Patent Grant
6955346
This invention relates generally to the assembly of trusses, and in particular to a locator for holding a structural member at a predetermined position on an assembly apparatus.
Pre-manufactured structural frameworks, such as trusses, are widely used in the construction industry for forming a roof, wall panel, floor, or other building component. Each truss includes a collection of structural members, typically in the form of wooden timbers, held together by connectors, such as connector (“nailing”) plates pressed into the timbers. The truss is assembled to the correct specifications at a factory and then shipped to a construction site. A gantry press apparatus is frequently used to facilitate efficient assembly of the truss. It features a table on which the timbers and connector plates are placed at desired relative positions to form the particular truss configuration.
Conventionally, the table has cylindrically-shaped stops (often referred to as “pucks”) for setting positions of timbers. The stops are slidable along spaced opening channels in the table and are locked at predetermined positions in the channels dependent upon the shape of the truss which is required. The timbers are then located against the stops to define the shape of the truss. Connector plates are placed at locations where adjacent timbers intersect. A motorized roller apparatus (i.e., the gantry) then travels along the table to press integral teeth of the connector plates into the timbers thereby joining them together.
Ideally, each timber should be in tight abutment against adjacent timbers when placed on the table so that the assembled truss will be strong and loads will be effectively transferred between the timbers making up the truss. Unfortunately, some timbers have imperfections, non-linearities, or warp which form one or more gaps between adjacent structural members or between a stop and a structural member. If not eliminated, these gaps would substantially degrade the strength of the assembled truss.
Typically, an operator visually inspects an assembly of structural members prior to activating the roller apparatus. Upon discovering a gap, the operator inserts a wooden wedge between a stop and timber to press the timber into firm engagement with an adjacent timber. Unfortunately, these actions are detrimental to an efficient assembly process and can cause substantial downtime. Wedges are prone to slip or break during installation, fall to the floor at a location from which retrieval is difficult, or be inadvertently nailed into assembly with the truss.
Consequently, some systems of the prior art have featured devices for pressing timbers against adjacent timbers to eliminate gaps. However, these devices have been complex or have been fixedly attached to the apparatus such that it is time consuming to move the device to a second location where gapping occurs, or to another, similar apparatus.
Among the several objects and features of the present invention may be noted the provision of a locator for pressing a structural member into engagement with an adjacent structural member; the provision of such a locator which is adjustable for applying a pressing force of variable magnitude; the provision of such an apparatus which is readily portable for use at a second location; the provision of such a locator which fits upon existing equipment; and the provision of such a locator which is inexpensive to manufacture.
In general, a portable locator according to the present invention locates and holds a structural member in a predetermined position on a worksurface of an assembly apparatus during an assembly operation wherein at least one fastener is installed to connect the structural member to another structural member. The locator comprises a body configured for securement to the assembly apparatus free from fixed connection thereto at a first installed position from which the body may engage the structural member to press against the structural member for use in holding the structural member at its predetermined position on the worksurface. The body is adapted to be freely removed from the first installed position without releasing any fixed connection for movement to a second installed position on the assembly apparatus for ready securement thereto free from fixed connection.
In another aspect, an extender according to the present invention is for a stop of an assembly apparatus. The extender presses a structural member into engagement with an adjacent structural member at a predetermined position on a worksurface of the assembly apparatus during an assembly operation wherein at least one fastener is installed to connect the structural members at the predetermined position. The stops project above the worksurface for guiding positions of the structural members. The extender comprises a sleeve sized and shaped for placement at an installed position generally around one of the stops and extending a lateral reach of the stop. The sleeve has an inner wall for engaging the stop and an outer wall for engaging the structural member and applying force thereto. The sleeve defines a radial thickness disposed between the inner and outer walls. The inner wall is eccentrically positioned relative to the outer wall such that the radial thickness varies in a circumferential direction around the sleeve. The sleeve is rotatable about the stop such that rotation of the sleeve alters the radial thickness of sleeve positioned between the stop and structural member to thereby adjust a magnitude of force applied by the sleeve to the structural member.
Other objects and features of the present invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the views of the drawings.
Referring now to the drawings and in particular to
In the illustrated embodiment, the structural members 14 are wooden timbers, but they could be made of other materials (e.g., plastic, steel, etc.) without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The truss table 12 has a plurality of parallel, elongate panels 22 providing a worksurface for placement of timbers 14. A slot 24 is left between adjacent pairs of panels 22 suitable for placement of conventional positioning stops 30. Each stop is slidable in translation along the slot 24 and is capable of being fixed along the slot for correct location and placement of timbers 14 on the worksurface to form a truss. The stops 30 project above the worksurface for guiding positions of the timbers 14. Typically, each stop 30 has a cylindric shape.
Because the truss assembly apparatus 10 is conventional, it will not be described in further detail. Reference is made to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/233,034, filed Aug. 30, 2002 and entitled “Truss Assembly Apparatus,” which is hereby incorporated by reference, and to the following U.S. Patents for further background regarding truss assembly systems, each of which is also hereby incorporated by reference:
A portable locator according to the present invention, indicated generally at 40, is used with the truss assembly apparatus 10 for locating and holding a timber 14 in engagement with an adjacent timber. Referring to
An opening 50 extends through the sleeve 42 which is eccentrically positioned relative to the outer wall 46 of the sleeve. The opening 50 is defined by a cylindric bore forming an inner wall 52. The opening 50 and inner wall 52 are associated with a second central axis 54 extending along the axis of rotation of a cylinder defined by the inner wall. The opening 50 has a size and shape corresponding with one of the stops 30 such that the sleeve 42 may be secured at an installed position (
The first and second axes 48, 54 are parallel and non-coincident such that the opening 50 is eccentrically positioned in the sleeve 42 relative to a center of the sleeve and the outer wall 46. Consequently, the sleeve 42 has a radial thickness T (
At the installed position (FIGS. 2 and 3), the sleeve 42 generally encircles the stop 30 and the radial thickness is disposed between the stop and the timber 14. The sleeve 42 is rotatable relative to the apparatus 10 with a center of rotation defined by the second axis 54. As shown in
Significantly, the sleeve 42 may be secured to the apparatus 10 free from fixed connection. Thus the locator is fully portable and may be quickly installed and used by placing it on a stop 30. Subsequent to the assembly operation, the sleeve 42 may be freely removed from the installed position without releasing any fixed connector for movement to a second installed position on the apparatus or to a second assembly apparatus for ready securement thereto free from fixed connection.
The locator 40 is formed of a suitable strong and rigid material. In the preferred embodiment, the locator is made of cold rolled, AISI-SAE 1018 steel, although other materials, including non-metallic materials, do not depart from the scope of this invention. The locator 40 is manufactured by slicing a segment from a solid round shaft. That shaft segment forms the sleeve 42, and a hole is drilled through the segment forming the opening 50. A lathe or a CNC milling machine may be used to improve the circularity of the sleeve 42 and opening 50 and any sharp corners may be rounded. The handle 44 is a solid rod of length suitable for gripping and is secured to the sleeve 42 such as by welding. For ease of use, the handle 44 is preferably attached in a radial direction relative to the sleeve 42 and at a slight upward angle of inclination in a direction moving away from the sleeve, such as four degrees. Other handle orientations and sleeves without handles do not depart from the scope of this invention.
In an alternate embodiment (not shown), the sleeve 42 may be more permanently secured to a stop 30 for repeated uses therewith. The inner wall 52 is modified to include an engagement surface (not shown) such as an annular, vertically-facing shoulder or lip. The stop 30 is modified with a corresponding engagement surface such as a circumferential shoulder or groove. The locator and stop may be joined together into an assembled unit with the corresponding surfaces in engagement. The assembled unit may then be slid along channels in the table or locked at a predetermined position for repeated use in assembling trusses. The engaging surfaces do not impede rotation of the sleeve relative to the stop. Other systems for securing the sleeve and stop do not depart from the scope of this invention.
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results obtained. The locator 40 may be used with existing equipment of a truss assembly apparatus to press a structural member into engagement with an adjacent structural member. The locator is adjustable for applying a pressing force of variable magnitude. The locator is portable, may be secured to the apparatus without fixed attachment, and is reliable in operation.
When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
As various changes could be made in the above without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20040206019 A1 | Oct 2004 | US |
