AU2017100818A4 - On site platform for forming and erecting roofing panels - Google Patents

Abstract

A mobile machine for forming and erecting roof panels adapted to be used onsite comprising: a roll forming machine housed in a container having end opening and side opening doors; and a propulsion system for moving the container between locations when the roll forming machine is housed therein. Figure 1

Description

1 2017100818 21 Jun2017 ON SITE PLATFORM FOR FORMING AND ERECTING ROOFING PANELS Field of the Invention [0001] This invention relates to roll forming machines used on site to fabricate and erect large span roofing structures and in particular a machine platform which can move around a site and change the orientation of the machine in both horizontal and vertical planes.

Background of the Invention [0002] In Patent Application WO 99/02795 a cold forming apparatus for making large span panels for roofing is described. This apparatus has to be manoeuvred into place with a crane and oriented to launch the panel in the required direction. Further the steel coil from which the panels are formed has to be positioned to feed the forming machine.

[0003] The position of the machine has to be adjusted progressively which requires a crane continuously on site for the roof erection. Also the crane used to lift the panels into position has to be deployed to move the machine or a second crane has to be engaged. This either slows the erection process or adds to the cost.

[0004] Reference to cited material or information contained in the text should not be understood as a concession that the material or information was part of the common general knowledge or was known in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Invention [0005] There is a need for a machine which is able to move around a site and orientated such that formed panels can be launched in the required direction. There is also a need for a machine to pick up steel feed coils. The machine should also be contained in a platform suitable for transport and have a power plant which can be both stowed for transport and deployed for operation.

[0006] According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided an onsite platform for forming and erecting roof panels, the platform comprises: a roll forming machine housed in a rectangular container having end opening and side opening doors; and 2 2017100818 21 Jun2017 at least four legs mounted proximate the corners of said container, said legs being operated to move the platform and control its attitude.

[0007] In alternative embodiments the container can take any shape, and is selected to be the most appropriate for housing the machine to be transported.

[0008] In yet further embodiments the container may be in the form of a flat surface such as a plate.

[0009] Preferably the machine has a mechanism which is deployed through an end door to pick up a steel coil to feed into the machine.

[0010] Preferably the machine has a power plant which is stowed in the container for transport and is deployed outside the container for operation.

[0011] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a mobile container wherein the container is moveable between locations, the container comprises: a roll forming machine housed therein; and a propulsion system for moving the container between locations when the roll forming machine is housed therein.

[0012] The propulsion system may comprise a plurality of surface engaging portions, wherein sequential operation of the surface engaging portion causes the container to move.

[0013] Each of the surface engaging portions may engage a surface, typically the ground or a foundation of a structure.

[0014] The plurality of surface engaging portions may be mounted relative to the corner regions of the container.

[0015] Each of the surface engaging portions may be movable between a stored condition wherein they are housed within the container, to an operational condition wherein they operate to move the container, to a supporting condition wherein they support the container in a desired orientation, typically horizontal.

[0016] Each of the surface engaging portions may be movable relative to the container. 3 2017100818 21 Jun2017 [0017] Each of the surface engaging portions may be movable relative to the container wherein movement is independent to the other surface engaging portions.

[0018] Each of the surface engaging portions may be adapted to move outwardly from the container.

[0019] In one aspect of the invention each of the surface engaging portions may move outwardly from the sides of the container. Each of the surface engaging portions may move in a substantially vertical plane once extended from the side of the container.

[0020] In another aspect of the invention each of the surface engaging portions may move outwardly from a base of the container. Each of the surface engaging portions may move in a substantially horizontal plane once extended from the base of the container.

[0021] Each of the surface engaging portions may be movable in an arc relative to the container once extended therefrom.

[0022] The propulsion system may further comprise a plurality of movable legs secured to the container by an arm. Each of the plurality of moveable legs may be secured to a first end of the arm while a second end or second end region of the arm is pivotally secured to the container such that the second arm pivots about a substantially vertical axis. With this arrangement movement of the first end of the arm (and therefore the leg) will be restricted to be along an arc pathway.

[0023] Each arm may comprise a telescopic element which extends from a sleeve. The leg may be caused to move outwardly from the container by causing the telescopic element to move out of the sleeve. Reverse operation of the arm will cause the leg to move inwardly to the stored condition.

[0024] Preferably each of the plurality of legs incorporates one of the surface engaging portions. Each leg may be operated to move the surface engaging portion between its various conditions whereby each of the plurality of legs may be movable between a stored condition wherein they are housed within the container, to an operational condition wherein they operate to move the container, to a supporting condition wherein they support the container in a desired orientation. 4 2017100818 21 Jun2017 [0025] Each leg may comprise a telescopic element which extends from a sleeve. The telescopic element may provide the ground engaging portion at an end thereof remote from the sleeve. As the telescopic elements can be each set to extend various distances from the sleeve, the container can be arranged to be substantially horizontal regardless of the topography of the ground upon which it is supported.

[0026] Each leg and arm may be hydraulically operated.

[0027] The container may comprise a lifting means to lift bulk material such that it can be fed into the roll forming machine.

[0028] The container may comprise a control means to control movement of the propulsion system. The container may comprise a power source to power the propulsion system.

[0029] The control means may receive a set of co-ordinates and move the container to those co-ordinates once the control means is activated. The control means may comprise means to sense obstacles and to navigate there around.

[0030] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a mobile container wherein the container is moveable between locations, the container comprises a propulsion system for moving the container between locations.

[0031] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a mobile roll forming machine wherein the machine is moveable between locations, the machine comprises a propulsion system for moving the machine between locations.

Brief Description of the Figures [0032] Further features of the present invention are more fully described in the following description of a non-limiting embodiment thereof. This description is included solely for the purposes of exemplifying the present invention. It should not be understood as a restriction on the broad summary, disclosure or description of the invention as set out above. The description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an illustration of a platform in operation on a building site, according to a first embodiment of the invention; 5 2017100818 21 Jun2017

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a platform comprising a container and a roll forming machined housed therein, as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the container of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a top plan of the container of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 2 in linear motion;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the container of Figure 2 crabbing sideways wherein three positions of the container are shown;

Figure 7 is an end elevation of the container of Figure 2 moving sideways up a slope wherein two positions of the container are shown;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the container of Figure 2 supported on uneven ground;

Figure 9 is an end elevation of the container of Figure 2 shown in an elevated position;

Figure 10 is an end elevation of the roll forming machine of Figure 1 showing the stowing and deployment of a power plant;

Figure 11 is a side elevation of the roll forming machine of Figure 1 picking up a steel coil; and

Figure 12 is a hydraulic control circuit for the platform operation.

[0033] In the drawings like structures are referred to by like numerals throughout the several views. The drawings shown are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments [0034] Figure 1 shows a platform 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Broadly, the platform 1 comprises a roll forming machine 14 housed in a container 10, and a propulsion system for moving the container 10 and roll forming machine 14. 6 2017100818 21 Jun2017 [0035] The platform 1 is shown on a building site with a crane 2 erecting panels 3 formed from metal coils 4 and curved by rollers 5. Panel 3 is roll formed in the roll forming machine 14 which is powered by a power plant 6, to have a structural cross section. The panel 3 is then longitudinally curved by rollers 5. Crane 2 then lifts panels 3 into position for fixing to adjacent panels 3 to form a roof.

[0036] Figures 2 and 3 shows the container 10 adapted to house the roll forming machine 14. The container 10 has opening end doors 11 and opening side doors 12 allowing access to the roll forming machine 14.

[0037] The propulsion system comprises hydraulically operated elevating and walking legs 13 which are located proximate the four corners of container 10. Each walking leg 13 comprises a surface engaging portion 23 for engaging the ground. The power plant to drive the hydraulic operations is not shown.

[0038] In the drawings the surface engaging portion 23 is illustrated as a pad, but the skilled addressee would recognise that it could take a different configuration and fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0039] The elevating and walking legs 13 are shown in elevation and plan in Figures 3 and 4 respectively. They are anchored on the chassis of platform 1 and operated hydraulically to extend in vertical and horizontal planes. The legs 13 incorporate arms 15 which are pivotally connected at an end region to the container about pivot point 16. The arms 15 are powered to rotate around pivot point 16. The arms 15 are also hydraulically powered to provide the horizontal plane movement to legs 13. This connection allows the legs to move in an arc pathway relative to the longitudinal extent of the container, as depicted in Figure 5 by arrows 17.

[0040] In Figure 5 legs 13 are operated to move container 10 longitudinally. This is achieved by pivoting arms 15 around pivot point 16 to move the legs 13 forwards and backwards relative to the length of the container 10. The container 10 is rotated whilst lifted to move the container forwards or backwards, lowered and then the process is repeated.

[0041] In an alternative embodiment, instead of using arms 15 pivoting around pivot point 16 to move the container longitudinally a further arm that is hydraulically moved 7 2017100818 21 Jun2017 longitudinally is included. The horizontal hydraulically driven arm 15 lies transversely across the further arm.

[0042] Figure 6 shows legs 13 operated with the use of arms 15 around pivot point 16 to cause container 10 to walk in a direction with both longitudinal components and sideways to move container 10 to a desired location.

[0043] Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the hydraulic vertical extension of legs 13 being used to maintain the container in a horizontal/level orientation even when moving sideways up a slope, as shown in Figure 7, or on uneven ground, as shown in Figure 8. This allows roll forming to occur on uneven surfaces.

[0044] In Figure 9 legs 13 are shown elevating container 10 and in Figure 10 power plant 6 is shown being deployed outside container 10 for operation. And in Figure 11 roll forming machine 14 is shown with an additional lifting means 18 for lifting coil 4 to be fed into the machine.

[0045] Lifting means 18 is attached to roll forming machine 14 through roll hydraulic arms 19 at roll pivot point 20. The roll hydraulic arms 19 are located on either side of the roll forming machine and are attached to the lifting means 18 to support it. To pick up a coil 4, the hydraulic arms 19 are extended away from the roll forming machine and rotated around roll pivot point 20 to lower the lifting means 18. The lifting means 18 are attached to coil 4 and fixed to it. The hydraulic arms 19 are rotated around roll pivot point 20 to raise the coil 4 and then retracted to place the coil 4 on the roll forming machine 14 in place to pass through the roll forming machine to make panels 3.

[0046] Figure 12 shows the hydraulic control circuitry for movement of legs 13. Selector 31 has four positions IN 32, OUT 33, UP 34 DOWN 35, and ALL LEGS UP 36. Side shift selector 41 has two positions LEFT and RIGHT with SET UP 42 and SIDE SHIFT 43.

[0047] End shift selector 51 has two positions FORWARD and BACK with SET UP 52 and END SHIFT 53. Rotate selector 61 has two positions CLOCKWISE and COUNTER CLOCKWISE with SET UP 62 and ROTATE 63.

[0048] Solenoids from B to X next to 31, 41, 51 and 61 are lettered to correspond to solenoids located in the hydraulic circuitry of Figure 13. These solenoids operate struts 2017100818 21 Jun2017 8 21 to 24 to move platform 1, UP and DOWN, FORWARD and BACK, SIDE to SIDE and CLOCKWISE and COUNTER CLOCKWISE. Note that all struts must be up before SET UP is activated and all legs must be out before END SHIFT is activated.

[0049] The skilled addressee will recognise that alternative hydraulic control circuitry can be used and still fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0050] Accordingly it will be clear from the above that platform 1 is a semi robotic vehicle which can change position and attitude to suit the required position for construction of the roof and for the site terrain. Further, roll forming machine 14 is contained in a secure container for transport.

[0051] Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to the skilled addressee are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention. The present invention is not to be limited in scope by any of the specific embodiments described herein. These embodiments are intended for the purpose of exemplification only. Functionally equivalent products, formulations and methods are clearly within the scope of the invention as described herein.

[0052] Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

[0053] Any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission that the information is common general knowledge, unless otherwise indicated.

Claims (5)

1. CLAIMS:

   1. A mobile machine for forming and erecting roof panels adapted to be used onsite comprising: a roll forming machine housed in a container having end opening and side opening doors; and a propulsion system for moving the container between locations when the roll forming machine is housed therein.
2. 2. The mobile machine of Claim 1, wherein the propulsion system comprises: a plurality of surface engaging portions; wherein sequential operation of the surface engaging portion causes the container to move.
3. 3. The mobile machine as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the propulsion system includes a plurality of legs mounted around the perimeter of said container, said legs being hydraulically operable to move the machine vertically, horizontally, forwards, backwards and angularly.
4. 4. The mobile machine of Claim 3 including four legs, wherein said container is rectangular and each of the four legs is located proximate the corners of said container.
5. 5. The mobile machine of any one of the preceding claims including a lifting means arranged to pick up a metal coil to feed into the machine.