EP3002385A1

EP3002385A1 - Tool for removing rigid roof plates from a roof

Info

Publication number: EP3002385A1
Application number: EP14187596.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Allan Abkjær
Original assignee: Abkjaer Tomrerfirma Aps
Current assignee: Abkjaer Tomrerfirma Aps
Priority date: 2014-10-03
Filing date: 2014-10-03
Publication date: 2016-04-06

Abstract

A tool according to the invention for removing overlapping rigid roof plates form an outer roof of a building, comprises a support structure (4, 5) for resting on an upper surface of the roof plates, and a rod (11) arranged slideable against a spring (2) relative to the support structure in a direction transverse to the roof plates, the rod having a foot (6) extending transversely to the rod at a lower end of the rod, the foot having an upper side which together with the lower side of the support structure form a wedge shaped space with an opening having a height at least as great as the thickness of a roof plate.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to tools used in house building industry where overlapping rigid roof plates form the sloping outer roof of a house. The tool of the invention is intended for use when roof plates are to be removed e.g. due to erosion and other damages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Rigid roof plates used as top building elements on sloping roofs typically have a size of around 1 m by 1 m or more and are supported by horizontally extending building elements such as battens to which the roof plates are secured by fastening means such as screws. Removing the roof plates involves removing the fastening means and, possibly manually, carrying the roof plates one by one. This is a labour intensive task and involves a risk for persons performing it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A tool according to the invention for removing overlapping rigid roof plates form an outer roof of a building, comprises a support structure for resting on an upper surface of the roof plates, and a rod arranged slideable against a spring relative to the support structure in a direction transverse to the roof plates, the rod having a foot extending transversely to the rod at a lower end of the rod, the foot having an upper side which together with the lower side of the support structure form a wedge shaped space with an opening having a height at least as great as the thickness of a roof plate.
Such a tool is suitable for being placed on the uppermost, first roof plate of a sloping roof with the foot gripping beneath the upper edge of the uppermost roof plate with the free end of the foot, and when the tool is moved or pulled along the roof towards the lowermost roof plate, the tool will pull the uppermost roof plate in a sliding movement along the upper surface of the next roof plate. Due to the wedge shape of the foot, the free end of the foot will leave a space between the first roof plate and the foot large enough to catch the upper edge of the next roof plate beneath the first roof plate. The upper side of the foot will then come into contact with the lower side of the next roof plate whereby the foot and the rod will be pulled further down until the rod abuts the next roof plate and the free end of the foot again defines an opening for receiving another roof plate. Several roof plates overlaying each other can thus be pulled down to the lower edge of the roof where they appear as a stack that can easily be transferred to a transporting vehicle.
The tool can have having means such as a wire or a rod for pushing or pulling the tool along the upper surface of the roof plates. Such means can be operated manually or by a motor.
The tool can have a pair of spring loaded rods with a foot and spaced from each other in a direction along the upper edges of the roof plates. This adds to the stability of the tool when in operation. When the roof plates are corrugated it is advantageous that the distance can be adjusted whereby the position of the rods can be adapted to period or "wavelength" of the corrugations.
To assist moving or pushing the tool upwards to the upper edge of the roof plates the tool can have one or more wheels for resting on the upper surface of the roof plates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a side view of a tool according to the invention,
Figure 2 is a top view of the tool in figure 1,
Figure 3 is an end view of the tool in figure 1, and
Figure 4 is a side view corresponding to figure 1 where the tool is in use on a roof with roof plates to be removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The figures show a tool with a support frame 4, 5 rigidly connected to a tower-like structure 1 with a rod 11 which can move up and down along the tower structure 1. Preferably, the tool has two such tower-like structures. A spring 2 exerts an upward force on the rod 11, and wheels 3 ensure friction free movement of the rod 11 relative to the structure 1. At its lower end the rod 11 has a foot 6 extending transversely to the rod. The foot has an upper side which together with the lower side of the support frame 4 form a wedge shaped space.
In use the tool is first placed on the first, uppermost roof plate, i.e. the one closest to the ridge of the roof, with the foot 6 engaging below the first roof plate. A push rod 9 attached to a hook 7 can be used for pushing the tool upwards along the roof. Wheels 10 support the tool during this operation and keep the foot from hitting the lower edges of the overlapping roof plates. When the tool reaches the upper edge of the uppermost roof plate the wheels will no longer be supported by the roof plate and the tool will drop with the foot 6 behind the upper edge of the roof plate ready for operation.
A wire 12 is secured to a hook 7 on the frame 4 and is used for pulling the tool along the roof one it has been placed at the upper (left side in figure 4) edge of the uppermost roof plate and when pulling the tool the foot 6 will interact with the first roof plate and pull the rod 11 down until the first roof plate abuts the rod and the foot 6 forms a new wedge shaped space for receiving another roof plate. The tool has a (not shown) manually operated or motor driven device for device for pulling the wire to move the tool.
In figure 4 the tool is shown with the support frame 4 supported by a roof with overlapping rigid roof plates forming an outer roof of a building. In figure 4 the tool is supported by several roof plates which have been removed from their position on the roof and are in abutment with the rod 11. The sloping upper surface of the foot 6 form a wedge shaped space between the foot and the lowermost roof plate in abutment with the rod 11, where the wedge shaped space has an opening with a height that allows the next roof plate to enter into the wedge shaped space, and when the tool is pulled further down (to the right in figure 4) the roof, that next roof plate will slide along the sloping upper surface of the foot 6 and the foot 6 and the rod 11 will be pulled further down until the roof plate abuts the rod 11 and the foot 6 forms a new wedge shaped space for receiving another roof plate.
In general, the wedge shaped space has an opening having a height at least as great as the thickness of a roof plate.
Roof plates can be corrugated and have a wave-like shape with a certain pitch or wavelength. In order to accommodate for this the tool can have its two tower-like structures 1 with an adjustable distance between them. For this purpose the

Claims

A tool for removing overlapping rigid roof plates from an outer roof of a building, the tool comprising
a support structure (4, 5) for resting on an upper surface of the roof plates, and
a spring loaded rod (11) arranged slideable against a spring (2) relative to the support structure in a direction transverse to the roof plates, the rod having a foot (6) extending transversely to the rod at a lower end of the rod, the foot having an upper side which together with the lower side of the support structure form a wedge shaped space with an opening having a height at least as great as the thickness of a roof plate.
A tool according to claim 1 further having means (7, 9) for moving the tool along the upper surface of the roof plates.
A tool according to claim 2 wherein the means (7, 9) for moving the tool along the upper surface of the roof plates comprises a rod for pushing or pulling the tool.
A tool according to claim 2 wherein the means (7, 9) for moving the tool along the upper surface of the roof plates comprises wire for pulling the tool.
A tool according to claim 4 comprising a manually operated device for pulling the wire to move the tool.
A tool according to claim 5 comprising a motor driven device for pulling the wire to move the tool.
A tool according to any one of the preceding claims having a pair of spring loaded rods (11) each having a foot (6) and being spaced from each other in a direction along the upper edges of the roof plates.
A tool according to claim 5 wherein the distance between the rods (11) is adjustable.
A tool according to any one of the preceding claims having one or more wheels for resting on the upper surface of the roof plates.