Early Crane Evolution
The very first recorded concept or kind of a crane was used by the early Egyptians more than 4000 years ago. This device was known as a shaduf and was utilized to transport water. The crane was made out of a pivoting long beam which balanced on a vertical support. On one end a heavy weight was connected and on the other end of the beam, a bucket was connected.
Cranes that were built during the first century were powered by humans or by animals that were moving on a wheel or a treadmill. The crane consisted of a wooden long beam which was referred to as a boom. The boom was attached to a base which rotates. The wheel or the treadmill was a power-driven operation that had a drum with a rope that wrapped around it. This rope also had a hook which was attached to a pulley at the top of the boom and carried the weight.
Cranes were utilized extensively in the Middle Ages to build the huge cathedrals in Europe. These devices were also utilized to load and unload ships in main ports. Over time, significant advancements in crane design evolved. For instance, a horizontal boom was added to and was called the jib. This boom addition enabled cranes to have the ability to pivot, therefore 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.
Even until the mid-19th century, cranes continued to rely on animals and humans for power. When steam engines were developed, this all quickly changed. At the turn of the century, Internal combustion or IC engines and 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 could obviously run longer as well with their new power sources and hence carry out bigger tasks in less time.