Early Crane Evolution
The first recorded idea or kind of a crane was used by the early Egyptians more than 4000 years ago. This apparatus was called a shaduf and was 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 connected and on the other end of the beam, a bucket was connected.
Cranes that were built in the first century were powered by humans or by animals that were moving on a wheel or a treadmill. The crane consisted of a wooden long beam which was called a boom. The boom was connected to a base which rotates. The wheel or the treadmill was a power-driven operation which had a drum with a rope which wrapped around it. This rope also had a hook which lifted the weight and was connected to a pulley at the top of the boom.
Cranes were utilized extensively throughout the Middle Ages to build the huge cathedrals in Europe. These devices were also designed to unload and load ships within major ports. Over time, significant developments in crane design evolved. For example, a horizontal boom was added to and became known as the jib. This boom addition enabled cranes to have the ability to pivot, hence really increasing the machine's range of motion. Following the 16th century, each side of a rotating housing that held the boom incorporated two treadmills.
Cranes utilized humans and animals for power until the mid-19th century. This all changes rapidly when steam engines were developed. At the turn of the century, electric motors as well as IC or internal combustion engines emerged. Additionally, cranes 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 also with their new power sources and hence complete larger tasks in less time.