The hydraulic truck crane is a specialized mobile crane that utilizes hydraulic power to raise and move thousands of pounds. Hydraulics uses forces being transmitted through oil pushing on the pistons of the boom in opposite directions so as to lift thousands of pounds. Hydraulic truck cranes are really important in constructing major projects like bridges, airports, buildings and roadways. A crane could accomplish in minutes jobs which would normally take many hours and hundreds of men to complete.
These remarkable equipments have played a vital part in constructing cities, houses, individual buildings and entire nations throughout the ages. Even the Great Pyramids within Egypt were likely constructed with the help of basic cranes to enable the heaviest supplies in one of the most awesome construction projects ever.
The first representation of a crane was featured during King Ramses' reign in Egypt in 3000 B.C. This was a portrayal of a lifting device which was utilized to collect water. The very first official "cranes" appeared during Ancient Greece. These mechanism were utilized to build an entire country throughout the 5th century B.C.
These cranes were initially made out of wood. The designs of cranes began to change when dockyards began to need stronger and bigger machinery. Hick & Rothwell designed the first cast iron cranes within Bolton, England, during the year 1834. This machinery was capable of lifting up to 2 tons. That same year, the addition of wire rope was added to the crane by an Official of the German Superior Board, Herr Albert Sr. The wire rope made the crane stronger and more durable. This addition enabled cranes to have a larger capacity for lifting heavy weights.
Eventually, the wire ropes were weaved together to be able to form an even more powerful strength. This wire formation also brought the added benefit of flexibility. 4 years later, Germany began to build cast iron cranes. The first cast iron crane built by Germany was made within Neuburg.