A system for spacing rafters can include an outer member, an inner member, jaws, and a handle. The handle can be movably connected to the inner member and the outer member. The jaws can be secured to the inner member or the outer member. The handle can be operable to move the jaws with respect to each other to equally space the rafters with respect to each other.

A truss transportation trailer has a front assembly and a rearward assembly interconnected by a central elongated beam so that the trusses can be supported in an inverted manner between the assemblies. Each assembly includes an outrigger on each side of the assembly along with a pivotable carrier apparatus. Each carrier apparatus includes a telescopic support with an outer shell being pivoted to the frame of the trailer for movement between a vertical orientation and a horizontal orientation extending laterally of the trailer. Each carrier apparatus also includes a head mounted on an inner shaft and having a fixed inner bracket and a movable outer bracket driven by a hydraulic motor to clamp trusses between the two brackets. Once in the horizontal orientation, the inner shaft can extend hydraulically from the outer shell to push the discharged trusses away from the trailer and facilitate the departure of the trailer.

In a general aspect, a construction tool can include a template portion arranged in a first plane. The template portion can include a rectangular plate having a slot defined, the slot being angled with respect to an edge of the plate and configured to facilitate marking a cut line on a construction material. The construction tool can also include a base portion arranged in a second plane, the second plane being orthogonal to the first plane. The base portion can include a first portion disposed on a first side of the plate, and a second portion disposed on a second side of the plate of the template portion that is opposite the first side of the plate. The first portion of the base portion can have a first thickness, and the second portion of the base portion having a second thickness that is different than the first thickness.

A floor joist square is provided. A floor joist square for facilitating marking a straight-line along a face of an engineered I-shaped floor joist, the floor joist square comprises a blade member, a tongue member, and a handle. The blade member is flat and rectangular in shape and comprising a substantially thin first lip extending out from a first end of the blade member and a substantially thin second lip extending out from a second end of the blade member. The tongue member is flat and rectangular in shape and is perpendicularly affixed to the blade member at an end of the tongue member above the second lip. The handle is affixed to the blade member and the tongue member such that the handle, the blade member, and the tongue member form a triangular shape.

A construction jig is disclosed for facilitating appropriate notched cuts in vertical posts used for deck or post and beam construction applications. The jig is a multi-sided jig adapted to be either slipped over or slipped around a vertical post commonly used in such constructions. A crossmember for the construction is held by the jig and the jig is moved up and down until the crossmember is level. A saw is then guided by the jig to make an appropriately level notch in the vertical post, as required by building codes. An optional handle is useful, and it may extend outwardly from a side of the construction jig, which is adapted for movable and removable placing of the multi-sided jig over the vertical post to indicate level placement for the deck crossmember.

A floor joist square is provided. A floor joist square for facilitating marking a straight-line along a face of an engineered I-shaped floor joist, the floor joist square comprises a blade member, a tongue member, and a handle. The blade member is flat and rectangular in shape and comprising a substantially thin first lip extending out from a first end of the blade member and a substantially thin second lip extending out from a second end of the blade member. The tongue member is flat and rectangular in shape and is perpendicularly affixed to the blade member at an end of the tongue member above the second lip. The handle is affixed to the blade member and the tongue member such that the handle, the blade member, and the tongue member form a triangular shape.

A robotic system having a movable gantry robot (10) for conducting construction operations. The gantry may have an expandable bridge (20) and articulated gantry support legs (34) as well as a support track system (60) holding a gantry robot (800) which may hold one or more implements and peripheral devices (806). The device can be moved by propulsion mechanisms, a controller, and one or more geo-positioned control devices to provide position information for the robotic gantry as it moves back and forth along a plurality of work sites (700). The robotic gantry is connected to a power supply system (236). The controller is automated, self-navigating, and activates, deactivates, and/or changes the operation of the propulsion mechanisms, and deploys, retracts, activates, deactivates, and/or changes the operation of one or more of the construction implements. The height of the frame may be adjusted by extending and rotating risers and booms to accommodate different building heights or sub-level heights at a worksite. A conveyor system is optimized for removing dirt from or delivering material to the robotic arm. This invention can be applied to automating construction jobs including surveying, land preparation, excavation, foundation, masonry, framing, and additive fabrication.

A jig configured to be positioned relative to first and second members, which extend along mutually transverse first and second axes respectively and are spaced along a third axis which is transverse to the first and second axes, for locating a hole-forming element with respect to the members and guiding the thus located element along said third axis during driving of the hole-forming element into the first member whereby a hold thus formed in the first member extends along said third axis for application therethrough, axially guided by the jig so positioned and/or the hole, of a connecting element to interconnect the members, such that first and second portions of the connecting element thus applied are received at correct positions in the first and second members respectively, the jig comprising: locators arranged to be received against the first and second members and rotationally about the first and second axes; and a guide defining an axis that is fixed relative to the locators (“guide axis”), the guide being configured to support the hole-forming element such that it extends along the guide axis and being arranged such that the guide axis is coaxial with the third axis when the locators are so received, whereby said driving of the hole-forming element forms the hole along the third axis.

A square gauge apparatus configured for being selectively and removably mounted on a leg of a carpenter's square has a ledge having a ledge first surface and an opposite ledge second surface, the ledge first and second surfaces being parallel and offset, a first abutment extending from the ledge and having a first abutment front surface that is perpendicular to the ledge first surface, a second abutment extending from the ledge opposite the first abutment and having a second abutment front surface that is perpendicular to the ledge second surface and parallel to and coplanar with the first abutment front surface, and a slot formed adjacent to the ledge between the first and second abutments, the slot having a slot end surface that is parallel to and coplanar with the first and second abutment front surfaces.

A framing jig assembly includes a base that may be positioned on and is coextensive with a horizontal framing member in a wall. A plurality of retainers is provided and each of the retainers is coupled to the base. Each of the retainers may engage an associated one of a plurality of vertical framing members in the wall. The retainers are spaced apart from each other and are distributed along the base. Thus, the plurality of retainers may space the vertical framing members a pre-determined distance apart from each other.