US3491809A

US3491809A - Framed wall plate prefabrication method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3491809A
Application number: US618857A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fredric H Schneider
Original assignee: FREDRIC H SCHNEIDER
Current assignee: FREDRIC H SCHNEIDER
Priority date: 1967-02-27
Filing date: 1967-02-27
Publication date: 1970-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 1987-01-27

Description

Jan. 27; 1970 349L809 FRAMED WALL PLATE PREFABRICATION METHOD AND .APPARATUS Filed Fep. 27, 1967 FHHUSCHNEIDER 2 Sheets-$heet 1 TORNEVS ,Jan. 27, 1970 6 F. H. SCHNEIDER 3,491,809

FRAMED WALL PLATE PREFABRICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Feb. 27, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 k \y/W INVENTOR. 62 59 61 65 Fnwmc H.6cHmwER' TTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,491,809 FRAMED WALL PLATE PREFABRICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS Fredric H. Schneider, 4521 Merrill Ave., Oakland, Calif. 94619 Filed Feb. 27, 1967, Ser. No. 618,857 Int. Cl. B27c 9/00 US. Cl. 144--3 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method of prefabricating plates to be incorporated in framed wall constructions and apparatus for expeditiously conducting the steps of the prefabrication method. A template representative of the plates is laid out from a building plan and marked with indicators representative of the positions of studs, cripples, and other members which are to be secured to the plates in the construction of a framed wall. The template is incorporated in a jig and the plates are positioned in parallel adjacent relation to the jig. The plates are stamped, and drilled to provide nail holes, in accordance with the template indicators. Stamping and drilling are facilitated by apparatus including the jig, and stamping and drilling means movable along the plates to positions corresponding to the jig indicators.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the construction of framed wall structures for buildings and the like, it has been the usual practice to appropriately mark the plates in accordance with dimensions and other information derived directly from the building plan to indicate the locations at which studs, cripples, etc., are to be nailed to the plates. The necessary measurements, computations, and markings have been accomplished on the job and then the studs, etc. have been nailed to the plates to provide a framed wall for erection. It will be appreciated that such on-the-job fabrication of the plates is time consuming and requires substantial skill on the part of the construction worker in deriving error free measurements and computations. Various attempts have been made to obviate the situation, for example, complete framed wall structures have been prefabricated .at the factory and shipped intact to the building site for erection. However, such an expedient is disadvantageous from the standpoint of the space required for shipment of the framed walls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with the prefabrication of plates in a relatively rapid manner and without the exercise of measuring and computing skills on the part of the construction worker. The plates may be prefabricated at the factory and compactly shipped to the building site for nailing of studs, cripples, etc. thereto to construct a framed wall. Alternatively, the plates may be rapidly and expeditiously prefabricated at the building site.

A prefabrication method of accomplishing the foregoing involves the use of a premeasured and premarked template having indicator markings representative of locations on the plates at which studs, cripples, and other construction members are to be nailed in accordance with dimensions and other information derived from a building plan. Once the indicator markings have been applied to the template, no further measurements or computations are required to find the relative locations of the construction members that are to be secured to the plates. Since a number of walls in a building are typically identical, 21 single template may be employed as being representative of all of the plates which are to be incorporated in these identical walls.

The template is used as a part of a jig which may have additional indicators, such as stops, representative of construction members having conventional fixed spacings, e.g., studs at 16 inch centers. Top and bottom plates are stacked and positioned in parallel spaced relation to the jig. The plates are then drilled to provide nail holes, and/or stamped on the sides thereof in correspondence with the jig indicators. In this manner, the plates are prefabricated without requirement of measurement and computation.

In order that the prefabrication method may be expeditiously conducted in a minimum of time, the invention further provides apparatus including stamping and drilling means in combination with the jig. In basic respects a platform is arranged for slidable translation along the plates, such pltaform carrying a drill press mechanism and stamping devices. The platform is also provided with an index element for alignment with the jig indicators, which elements is aligned with the drills of the drill press mechanism and centers of the stamping devices. When the index element is aligned with the jig indicators, the drill press mechanism and stamping devices are actuated to thereby drill and stamp the plates in correspondence with the indicators. A fixture may also be provided for slidable translation along the plates to positions of alignment with the jig indicators. When the fixture is aligned with an indicator, windows provided in the fixture frame portions of the sides of the plates corresponding to the position of the indicator. Appropriate marking ditfserent from those afforded by the stamping devices may then be applied to the plates through the windows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of plate drilling and stamping apparatus in accordance with the present invention in operative association with plates to be drilled and marked at predetermined locations to facilitate construction of a framed wall of a building or the like.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken at line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the apparatus.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken at line 44 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary elevational view on an enlarged scale illustrating the manner in which sections of a jig of the apparatus are joined.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Considering first the apparatus of the invention with particular reference to FIGURE 1, it will be noted that same is arranged to facilitate drilling and marking of upper and

lower plates

11, 12 at predetermined locations to facilitate the securance of studs, cripples, and other building elements therebetween in the construction of a framed wall in a minimum of time and with a minimum of on the job skill by the construction workers. The apparatus includes a jig 13 adapted to indicate the predetermined locations of the plates which are to be drilled and/or marked. The jig comprises a support table 14 in the form of an elongated board 16, such as a 4 x 4,

which is advantageously provided with an expendible sill 17 secured to its upper surface. A shelf 18 is provided along the length of the table, and such shelf is preferably in the form of a tubular rectangular member 19 secured to the lower portion of the board 16 in laterally offset relation as by means of brackets 21 (see FIG. 2). A plurality of stops 22 are secured to the shelf 18 at predetermined longitudinally spaced positions corresponding to, for example, the centers of studs in a framed wall, typically 16 inch centers. A flexible template 23, preferably of metal tape, is clamped or otherwise secured along the upper surface of the shelf 18. The template is provided with indicating indicia or markers previously laid out in accordance with measurements derived from a building plan to indicate the positions of studs, cripples, and other building elements. It is of importance to note that since the shelf member 19 is tubular, water may be circulated therethrough to maintain a relatively constant temperature. The member 19, template 23, and stops 22 being of metal, they are all maintained at substantially the same relatively constant temperature to provide a high order of dimensional stability of the template indicators and stops. The

plates

11, 12 are secured to the upper surface of the support table 14, i.e., on top of the expendible sill 17. Thus, the plates are disposed adjacent to the template and stops of the jig. The jig may be advantageously formed in sections as shown in FIGURE 5. More particularly, the table is formed in sections 12' joined at their ends by means of undercut joints 15. The tubular member 19 is likewise formed in sections 19' provided with tubular nipples projecting from their opposite ends. The nipples of adjacent sections are communicably joined by flexible tubing 25 secured thereto as by means of clamps 30. Water may thus be circulated from section to section.

'In order that the

plates

11, 12 may be drilled and marked in accordance with the various jig indications, the apparatus includes drilling and stamping means 24 in operative association with the jig. Suchmeans include a platform 26 adapted for slidable movement longitudinally along the

plates

11, 12, and thus along the jig. The platform preferably comprises an elongated rectangular base plate 27 having downwardly facing channel members 28 at its opposite ends arranged to engage the opposite sides of the

plates

11, 12. Means are provided on the lower surface of base plate 27 to render the platform 26 readily slidable along the

plates

11, 12. More particularly, nylon discs 29 or the like are secured to such lower surface to act as runners for the platform. Handles 30 are secured to the channel members 28 to facilitate manipulation of the platform along the plates.

The platform carries a drill press mechanism 31 for drilling the plates at predetermined positions determined by the jig 13. The mechanism preferably includes a pair of longitudinally spaced

upright posts

32, 33 for mounting a vertically translatable carriage 34. The carriage is provided with sets of collars 36 at its opposite ends which are slidable along the posts to thus facilitate the translation of the carriage. The carriage carries a pair of trans versely opposed electric drilling machines 37 each having a chuck 38 mounting a vertical drill 39. The drills are aligned with a pair of transversely spaced apertures 41 in the platform base plate 27. The power cords 42 to the motors of the drilling machines 37 are connected to a junction box 43 mounted upon the platform and having a power cord 44 for energizing both drilling machines. The carriage is resiliently maintained in a normal upward position by means of a spring 46 secured vertically between one of the posts 32 and the carriage. To effect vertical translation of the carriage, an actuating arm 47 is provided with one end pivotally secured to the platform, and an intermediate portion pivotally and slidably secured to the carriage as indicated at 48. The opposite end of the arm is provided with an Operating handle 49 which may be grasped to enable the arm to be pivoted plates with the special markings prior to drilling. To this downward, whereupon the carriage is translated downward against the loading of spring 46. The drills 39 are thus moved downward through the apertures 41 into drilling engagement with the

plates

11, 12. The extent of downward movement of the carriage and drills is limited by means of a stop collar 51 concentrically secured about one post 33. In order that the normal position of the handle 49 may be varied to suit the likes of the individual operator, pivoting of the first end ofthe arm 47 is arranged to be variable as to the pivot position. In this regard, a plate 52 is secured to the base of post 33 and provided with a plurality of spaced apertures 53. A pivot pin 54 extending through the first end of the arm is selectively engageable with any one of the apertures to thus vary the normal position of handle 49.

The platform 26 is also provided with stamping means for selectively stamping the opposite sides of the

plates

11, 12 in correspondence with holes drilled by the drill press mechanism 31. More particularly, a pair of

wing plates

56, 57 are hingedly secured to the opposite side edges of base plate 27, as indicated at 58, for pivotal movement about longitudinal axes. Depending from the wing plates, there are provided

brackets

59, 61 for respectively mounting pairs of vertically spaced plunger actuated stamping

devices

62, 63. The inner ends of the brackets engage the sides of the plates and thereby support the wing plates in horizontal position. The

devices

62, 63 have actuating handles 64, 66 which, upon being depressed, urge stamps inwardly against the sides of the plates to thereby imprint same with suitable indicia. Two stamping devices are employed on each side of the platform 26 to insure stamping of both plates even though they are warped. A stop engaging or indexing element 67 projects longitudinally from the lower end of bracket 59 carried by wing plate 56 for engagement with the stops 22 of jig 13 when the plate is horizontally disposed. The end face of the element 67 coincides with a vertical transverse plane through the drills 39 and centers of the

stamping devices

62, 63. Thus, the drills and stamping devices are positioned in coincidence with the stops whenever same are engaged by the element 67. When the wing plate 56 is pivoted upwardly, the element 67 is elevated relative to the stops and is not engageable therewith. The platform 26 can be then moved along the plates past a stop. The wing plate may be then lowered such that the element 67 will engage the next stop and appropriately position the drills and stamping devices for actuation.

In some instances it is desirable that a number of consecutive stops be bypassed by the platform. Latch means are therefore provided to selectively latch the Wing plate 56, and preferably also the wing plate 57 in upwardly pivoted positions. Such latch means may simply comprise a pair of

latch arms

68, 69 pivotally secured at one end to the base plate 27 adjacent the opposite sides thereof for movement about longitudinal axes. The arms extend downwardly and rest upon the side edges of the wing plates, as shown in full line in FIGURE 4. The arms are provided with notches 71, 72 at positions spaced from the free ends thereof. The edges of the wing plates are engageable in the notches upon pivoting of the plates and arms upwardly to the dashed line positions depicted in FIGURE 4. The plates are thereby latched in elevated positions wherein the

brackets

59, 61 are out of contact with the sides of the plates and the index member 67 is not engageable with the stops. The platform may thus be freely moved along the plates.

In some instances, the template 23 indicates portions of the plates not adjacent the stops 22 which are nevertheless to be drilled and/or stamped, sometimes with special markings not afforded by the

stamping devices

59, 61. Drilling at the proper locations is facilitated by merely positioning the element 67 opposite the appropriate template indicators and actuating the drill press mechanism 31. Generally, it is desirable to stamp the end a fixture 73 is advantageously provided to cooperate with the template in a manner which enables the markings to be properly located relative to the template indicators. The fixture preferably includes a 90 angle member 74 having one leg 76 adapted to rest on the top surface of the upper plate and the other leg 77 adapted to engage the sides of both plates. The leg 77 has a pair of longitudinally spaced windows 78 on opposite sides of its center. An indexing tab 79 projects outwardly and downwardly from the center of the leg 77 into close proximity to the template. Thus, when the tab is positioned adjacent certain ones of the template indicators, the windows 78 frame the appropriate portions of the plates which are to be marked. A suitable marking device is then extended through the windows into engagement with the sides of the plates to apply the special markings thereto. For example, markings indicative of a stud and cripple are conveniently applied in this fashion.

The apparatus described hereinbefore is particularly suited to the conduct of a plate prefabrication method in accordance with the present invention. In the initial stages of the method, a template is laid ofi and labelled in accordance with dimensions and construction details derived from a plan illustrating the plates and cooperating building elements which are to be joined in the construction of a frame wall. The template is thus an accurate representation of a plate and includes indicator labels marking the positions of studs, cripples, and other building elements relative to the desired plate. The labelled template may be employed alone, or with other indicator means such as the stops 22 to provide a jig. Top and bottom plates are next stacked and positioned in parallel adjacent relation to the jig. The sides of the plates are marked, as by stamping, and nail holes are drilled through the plates in accordance with the indicators of the jig. In this regard, the stamping and drilling means employed to conduct the foregoing steps of the method are located adjacent the proper portions of the plates by lateral alignment thereof with the jig indicators. The apparatus of the invention previously described herein facilitates this alignment with a minimum of time and effort.

More particularly, in the use of the apparatus to conduct the latter method steps, the platform 26 of the drilling and stamping means 24 is placed upon the

plates

11, 12 in slidable relation thereto. Where the jig indicators are representative of studs having conventional incremental spacings, i.e., 16 inch centers, and are aligned with the stops 22, the platform is merely moved along the plates to a position of engagement of the element 67 with a stop. The drill press mechanism 31 is actuated to drill nail holes through the plates, and the

stamping devices

59, 61 are actuated to stamp stud markings on the sides of the plates. The

wing plates

56, 57 are raised to enable the platform 26 to bypass the stop and then lowered to enable the element 67 to engage the next successive stop. When the next stop is engaged, the drilling and stamping procedure is repeated. Where the jig indicators provided on the template are not of conventional spacing and represent studs, cripples, etc. positioned at other than the distance between the stops 22, the fixture 73 is advantageously employed to locate the portions of the plates to be marked to correspond to the jig indicators. As noted previously, this is accomplished by positioning the tab 79 of the fixture adjacent an indicator and applying markings through the windows. Drilling of nail holes at such a location is accomplished by aligning the element 67 of platform 26 with the jig indicator and actuating the drill press mechanism.

It will be appreciated that in accordance with the foregoing method, plates may be prefabricated in a relatively rapid manner with a minimum requirement of skill on the part of the construction worker. The template being previously laid out, no measurements are required by the construction worker in the fabrication of the plates. The plates may be prefabricated at the plant for shipment to the work site, or prefabricated on the job with the aid of the premeasured template 23. The invention thus enables framed wall structures to be constructed in a minimum of time and with a minimum of effort.

What is claimed is:

1. Plate prefabrication apparatus comprising a jig having a plurality of longitudinally spaced indicators and a table for supporting plates in parallel adjacent relation to said indicators, a platform adapted for slidable translation along said plates, a drill press mechanism carried by said platform having drills selectively extendible through said platform, stamping means carried by said platform having centens in a transverse plane extending through said drills, and index means carried by said platform in said transverse plane for alignment with said indicators.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further defined by said jig comprising an elongated metallic tubular rectangular member having an upper surface defining a shelf and adapted for the circulation of water therethrough, an elongated table, means securing said tubular rectangular member in transversely spaced parallel relation to said table, a plurality of stops secured to said member at predetermined longitudinally spaced positions, said stops defining a first plurality of said indicators, and a metallic template extending along said shelf having a plurality of indicator markers at predetermined spaced positions, said markers defining a second plurality of said indicators.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, further defined by a pair of wing plates hingedly secured to the opposite sides of said platform for movement about longitudinal axes, and brackets depending from said wing plates for engagement with opposite sides of said plates to support said wing plates in horizontal positions, said stamping means carried by said brackets.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, further defined by said tubular rectangular member and said table being in sections, said sections of said member having tubular nipples projecting longitudinally from their ends, flexible tubing communicably joining the nipples of adjacent ones of said sections of said member, adjacent ones of said sections of said table having undercut joints therebetween.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, further defined by a pair of wing plates hingedly secured to the opposite sides of said platform for movement about longitudinal axes, brackets depending from said wing plates for engagement with opposite sides of said plates to support said wing plates in horizontal positions, said stamping means including plunger actuated stamping devices carried by said brackets for actuation inwardly into engagement with the sides of said plates, and said index means including an index element projecting longitudinally from one of said wing plates having an end face in said transverse plane engageable with said stops when said wing plate is in horizontal position.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, further defined by a pair of latch arms pivotally secured to the opposite sides of said platform for movement about longitudinal axes, said arms normally resting on the side wing plates, said arms having notches engageable with said side edges of said wing plates when said wing plates and arms are pivoted upwardly.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, further defined by said drill press mechanism comprising a pair of longitudinally spaced posts extending upwardly from said platform, a carriage mounted for slidable translation along said posts, a pair of drilling machines carried by said carriage including chucks vertically carrying said drills at transversely spaced positions, spring means between said posts and carriage resiliently maintaining the latter in elevated position, and an actuating arm pivotally secured 7 8 at one end to said platform and having an intermediate 1,610,623 12/1926 Shipley 1443 X portion pivotally and slidably connected to said carriage 3,079,963 3/1963 Jensen 1443 to move same downwardly responsive to downward pivot- 3,230,797 1/ 1966 Murschel 144-92 X ing of said actuating arm.

DONALD R. SCHRAN, Primary Examiner References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS -R- 498,555 5/1893 Kelchner 144 3 X 29564;777; 144-93 753,058 2/1904 Flocke 14493X