Early Crane Evolution
The very first recorded concept or version of a crane was utilized by the early Egyptians more than 4000 years ago. This device was called a shaduf and was used to transport water. The crane was made out of a long pivoting beam which balanced on a vertical support. On one end a bucket was connected and on the other end of the beam, a heavy weight was attached.
Cranes that were made during the first century were powered by animals or by humans that were moving on a wheel or a treadmill. The crane consisted of a long wooden beam that was referred to as a boom. The boom was connected to a rotating base. The wheel or the treadmill was a power-driven operation which had a drum with a rope which wrapped around it. This rope additionally had a hook that lifted the weight and was attached to a pulley at the top of the boom.
Within Europe, the huge cathedrals established during the Middle Ages were made using cranes. Cranes were also designed to unload and load ships within main ports. Over time, significant developments in crane design evolved. For example, a horizontal boom was added to and became known as the jib. This boom addition enabled cranes to have the ability to pivot, thus really increasing the range of motion for the machine. Following the 16th century, each side of a rotating housing which held the boom incorporated two treadmills.
Cranes used animals and humans for power until the mid-19th century. This all changes quickly when steam engines were developed. At the turn of the century, Internal combustion or IC engines as well as electric motors emerged. Cranes also became designed out of steel and cast iron as opposed to wood. The new designs proved more efficient and longer lasting. They could obviously run longer also with their new power sources and hence carry out larger jobs in less time.