Early Crane Evolution
More than 4000 years ago, early Egyptians made the very first recorded version of a crane. The original device was referred to as a shaduf and was initially 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 connected and on the other end of the beam, a bucket was attached.
Cranes that were built 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 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 additionally 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 within Europe. These devices were also used to load and unload ships within key ports. Over time, major developments in crane design evolved. For example, a horizontal boom was added to and became known as the jib. This boom addition allowed cranes to have the ability to pivot, thus really increasing the equipment's range of motion. Following the 16th century, each side of a rotating housing which held the boom incorporated two treadmills.
Even until the mid-19th century, cranes continued to rely on animals and humans for power. Once steam engines were developed, this all quickly changed. At the turn of the century, IC or internal combustion engines and electric motors emerged. Cranes also became designed out of cast iron and steel rather than wood. The new designs proved more efficient and longer lasting. They could obviously run longer also with their new power sources and thus complete bigger tasks in less time.