Early Crane Evolution
The first recorded concept or version of a crane was used by the early Egyptians more than 4000 years ago. This device was referred to 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 attached and on the other end of the beam, a bucket was connected.
During the first century, cranes were built to be powered by humans or animals that were moving on a treadmill or a wheel. These cranes had a wooden long boom referred to as a beam. The boom was attached 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 also had a hook that carried the weight and was attached to a pulley at the top of the boom.
Cranes were used extensively in the Middle Ages to make the enormous cathedrals in Europe. These devices were also utilized to unload and load ships within key ports. Eventually, significant advancements in crane design evolved. For instance, a horizontal boom was added to and was called the jib. This boom addition allowed cranes to have the ability to pivot, hence greatly increasing the equipment's range of motion. Following the 16th century, each side of a rotating housing that held the boom incorporated two treadmills.
Even until the mid-19th century, cranes continued to depend on humans and animals for power. When steam engines were developed, this all quickly changed. At the turn of the century, electric motors as well as internal combustion or IC engines emerged. Also, cranes 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 too with their new power sources and thus complete larger tasks in less time.