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