Mobile de-roofing device and method for removing roofing material

Abstract

A mobile de-roofing device operates to remove roofing material from a building. The de-roofing device includes a supporting frame and a plurality of wheels attached to the frame. A mechanical roof cutter is carried by the frame, and adapted for engaging the roofing material and separating the roofing material from a roof of the building. A remote power source is operatively connected to the roof cutter for supplying power from a remote location to actuate the roof cutter.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A mobile de-roofing device for removing roofing material from a building, said deroofing device comprising: 
 (a) a supporting frame;    (b) a plurality of wheels attached to said frame;    (c) a mechanical roof cutter carried by said frame, and adapted for engaging the roofing material and separating the roofing material from a roof of the building; and    (d) a remote power source operatively connected to said roof cutterfor supplying power from a remote location to actuate said roof cutter.    
     
     
         2 . A mobile de-roofing device according to  claim 1 , wherein said mechanical roof cutter comprises a rotatable cutter drum mounted on an elongated drive shaft, and including a plurality of circumferentially-spaced cutter teeth adapted for engaging and cutting the roofing material.  
     
     
         3 . A mobile de-roofing device according to  claim 2 , and comprising a belt drive assembly operatively connected to the drive shaft of said cutter drum.  
     
     
         4 . A mobile de-roofing device according to  claim 3 , and comprising a hydraulic motor connected to said remote power source for actuating said belt drive assembly, thereby rotating said cutter drum.  
     
     
         5 . A mobile de-roofing device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said cutter teeth comprises a recessed front face and equally spaced-apart and outwardly diverging cutting tips.  
     
     
         6 . A mobile de-roofing device according to  claim 5 , wherein each of said cutting tips has a generally triangular cutting surface defined by intersecting side edges.  
     
     
         7 . A mobile de-roofing device according to  claim 1 , and comprising elevation adjustment means for adjusting the elevation of said roof cutter relative to the roof, whereby said de-roofing device is operable to remove only a predetermined thickness of roofing material from the roof.  
     
     
         8 . A mobile de-roofing device according to  claim 1 , and comprising a material containment hood mounted on said frame and defining a collection zone for collecting and containing loose roofing material cut and separated from the roof by said roof cutter.  
     
     
         9 . A mobile de-roofing device according to  claim 8 , and comprising a vacuum line connected to said material containment hood and communicating with said collection zone for transferring cut roofing material from the roof to a distant area for disposal.  
     
     
         10 . A mobile de-roofing device for removing roofing material from a building, said de-roofing device comprising: 
 (a) a supporting frame;    (b) a plurality of wheels attached to said frame;    (c) a mechanical roof cutter carried by said frame, and comprising a rotatable cutter drum and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced cutter teeth, said cutter teeth adapted for engaging the roofing material and separating the roofing material from a roof of the building;    (d) a remote power source operatively connected to said roof cutter for supplying power to actuate said rotatable cutter drum, said power source being located a remote distance from the roof of the building; and    (e) a material containment hood mounted on said frame and defining a collection zone for collecting and containing loose roofing material cut and separated from the roof by said roof cutter.    
     
     
         11 . A mobile de-roofing device according to  claim 10 , wherein said plurality of wheels comprises at least two rear drive wheels and a front guide wheel.  
     
     
         12 . A mobile de-roofing device according to  claim 11 , and comprising elevation adjustment means connected to said rear drive wheels for adjusting the elevation of said roof cutter relative to the roof, whereby said de-roofing device operates to separate and remove only a predetermined thickness of roofing material from the roof.  
     
     
         13 . A mobile de-roofing device according to  claim 12 , wherein said elevation adjustment means comprises respective cylinders operatively connected to said rear drive wheels to independently adjust the position of said rear wheels relative to said cutter drum.  
     
     
         14 . A mobile de-roofing device according to  claim 10 , wherein the front guide wheel is swivel attached for 360 degree swivel movement.  
     
     
         15 . A mobile de-roofing device according to  claim 10 , and comprising first and second depth control skids attached to said frame and operating to define a maximum cutting depth of said roof cutter.  
     
     
         16 . A mobile de-roofing device according to  claim 10 , and comprising a vacuum line connected to said material containment hood and communicating with said collection zone for transferring cut roofing material from the roof to a distant area for disposal.  
     
     
         17 . A mobile de-roofing device according to  claim 10 , wherein each of said cutter teeth comprises a recessed front face and equally spaced-apart and outwardly diverging cutting tips.  
     
     
         18 . A method of separating roofing material from a roof of a building, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) penetrating the roofing material with a first cut through a top surface of the roofing material; and    (b) creating a second cut of the roofing material downstream of the first cut, the second cut starting from a predetermined subsurface depth and penetrating upwardly towards the top surface of the roofing material.    
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the step of penetrating the roofing material comprises actuating a mechanical roof cutter of a de-roofing device located on the roof of the building, the roof cutter comprising a plurality of cutter teeth adapted for engaging the roofing material and separating the roofing material from the roof.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the step of creating a second cut through the roofing material comprises moving the cutter teeth into and through the roofing material from the subsurface depth upwardly towards the top surface, such that the subsurface roofing material engages and protects the cutter teeth as the cutter teeth separate the roofing material from the roof.