Early Crane Evolution
The very first recorded concept or kind of a crane was utilized by the early Egyptians more than 4000 years ago. This apparatus was referred to as a shaduf and was utilized to transport water. The crane was made out of a long pivoting 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 connected.
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 referred to as a beam. The boom was connected to a base that rotates. The treadmill or the wheel was a power-driven operation which had a drum with a rope which wrapped around it. This rope also had a hook that lifted the weight and was attached to a pulley at the top of the boom.
Within Europe, the enormous cathedrals established during the Middle Ages were made using cranes. Cranes were also utilized to unload and load ships within key ports. Eventually, major 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 range of motion for the equipment. 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 rapidly when steam engines were developed. At the turn of the century, electric motors and IC or internal combustion engines emerged. In addition, cranes 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 too with their new power sources and thus complete bigger tasks in less time.