Early Crane Evolution
The first recorded concept or type of a crane was utilized by the early Egyptians more than 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 attached and on the other end of the beam, a bucket was attached.
In the first century, cranes were made to be powered by humans or animals that were moving on a wheel or a treadmill. These cranes had a long wooden boom known as a beam. The boom was connected to a base that rotates. The treadmill or the wheel was a power-driven operation that had a drum with a rope that wrapped around it. This rope additionally had a hook that carried the weight and was attached to a pulley at the top of the boom.
In Europe, the huge cathedrals established during the Middle Ages were made utilizing cranes. Cranes were also utilized to load and unload ships in key ports. Eventually, significant 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, hence greatly increasing the range of motion for the equipment. After the 16th century, cranes had incorporated two treadmills on each side of a rotating housing that held the boom.
Even until the mid-19th century, cranes continued to rely on humans and animals for power. Once steam engines were developed, this all quickly changed. At the turn of the century, Internal combustion or IC engines as well as electric motors emerged. Additionally, cranes 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 as well with their new power sources and thus carry out larger tasks in less time.