Roof membrane and insulation removing device

Abstract

A roof membrane and insulation removing device including a wheeled frame having a pair of handlebars. A number of first cutting blades are secured to the front of the wheeled frame. Each one of the first cutting blades is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis. A second cutting blade is secured to the wheeled frame between the first cutting blades and the handlebars. The second cutting blade is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis. A first motor is connected to the first cutting blades, for rotating same. A second motor is connected to the second cutting blade for rotating same.

Description

CONTINUING APPLICATION DATA

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/059,384, filed on Feb. 17, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to cutlery and, more particularly, to cutting tools mounted on vehicles moved during cutting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Impermeable rubber membranes positioned atop sheets of foam insulation are commonly used to make watertight roofs on commercial buildings. Weathering deteriorates these membranes; and necessitates their periodic replacement lest a roof begin to leak. Many roofing companies employ handheld tools, to remove weathered, roofing membranes and foam insulation, which minimize the likelihood of damaging roof decking plates and other roof features. The process of removing a membrane, however, is slow with handheld tools, especially if such are manually powered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the problems associated with the tools used to detach old membranes and foam insulation from roofs, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a motorized device that rapidly strips a rubber membrane and its associated foam insulation from a roof without damaging underlying decking plates. During stripping, the device vertically and horizontally cuts membrane, insulation, and any metallic, hold-down fasteners into small pieces that can be easily collected for disposal. Stripping is accomplished in a single pass with minimal vibration of roof decking plates.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a roof membrane and insulation removing device of the type described that is compact in size and relatively light in weight. The device is easy to position on a roof with a small crane or lifting truck and, once there, can be easily maneuvered into tight spaces.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a device of the type described that has a self-contained power source so it does not need to be tethered by cables to a remote generator or electrical grid.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved features and arrangements thereof in a roof membrane and insulation removing device for the purposes described that is inexpensive to manufacture and is dependable in use.

Briefly, the device in accordance with this invention achieves the intended objects by featuring a wheeled frame having a pair of handlebars at the rear thereof. A pair of drive wheels is secured to the rear of the frame below the handlebars for propelling the device over a roof. A source of pressurized hydraulic fluid is secured to the frame. A plurality of first cutting blades being secured to the front of the frame. Each one of the first cutting blades is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis. A pair of second cutting blades is secured to the frame between the first cutting blades and the drive wheels. The second cutting blades are positioned adjacent one another and are rotatable about a substantially vertical axis. A first hydraulic motor is connected to the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and is connected to the first cutting blades for rotating same. A pair of second hydraulic motors is connected to the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid. Each of the second hydraulic motors is respectively connected to one of the second cutting blades for rotating same. A pair of third hydraulic motors is connected to the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid. Each of the third hydraulic motors is respectively connected to one of the drive wheels for rotating same.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may be more readily described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a roof membrane and insulation removing device in accordance with the present invention having its hydraulic fluid conduits detached for the sake of drawing simplicity.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the roof membrane and insulation removing device of FIG. 1 having its hydraulic fluid conduits detached.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic system of the roof membrane and insulation removing device.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the FIGS., a roof membrane and insulation removing device in accordance with the present invention is shown at 10. Device 10 includes a wheeled frame 12 having a pair of handlebars 14 at its rear for steering by a walking attendant. In front of handlebars 14, a pair of cutting blades 16, each being rotatable about a substantially vertical axis by a respective one of a pair of hydraulic motors 18, is supported by frame 12. In front of blades 16, a number of cutting blades 20, being rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis by a hydraulic motor 22, are supported by frame 12. Another pair of hydraulic motors 24r and 24l drives a pair of wheels 26r and 26l to propel device 10 over a roof 28. During use, rubber membrane 30, foam insulation and 32 and metallic fasteners 34 severed from roof decking 36 by blades 16 and 20 are collected behind device 10 for periodic disposal.

Frame 12 is symmetrical about its longitudinal axis A. As such, frame 12 has a pair of laterally spaced side rails 38 that are mirror images of one another. Each of side rails 38 has a front segment 40, positioned far from longitudinal axis A, that is connected to a rear segment 42, positioned near longitudinal axis A, by a medial segment 44. A respective one of a pair of gussets 46 reinforces the connection of a rear segment 42 to its associated medial segment 44. A front crosspiece 48 connects the rear ends of segments 40 together. A rear crosspiece 50 connects the rear ends of segments 42 together and a medial crosspiece 52 connects the front ends of segments 42 together. A respective one of a pair of handlebars 14 extends upwardly from the rear of each segment 42. A shelf 54 is connected to, and extends forwardly from the middle of handlebars 14 above crosspiece 50.

Although not shown for the sake of drawing simplicity, crosspiece 48 is connected to side rail segments 40 in such a way that its position can be varied in terms of its elevation and pitch.

Such a thing can be readily accomplished with the use of a pivot pin arrangement or by the provision of elongated slots in the ends of crosspiece 48 for receiving bolts extending from segments 40. Since motors 18 and blades 16 are carried by crosspiece 48, the depth and angle of cut of blades 16 through membrane 30 and insulation 32 can be varied by repositioning crosspiece 48 to meet operating preferences. Selectively lowering crosspiece 48 increases the depth of cut of blades 16 and selectively increasing the forward pitch of crosspiece 48, increases the power of blades 16 to lift cut membrane 30 and insulation 32 from roof 28.

A respective one of a pair of casters 56 is secured to each gusset 46 to maintain the front of frame 12 at a predetermined height above roof 28. Casters 56 are capable of turning 360° about vertical axes, permitting device 10 to be easily steered when pushed over roof 28.

The drive shaft 58 of each motor 18 extends downwardly from the bottom of crosspiece 48. Secured to each drive shaft 58 is a cutting blade 16 that comprises a pair of criss-crossed bars 60. Each of bars 60 is provided with a sharpened, leading, cutting edge 62 that is capable of cutting membrane 30, insulation 32, and fasteners 34 horizontally, or at a shallow angle, when rotated at high speeds by a motor 18. Alternatively, cutting blades 16 can be disks whose peripheral edges have small teeth or imbedded abrasives for cutting purposes.

Motor 22 is secured to the front end of one forward segment 40. The drive shaft 64 of motor 22 extends from the front end of the forward segment 40 to which motor 22 is secured to the front end of the other forward segment 40 where such is journaled in a bearing 66. Cutting blades 20 are secured in a spaced-apart relationship along the length of the drive shaft 64 between segments 40. Blades 20 are disks that possess teeth (or, alternatively, abrasives) about their peripheries for cutting purposes. When shaft 64 is rotated at high speeds by motor 22, blades 20 are caused to make substantially vertical cuts through membrane 30, insulation 32, and any fasteners 34 encountered.

Drive wheels 26r and 26l is rotatably positioned at the rear of frame 12 to maintain the rear of frame 12 at a set height above roof 28. Each of wheels 26r and 26l is secured to the drive shaft 68r and 68l of motors 24r and 24l secured below crosspiece 50. Wheels 26r and 26l can be selectively rotated by motor 24r and 24l to drive device 10 forward or backward or to turn the device 10 in a clockwise or counterclockwise manner.

An internal combustion engine 70, powered by liquid fuel from a tank 72 supported by shelf 54, is mounted atop crosspiece 52 so as to power a two-stage pump 74. Pump 74 is fastened directly to engine 70 and has two, separate, pumping units 76 and 78 being capable of delivering separate streams of hydraulic fluid under pressure at predetermined flow rates. Pumping unit 76 has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet that do not communicate directly with the fluid inlet and outlet of pumping unit 78.

While engine 70 is running, hydraulic fluid is delivered from a reservoir 80 on shelf 54 to pumping units 76 and 78 through a suction conduit 82. Hydraulic fluid is discharged from pumping unit 76 into a discharge conduit 84 for delivery to motors 18 and 22. Discharge conduit 84 is provided with a manually operated valve 86 that selectively permits the flow of hydraulic fluid to motors 18 and 22 connected in series with reservoir 80. (Note: bypass conduits permitting the continuous pumping of fluid by pump 76 are not shown in the FIGS. for the sake of simplicity.) With hydraulic fluid flowing through motors 18 and 22 such will operate to rotate drive shafts 58 and 64 and cutting blades 16 and 20 through the transmission system previously described. Hydraulic fluid exiting motors 18 and 22 is returned to reservoir 80 via return conduit 88.

Hydraulic fluid is delivered from a reservoir 80 to high-pressure pumping unit 78 through suction conduit 82 while engine 70 is operating. Hydraulic fluid is discharged from pumping unit 78 into a discharge conduit 90 for delivery to motors 24r and 24l. Discharge conduit 90 is provided with a pair of manually operated valves 92r and 92l that respectively control the flow of hydraulic fluid to motors 24r and 24l.

Each of valves 92r and 92l is shown in FIG. 3 to be situated so that its segment N is engaged with conduit 90 whereby hydraulic fluid flows to and from the valves 92r and 92l into return conduit 94 without accomplishing useful work, meaning that device 10 remains in neutral or at rest. Should both of valves 92r and 92l be shifted so that its F segment is engaged with conduit 90, hydraulic fluid is permitted to flow to motors 24r and 24l to rotate drive shafts 68r and 68l and wheels 26r and 26l so as to move device 10 forward. If, however, both valves 92r and 92l are shifted so that its R segment is engaged with conduit 90, hydraulic fluid is permitted to flow to motors 24r and 24l so as to rotate shafts 68r and 68l and wheels 26r and 26l to move device 10 backward or in reverse. Similarly, if valve 92r is shifted so that its F segment is engaged with conduit 90 and the valve 92l is shifted so that its R segment is engaged with conduit 90, device 90 will be caused to turn under its own power in a counterclockwise manner when viewed from above.

To avoid overheating the hydraulic fluid, a portion of its flow is diverted from return conduit 94 to a cooler 96 mounted on frame 12. After the hydraulic fluid passes through cooler 12, it is discharged into reservoir -80. Once in reservoir 80, the hydraulic fluid can be withdrawn to power any of motors 18, 22, 24r and 24l.

From the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the use of device 10 is straightforward. First, device 10 is placed on roof 28. Next, membrane 30 and insulation 32 are exposed to cutting blades 16 and 20 at the start of a cut. Then, valves 92r and 92l is set to energize motors 24r and 24l so as to rotate wheels 26r and 26l and drive device 10 forwardly. The forward movement of device 10 presses blades 16 and 20 against membrane 30, insulation 32, and fasteners 34 used for anchoring purposes. Now, valve 86 is opened to energize motors 18 and 22 thereby causing blades 16 and 20 to rotate and cut the membrane 30, insulation 32 and fasteners 34. Cutting of membrane 30, insulation 32 and fasteners 34 proceeds rapidly with device 10 moving at a walking pace. The membrane 30, insulation 32 and fasteners 34 are cut into small pieces.

If blades 16 appear to be scraping upon decking 36 as membrane 30, insulation 32 and fastener 34 removal progresses, they can be raised by adjusting the height or pitch of crosspiece 48 as described hereinabove.

Because device 10 is highly maneuverable, the process of removing a membrane 30, its underlying insulation 32 and associated fasteners 34 from a roof 28 can be accomplished in substantially less time than required when using conventional tools regardless of the skill of the user. A job that formerly would have required weeks to complete can now be completed in days.

While my device has been described with a high degree of particularity, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications can be made to it. For example, the number and location of cutting blades 16 and 20 can be increased or decreased to suit the needs of a particular user. Thus, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited solely to the device described above, but encompasses any and all devices within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A roof membrane and insulation removing device, comprising:

a wheeled frame having a pair of handlebars;

a plurality of first cutting blades being secured to the front of said wheeled frame, each one of said first cutting blades being rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis; and,

a second cutting blade being secured to said wheeled frame between said first cutting blades and said handlebars, said second cutting blade being rotatable about a substantially vertical axis;

a first motor being connected to said first cutting blades for rotating same; and,

a second motor being connected to said second cutting blade for rotating same.

2. A roof membrane and insulation removing device, comprising:

a wheeled frame having a pair of handlebars at the rear thereof;

a pair of drive wheels being secured to the rear of said frame below said handlebars for propelling said device over a roof;

a plurality of first cutting blades being secured to the front of said frame, each one of said first cutting blades being rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis; and,

a pair of second cutting blades being secured to said frame between said first cutting blades and said drive wheels, and said second cutting blades being positioned side by side and being rotatable about a substantially vertical axis;

a first motor being connected to said first cutting blades for rotating same;

a pair of second motors each being respectively connected to one of said second cutting blades for rotating same; and,

a pair of third motors each being respectively connected to one of said drive wheels for rotating same.

3. A roof membrane and insulation removing device, comprising:

a wheeled frame having a pair of handlebars at the rear thereof;

a pair of drive wheels being secured to the rear of said frame below said handlebars for propelling said device over a roof;

a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid being secured to said frame;

a plurality of first cutting blades being secured to the front of said frame, each one of said first cutting blades being rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis; and,

a pair of second cutting blades being secured to said frame between said first cutting blades and said drive wheels, and said second cutting blades being positioned adjacent one another and being rotatable about a substantially vertical axis;

a first hydraulic motor being connected to said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and being connected to said first cutting blades for rotating same;

a pair of second hydraulic motors each being connected to said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and being respectively connected to one of said second cutting blades for rotating same; and,

a pair of third hydraulic motors each being connected to said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and being respectively connected to one of said drive wheels for rotating same.