Hydraulic truck cranes are a specialized type of mobile crane. These cranes make use of hydraulics and could lift thousands of pounds. Hydraulics uses forces being transmitted through oil pushing in opposite directions on the pistons of the boom in order to lift thousands of pounds. Hydraulic truck cranes are vital in building major projects like bridges, airports, buildings and roads. A crane could accomplish in minutes jobs that will normally take hundreds of men and many hours to accomplish.
The great machines are commonly used in the construction of cities, homes, entire nations and individual buildings throughout the ages. Even Egypt's Great Pyramids were probably constructed utilizing basic cranes to enable the heaviest supplies in one of the most remarkable construction projects of all time.
The very first representation of a crane was showcased during King Ramses' reign in Egypt during 3000 B.C. This was a portrayal of a lifting device which was used to collect water. The first official "cranes" appeared in Ancient Greece. These mechanism were used to create a whole country in 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These cranes were originally made out of wood.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 machines. Hick & Rothwell designed the very first cast iron cranes during 1834, in Bolton, England. This machine was capable of lifting as much as 2 tons. That same year, wire ropes were added to the crane by Herr Albert Sr. who was an Official of the German Superior Board. The wire rope made the crane more durable and stronger. This addition allowed cranes to have a larger capacity for lifting heavy weights.
The wire ropes were weaved together forming a more powerful rope with even more strength. The newly formed wire also added more flexibility. Germany began to build cast iron cranes 4 years later. The very first cast iron crane made by Germany was made within Neuburg.