The hydraulic truck crane is a specific mobile crane that utilizes hydraulic power to lift and transport thousands of pounds. Hydraulics makes use of forces being transmitted through oil pushing in opposite directions on the pistons of the boom so as to lift thousands of pounds. Hydraulic truck cranes are very important in building major projects such as airports, bridges, buildings and roadways. A crane could complete in minutes jobs which will normally take hundreds of men and many hours to complete.
The great machines are normally used in the construction of cities, homes, whole nations and individual buildings throughout the ages. Even Egypt's Great Pyramids were probably built with the help of basic cranes to allow the heaviest materials in one of the most awesome construction projects ever.
The very first cranes were established in 3000 B.C. Egypt during King Ramses' reign. This lifting mechanism was originally used to collect water. The very first official "cranes" appeared in Ancient Greece. These devices were used to create an entire country throughout the 5th century B.C.
These cranes were originally made out of wood. The designs of cranes began to change when dockyards began to need stronger and bigger equipments. Hick & Rothwell designed the first cast iron cranes in Bolton, England, during the year 1834. This equipment was capable of lifting as much as 2 tons. That very same year, wire ropes were added to the crane by an Official of the German Superior Board, Herr Albert Sr. The wire rope made the crane more durable and stronger. This addition allowed cranes to have a bigger capacity to lift heavy weights.
Ultimately, the wire ropes were weaved together in order to form an even more powerful strength. This wire formation also brought the added benefit of flexibility. Germany started to make cast iron cranes 4 years later. The first cast iron crane made by Germany was made in Neuburg.