Early Crane Evolution
Over 4000 years ago, early Egyptians made the very first recorded type of a crane. The original apparatus was known as a shaduf and was first used 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 connected and on the other end of the beam, a heavy weight was connected.
Cranes which were made during 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 that was called a boom. The boom was connected to a rotating base. The treadmill or the wheel was a power-driven operation which had a drum with a rope which wrapped around it. This rope additionally had a hook that was attached to a pulley at the top of the boom and lifted the weight.
Within Europe, the huge cathedrals established in the Middle Ages were build using cranes. Cranes were also designed to load and unload ships within key ports. Eventually, major developments in crane design evolved. Like for example, 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 range of motion for the machine. Following the 16th century, each side of a rotating housing that held the boom incorporated two treadmills.
Cranes utilized animals and humans for power until the mid-19th century. This all changes rapidly once steam engines were developed. At the turn of the century, electric motors as well as IC or internal combustion engines 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 therefore complete bigger tasks in less time.