Early Crane Evolution
The very first recorded concept or type of a crane was used by the early Egyptians over 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 that balanced on a vertical support. On one end a bucket was attached and on the other end of the beam, a heavy weight was connected.
In the first century, cranes were built to be powered by animals or humans that were moving on a treadmill or a wheel. These cranes had a long wooden boom known as a beam. The boom was attached to a rotating base. 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.
In Europe, the enormous cathedrals established during the Middle Ages were made utilizing cranes. Cranes were also designed to load and unload ships within key ports. Eventually, major crane design advancements evolved. Like 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 greatly increasing the machine'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. Once steam engines were developed, this all rapidly changed. At the turn of the century, electric motors and IC or internal combustion engines emerged. Furthermore, cranes became designed out of steel and cast iron rather than wood. The new designs proved more efficient and longer lasting. They could obviously run longer also with their new power sources and thus finish larger jobs in less time.