Patent ID: 7918512

Claim:
A stabilizer apparatus, comprising: a chassis having a direction of travel from a rearward end toward a forward end; a forward running gear supporting the forward end of the chassis; a rear running gear supporting the rearward end of the chassis, at least one of the running gears being driven so that the stabilizer apparatus is self-propelled; first and second pivot arms having upper ends pivotally connected to first and second sides, respectively, of the chassis and defining a pivotal axis transverse to the direction of travel, and having lower ends extending rearward from the pivotal axis, the second pivot arm extending laterally outward from the chassis a shorter distance than does the first pivot arm, so that the apparatus can operate closer to an obstacle on the second side of the chassis than it can on the first side of the chassis; a working drum located between the pivotal axis and the rear running gear and mounted on the first and second pivot arms, the working drum including a drum axis extending transversely to the direction of travel; a combustion engine fixed to the chassis between the pivot arms and behind the forward running gear and in front of the working drum, the engine having an output axis co-axial with the pivotal axis so that the pivot arms and the working drum pivot about the output axis; one and only one mechanical power transmission device, the power transmission device including a belt drive including a first pulley attached to an output shaft, a second pulley attached to the drum, and a drive belt connecting the pulleys, the belt drive pivoting with the working drum and the pivot arms about the pivotal axis, the power transmission device being received by the first pivot arm to transfer drive power from the output shaft to the working drum; and a clutch operably connected between the engine and the power transmission device.