Early Crane Evolution
The first recorded concept or type of a crane was utilized by the early Egyptians more than 4000 years ago. This apparatus was known as a shaduf and was used 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 attached.
During the first century, cranes were built to be powered by animals or humans that were moving on a treadmill or a wheel. These cranes had a wooden long boom known as a beam. The boom was connected to a rotating base. 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.
Cranes were used extensively throughout the Middle Ages to make the huge cathedrals in Europe. These devices were also designed to unload and load ships in main ports. Eventually, significant advancements in crane design evolved. 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, hence greatly 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 used animals and humans 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. Cranes also became designed out of cast iron and steel as opposed to wood. The new designs proved more efficient and longer lasting. They could obviously run longer too with their new power sources and thus finish larger tasks in less time.