Early Crane Evolution
More than 4000 years ago, early Egyptians created the very first recorded version of a crane. The original device was referred to as 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 bucket was connected and on the other end of the beam, a heavy weight was connected.
Cranes which were built in the first century were powered by animals or by humans that were moving on a treadmill or a wheel. The crane consisted of a wooden long beam which was referred to as a boom. The boom was attached 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 connected to a pulley at the top of the boom.
Cranes were used extensively throughout the Middle Ages to make the huge cathedrals within Europe. These devices were also utilized to unload and load ships within key ports. Eventually, significant crane design advancements 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, thus really increasing the machine's range of motion. Following the 16th century, cranes had included two treadmills on each side of a rotating housing which held the boom.
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, Internal combustion or IC engines and electric motors emerged. Cranes also became designed out of steel and cast iron as opposed to wood. The new designs proved longer lasting and more efficient. They can obviously run longer too with their new power sources and therefore carry out larger jobs in less time.