Abstract
A motorized crimping mechanism to impart substantially 90 degree crimps to adjacent roof and/or wall panel seams of a fabricated edifice is provided. Such a crimping device allows for substantially uniform seaming along the target contact line of two adjacent panels with substantially similar pressures and torque applied thereto at the selected locations of crimp application. The motorized device itself includes a rotary drive shaft to apply sufficient pressures for 90 degree crimps in two adjacent metal panels, as well as an optional guide to ensure proper placement and direction along the entire contact line between such panels. The invention thus encompasses the device as well as the method of using such a motorized crimper for connecting standing seams of adjacent side edges of two building panels.
Claims
1. A movable seam crimping device for crimping a portion of a standing seam of adjacent metal panels when placed in a pre-selected location along said standing seam, said device including a structural frame having two opposing side plates having top ends and bottom ends with bottom edges, said side plates including identical three-sided indentations therein present within said bottom ends of both side plates thereby creating openings within both side plates at the bottom edges thereof, wherein said each of the three-sided indentations has two opposing vertical sides and a horizontal top edge to permit introduction of said standing seam simultaneously at both indentations and for placement of said device on top of said standing seam during utilization at both horizontal top edges, said device further including a curved block within which is a crimping board or blade, said curved block including attached opposing drive posts leading to two opposing rotating gears such that each of the drive posts is connected to one of the rotating gears, wherein said rotating gears rotate in relation to power generated by a mechanical motor attached to said rotating gears, and said rotating gears controlling movement of said crimping board or blade through said opposing drive posts on demand by a user, wherein said crimping board or blade rotates up to 90 within the confines of said structural frame and said curved block and at a pressure sufficient to bend said portion of said adjacent metal panels of said standing seam present within said indentations, and on top of said standing seam said device is placed during operation up to 90 bend.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said motor includes a rotary drive shaft.
3. The device of claim 1 including a guide component for placement over said standing seam in order to properly align said device prior to crimping.
4. The device of claim 2 including a guide component for placement over said standing seam in order to properly align said device prior to crimping.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is an isometric, partial cut-away view of a portion of a roof system utilizing a standing seam roof assembly.
(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one potential embodiment of the inventive seam crimping apparatus as it is applied to contacted metal panel ends prior to seaming.
(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the seam crimping apparatus of FIG. 2 subsequent to a crimping procedure.
(4) FIG. 4 is a side view of the seam crimping apparatus of FIG. 2 prior to seaming.
(5) FIG. 5 is a side view of the seam crimping apparatus of FIG. 4 subsequent to a crimping procedure.
(6) FIG. 6 is a front view of one potential embodiment of the inventive seam crimping apparatus as it is applied to contacted metal panel ends prior to seaming.
(7) FIG. 7 is a side cut-away view along line A-A of the seam crimping apparatus of FIG. 6.
(8) FIG. 8 is a front view of one potential embodiment of the inventive seam crimping apparatus as it is applied to contacted metal panel ends subsequent to a seaming procedure.
(9) FIG. 9 is a side cut-away view along line A-A of the seam crimping apparatus of FIG. 8.
(10) FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a potential embodiment of the inventive motorized seam crimping device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(11) A better understanding of the present invention will be had when reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein identical parts are identified by identical reference numerals. Such a depiction is for a presentation of the potentially preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to limit the breadth of the invention in any manner. The ordinarily skilled artisan would have sufficient understanding and respect for this specific art in order to consider the true breadth of the invention itself in relation to the overall descriptions.
(12) Referring to FIG. 1, there is depicted a pre-engineered building roof 10 supported by a pre-engineered building structure 12. Such a pre-engineered structure 12 comprises a primary structural system 14 including a number of upwardly extending column members 16 [to be connected to a base foundation (not illustrated)]. Also, the primary structural system 14 has a plurality of beams 18 which are supported by the column members 16.
(13) Also included is a secondary structural system 20 including a number of open web beams 22 attached to and supported horizontally by the primary beams 18. Alternative structures may be employed in place of these web beams 22, if desired. A plurality of roof panels 24 are supported over the secondary structural assembly 20 by a plurality of panel support assemblies 26 and are attached to the upper flanges of the web beams 22. The roof panels 24, only portions of which are shown, are depicted as being standing seam panels with interlocking standing seams 25 connected by clip portions of the panel support assemblies 26. Alternatives to such clips may be practiced as well and other clips may be incorporated within the panels to hold them in place with the building skeletal portions noted above.
(14) FIGS. 2 through 9 depict one potential embodiment of the inventive motorized crimper apparatus 110. The standing seam 117 is shown formed from a first metal panel female end 112 and a second metal panel male end 114. When in nesting contact together, the panel ends 112, 114 form the standing seam 117 including a vertical component 113, a horizontal component 115, and a flange component 118, as well as a curved end on the female end 116. Placed on the standing seam 117 is the apparatus 110 having two parallel side plates 120, 122 including multiple cut-outs 121 (here they are circular in shape and four in number for this embodiment; actually, no cut-outs are required, nor must they be circular as any shape may be employed) for the purpose of reducing the weight of the apparatus 110 as well as allow for the user a view of the internal motor components during operation. A top plate 124 is present to cover the motor components as well as to allow for the two side plates 120, 122 to be connected in a dimensionally stable fashion. A lower plate 126 and an upper plate 128 thus provides stability on the handle side of the apparatus 110, and a front plate (156 of FIGS. 7 and 9) provides such a benefit as well. In this manner, the motor components are housed within a shelter made from these six plates 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 156 (at least). The side plates 120, 122 include indentations 123, 125 to accommodate placement of the apparatus 110 onto the horizontal component 115 of the standing seam 117. A handle 130 is attached to the upper plate 128 through stems 132, 134 protruding therefrom. The handle 130 may actually be attached at any desired angle for the user's comfort, and the stems 132, 134 may be of any length for such purpose as well. In this embodiment, the handle 130 is roughly 12 inches from the upper plate 128 and configured to be parallel to target roof panels 112, 114. The actual crimping procedure is accomplished by a crimping blade 136 nested in two curved blocks 175, 175A attached to a extension plate 162 having two connections 174, 174A that are connected to two juxtaposed drive posts 160, 160A. The crimping blade 137 contacts with the flange component 118 of the standing seam 117 during operation. FIGS. 3, 5, 7, and 9 show the deformation of the flange component 118 upon operation of the apparatus 110 by moving the flange component 118 from a position roughly perpendicular to the horizontal component 115 of the flange to parallel to the horizontal component 115. In such a manner, the standing seam 117 becomes secure.
(15) The actual operation of the apparatus 110 involves both manual transport to a selected location along the standing seam 117 as well as actual crimping of the flange component 118 as noted above. The crimping blade 137 provides the necessary pressure and torque application to the target metal panel end components (flange 118, as noted). To do so, the crimping blade 137 moves in a curvilinear (arced) fashion via the direction of the curved blocks 175, 175A. The crimping blade 137 is attached to the two drive posts (shafts) 160, 160A that provide sufficient force for rotational action to commence for the blade 137 due to the connections 174, 174A of the posts 160, 160A to the extension plate 162. The drive shafts 160, 160A are, in turn, attached to wheels 142, 142A that include extensions (166 of FIG. 10, for instance) for connection with the drive posts 160, 160A. The wheels 142, 142A rotate upon rotation of a connected gear 152 and thus move the drive posts 160, 160A rotationally as well. The gear 152 is engaged with a worm gear 150 that rotates longitudinally to create the gear rotation. To accomplish the worm gear movement an extended drive shaft 144 is present to which an external source is connected (not illustrated) to generate rotation thereof. The twisting of the drive shaft 144 thus generates the initiating movement of the worm gear 150 to effectuate all of the remaining rotational, etc., movement for crimping to occur. As noted above, the rotation of the wheels 142, 142A will continue until the external energy source (not illustrated) applying torque to the external drive shaft 144 has ceased. The crimping blade 137 will continue to cycle through the curved block path until such an external source is discontinued. Any type of power generator (electric, pneumatic, hydraulic, and the like) may be attached to the external drive shaft 144 to provide the needed initial torque source for overall activation to occur.
(16) FIG. 10 shows the individual components of the apparatus 110. The two side plates 120, 122, the top plate 124, the lower small plate 126 and the upper small plate 128 all attach together subsequent to construction of the motor components 159 inside. The crimping blade 137 is attached to the extension plate 162 including two connecting ends 174, 174A for the two actuators 160, 160A to be attached via bolts 176. Two linear support posts 140, 140A connect the gear box 154 to the curved block 175, 175A, as well. The drive wheels 142, 142A include extensions 166 for engagement and connection with openings 168 on the actuators 160, 160A. The drive gear 152 is housed within the gear box 154 and is connected to the wheels 142, 142A to generate the rotation thereof. Securing bolts 170 provide the necessary attachment of the rotating wheels 142, 142A and the diagonal actuators 160, 160A. The gearbox 154 is attached to the top panel 124 through screw connectors (or through bolts; the connections shown in this figure all may be of those types with the appropriate sizes in use for such connections). The handle 130 attaches, as noted above, to the upper small plate 128 via two same-length stems 132, 134.
(17) Thus, a motorized crimping apparatus is provided that may be manually placed at any selected location along a standing seam for appropriate deformation of the seam components for reliable and secure engagement thereof, at least through movement of the flange component of such a standing seam to a location parallel to a horizontal edge formed therein. Such an apparatus has never been provided the metal building industry as of today.
(18) Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that changes and details of structure may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.
