塔吊(diao)的工(gong)作原(yuan)理是起(qi)(qi)(qi)重(zhong)(zhong)機械通過起(qi)(qi)(qi)重(zhong)(zhong)吊(diao)鉤或其(qi)它取物(wu)(wu)(wu)裝置起(qi)(qi)(qi)升(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)或起(qi)(qi)(qi)升(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)加移動(dong)重(zhong)(zhong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)。起(qi)(qi)(qi)重(zhong)(zhong)機械的工(gong)作過程一般包括起(qi)(qi)(qi)升(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)、運行(xing)、下(xia)降及返回原(yuan)位等(deng)步驟。起(qi)(qi)(qi)升(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)機構通過取物(wu)(wu)(wu)裝置從取物(wu)(wu)(wu)地點(dian)把重(zhong)(zhong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)提起(qi)(qi)(qi)，經運行(xing)、回轉(zhuan)或變幅機構把重(zhong)(zhong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)移位，在(zai)設定的地點(dian)下(xia)放重(zhong)(zhong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)后返回到原(yuan)位。

常見(jian)的(de)(de)驅(qu)動(dong)裝置(zhi)有(you)電力(li)驅(qu)動(dong)、內燃機驅(qu)動(dong)和人力(li)驅(qu)動(dong)等(deng)。電能是清(qing)潔、經濟的(de)(de)能源，電力(li)驅(qu)動(dong)是現代起(qi)(qi)重機的(de)(de)主要驅(qu)動(dong)型式，幾乎所有(you)的(de)(de)在有(you)限范(fan)圍內運行(xing)的(de)(de)有(you)軌起(qi)(qi)重機、升(sheng)降機、電梯等(deng)都采(cai)用電力(li)驅(qu)動(dong)。

對于(yu)可以遠(yuan)距離移(yi)動(dong)的(de)流動(dong)式起(qi)重機(如汽車起(qi)重機、輪(lun)胎起(qi)重機和履帶起(qi)重機)多采(cai)用(yong)(yong)(yong)內燃機驅(qu)動(dong)。人力驅(qu)動(dong)適用(yong)(yong)(yong)于(yu)一(yi)些輕小起(qi)重設備(bei)(bei)，也(ye)用(yong)(yong)(yong)作(zuo)某些設備(bei)(bei)的(de)輔助、備(bei)(bei)用(yong)(yong)(yong)驅(qu)動(dong)和意外(或事(shi)故狀(zhuang)態(tai))的(de)臨時動(dong)力。