Early Crane Evolution
The first recorded idea or version of a crane was used by the early Egyptians over 4000 years ago. This device was called a shaduf and was utilized to transport water. The crane was made out of a pivoting long beam that balanced on a vertical support. On one end a heavy weight was connected and on the other end of the beam, a bucket was connected.
In the first century, cranes were built to be powered by humans or animals that were moving on a wheel or a treadmill. These cranes had a wooden long boom known as a beam. The boom was attached to a rotating base. The wheel or the treadmill was a power-driven operation that had a drum with a rope which wrapped around it. This rope also had a hook which was attached to a pulley at the top of the boom and carried the weight.
Cranes were utilized extensively during the Middle Ages to make the huge cathedrals in Europe. These devices were also used to unload and load ships within major ports. Eventually, significant developments in crane design evolved. Like 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, hence really increasing the range of motion for the equipment. 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 rapidly when steam engines were developed. At the turn of the century, electric motors and internal combustion or IC engines emerged. Also, cranes became designed out of cast iron and steel as opposed to wood. The new designs proved more efficient and longer lasting. They can obviously run longer as well with their new power sources and thus carry out larger tasks in less time.