Patent ID: 8123053

Claim:
A slewing actuator system for rotating a boom structure and constructed and arranged to be secured to a support, the system comprising: (i) a cylindrical support member having a lower end constructed and arranged to be functionally coupled to the support, and an upper end, the cylindrical support member having a substantially vertical axis; (ii) a drive mounting member having a central bore therethrough, the drive mounting member extending outwardly and substantially orthogonally from the vertical axis of the cylindrical support member, the drive mounting member being constructed and arranged for receiving a portion of the cylindrical support member within the central bore; (iii) gearing means comprising: (a) a gear assembly; and (b) at least one rotating gear drive constructed and arranged to be fixed to the drive mounting member and operatively connected to the gear assembly, the gear assembly further comprising a rotating gear constructed and arranged to be operatively driven by the at least one gear drive, and a gear plate in interlocking engagement with the rotating gear; and (iv) a boom support means mounted to a means for rotatably coupling the boom support means to the cylindrical support member, the boom support means having (a) a surface constructed and arranged to receive and releasably secure the boom structure thereto; and (b) a central region and two lateral regions having respective outer edges; wherein, when the system is in an operating position, (A) the boom support means is rotatably mounted proximate to the upper end of the cylindrical support member and is configured to rotate about the substantially vertical axis of the cylindrical support member; (B) the gear assembly is positioned substantially horizontally and comprises a central opening in the gear plate, the central opening having a vertical axis that is coaxial with the vertical axis of the cylindrical support member, a portion of the cylindrical support member being positioned within the central opening, such that the central opening surrounds a portion of the cylindrical support member; and (C) the gearing means imparts rotational movement to the boom support means.