Bucket conveyor with a rotatable boom

A bucket conveyor comprising:

• a boom rotatable in a horizontal plane, comprising:
• a generally vertical front frame member comprising a lower section which is rotatable in a vertical plane;
• a lower bar having first and second ends, the first end being pivotably secured to the lower section of said frame member, said bar being rotatable in a vertical plane;
• a front lower pulley located in the vicinity of the first end of the lower bar;
• and
• a rear lower pulley in the vicinity of the second end of the bar;
• an endless catenary of buckets comprising a plurality of buckets carried on at least one chain;
• and
• means for tensioning said catenary;
• said front and rear lower pulleys defining a tensioned, generally horizontal run for said catenary, said buckets being carried on the horizontal run in loaded condition from said rear lower pulley to said front lower pulley above the surface on which the conveyor rests;
• tension being maintained as said catenary lengthens during use through downward rotation of said lower bar, the tension in said catenary holding said lower bar in a generally horizontal position.