Early Crane Evolution
Over 4000 years ago, early Egyptians made the first recorded version of a crane. The original device was called a shaduf and was initially used to transport water. The crane was made out of a long pivoting 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 attached.
Cranes which 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 long wooden beam that was called a boom. The boom was attached to a base that rotates. The treadmill or the wheel was a power-driven operation that had a drum with a rope that wrapped around it. This rope also had a hook that was connected to a pulley at the top of the boom and lifted the weight.
Within Europe, the huge cathedrals established during the Middle Ages were build utilizing cranes. Cranes were also designed to load and unload ships within key ports. Eventually, major developments in crane design evolved. Like for example, a horizontal boom was added to and was referred to as the jib. This boom addition enabled cranes to have the ability to pivot, thus really increasing the range of motion for the machinery. Following the 16th century, each side of a rotating housing that held the boom incorporated two treadmills.
Cranes utilized humans and animals for power until the mid-19th century. This all changes rapidly once steam engines were developed. At the turn of the century, electric motors and IC or internal combustion engines emerged. Furthermore, cranes became designed out of steel and cast iron as opposed to wood. The new designs proved longer lasting and more efficient. They could obviously run longer also with their new power sources and therefore carry out bigger tasks in less time.