Early Crane Evolution
More than 4000 years ago, early Egyptians made the first recorded version of a crane. The original apparatus was referred to as a shaduf and was initially utilized to transport water. The crane was made out of a long pivoting beam which 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 made during the first century were powered by animals or by humans that were moving on a wheel or a treadmill. The crane consisted of a wooden long beam that was referred to as a boom. The boom was attached 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 also had a hook which carried the weight and was connected to a pulley at the top of the boom.
Cranes were used extensively during the Middle Ages to build the enormous cathedrals within Europe. These devices were also designed to load and unload ships within key ports. Eventually, major developments in crane design evolved. Like for instance, a horizontal boom was added to and became known as the jib. This boom addition allowed cranes to have the ability to pivot, therefore greatly increasing the equipment's range of motion. Following the 16th century, each side of a rotating housing which held the boom incorporated two treadmills.
Cranes utilized humans and animals for power until the mid-19th century. This all changes quickly when steam engines were developed. At the turn of the century, electric motors and IC or internal combustion 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 therefore finish larger tasks in less time.