Early Crane Evolution
The very first recorded concept or version of a crane was used by the early Egyptians more than 4000 years ago. This apparatus was called 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 bucket was connected and on the other end of the beam, a heavy weight was attached.
During the first century, cranes were made to be powered by animals or humans 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 which wrapped around it. This rope also had a hook which was connected to a pulley at the top of the boom and lifted the weight.
Cranes were used extensively in the Middle Ages to build the huge cathedrals within Europe. These devices were also utilized to unload and load ships in major ports. Over time, major crane design advancements 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, thus really increasing the equipment's range of motion. After the 16th century, cranes had incorporated 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. When 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 cast iron and steel as opposed to wood. The new designs proved more efficient and longer lasting. They could obviously run longer as well with their new power sources and therefore carry out bigger tasks in less time.