Patent Abstract:
A device for installing roof fabric on the roof of a metal frame building having a plurality of parallel purlins on the top thereof. The device retains a spool of fabric therein and includes a frame having a guide that movably slides on the top of the purlin and a tensioning device that engages a lower surface of the purlin, whereby movement of the device allows the fabric to unroll over the roof.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This invention relates to a device for use with rolled roof fabric and more particularly to a device for the installation of roof fabric on the roof purlins or joists of a metal framed building. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Metal frame buildings typically comprise a roof formed of a series of parallel rafters which extend from one side of the building to the other side of the building, forming a center peak that runs from the front of the building to the back of the building. A series of parallel purlins are supported on the rafters and are mounted perpendicular to the rafters. Typically, roof fabric is laid over the purlins and may be followed by insulation material and then roof sheeting. The roof fabric may comprise woven material, a membrane of plastic or other substance, or any sheet of material. Roof fabric may also be used on building systems generally, for example, as a floor moisture barrier. 
     Installation of these materials on the roofs of metal framed buildings has typically been accomplished by hand. Such installation is dangerous under ideal conditions and is extremely dangerous and haphazard under less than ideal conditions, such as high wind. 
     Machinery that can apply the fabric to the roof of a building can minimize the danger to workmen and improve the quality of the finished roof. Several such devices have been patented to Robert J. Alderman such as the device shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,698. In this and the other devices patented by Mr. Alderman, a roll of insulation material is suspended on a carriage above the roof. The carriage rests on at least two purlins and is moved along the length of the purlins, thereby unrolling the fabric over the roof. In the structures of all the devices patented by Alderman, in addition to all the similar devices known to the applicant, the fabric to be rolled onto the roof is held by supports on either end of the roll. This structure has the disadvantage of limiting the width of fabric which may be rolled onto the roof. Also, the prior art devices rest on at least two purlins, further preventing the use of the devices on any purlins that are separated by a non-standard distance. In addition, the prior art devices are bulky and difficult to transport and place on a roof. 
     The roof fabric, ideally, should be installed on the roof such that there are no gaps in the material. Accordingly, wider rolls of fabric are desirable because installation of the wider rolls results in fewer seams and less potential for such gaps. Furthermore, in the known prior art structures, the devices must be operated by a workman present on the roof. No known prior art structures allow for the operation of the device by a workman on the ground. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a device for installing roof fabric on the roof on a metal frame building having rafters extending from one side of the building to the other side of the building and supporting essentially parallel purlins or joists on the top thereof. The device includes an elongated frame, a guide on the front end of the frame, a tensioning device on the center of the frame, and an engagement means on the rear end of the frame for retaining a spool of fabric. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a device for installing roof fabric which is safe and effective to use. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a roof fabric installation device which can produce a roof on a metal frame building that has a minimal number of seams, that effectively covers, seals, or insulates a building, and that is economical to install. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a self-propelled roof fabric installation device. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a roof fabric installation device that is operable by a remote device. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a roof fabric installation device which is lightweight and easily maneuverable. 
     Yet another object of this invention is to provide a device which may be safely operated regardless of weather conditions. 
     These and other objects of the invention will be apparent when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a roof structure and the roof fabric dispensing device, showing the manner in which the fabric is applied to the roof; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device; 
     FIG. 3 is a right side elevational view of the device holding a full roll of fabric; 
     FIG. 4 is a right side elevational view of the device holding a depleted roll of fabric; 
     FIG. 5 is a top elevational view of the device; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the device having a motor attached to the front end thereof; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the device having a second embodiment of a motor attached to the front end thereof and a remote control for controlling such motor; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the device having a motor attached to the middle section thereof; and 
     FIG. 9 is a three-dimensional perspective view of one embodiment of the device of FIG.  2 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now in more detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a roof framework  2  which includes rafters  4  extending parallel to each other across the width of the building to a peak  5  at the center of the building. A plurality of spaced-apart purlins  6 , also referred to as joists, extend along the length of the building and are supported by the rafters  4  in conventional fashion. The purlins  6  may constitute conventional purlins, joists, girders, or any other building structure regardless of design, composition, or manner of use. The purlins  6  are generally Z-shaped, C-shaped, or I-shaped, and include a bottom flange  7 , a central web  8  and a top flange  9 . The purlins  6  are generally placed in substantially parallel relation to one another. 
     FIG. 1 shows the roof fabric dispensing device of this invention designated generally at  10 , for applying rolled roof fabric  12  to the roof  2 . The roof fabric dispensing device  10  is shown in more detail in FIGS. 2-8. It includes an elongated frame  14  having a front end  16 , a center  18 , and a rear end  20 . Preferably, the elongated frame  14  includes an angled portion  22  between the front end  16  and the center section  18 . 
     The front end  16  incorporates a guide  24  that may be attached by bolts  25  or otherwise integrated therewith. Preferably, the guide  24  includes a substantially flat central plate  26  and downwardly extending flanges  28  on either side thereof. The downwardly extending flanges  28  should be designed to embrace the top flange  9  of a purlin  6 . The guide  24  may also include an angled plate  30  positioned at the forward end thereof. The purpose of the guide  24  is to allow the movement of the device  10  along the length of a purlin  6  with a minimal amount of friction. This may be accomplished by incorporation of an optional wheel or wheels  32  positioned on the guide  24 , construction of the guide  24  with low friction materials, such as nylon, or other means known in the art. 
     The center section  18  of the frame  14  preferably includes a tensioning device  34 . The tensioning device  34  engages the underside of the top flange  9  of a purlin  6  to draw the rear end  20  of the frame  14  toward the purlin  6 . One embodiment of the tensioning device  34  is shown in FIGS. 2-5. The tensioning device includes a U-shaped bolt  36  having a first end  37  rotatably journaled through a hole  38  in frame  14  and secured thereto by the securing device, shown as at least one nut  40 . The U-bolt  36  extends downwardly to a second end  42  thereof on which is mounted a wheel  44  or other low friction device. A tension spring  46  is attached to the second end  42  of the U-bolt  36  and extends upwardly to an adjustable catch  48 . The catch  48  may be adjustable by any design, one of which is shown is in FIG.  2 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the catch  48  is integrated on a threaded bolt  50 . The threaded bolt  50  threadably receives a wing nut  52  and is journaled through an eyebolt  54 . The eyebolt  54  is fitted into a hole  56  in the frame  14  and secured therein by at least one nut  58 . By this structure, the tension of the spring  46  may be adjusted by rotation of the wing nut  52 . The tension of the spring  46  maintains the wheel  44  against the underside of the top flange  9 . 
     The rear end  20  of the frame  14  has attached to it a fabric engagement means  60  for holding the rolled roofing fabric  12 . The engagement means  60  may be attached to the frame  14  by bolts  59  or any conventional means. As shown is FIG. 2, the engagement means  60  may comprise an elongated metal sheet  60 ′ having a generally arcuate profile. The engagement means  60  may include other designs and materials. The engagement means  60  may be comprised of nylon or some other lightweight low friction material. The engagement means  60  may also be comprised of a series of rollers  61  or arcuate wire tines (not shown). The engagement means  60  must retain the roll of roof fabric  12  therein while allowing the roll  12  to unfurl over the roof  2 , and generally retain the roll tautly to the purlins. 
     The device  10  may be moved along the purlins  6  using several different methods. Most simply, an extended handle  62  may be attached to the rear end  20  of the frame  14  for manual movement of the device  10 . Alternatively, the front end of the guide  24  may be provided with a hook or loop  101  through which a rope or wire  103  may be threaded to pull the device  10  along the purlin  6 . The rope or wire may be mechanically driven (e.g. by motor  105 ). In yet another embodiment, the device  10  may be provided with a motorized drive  64 . As shown in FIG. 6, the front end  16  of the frame  14  supports a motor  66 . The motor  66  includes a drive gear  68  which is in operational engagement with the drive belt  70 . The drive belt  70  engages a secondary gear  72  which is attached to front drive wheel  74 . The front drive wheel  74  rests on the purlin  6  and, upon rotation of drive gear  68  by the motor  66 , moves the device  10  along the purlin  6 . 
     Similarly, FIG. 7 shows a motor  66  mounted on the front end  16  of the frame  14 . The motor  66  has attached to it drive gear  68 , which is in operational engagement with drive belt  70 . The drive belt  70  engages opposing drive gears  76 . The opposing drive gears  76  are mounted on and operatively connected to opposing drive wheels  82  and  84 . The opposing drive wheels  82  and  84  are biased against the sides of top flange  9  of the purlin  6  by tension spring  78 . The drive belt  70  is retained in operational engagement with opposing drive gears  76  by idler sprocket  80 . Drive wheel  84  includes a differential (not shown) which requires wheel  84  to rotate in a direction opposite that of the associated drive gear  76 . The rotation of the drive gear  68  by the motor  66 , therefore, causes the rotation of opposing drive wheels  82  and  84  and the movement of the device  10  along the purlin  6 . 
     Other configurations for a motor mounted on the front end  16  of the frame  14  are possible and the examples shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are not intended to be exhaustive, but only exemplary. Similarly, the motor may be mounted on the frame in a position other than on the front end  16 . FIG. 8 shows the motor  66  mounted on the center section  18  of the frame  14 . Like the previously described devices, the motor  66  includes a drive gear  68  which is in operational engagement with the drive belt  70 . The drive belt  70  engages a secondary gear  72  which is attached to a center drive wheel  86 . Although the center drive wheel  86  is shown in fixed relationship with the center section  18  of the frame  14 , such a center drive wheel will be, preferably, connected to the center section  18  in a variable relationship which will allow for the change in height of the roll of fabric, as will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter. These and other configurations are contemplated by this disclosure. 
     The motor  66  may be operated by a conventional control mechanism (not shown). The control mechanism may be positioned on the motor  66 , the handle  62 , or elsewhere on the device  10 , and provided with a conventional on/off switch or similar controls. Preferably, however, the control mechanism is operated by a conventional remote control device  107  (e.g. as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9) which is in communication with the motor control mechanism through RF, IR, or other conventional communication means. 
     In operation, the roll of roof fabric  12  is positioned at one end of the roof perpendicular to the purlins  6 . The exposed end of the rolled fabric  12  is secured to the ends of the purlins  6 , or to any position on the purlins  6  from which the roof fabric  12  is to be installed. The device  10  is placed on the roof  2  and the rolled fabric  12 . The front guide  24  is positioned on a purlin  6  and the engagement means  60  is positioned on the rolled fabric  12 . The tensioning wheel  44  is positioned on the underside of the top flange of that same purlin. If no tensioning wheel  44  is used, gravity may be employed to retain the device  10  on the purlin  6  and the roof fabric  12 . The device  10  is moved across the purlins  6  by either manual manipulation of the handle  62 , by drawing the device  10  across the roof by a rope or cable, or by operation of a motor drive  66 . Movement of the device  10  across the roof  2  will cause the fabric  12  to unroll over the roof  2 . The fabric  12  may be completely unrolled over the length of the roof  2  or may be unrolled incrementally to expose individual sections of the roof  2  which may be completed before exposure of the next increment. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, as the fabric  12  unrolls, the diameter of the cylindrical shape of the rolled fabric  12  becomes smaller. The tension device  34  maintains the engagement means  60  in contact with the diminishing fabric roll  12  by drawing the rear end  20  of the frame  14  towards the purlin  6 . FIG. 8 shows friction-reducing rollers  61  that engage the rolled fabric  12  which could also be powered by motors to move the device. 
     Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4