Pivoting axle wheeled mobile gantry

A method of operating a pivoting axle wheeled mobile gantry comprising the steps of:

• suspending a load from first, second, and third boom of interconnected booms of the gantry, wherein each the first, second, and third booms are supported on the ground by first, second, and third wheel sets, respectively, wherein the first, second, and third booms are offset from one another so as to present a triangular configuration when viewed from above with the third boom being spaced longitudinally from and positioned laterally between the first and second booms;
• transitioning the gantry from a first ground surface to a second ground surface, wherein a slope of the first ground surface is different than a slope of the second ground surface;
• and
• pivoting each wheel set about a respective at least generally horizontal pivot axis while that wheel set about a generally horizontal pivot axis that transitions from the first ground surface to the second ground surface.

A mobile gantry comprising:

• a first boom having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
• a first wheel set attached to the first end of the first boom;
• a second boom having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
• a second wheel set attached to the first end of the second boom;
• a third boom having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first and second booms are longitudinally offset from the third boom and the third boom is located laterally between the first and second booms so as to present a generally isosceles triangular configuration when viewed from above;
• a third wheel set attached to the first end of the third boom;
• a first beam joining each one of the first and second booms;
• a second beam joining the second and third booms;
• a first lift leg attached to the first boom;
• a second lift leg attached to the second boom;
• a third lift leg attached to the third boom;
• wherein the first, second, and third lift legs are configured to telescope from a respective end of the first, second, and third booms when in an extended position and to retract within the respective first, second, and third booms when in a retracted position, and wherein the first, second, and third lift legs are controllable to extend and retract independently of one another such that the first, second, and third beams may be configured to be maintained horizontally level while the mobile gantry traverses over a sloping ground;
• a pivot axle attached to each one of the wheel sets configured to allow the wheel sets to pivot about an axis that extends transversely of the mobile gantry and that extends at least generally parallel to the ground;
• a load beam joining the first and second beams;
• and
• a load rigging suspended from the load beam and configured to suspend a load when the lift legs are in an extended position.