Early Crane Evolution
The first recorded concept or type of a crane was utilized by the early Egyptians over 4000 years ago. This apparatus was known as 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.
Cranes which were made in the first century were powered by humans or by animals that were moving on a treadmill or a wheel. The crane consisted of a wooden long beam that was called a boom. The boom was connected to a base which rotates. The wheel or the treadmill was a power-driven operation that had a drum with a rope which 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 using cranes. Cranes were also utilized to unload and load ships in main ports. Eventually, major advancements in crane design evolved. For example, a horizontal boom was added to and was referred to as the jib. This boom addition enabled cranes to have the ability to pivot, therefore greatly increasing the range of motion for the equipment. After the 16th century, each side of a rotating housing that held the boom incorporated two treadmills.
Cranes used humans and animals for power until the mid-19th century. This all changes quickly once steam engines were developed. At the turn of the century, IC or internal combustion engines as well as electric motors emerged. In addition, 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 too with their new power sources and thus complete larger tasks in less time.