Early Crane Evolution
Over 4000 years ago, early Egyptians made the very first recorded version of a crane. The original device was known 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 bucket was connected and on the other end of the beam, a heavy weight 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 referred to as a beam. The boom was connected to a base which rotates. The wheel or the treadmill was a power-driven operation that had a drum with a rope which wrapped around it. This rope also had a hook that carried the weight and was connected to a pulley at the top of the boom.
Cranes were used extensively throughout the Middle Ages to make the enormous cathedrals within Europe. These devices were also used to unload and load ships within key ports. Over time, major crane design developments evolved. Like for example, a horizontal boom was added to and was referred to as the jib. This boom addition allowed cranes to have the ability to pivot, thus greatly increasing the range of motion for the equipment. Following the 16th century, each side of a rotating housing that held the boom incorporated two treadmills.
Even until the mid-19th century, cranes continued to depend on humans and animals for power. Once steam engines were developed, this all quickly changed. At the turn of the century, electric motors and internal combustion or IC engines emerged. Cranes also 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 carry out bigger jobs in less time.