Early Crane Evolution
The first recorded idea or type of a crane was used by the early Egyptians over 4000 years ago. This device was referred to as a shaduf and was utilized to transport water. The crane was made out of a pivoting long beam which balanced on a vertical support. On one end a bucket was attached and on the other end of the beam, a heavy weight was attached.
During the first century, cranes were made to be powered by humans or animals that were moving on a treadmill or a wheel. These cranes had a long wooden boom referred to as a beam. The boom was attached to a base which rotates. 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 that was connected to a pulley at the top of the boom and lifted the weight.
Cranes were utilized extensively throughout the Middle Ages to make the huge cathedrals within Europe. These devices were also utilized to unload and load ships within major ports. Eventually, major crane design developments 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, therefore greatly increasing the equipment's range of motion. Following the 16th century, cranes had included two treadmills on each side of a rotating housing that held the boom.
Cranes utilized animals and humans 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 rather than wood. The new designs proved longer lasting and more efficient. They could obviously run longer also with their new power sources and hence finish larger tasks in less time.