Early Crane Evolution
More than 4000 years ago, early Egyptians made the first recorded type of a crane. The original device was known as a shaduf and was initially 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 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 humans or animals that were moving on a wheel or a treadmill. These cranes had a wooden long boom known as a beam. The boom was connected to a rotating base. The wheel or the treadmill was a power-driven operation that had a drum with a rope that wrapped around it. This rope additionally had a hook which was connected to a pulley at the top of the boom and lifted the weight.
Cranes were utilized extensively throughout the Middle Ages to make the enormous cathedrals in Europe. These devices were also used to load and unload ships in key ports. Over time, significant developments in crane design 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, thus greatly increasing the range of motion for the equipment. After the 16th century, each side of a rotating housing that held the boom incorporated two treadmills.
Cranes used humans and animals for power until the mid-19th century. This all changes rapidly when steam engines were developed. At the turn of the century, Internal combustion or IC engines and electric motors emerged. Cranes also became designed out of cast iron and steel rather than wood. The new designs proved more efficient and longer lasting. They could obviously run longer also with their new power sources and therefore finish larger jobs in less time.