Early Crane Evolution
Over 4000 years ago, early Egyptians made the first recorded version of a crane. The original apparatus 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 connected.
In the first century, cranes were built to be powered by humans or animals that were moving on a wheel or a treadmill. These cranes had a long wooden boom referred to as a beam. The boom was attached to a rotating base. 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 utilized extensively in the Middle Ages to build the huge cathedrals in Europe. These devices were also utilized to unload and load ships within key ports. Eventually, significant crane design developments 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, thus greatly increasing the range of motion for the machine. Following the 16th century, each side of a rotating housing which held the boom incorporated two treadmills.
Even until the mid-19th century, cranes continued to rely on humans and animals for power. When steam engines were developed, this all rapidly changed. At the turn of the century, Internal combustion or IC engines and electric motors 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 can obviously run longer as well with their new power sources and hence carry out larger tasks in less time.