US3679177A

US3679177A - Method and apparatus for setting a prefabricated building section

Info

Publication number: US3679177A
Application number: US28415A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald T Scholz
Original assignee: SCHOLZ HOMES Inc
Current assignee: SCHOLZ HOMES Inc
Priority date: 1970-04-14
Filing date: 1970-04-14
Publication date: 1972-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 1989-07-25

Abstract

A method and apparatus for erecting a home or building from prefabricated building sections wherein a prefabricated house or building section is transported on a carrier over a highway to a building site alongside a foundation, and removing the prefabricated building section from the transporting carrier and setting it onto the permanent foundation by means of a pair of substantially vertically positionable A-frame hoists rollable on parallel tracks made from portable interfitting sections which extend from along the ends of the carrier to along and closely adjacent the ends of the foundation. Each of these A-frame hoists have means for engaging opposite ends of the house or building section and lifting it from the carrier, moving it along the tracks to the foundation and setting it down thereon. The house section engaging means of one of the A-frames is freely suspended from the apex thereof by a hoist means, and the engaging means of the other A-frame is vertically movable along a vertical bar suspended from the apex of its A-frame, the lower end of which bar is guided, restricted, and transversely movable in its pendular movement relative to the A-frame.

Description

United States Patent Scholz 5] July 25, 1972 [54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR Primary Examiner-Othell M. Simpson SETTING A PREFABRICATED Attorney-Hugh Adam Kirk BUILDING SECTION [57] ABSTRACT [72] Inventor: Donald T. Scholz, Toledo, Ohio A method and apparatus for erecting a home or building from prefabricated building sections wherein a prefabricated house [73] Asslgnee' Scholz Homes Toledo Ohm or building section is transported on a carrier over a highway [22] Filed: April 14, 1970 to a building site alongside a foundation, and removing the prefabricated building section from the transporting carrier Appl 28415 and setting it onto the permanent foundation by means of a pair of substantially vertically positionable A-frame hoists rollable on parallel tracks made from portable interfitting sec- [52] US. Cl. ..254/89 R, 52/79, 52/ 1 27, tions which extend from along the ends f the carrier to along I 51] Int Cl B62?! and closely adjacent the ends of the foundation. Each of these A f e hoists h means f engaging opposite ends of the Field of Search ft/31 39 5 4/ 89 R, 2 R, 2 13, house or building section and lifting it from the carrier, mov- 4 52/79 747 ing it along the tracks to the foundation and setting it down thereon. The house section engaging means of one of the A- [56] References Cited frames is freely suspended from the apex thereof by a hoist means, and the engaging means of the other A-frame is verti- UNITED STATES PATENTS cally movable along a vertical bar suspended from the apex of its A-frame the lower end of which bar is guided restricted 3,l95,859 7/l96 5 Jackson et al... ..254/2 R I 3,271,006 9/1966 Brown et aL "254, R aknilitxrzijglegsely movable in its pendular movement relative to 3,370,725 2/1968 Jones ..254/2 R V 16 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTEBJUL 25 me SHEET 1 OF 4 INVENTOR.

DONALD T. SQHQLZ ATTORNEY PEYENFEfiJUiZfi m: 33,679,177

sum 2 or a INVENTOR. DONALD T. SCHOLZ ATTORNEY mama. 79,177

sum 3 6F INVENTOR. I30 DONALD T. SCHOLZ IGJ: BY

ATTORNEY SHEET Q 0F 4 250 282 y INVENTOR.

28o DONALD T. SCHOLZ 26O BY FIGJO ATTORNEY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SE'I'I'ING A PREFABRICATED BUILDING SECTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Generally, prefabricated house sections which have been nailed, glued and completely fitted at a remotely located factory are transported as extra large and wide loads over a highway on special flat trailers and tractors to a building site upon which they are to be finally located. Previously it was necessary to bring a large, bulky and expensive crane and/r carriage to the building site to lift these sections from the trailer and place them in position on a foundation.

Thus, it is the purpose of this invention to eliminate this expensive crane and replace it with a pair of simple A-frame hoists which are movable, adjustable, manually operable and transportable in or trailable behind a standard truck so that no expensive and bulky equipment is required to set a prefabricated house section on a foundation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally speaking, this invention comprises a simple tiltable type A-frame hoist and a more rigid type A-frame hoist, which A-frame hoists roll along two substantially parallel rails composed of portable interfitting track sections. These rails extend from along the ends of the house section on its trailer to along the ends of the foundation upon which it is to be placed. The more rigid A-frame hoist maintains a fixed but adjustable angle with the vertical end of the house section to prevent collapse of the A-frames and the house section during their transport. The simple A-frame hoist may be taller and wider than the more rigid A-frame hoist and only suspends the other end of the house section from its apex. Thus the two A- frames when attached to the house section form a dynamic four bar linkage structure, with one angle being fixed so that the assembly will not collapse.

The plurality of track sections are similar and interfitting, having cylindrical wheel bearing top surfaces such as on tubular rails, means to lock the sections together, and foot plates to prevent the rails or sections from sinking into soft ground. These sections are manually portable and may be quickly and easily set up across the ends of a flat bed trailer which carries a house section and extend therefrom along the ends of the foundation where the section is to be placed. Usually the trailer is driven alongside the foundation so that the house section only needs to be moved a few feet more than the width of the section from the trailer over on to the foundation.

Both of the A-frames are provided with one pair of wheels at the ends of their legs, which wheels have concave grooves therein like pulleys for fitting over the tubular tracks so as to allow tilting of the A-frames about the longitudinal axes of the rails regardless of any variations in the distance, levels, and slopes of the terrain between the tracks. Connected to one of these pulley or track wheels on each A-frame is a driving mechanism which may comprise a set of gears, sprockets, and a ratcheted crank so that the A-frames may be moved along the tracks manually by operating the cranks. Each of the frames also is provided with a pair of transport wheels projecting from the side of the A-frame, such as of the rubber tired trailer type, so that the frame may be readily pushed over the ground or pulled behind a vehicle wheelbarrow fashion. These transport wheels preferably are cushion mounted on at least the rigid A-frame. In the legs of the A-frame there also are provided, near the base, a pair of sockets into which transverse bars may be inserted for use as levers in propping and/or setting up the A-frame when it is to be used. Each of the A- frames at its apex is provided with a swivel connection for suspending a lifting means for the house sections, which lifting means comprises a house section engaging means or frame having a hook portion which engages under the end of the house section and an abutment portion which presses against the end of the house section near its top so that the house engaging means are rigidly attached to the ends of the house section and will not move relative thereto. If desired, the upper LII end of the abutment portion of each house engaging means may be provided with tines to prevent slipping once the house section is engaged.

The simple A-frarne may have just a plain chain and tackle type hoist suspended from its pivot at its apex which hoist is connected to the house section engaging means, and the cross member near the base of the legs of the A-frame may be pivoted at its center as may the legs at their top, so that this simple A-frame may be collapsible if desired for easy transportation. This A-frame, because it is collapsible, may also be made larger and longer than the other A-frame. This simple A- frame which supports one end of the house section, thus freely seeks its proper angle once it is engaged with the house section.

The other A-frame is provided with a more rigid hoist mechanism so that the house engaging means thereof is maintained at a fixed but manually adjustable angle with the vertical center line of this A-frame. In this manner the whole section is stably supported and will not collapse even though the A-frames are free to rock around their grooved rollers on their tubular tracks at each end of the house section because this assembly forms a four bar linkage with one fixed angle. Instead of connecting a chain hoist to the apex of this A-fi'ame (as in the case of the simple A-frame), there is suspended a bar, the lower end of which is provided with a yoke which contains rollers that engage opposite sides of the cross bar which extends between the bottom of the legs of the A-frame. This yoke of rollers has sufficient tolerance to permit as well as limit the swivelling of the bar about the vertical center line of the A- frame to about ten degrees. However, at the bottom of the bar and above this yoke there is provided means for moving this end of the bar transverse to the vertical center line of the A- frame, which may be done by a crank and screw mechanism embodied therein. The house section engaging and lifting means is guided vertically by rollers up and down this suspended bar and may be ratcheted up and down by means of a chain connected to the upper end of this suspended bar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS The above mentioned and other features, objects and advantages and the manner of attaining them are described more specifically below by reference to an embodiment of this invention shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of two house sections raised just above a flat bed trailer by a pair of A-frames according to this invention which engage opposite ends of a section for moving this section along a pair of parallel tracks to set it over a foundation adjacent the other house section;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a side elevation of a house section showing the four pivot points of the system of a four bar linkage with a fixed angle a which the assembly forms when supported by the one rigid and one simple A-frames of this invention;

FIGS. 20, 2b, 2c and 2d are schematic diagrams of a house section being supported by the A-frames of this invention to show the versatility of these frames relative to the two tracks shown in FIG. 1; FIGS. 2a and 2b being plan views with a section normally transverse and at an angle to the two parallel tracks, respectively; FIG. 20 being an end view of a house section which is maintained upright regardless of the incline of a track; and FIG. 2d being a side view showing how the house section may be maintained in a horizontal position when one track is higher than the other;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of one embodiment of the interfitting ends of two adjacent track sections and the latching means for holding them together;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed side elevational view of an embodiment of the simple and collapsible A-frame shown at the left of the house section in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a slightly smaller end view of the simple A-frame looking in the direction of arrow X in FIG. 5 showing the crank mechanism for driving one of its wheels along the track, and part of a prop bar associated therewith;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the house engaging means of the simple A-frame taken along lines 7 7 of FIG. shown in engagement with an end of a house section most of which section and A-frame have been broken away;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side elevational view of the rigid or other A-frame shown at the right end of the house section in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 9 9 of FIG. 8 showing the suspending bar and house section engaging means guided therein with the house engaging means in engagement with an end of a broken away house section; and

FIG. 10 is a horizontal section taken along line 10 10 of FIG. 8 showing the house engaging means around the cross sectioned suspending bar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT I THE METHOD Referring first to FIG. 1 there is shown a flat bed trailer T upon which a first house section H 1 has been transported to a site along the side of an already poured foundation F upon which another house section H 2 has already been installed. This foundation F has border strips B along its edges with notches N therein through which the hook portions of the house section engaging means fit and may be removed after the house section has been positioned and bolted in place such as through boards or base plates P. These notches N are then filled in and the house sections are anchored to the foundation F. The basement in the foundation F may also be provided with a center column C for supporting the center portion of the long house sections H l and H 2.

Between the ends of the trailer T and foundation F are a pair of parallel tubular tracks or rails R l and R 2 made up of interfitting sections 20. Along these rails R 1 and R 2, the two A-frame hoists 100 and 200 of this invention are moved.

At the far end of the house section H 1 there is shown the simple collapsible A-frame hoist section 100 for lifting that end of the house section from the trailer T by means of a chain hoist described later in Section III, and at the right end of the house section H 2 is the other more rigid A-frame hoist 200 for lifting the other end of the house section from the trailer T and holding this other end at a fixed angle with respect to the vertical center line of this A-frame so as to stabilize the system. This more rigid A-frame will be described later in Section IV.

Once the house section H 2 is removed from the trailer T as shown in FIG. I, a tongue (not shown) may be reinstalled on one end of the trailer T, such as by bolts, the end rail sections of the track R 2 removed, and a tractor connected thereto to draw the trailer T away and make room for the next house section.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevation of the house section setting mechanism of this invention showing the four pivot points p 1, p 2, p 3 and p 4 at the feet and the apeces of the A-

frames

100 and 200, respectively, form a stable four bar linkage 112 12, 100 and 200 when the angle is fixed by the rigid A-frame 200 to produce at any instant two effective triangular frames having a common side d 1 between the two pivot points p 2 and p 3.

FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d show schematically how the universal vertically pivoted connections at the apeces of the A-

frames

100 and 200 for the hoists enable a housing section H to be suspended therebetween on the rails R l and R 2 and permitted to cant during relative movements between the A- frames I00 and 200 along the tracks R 1 and R 2.

In FIG. 2b the house section H is canted relative to the two parallel tracks R l and R 2 such as when one A-frame is moved faster or farther than the other, as distinguished from the A-frames I00 and 200 being moved at the same speed along the rails R l and R 2 as shown in FIG. 2a.

In FIG. 20 the house section H is held upright by the pivotal connections of the A-frames when the tracks R 1 and/or R 2 are inclined.

In FIG. 2d when one track R 2 is lower than the other track R l the house section H may be held in a horizontal plane by adjusting the hoists of the A-frames 100 and 200 relative to each other.

Thus the versatility of the apparatus of this invention and its method of use are equal to that of a large and expensive crane. In fact, by making the A-frames 100 and 200 larger or longer, as shown for the frame 100 in FIG. 2d, a whole house section H may be raised high enough to be placed as a second floor for a home or an apartment, and if desired, even higher if more floors are needed.

II THE TRACK As shown in FIG. 1 the tracks R 1 and R 2 comprise a plurality of track sections 20. These track sections 20 have complementary ends which interfit with each other as shown in enlarged detail in FIG. 3, with parts thereof broken away. A projecting pin or peg 24 is welded in one end of each tubular rail 22 of each track section 20 and is inserted into the hollow tubular section of the other end of an adjacent tubular rail 22 for alignment of track section 20. These tubular rails 22 may be welded onto a vertical web or leg portion 26 of an inverted T- cross section having a flat base portion 28.

At each end of each track section 20 a large pad or plate 30 is attached to the bottom of the base portion 28 to act as a foot to prevent the section from sinking into the soft ground a newly excavated foundation F when the weight of a house section H is placed thereon as shown in FIG. 1. These track sections 20 are preferably made of lengths of about eight or ten feet so they can readily be lifted and moved by not more than two men. Additional pads 30 may be provided and welded to the bottom of base portion 28, if desired.

Also between the end sections there are provided locking levers 32 pivoted to one web section 26 at 34 and provided with hooks 36 at their other ends which engage pins 38 fastened in the other end of the web section 26 of the adjacent track as shown in FIG. 3. Therefore, once the sections are fitted together they are locked so they will not pull apart, thus preventing the A-frames from becoming derailed as they are moved along the tracks R l and R 2.

There is also shown connected or connectable to one of the track sections 20 a stop means 40 as shown in FIG. I, which is used for engagement of one of the transport or rubber

tired wheels

240 or 242 on the A-frames and 200. This stop means 40 positions the A-frames 100 and 200 relative to the tracks R 1 and R 2 so that when the A-frames are tilted to a vertical position their respective pulley type track wheels I22, 124, 222, 224 will directly engage the tubular rail portions 22 of the track section 20. The Aframes may be tilted into a vertical position by means of the lever action of the lift or prop

bars

230 and 232 such as shown in FIGS. 6 and 1, respectively.

III THE SIMPLE A-FRAME Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, there is shown a simple collapsible A-frame 100 illustrated at the left end of the house section H 1 in FIG. 1 which comprises a pair of

legs

102 and 104, one of which may be pivoted at 106 at its top to an apex cross member 108.

The bottom ends of the

legs

102 and 104 may be connected together by a pair of tension members or bars 112 and 114, pivoted to each leg and pivoted together at 116. A sleeve 118 may be provided to slide over the pivoted connection 116 to prevent the

members

112 and 114 from buckling when the A- frame 100 is in use. At the lower end of each

leg

102 and 104 there is provided a circumferentially grooved pulley

type rail wheel

122 and 124 mounted on

shafts

126 and 128 journalled in bearings at the ends of the

legs

102 and 104, respectively. One of these pulley track wheels 122 is keyed to its shaft 126, and on one end of this shaft is mounted a sprocket wheel 130 connected by a sprocket chain 132 to smaller sprocket wheel 133 keyed to another shaft 134 journalled above the end of the leg. This smaller wheel 133 may be keyed to a larger sprocket wheel 136 which in turn is connected by a sprocket chain 138 to a second smaller sprocket wheel 140 mounted on another shaft 141 connected to a crank 142 and a ratchet wheel and dog mechanism 143 to prevent the frame and its houses section H from coasting when on an inclined rail section such as shown in FIG. 20. Thus this manually operated crank 142 through the speed reduction sprocket wheels and sprocket chains enables the A-frame 100 to be moved easily along its track R 1 by positively rotating the pulley wheel 122 which frictionally engages the track R 1. Both of the A-frames 100 and 200 are provided with such cranks and wheels (see also FIG. 8 and pulley wheel 224 on A-frame 200).

Suspended from the top of the simple A-frame at the center of the member 108 is a swivel joint or shackle 110 to which is attached a chain hoist 150 having a chain 151 which is connected to the rear projecting side of the house section lifting means 160 (see FIG. 7) at the center of a cross member 152 (See FIG. 5). This cross member 152 is spaced outwardly away from the flat house section engaging'side of the lifting means 160, which side may comprise a rectangular frame having a pair of vertical bars 164 with an outwardly projecting channel, cradle, or hook portion 166 across its lower end. This hook portion 166 engages the under side of a cross girder or base plate P at the end of the house section, and fits into the notch N (see FIG. I) so that it may be easily removed after the house section H has been set in position upon the foundation F. The upper or other end of the frame or bars 164 of the lifting means 160 is provided with a cross bar or member 168 which abuts against the outer surface of the end of the house section H as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7. The abutting surface of the bar 164 may be provided with a plurality of teeth, tines, or projections 170 to prevent slipping of the lifting member 160 relative to the house section H once the cradle 166 has been engaged with the lower cross girder P of the house section H. As soon as the lifting of the house section H begins, the upper end or cross member 168 of the frame or lifting means 160 is forced against the end wall of the house section H by its pivotal movement around the outwardly spaced lifting member 152 to imbed the tines 170 into the end of the house section H and hold the lifting means 160 in position. The marks lefi by these tines 170 on the end of the house section H are covered thereafter by the finish siding.

Thus the chain hoist 150 raises and lowers its end of the house section H on the simple A-frame, and permits it to pivot as shown in FIGS. 2a, 2b, and 2d and be moved along the rail R 1 on the

wheels

122 and 124. Since the lifting means 260 on the rigid type A-frame 200 (to be described in section IV) maintains the end of the house section H at a fixed angle with the vertical center line of this A-frame 200, the swivel suspension 110 of hoist 150 for this A-frame 100 permits it to tilt as the distance of the rail R 1 from the end of the house section H may vary.

Also, this simple A-frame hoist can be and usually is made larger, that is, with longer and wider spreading

legs

102 and 104 than the rigidly connected

legs

202 and 204 of the more rigid A-frame hoist described in the next section, since this simple A-frame hoist 100 may be collapsed while the more rigid one 200 cannot and its size may be limited to the width of the road along which it has to be transported or drawn.

IV THE RIGID A-FRAME Referring now to FIGS. 8, 9, and there is illustrated in detail the other or rigid supporting A-frame 200 which is shown at the right end of the house section H 1 in FIG. 1. This A-frame 200 is usually not as large as the A-frarne 100 since its lifting means 260 is not freely suspended as is the lifting means 160 of the A-frame 100. Because of the restrained movement of the lifting means 260 the A-frame 200 preferably is not collapsible. Accordingly, its two

legs

202 and 204 are bolted or welded to its apex cross member 206 and to its bottom tie rigid cross member 208. However, the lifting means 260 is pivotally connected by a swivel or shackle type connection 210 suspended from the center of the apex cross member 206.

At the ends of the

legs

202 and 204 there are provided pulley

type track wheels

222 and 224, one of which may be driven by a mechanism similar to that previously described and shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 for the A-frame I00.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 8 and 9, there is suspended from the swivel shackle 210 a vertical bar member 250, the lower end of which is provided with a yoke 251 which is attached to a transversely movable slide mechanism 252.

The slide mechanism 252 is connected to a yoke 256 which straddles the lower A-frame tie cross bar 208. This yoke 256 has a pair of vertical rollers 258 which roll along opposite sides of the cross bar 208 so that the lower end of the suspended bar 250 may seek a vertical position within the plane of the A-frame, if and when the rail R 2 or track section or sections 20 upon which it rests are not horizontal (see FIG. 2c).

The slide mechanism 252 may be operated by a screw crank 254 to move the yoke 251 and the bottom end of the bar 250 transversely of the A-frame, so that the bottom end of the bar 250 moves toward and away from the house section H. This adjustable movement of the bar 250 compensates for variations in the spacing of the rail R 2 from the end of the house section H when it is removed from the flat bed trailer T and when installed on the foundation F as shown in FIG. 1. Thus positive horizontal adjustment by means of the crank 254 at the lower end of this pendular bar 250, enables the vertical center line of the A-frame 200 and its house lifting means 260 always to be at a fixed angle to its end of the house section H including during the movement of the lifting means 260 up and down on the vertical bar 250. The swivel shackle 210 and the spacings of the rollers 258 on the yoke 256 also permit the bar 250 to twist slightly around its vertical axis at least about ten degrees in each direction to permit twisting of the house section H as shown in FIG. 2b above when one A-frame is moved at a different rate than the other.

Vertically slidable on the bar 250 is the rigid house section lifting means or frame 260 which has a hook or cradle engaging portion 266 and an upper end engaging member 268 with tines 270, all of which are similar to the corresponding elements of the frame 160 shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. Besides this house section lifting means being provided with a pair of parallel upright members 264, it also contains an additional frame means 280 (see FIGS. 9 and 10) which straddles the depending vertical bar 250. This frame 280 is provided with upper and lower pairs of rollers 282 which frictionally engage and guide this lifting means 260 and its frame 280 up and down on opposite sides of the bar 250. This lifting means 260 and its flame 280 may be ratcheted up and down by a lever 284 which operates a ratchet mechanism 286 that engages the chain 288 which is attached to top beam 290 at the upper end of the bar 250. Thus movement of this house lifting means 260 is restrained relative to the A-frame 200 so that its position will always be at the same angle to the vertical axis of the A- frame to form a stable four bar linkage system thereby preventing any collapse of the A-frames and 200 of this invention once they are both engaged with a house section H.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, each of the A-frames 100 and 200 is provided with transporting

wheels

240 and 242 mounted on

brackets

244 and 246, respectively, which brackets are sufficiently long to space the driving and lifting means of each frame from the ground so they will not drag when the A-frames are in a substantially horizontally towing position. These

brackets

244 and 246, and particularly those on the more rigid A-frame 200 are preferably cushioned to reduce the road vibrations transmitted to the house section engaging means connected to these A-frames. These rubber tired

wheels

240 and 242 thus enable these two frames I00 and 200 to be towed behind a truck over any highway.

Also there is shown above these wheels inside the legs,

sockets

226 and 228 through which propping

bars

230 and 232 may be inserted for manually uprighting or tilting the A-

frames

100 or 200 into position when their transporting

wheels

240 and 242 engage the stop 40 on the tracks as shown in FIG. 1.

The A-frames 100 and 200 of this invention may preferably be made of a light weight-material such as aluminum, and thus increase materially their case of mobility by manual means in spite of the fact that the house sections l-l themselves may weight several tons. Accordingly these house setting A-frames may be easily manipulated by a relatively small component of men, and often only two men for each A-frame can completely install a house section.

While there is described above the observed principles of this invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood there may be many unobserved side effects which contribute substantially to the efficiency of this device and that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of this invention.

1 claim:

1. A house section setter comprising:

A. a plurality of portable interfitting track sections forming a pair of substantially parallel tracks on opposite sides of a foundation for a house section, B. a pair of portable vertical hoist frames for opposite ends of said house section, each frame having: 1. wheels for engagement with one of said tracks, 2. a section engaging lifting means swivelably suspended from the top of its frame, and 3. means for moving said lifting means substantially vertically with respect to the top of its frame, 4. one of said frames also having a. a vertical bar means depending from the top of said frame for longitudinally guiding said lifting means, and b. means on said bar means for restricting the pendular movement of said bar means relative to its said frame for maintaining a fixed angle between the vertical center line of said frame and said lifting means.

2. A house setter according to claim 1 wherein said track sections have circular top cross sections.

3. A house setter according to claim 1 wherein said track sections comprise lever and hook means for locking the sections together.

4. A house setter according to claim 1 wherein said track sections include pin and socket interfitting means between their ends.

5. A house setter according to claim 1 wherein said track sections are provided with foot pads to prevent them from sinking into the soft earth.

6. A house setter according to claim 1 wherein said hoist frames have an A-shaped configuration with an apex and a cross bar.

7. A house setter according to claim 6 wherein the other of said hoist frames has its legs pivoted at its apex and its cross bar is collapsible.

8. A house setter according to claim 1 wherein each of said hoist frames is provided with a pair of wheelbarrow type wheels projecting in the same direction from the plane of each frame for portability of said frames.

9. A house setter according to claim 8 wherein one of said track sections is provided with a stop means for engagement with one of said wheelbarrow wheels for aligning said wheels on said frame with said track.

10. A house setter according to claim 1 wherein each of said hoist frames are provided with sockets for bars to aid in moving said frames from horizontal into vertical positions.

1 1. A house setter according to claim 1 wherein each of said lifting means is provided with a bottom hook portion for engagement under the end of a house section and a upper portion for engaging that end of said house section. I

12. A house setter according to claim 1 1 wherein said upper portion of said house lifting means is provided with tines to prevent slipping of the lifting means relative to said house section once it has been engaged therewith.

13. A house setter according to claim 1 wherein one of said hoist frames comprises a chain and tackle hoist anchored between the top of said hoist frame and said lifting means.

14. A house setter according to claim 1 wherein said lifting means for said one frame includes a pair of rollers engageable with said depending vertical bar means for guiding its movement along said bar means.

15. A house setter according to claim 1 wherein the means on said bar means for restricting the pendular movement of said bar means comprises a screw and crank means for relatively moving the lower end of said bar means with respect to the lower end of said hoist frame.

16. A house setter according to claim 1 including a crank and gear mechanism mounted on each said hoist frame for driving one of said wheels for moving said hoist frames along said track.

P0-1050 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 1 P t NO 3, 679, 177 D d July 25, 1972 Inventor(s) Donald CHOLZ It is certified that error appears in the aboveidentified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

FColumn 2, line 16, after "house" insert section 1 Column 3, line 6 1, "112" should read i 1 "12" should read i 2.

Column 4, line 30, after "ground" insert around Signed and sealed this 9th day of January 1973..

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.l"lJETCI'IER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. A house section setter comprIsing: A. a plurality of portable interfitting track sections forming a pair of substantially parallel tracks on opposite sides of a foundation for a house section, B. a pair of portable vertical hoist frames for opposite ends of said house section, each frame having: 1. wheels for engagement with one of said tracks, 2. a section engaging lifting means swivelably suspended from the top of its frame, and 3. means for moving said lifting means substantially vertically with respect to the top of its frame, 4. one of said frames also having a. a vertical bar means depending from the top of said frame for longitudinally guiding said lifting means, and b. means on said bar means for restricting the pendular movement of said bar means relative to its said frame for maintaining a fixed angle between the vertical center line of said frame and said lifting means.

2. a section engaging lifting means swivelably suspended from the top of its frame, and

3. means for moving said lifting means substantially vertically with respect to the top of its frame,

4. one of said frames also having a. a vertical bar means depending from the top of said frame for longitudinally guiding said lifting means, and b. means on said bar means for restricting the pendular movement of said bar means relative to its said frame for maintaining a fixed angle between the vertical center line of said frame and said lifting means.

11. A house setter according to claim 1 wherein each of said lifting means is provided with a bottom hook portion for engagement under the end of a house section and a upper portion for engaging that end of said house section.

12. A house setter according to claim 11 wherein said upper portion of said house lifting means is provided with tines to prevent slipping of the lifting means relative to said house section once it has been engaged therewith.