Early Crane Evolution
The very first recorded idea or kind of a crane was utilized by the early Egyptians more than 4000 years ago. This apparatus was known as a shaduf and was utilized to transport water. The crane was made out of a long pivoting 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.
During 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 wooden long boom known as a beam. 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 that carried the weight and was connected to a pulley at the top of the boom.
Cranes were used extensively during the Middle Ages to make the huge cathedrals within Europe. These devices were also used to load and unload ships within major ports. Eventually, significant crane design advancements evolved. Like 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, therefore greatly increasing the range of motion for the machine. Following the 16th century, cranes had incorporated two treadmills on each side of a rotating housing which held the boom.
Cranes used humans and animals for power until the mid-19th century. This all changes quickly once steam engines were developed. At the turn of the century, electric motors and internal combustion or IC engines emerged. In addition, cranes 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 also with their new power sources and thus carry out bigger jobs in less time.