塔吊的工作原(yuan)理是起重(zhong)機械通(tong)過(guo)(guo)起重(zhong)吊鉤或(huo)其(qi)它取(qu)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)裝置起升或(huo)起升加移動重(zhong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)。起重(zhong)機械的工作過(guo)(guo)程一般包括(kuo)起升、運(yun)行、下(xia)降及(ji)返回(hui)原(yuan)位(wei)(wei)等步驟。起升機構(gou)通(tong)過(guo)(guo)取(qu)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)裝置從取(qu)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)地(di)(di)點(dian)把(ba)(ba)重(zhong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)提起，經運(yun)行、回(hui)轉(zhuan)或(huo)變(bian)幅機構(gou)把(ba)(ba)重(zhong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)移位(wei)(wei)，在設定(ding)的地(di)(di)點(dian)下(xia)放重(zhong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)后返回(hui)到原(yuan)位(wei)(wei)。

常(chang)見的(de)(de)(de)驅動(dong)(dong)裝(zhuang)置有(you)電(dian)(dian)力(li)(li)驅動(dong)(dong)、內燃機驅動(dong)(dong)和人力(li)(li)驅動(dong)(dong)等(deng)(deng)。電(dian)(dian)能是清潔、經濟的(de)(de)(de)能源(yuan)，電(dian)(dian)力(li)(li)驅動(dong)(dong)是現代(dai)起重機的(de)(de)(de)主要驅動(dong)(dong)型式，幾乎所有(you)的(de)(de)(de)在有(you)限范圍內運行的(de)(de)(de)有(you)軌起重機、升降機、電(dian)(dian)梯等(deng)(deng)都(dou)采(cai)用電(dian)(dian)力(li)(li)驅動(dong)(dong)。

對(dui)于(yu)可以遠距離移動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)的流動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)式起(qi)(qi)重機(ji)(如汽(qi)車起(qi)(qi)重機(ji)、輪胎起(qi)(qi)重機(ji)和(he)履帶起(qi)(qi)重機(ji))多采(cai)用(yong)內燃機(ji)驅(qu)(qu)動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)。人力驅(qu)(qu)動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)適用(yong)于(yu)一些輕(qing)小起(qi)(qi)重設(she)備(bei)，也用(yong)作某些設(she)備(bei)的輔助、備(bei)用(yong)驅(qu)(qu)動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)和(he)意外(wai)(或事故狀態)的臨時動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)力。