Early Crane Evolution
The first recorded concept or kind of a crane was used by the early Egyptians over 4000 years ago. This device 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 attached and on the other end of the beam, a bucket was attached.
Cranes that were made during the first century were powered by humans or by animals 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 base that rotates. The treadmill or the wheel 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 utilized extensively throughout the Middle Ages to make the huge cathedrals within Europe. These devices were also utilized to unload and load ships within main ports. Over time, significant developments in crane design evolved. For instance, a horizontal boom was added to and became known as the jib. This boom addition enabled cranes to have the ability to pivot, thus really increasing the equipment's range of motion. After the 16th century, each side of a rotating housing which held the boom incorporated two treadmills.
Cranes used humans and animals for power until the mid-19th century. This all changes quickly once steam engines were developed. 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 rather than wood. The new designs proved longer lasting and more efficient. They can obviously run longer too with their new power sources and thus complete larger tasks in less time.