Early Crane Evolution
The first recorded idea or kind of a crane was used by the early Egyptians over 4000 years ago. This device was called a shaduf and was used 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 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 animals or humans that were moving on a wheel or a treadmill. These cranes had a wooden long boom called a beam. The boom was connected to a rotating base. The wheel or the treadmill was a power-driven operation which had a drum with a rope which wrapped around it. This rope also had a hook that was connected to a pulley at the top of the boom and carried the weight.
Cranes were utilized extensively throughout the Middle Ages to build the huge cathedrals within Europe. These devices were also utilized to unload and load ships in key ports. Eventually, major crane design developments evolved. Like for instance, a horizontal boom was added to and was called the jib. This boom addition allowed cranes to have the ability to pivot, hence really 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 animals and humans for power. When steam engines were developed, this all rapidly changed. At the turn of the century, IC or internal combustion engines as well as electric motors emerged. Cranes also became designed out of steel and cast iron rather than wood. The new designs proved longer lasting and more efficient. They can obviously run longer also with their new power sources and hence complete bigger jobs in less time.