Roofing machine

Abstract

This is a roofing machine wherein the vertical rollers are adapted to engage various types of configurations of the purlins of a metal frame building. The machine also uses angle irons mounted on top of a horizontal roller housing and utilizes angles rather than pipes as is done with most prior art devices. Furthermore, the machine clamps the carriage angles to the angle irons in a simpler manner than prior art devices.

1 . A system for moving bundles of planar roofing panels longitudinally across the length of a building having a skeletal structure including a roof centerline and opposed roof sides and including laterally disposed rafters running the length thereof and on which rafters a series of laterally spaced purlins which longitudinally extend the length of the building rest such that the roofing panels may be more easily positioned for attachment to the purlins so as to form the completed roof outer surface, said system comprising a pair of parallel longitudinally spaced support elements laterally extending across said roof sides, said support elements each having upper and lower generally planar surfaces, said system further including a least a pair of roof carts longitudinally extending between said support elements and laterally spaced from each other, said carts having a first housing having ends which overlap the upper surfaces of said support elements and are releasably but fixedly connected thereto by clamps at two laterally spaced positions at opposite ends of said first housing so as to position each cart at right angles between said support elements. 
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , each said cart further having means for mounting a first horizontally disposed roller and a second vertically disposed roller or wheel, each of said carts positioned over a purlin such that the horizontal roller engages the top surface of the purlin and the vertical roller or wheel engages a side surface of the purlin. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , said first housing including a pair of laterally spaced L-shaped angle beams attached to and extending above said first housing, said angle beams each having an upper surface which forms the surface upon which the roofing panels are adapted to rest and end portions which extend over and in contact with said elongated support elements. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 2 , said clamps being C clamps each having a lower jaw contacting the lower surface of said support element and an upper jaw contacting the upper surface of said support element. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , the upper jaw of each said C clamps including a vertically threaded boss adapted to receive a setscrew in turn adapted to contact and clamp the upper surface of the support element. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 3 , said support elements each being L-shaped with the foot portion of each positioned uppermost and outwardly directed from each other. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 4 , each of said C clamps being aligned with said angle beams. 
   
   
       8 . A roofing apparatus for handling roofing panels over purlins, the purlins having upper and lower surfaces connected by a body plate or base element having proximal and distal surfaces and free edges running the length of a pitched roof for supporting the lengths of panels in a slope direction of roof pitch comprising, means defining a roof cart with an elongated skeletal frame extending orthogonal to the purlins and spaced wheel means riding on each of several adjacent purlins and carrying the skeletal frame, each of the wheel means comprising first and second wheels with the first roller having an essentially horizontal axis and the second wheel or roller having an essentially vertical axis, the first roller riding on the upper surface of a purlin and the second wheel or roller bearing against the purlin, one such wheel means being provided for each of several adjacent purlins of the roofing so as to form a carriage structure and wherein the carriage structure is of a ladder form and comprises two of said wheel means at each rung of the ladder, wherein the improvement comprises the first wheel positioned within a first housing, the second wheel or roller positioned within a second housing, the first housing comprising a first base plate, the first base plate being generally rectangular in configuration and having a base portion, the base portion having a first long side edge and a second long side edge, one of a pair of wing elements extending upward from the first long side edge, the other of the pair of wing elements extending upward from the second long side edge, the wing elements in spaced parallel relation to each other, the first roller movably engaged to the wing elements in spaced parallel relation to the base portion, the second long side edge having a rounded appendage extending therefrom, the appendage lying on the same horizontal plane as the base portion, the second housing comprising an arched seat having a first upper edge, a second upper edge, an arched base, a first open end and a second open end, the arched seat having a longitudinal axis, an upright element extending from the arched base spaced from the first open end, the second housing attached to the base plate of the first housing whereby the second wheel or roller is movably engaged to the appendage and the upright element. 
   
   
       9 . The roofing apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the purlin supports to are of the Z or C configuration and said second wheel is mounted on a vertical axis and includes peripheral wheel portions adapted to contact a free edge of said purlin upper surface. 
   
   
       10 . The roofing apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the purlin supports are of the bar joist or wood purlin configuration and said second wheel is adjustably vertically mounted and the peripheral wheel portions thereof are adapted to contact the body plate distal surface. 
   
   
       11 . The roofing apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the purlin supports are rectangular cross-sectional dimensional lumber having top, inner and outer side surfaces vertically mounted such that the peripheral roller portions contact an outer side surface of the purlin adjacent the top surface thereof. 
   
   
       12 . A system for moving bundles of planar roofing panels longitudinally across the length of a building having a skeletal structure including a roof centerline and opposed roof sides and including laterally disposed rafters running the length thereof and on which rafters a series of laterally spaced purlins which longitudinally extend the length of the building rest such that the roofing panels may be more easily positioned for attachment to the purlins so as to form the completed roof outer surface, said system comprising a pair of parallel longitudinally spaced support elements laterally extending across said roof sides, said support elements each having upper and lower generally planar surfaces, said system further including a least a pair of roof carts longitudinally extending between said support elements and laterally spaced from each other, said carts having a first housing having ends which overlap the upper surfaces of said support elements and are releasably but fixedly connected thereto by clamps at two laterally spaced positions at opposite ends of said first housing so as to position each cart at right angles between said support elements and wherein each of said purlins includes an upper surface and a plate surface, each of said roof carts having a first roller horizontally positioned within a first housing and a second roller vertically positioned in a second housing and wherein the first wheel rests on the upper purlin surface and the second wheel or roller contacts portions of said purlin base plate, the first roller positioned within a first housing, the second wheel or roller positioned within a second housing, the first housing comprising a first base plate, the first base plate being generally rectangular in configuration and having a base portion, the base portion having a first long side edge and a second long side edge, one of a pair of wing elements extending upward from the first long side edge, the other of the pair of wing elements extending upward from the second long side edge, the wing elements in spaced parallel relation to each other, the first roller movably engaged to the wing elements in spaced parallel relation to the base portion, the second long side edge having a rounded appendage extending therefrom, the appendage lying to on the same horizontal plane as the base portion, the second housing comprising an arched seat having a first upper edge, a second upper edge, an arched base, a first open end and a second open end, the arched seat having a longitudinal axis, an upright element extending from the arched base spaced from the first open end, the second housing attached to the base plate of the first housing whereby the second wheel is movably engaged to the appendage and the upright element. 
   
   
       13 . The roofing apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the purlin supports are of the Z or C shape configuration and said second roller or wheel is mounted on a vertical axis and includes peripheral wheel portions adapted to contact a free edge of said purlin upper surface. 
   
   
       14 . The roofing apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the purlin supports are of the bar joist configuration and said second wheel is adjustably vertically mounted and the peripheral wheel portions adapted to contact the body plate distal surface. 
   
   
       15 . The roofing apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the purlin supports are rectangular cross-sectional dimensional lumber having top, inner and outer side surfaces vertically mounted such that the peripheral wheel portions contact an outer side surface of the purlin adjacent the top surface thereof.