounted on end of 
 
A. I. & S. H. H. CRANE SPECIFICATIONS 13 
 
 armature shaft, the other on intermediate shaft as near the drum 
 as is practicable. 
 
 (b) Each brake shall be capable of stopping the full load, 
 lowered at twice the hoisting speed, and holding the load when 
 stopped unassisted by other brakes. 
 
 (c) Each brake to comply with paragraph 32 General Speci- 
 fications as to construction. 
 
 5. Ladle Hooks. 
 
 (a) Ladle hooks for hot metal ladle shall be either built 
 up of laminated plates or made of heat treated forgings. 
 
 (b) Ladle hooks shall be provided with wearing slippers of 
 suitable material (if specified). 
 
 (c) Locks to hold the ladle in vertical position shall be 
 attached to the hook so that they can be seen from the operator's 
 cab. Means shall be provided for holding the lock out when 
 tipping the ladle. 
 
 6. Separators. 
 
 Separators for hot metal ladle hooks shall be of structural 
 steel, and shall be protected from heat by plate guard, separated 
 from beam by spacing sleeves. 
 
NOTES 
 
NOTES 
 
NOTES 
 
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