Early Crane Evolution
The first recorded concept or version of a crane was utilized by the early Egyptians more than 4000 years ago. This device was called a shaduf and was utilized to transport water. The crane was made out of a pivoting long beam that balanced on a vertical support. On one end a heavy weight was connected and on the other end of the beam, a bucket was attached.
Cranes which were made in the first century were powered by animals or by humans that were moving on a wheel or a treadmill. The crane consisted of a long wooden beam which was called a boom. The boom was connected 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 which carried the weight and was connected to a pulley at the top of the boom.
In Europe, the huge cathedrals established during the Middle Ages were build using cranes. Cranes were also used to load and unload ships in key ports. Over time, major crane design developments evolved. Like for instance, a horizontal boom was added to and became known as the jib. This boom addition allowed cranes to have the ability to pivot, hence greatly increasing the range of motion for the equipment. Following the 16th century, cranes had incorporated two treadmills on each side of a rotating housing which held the boom.
Cranes utilized humans and animals for power until the mid-19th century. This all changes quickly when steam engines were developed. At the turn of the century, Internal combustion or IC engines and electric motors emerged. Additionally, cranes became designed out of cast iron and steel as opposed to wood. The new designs proved more efficient and longer lasting. They could obviously run longer as well with their new power sources and thus complete larger jobs in less time.