Claims
- 1. A method of straightening portions of a plurality of purlins of a roof structure which have been moved from an original position to a deformed position in a first lateral direction, the plurality of purlins being spaced apart from one another in a parallel arrangement, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a carriage mounted for movement along the length of the purlins in a downstream direction, the downstream direction being generally perpendicular to the first lateral direction, the carriage having a plurality of guides positioned adjacent the plurality of purlins;
- b. positioning the guides adjacent portions of the plurality of purlins which are in the deformed position; and
- c. moving the carriage in a second lateral direction opposite the first lateral direction so that the guides move the portions of the plurality of purlins from the deformed position to the original position.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the carriage is moved in the second lateral direction by actuating a purlin straightening device having a first actuator portion fixed to the carriage, and a second actuator portion movable relative to the first actuator portion, wherein the second actuator portion is stationary with respect to a fixed portion of the roof structure, and the first actuator portion is movable relative to the second actuator portion.
- 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the fixed portion of the roof structure is a structural beam of the roof structure extending parallel to the purlins.
- 4. The method of claim 3, further including the step of, prior to movement of the carriage, bracing the structural beam with a rod extending from a fixed point to a portion of the structural beam so that the structural beam does not substantially deform during actuation of the purlin straightening device.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of purlins that have been moved from the original position to the deformed position were moved by rotation of first portions of the plurality of the purlins with respect to second portions of the plurality of the purlins about pivot points associated with each of the purlins, and wherein the step of moving the carriage in the second lateral direction includes causing the guides to move the first portions of the plurality of purlins such that the first portions rotate about their respective pivot points, thereby moving the plurality of purlins from the deformed position to the original position.
- 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first portions of the plurality of purlins are horizontally extending portions, the second portions of the plurality of purlins are lower horizontally extending portions, and wherein the upper horizontally extending portions and the lower horizontally extending portions are joined by vertically extending portions.
- 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the carriage is adapted to dispense a roll of support sheet as the carriage moves along the length of the purlins so that the support sheet depends from adjacent purlins.
- 8. A method of straightening portions of a plurality of purlins of a roof structure which have been moved from an original position to a deformed position by rotation of first portions of the plurality of the purlins with respect to second portions of the plurality of the purlins about pivot points associated with each of the purlins, the plurality of purlins being spaced apart from one another in a parallel arrangement, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a carriage mounted for movement along the length of the purlins in a downstream direction, the carriage having a plurality of guides positioned adjacent the plurality of purlins;
- b. positioning the guides adjacent the first portions of the plurality of purlins which are in the deformed position; and
- c. moving the carriage in a lateral direction perpendicular to the downstream direction so that the guides move the first portions of the plurality of purlins so that the first portions rotate about their respective pivot points and thereby moves the plurality of purlins from the deformed position to the original position.
- 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first portions of the plurality of purlins are horizontally extending portions, the second portions of the plurality of purlins are lower horizontally extending portions, and wherein the upper horizontally extending portions and the lower horizontally extending portions are joined by vertically extending portions such that the pivot points are defined by the intersection of the lower horizontally extending portions and the vertically extending portions.
- 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the carriage is adapted to dispense a roll of support sheets as the carriage moves along the length of the purlins so that the support sheet depends from adjacent purlins.
- 11. The method of claim 8, wherein said moving step includes actuating a purlin straightening device having a first actuator fixed to the carriage, and a second actuator portion movable relative to the first actuator portion, wherein the second actuator portion is stationary with respect to a fixed portion of the roof structure, and the first actuator portion is movable relative to the second actuator portion.
- 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the fixed portion of the roof structure is a structural beam of the roof structure extending parallel to the purlins.
- 13. The method of claim 11, further including the step of, prior to movement of the carriage, bracing the structural beam with a rod extending from a fixed point to a portion of the structural beam so that the structural beam does not substantially deform during actuation of the purlin straightening device.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/016,703, filed Jan. 30, 1998.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Divisions (1)
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Number |
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016703 |
Jan 1998 |
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