Cantilever conveying techniques

Apparatus for conveying concrete and the like comprising in combination:

• self-propelled vehicle means having a first wheel-supporting axle defining a first axle center line and a second wheel-supporting axle defining a second axle center line, said first and second axle center lines defining a first reference plane;
• conveyor means for transporting concrete in a predetermined first path direction defining a second reference plane perpendicular to the first reference plane;
• turntable means supported for rotation on said vehicle means, said turntable means defining an axis of rotation perpendicular to said first reference plane and defining a third reference plane perpendicular to the second reference plane and collinear with the axis of rotation;
• truss means for supporting the conveyor means, said truss means having a supported end portion and a cantilevered end portion;
• drive means for extending the truss means and conveyor means in the first path direction and retracting the truss means and conveyor means in a second path direction opposite the first path direction;
• transfer means for transferring concrete to the conveyor means;
• elevating means supported on a first segment of the turntable means located on a first side of the third reference plane for rotating the truss means around a pivot axis;
• cab means carried by the turntable means and located on one side of the second reference plane for enabling an operator to control the vehicle means and conveyor means, said cab means having a top surface that defines a fourth reference plane parallel to the first reference plane;
• counterbalance means defining a center of gravity located on a second side of the third reference plane opposite the first side for counterbalancing the weight of the truss means and conveyor means;
• and
• force balancing means for supporting the truss means and the counterbalance means on the turntable means such that the second reference plane passes through the turntable means and the counterbalance means and for positioning the pivot axis above the fourth reference plane, perpendicular to the second reference plane and on the first side of the third reference plane, whereby concrete can be transferred from the transfer means to the conveyor means while the turntable means is rotating around the axis of rotation and whereby an operator can view the operation of the conveyor means.