Method and apparatus for truss rollout

Abstract

A truss carrying dolly and system for use in manufacture of buildings.

1 . A method for setting trusses in building construction, comprising: 
 (a) providing first and second spaced apart, substantially parallel elongated beams each having a substantially smooth upper surface;    (b) providing first rolling truss carriage dolly for engagement with, and rolling movement on, said first elongated beam, and providing a second rolling truss carriage dolly for engagement with, and rolling movement on, said second elongated beam;    (c) providing a plurality of off-site prefabricated truss units, each truss unit having an elongated lower chord with first and second ends, and an upper chord;    (d) lifting said first and said second ends, sequentially or simultaneously, of one of said plurality of prefabricated truss units, and transferring said first and second ends to a resting position on one of said first and said second rolling truss carriage dollies;    (e) moving said first and second rolling truss carriage dollies, and the prefabricated truss resting thereon, to a selected position adjacent a desired location for installation of said truss;    (f) removing said truss from said first and said second truss carriage dollies.    
   
   
       2 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said truss carriage dolly comprises a rectangular base for support of one of said ends of said truss unit.  
   
   
       3 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of 
 (a) returning said first and said second truss carriage dollies to a location adjacent said plurality of trusses;    (b) lifting said first and said second ends, sequentially or simultaneously, of a second one of said plurality of off-site factory prefabricated truss units, and transferring said first and second ends to a resting position on one of said first and said second rolling truss carriage dollies;    (c) moving said first and second rolling truss carriage dollies, and the second one of said prefabricated trusses resting thereon, to a selected position adjacent a desired location for installation of said second truss;    (d) removing said second truss from said first and said second truss carriage dollies.    
   
   
       4 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  or in  claim 3 , 
 (a) wherein said truss carriage dolly further comprises a linking attachment member; and    (b) further comprising providing a handle, and wherein said handle with a link member complementary to said linking attachment member of said truss carriage dolly, so that said handle can be removably affixed to said truss carriage dolly; and    (c) wherein the combination of said truss carriage dolly and said truss is manually moveable with said handle.    
   
   
       5 . The method as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said linking attachment member comprises an eyebolt and wherein said link member comprises a hook sized and shaped for complementary mating engagement with said eyebolt.  
   
   
       6 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said first and said second roller mounts are generally L-shaped structural members, and wherein at least a portion of said roller extend downwardly from and at substantially right angles from lateral edges of said base, to provide a caging feature to confine said truss carriage dolly in rolling engagement with said elongated beam.  
   
   
       7 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said first and said second roller mounts are generally C-shaped structural members, and wherein at least a portion of said roller extend downwardly from and at substantially right angles from lateral edges of said base, to provide a caging feature to confine said truss carriage dolly in rolling engagement with said elongated beam.  
   
   
       8 . A support apparatus for traversing along an elongate beam while supporting a structure thereabove, said apparatus comprising: 
 a first roller mount, and a second roller mount;    at least one roller extending between said first roller mount and said second roller mount; and    a base, said base having a reverse side and an obverse side and extending between said first and said second roller mounts,    apparatus over said elongate beam when said apparatus is moved along said elongate beam.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said reverse side of said base has first and second opposing marginal portions, and wherein said first roller mount and said second roller mount are securely affixed to said first and second marginal portions, respectively.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said caging features comprise downwardly extending flanges which at least partially engage said elongate beam.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said support apparatus is utilized in fabrication of a building structure, and wherein said elongate beam comprises a top plate of a wall of said building structure.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 10 , herein said downwardly extending flanges are integrally provided with said first and with said second roller mounts.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said apparatus comprises two rollers.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said rollers are manufactured in a plastic material.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said plastic material comprises ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein said high molecular weight polyethylene comprises recycled polyethylene.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein each roller is attached to said roller mount through a bearing.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said bearing is a ball bearing.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said apparatus comprises at least two contact points having rolling support relative to said elongate beam being traversed.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein each of said at least two contact points having rolling support comprise rollers.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein each of said rollers comprises an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene outer surface.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein each of said rollers comprises a metal outer surface.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said first and second roller mounts each comprise a structural frame member.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein each of said rollers is of about one and one-half (1.5) inches in diameter.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein each of said rollers is about four and one quarter (4.25) inches in width.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein each of said rollers is about six and one quarter (6.25) inches in width.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein each of said rollers if from about four inches to about six and one-half inches in width.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein said caging structure comprises a downwardly extending flange.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein in said downwardly extending flange protrudes about one and one-quarter inches (1.25 inches) below said roller.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein said downwardly protruding flange comprises a portion of said roller mount.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 (a) a plurality of fasteners having shaft portions; and    (b) wherein said first and said second roller mounts each comprise an upper flange portion, each upper flange portion comprising a plurality of fastener through apertures, wherein each fastener through aperture is defined by an aperture edge wall portion;    (c) wherein support base comprises a planar sheet having opposing first and second marginal portions sized and shaped for abutting mating engagement with a companion upper flange portion of said first and said second roller mounts, and wherein each of said first and second marginal portions comprise a plurality of base through apertures, and wherein each base through aperture is defined by a base through aperture edge wall portion;    (d) and wherein said shaft portions of said fasteners are sized and shaped for fitting through one of said fastener through apertures in said upper flange portion and through an axially aligned base through aperture, to secure said base and said first roller mount each toward the other, and to secure said base and said second roller mount each toward the other.    
   
   
       32 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 31 , wherein at least some of said fasteners comprise bolts and nuts sized and shaped for complementary tightenable engagement.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 31 , wherein ten through apertures are provided in said support base.  
   
   
       34 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 33 , further comprising an cargo stop, said cargo stop mounted on said support base and oriented in a direction substantially parallel to said rollers.  
   
   
       35 . A method for carriage of an elongated workpiece having first and second ends, comprising: 
 (a) providing spaced apart, substantially parallel first and second elongated beams;    (b) providing a first carriage dolly and a second carriage dolly for each one of said first and second elongated beams, each carriage dolly comprising a frame, a pair of rollers, and a support surface, said carriage dolly adapted for caged engagement with and rolling movement along said elongated beam;    (c) setting a first end of said elongated workpiece on said first carriage dolly;    (d) setting a second end of said elongated workpiece on said second carriage dolly;    (e) moving said elongated workpiece, said first carriage dolly, and said second carriage dolly horizontally with respect to said first and said second elongated beams;    (f) removing said first carriage dolly and said second carriage dolly from below said elongated workpiece;    (g) tilting said elongated workpiece to a substantially vertical position.    
   
   
       36 . The method as set forth in  claim 35 , further comprising providing a towing handle having, at the upper reaches thereof, a first linking member, and wherein at least one of said carriage dollies further comprises at least one downwardly protruding second linking member, and wherein said first and said second linking member are sized and shaped for complementary mating engagement, so that said at least one carriage dolly can be pulled by tugging on said towing handle.  
   
   
       37 . The method as set forth in  claim 36 , wherein said first linking member comprises an eyebolt.  
   
   
       38 . The method as set forth in  claim 36 , wherein said second linking member comprises a hook, said hook sized and shaped to engage said eyebolt.  
   
   
       39 . The method as set forth in  claim 35 , wherein the step of loading said elongated workpiece on said first and said second carriage dollies comprises loading the elongated workpiece in an orientation normal to the direction of said elongated substantially parallel beams.  
   
   
       40 . The method as set forth in  claim 35 , wherein said first and said second carriage dolly each comprises first and second flanged stops, said first and said second flanged stops on said first and said second carry dolly adapted to space said first and said second carriage dolly in an effectively centered position over said first and said second elongated beam, respectively.  
   
   
       41 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said base has a thickness of from about one-eighty (⅛) inch to about three eighths (⅜) of an inch.  
   
   
       42 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said first and said second roller are mounted in a spaced apart relationship from said reverse side of said base, and wherein said rollers have an axis of rotation spaced apart about one (1) inch from said reverse side of said base.