Early Crane Evolution
The very first recorded concept or version of a crane was used by the early Egyptians more than 4000 years ago. This apparatus was called a shaduf and was 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 connected and on the other end of the beam, a bucket was attached.
Cranes that were built in the first century were powered by animals or by humans that were moving on a treadmill or a wheel. The crane consisted of a long wooden beam which was referred to as a boom. The boom was connected to a rotating base. The wheel or the treadmill was a power-driven operation that had a drum with a rope that 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.
Cranes were utilized extensively during the Middle Ages to make the enormous cathedrals within Europe. These devices were also designed 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 was called the jib. This boom addition enabled cranes to have the ability to pivot, thus really increasing the range of motion for the machinery. Following the 16th century, cranes had included two treadmills on each side of a rotating housing which held the boom.
Cranes utilized humans and animals for power until the mid-19th century. This all changes rapidly once steam engines were developed. At the turn of the century, Internal combustion or IC engines as well as electric motors emerged. Cranes also became designed out of steel and cast iron as opposed to wood. The new designs proved longer lasting and more efficient. They can obviously run longer as well with their new power sources and hence carry out bigger jobs in less time.