Early Crane Evolution
More than 4000 years ago, early Egyptians created the very first recorded type of a crane. The original device was called a shaduf and was first 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 attached.
During the first century, cranes were made to be powered by humans or animals that were moving on a treadmill or a wheel. These cranes had a long wooden boom referred to as a beam. The boom was attached to a base which 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 which carried the weight and was connected to a pulley at the top of the boom.
In Europe, the enormous cathedrals established in the Middle Ages were build utilizing cranes. Cranes were also utilized to load and unload ships in main ports. Over time, significant crane design advancements evolved. Like for example, a horizontal boom was added to and became known as the jib. This boom addition allowed cranes to have the ability to pivot, therefore greatly increasing the range of motion for the machine. Following the 16th century, cranes had included two treadmills on each side of a rotating housing which held the boom.
Even until the mid-19th century, cranes continued to rely on animals and humans for power. Once steam engines were developed, this all rapidly changed. At the turn of the century, electric motors as well as internal combustion or IC engines emerged. Cranes also became designed out of steel and cast iron rather than wood. The new designs proved more efficient and longer lasting. They can obviously run longer too with their new power sources and hence finish bigger tasks in less time.