DEVICE FOR LOADING AND POSITIONING PREFABRICATED ROOF ELEMENTS

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a device for loading and positioning prefabricated roof elements. 2. Description of the state of the art

[0002] For several years now, the demands placed on the execution of various trades in the residential and commercial construction sector have been increasing. At the same time, the construction industry is struggling with a shortage of skilled workers and rapidly rising costs. Therefore, the realization is gradually taking hold that the prefabrication of components offers significant potential for improving quality while simultaneously reducing costs. Furthermore, prefabrication allows for work planning that is independent of the construction progress on a building site.

[0003] German patent DE 197 03 560 C2 discloses a system that enables carpentry firms to prefabricate roof elements of a roof truss in their own production halls. Essentially, rafters are secured in a fixture according to a roof truss plan and fitted with cross battens. Insulation layers or other structural elements can also be attached, resulting in one or more prefabricated roof elements.

[0004] These prefabricated roof elements are then lifted onto the building on-site using a crane and assembled to form a complete roof. Often, the main purlin, purlins, and sill plates are first laid as continuous beams on existing support structures, such as the masonry, to serve as a supporting framework. The prefabricated roof elements are then positioned against this framework using a crane and subsequently secured, for example, by nailing and / or bolting. Ideally, for a small roof, a single roof element might suffice for each side of the roof structure.

[0005] In this way, a roof truss can be erected on site in a very short time and the roofer can then immediately begin covering the roof, for example with tiles.

[0006] In principle, it is possible to attach the prefabricated roof panels directly to a crane hook using lifting straps. However, this has several disadvantages. For example, the straps must be threaded manually onto the cross battens or other points on the prefabricated roof panel. This is time-consuming and can lead to damage to the roof panel if done improperly. Positioning the roof panel on the support structure is also difficult when suspended in this way.

[0007] US Patent 2009 / 0232623 A1 discloses a lifting device in which several hooks are attached to a support frame with longitudinal and transverse beams via retaining straps. The hooks are freely swinging and movable relative to the support frame, allowing them to be easily hooked onto a roof at a desired position. Using a crane that lifts the entire lifting device, the roof is then horizontally lowered onto a building.

[0008] US Patent 2001 / 055523 A1 discloses a lifting device for moving components in industrial racks. This lifting device also features freely swinging grippers connected to a frame via chains. The chains are welded to a sleeve that can be moved along the frame.

[0009] US Patent 11,014,788 B1 discloses a modular holding device for purlins in steel roof structures. The holding device comprises several longitudinal and transverse beams that can be individually bolted together using T-pieces. Hooks are arranged on the underside of the holding device, which can be mounted at various points on the longitudinal beams along a grid of holes using lateral plates. The purlins are individually inserted into the hooks and, with the aid of a lifting device, placed together at predetermined intervals onto existing steel roof beams. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for loading and positioning prefabricated roof surface elements which securely supports the prefabricated roof surface element.

[0011] According to the invention, this is achieved by a device for loading and positioning prefabricated roof surface elements according to claim 1.

[0012] The inventors recognized that a prefabricated roof panel typically has cross battens (often also called roof battens) on one side, which run perpendicular to the rafters of the roof panel and on which the roof tiles are usually mounted. Depending on the roof construction and the type of tile to be attached to the cross battens, these battens have different spacings. Therefore, a device for loading and positioning prefabricated roof panels should accommodate these different batten spacings.

[0013] The inventors have therefore further recognized that by means of movable batten grippers, which are designed to cooperate with the cross battens of the prefabricated roof surface element, in particular to grip behind them, the prefabricated roof surface element can be suspended on a device for loading and positioning.

[0014] Such a device can be used, for example, to grip the prefabricated roof element in a carpentry workshop by its cross battens and load it onto a truck. The same device can then be used on-site at the construction site to unload the prefabricated roof elements from the truck and position them using the crane attached to the device.

[0015] The inventors further recognized that a simple frame consisting of longitudinal and transverse beams lacked sufficient stability to support larger roof elements. It was found that by moving at least one of the two transverse beams further inward from the end of the longitudinal beams, greater stability along the longitudinal beams could be achieved. This is because the load distribution across the batten clamps is improved by the recessed transverse beam. In particular, this design allows CE certification to be obtained even for larger load-bearing profiles.

[0016] Preferably, both crossbeams are arranged at a distance from the respective ends of the longitudinal beams.

[0017] Compared to a device where only one of the two crossbeams is spaced away from the ends of the longitudinal beams, this measure further improves the deflection strength of the device.

[0018] Preferably, the two longitudinal beams are provided to have a length between approximately 200 cm and 400 cm, preferably between 260 cm and 350 cm, and in particular between 290 cm and 320 cm.

[0019] Longitudinal beams with a length in these areas have proven to be a good compromise with regard to the transportability of the prefabricated roof elements and the maximum possible rafter length of the roof elements.

[0020] Preferably, the distance between the crossbeams and the ends of the longitudinal beams is between 45 cm and 60 cm, preferably between 47 cm and 55 cm.

[0021] Since the cross battens of the prefabricated roof elements, as already explained, can comprise different batten spacings, and the sliding batten grippers, which are arranged on the longitudinal beams to grip the cross battens, must not collide with the cross beams, placing the cross beam within the specified spacing ranges is particularly advantageous. This allows for complete freedom regarding standard batten spacings. The batten spacing (also called the batten width) typically depends on the roof tiles used, with the device according to the invention covering the most important standard batten widths in the range of approximately 31 cm to 43.5 cm. The sliding batten grippers can thus be adjusted to the required batten spacing without colliding with the cross beams.

[0022] Preferably, a central longitudinal beam is arranged between the two longitudinal beams, which is slidable along the crossbeams and can be fixed in different positions along one of the two crossbeams.

[0023] Since the prefabricated roof panels can have varying spacing between the rafters, a laterally movable central longitudinal beam allows for gripping different prefabricated roof panels. This is because the batten grippers can typically only engage the transverse battens of a prefabricated roof panel in areas between the rafters or behind a longitudinal counter-batten of the roof panel.

[0024] A clamping device can be provided at the intersections between the central longitudinal beam and the two crossbeams. This device can be located at both intersections or only at one. Furthermore, the clamping device can exert a clamping force via a screw or a lever. However, since the central longitudinal beam locks itself under load, the clamping device can also be omitted.

[0025] Preferably, a fixed slat gripper is arranged on at least one of the longitudinal beams and / or the central longitudinal beam, which is immovably fixed along the longitudinal beams or the central longitudinal beam.

[0026] The inventors recognized that it is particularly advantageous to arrange a fixed gripping element on the longitudinal beams. The spacing of the other movable gripping elements is determined by the batten grid, relative to this fixed gripping element. The other gripping elements can thus be moved relative to this fixed gripping element according to the batten grid and then fixed in place.

[0027] Particularly when positioning one or both crossbeams away from the ends of the longitudinal beams, it is advantageous to place the fixed batten clamp along the longitudinal beams between the crossbeams and / or to position it at least 80 cm from the ends of the longitudinal beams. This allows the batten grid or the spacing of the movable batten clamps to vary on both sides of the fixed clamp. In this way, it is easier to create space for the placement of the crossbeams in the structure without them colliding with the movable batten clamps.

[0028] If, on the other hand, the fixed batten gripper were arranged at the end of the longitudinal beams, the movement clearances of the movable batten grippers required for the usual batten grids would always cover at least one area in which a crossbeam would have to be arranged.

[0029] The fixed slat gripper can be welded to the longitudinal beam or the central longitudinal beam in particular.

[0030] Preferably, the slat grippers are cantilevered on one side of the longitudinal beams and the crossbeams are arranged on the side of the longitudinal beams opposite the slat grippers.

[0031] The crossbeam is thus positioned away from the longitudinal beams of the prefabricated roof element, particularly its cross battens. This allows the crossbeam to be sufficiently large without colliding with the cross battens of the prefabricated roof element. In particular, the crossbeam can be designed as a hollow section beam. For example, a 50 cm x 50 cm rectangular hollow section, e.g., made of steel, especially stainless steel, can be used.

[0032] According to the invention, at least one slat gripper, preferably all of the movable slat grippers, has a gripping hook and a counter plate, and the gripping hook is connected to the counter plate via a locking means in order to clamp the movable slat gripper on the longitudinal beam in a definable position.

[0033] The gripping hook is designed to work in conjunction with the cross battens of the prefabricated roof surface element.

[0034] The sliding batten grippers, which can be flexibly positioned along the longitudinal beams, comprise, on the one hand, gripping hooks that engage behind the cross battens of the prefabricated roof element and are located on the side of the longitudinal beams facing the roof element. On the other hand, a counter plate runs along the side of the longitudinal beams facing away from the roof element. This counter plate, secured by a locking mechanism such as a screw or an eccentric lever, clamps the longitudinal beam between the gripping hook and itself. Since the counter plates of the sliding batten grippers could collide with the two cross beams, the arrangement of the cross beams, as described above, is of particular importance, as it ensures that all necessary spacings for the sliding batten grippers can be achieved according to the standard batten grid.

[0035] Preferably, the device may have a locking bar designed to secure an inserted cross slat against slipping out of the slat gripper.

[0036] If the roof panel, together with the device according to the invention, is already positioned on the roof, or if the roof panel is resting on the truck, it is necessary that the device does not detach from the roof panel due to its own weight. The locking bolt prevents this by ensuring that a crossbar, preferably inserted into the fixed batten gripper, can no longer be removed without releasing the locking bolt.

[0037] Preferably, the device can have at least three, preferably four, crane attachment points.

[0038] The crane attachment points, for example in the form of lifting eyes, are designed to allow the attachment of at least three crane cables and / or chains. The crane attachment points can be arranged in a triangle (i.e., not in a line) so that the roof element can be positioned by changing the length of the lifting cables and / or chains.

[0039] Preferably, at least one side protection fastening element, in particular a carabiner hook, can be provided on the device.

[0040] For fall protection reasons, it can be advisable to install side protection on the roof truss, on already attached roof panels, or on other elements of the building structure at the beginning of, or even before, the fastening work on the roof panel to the roof frame. The side protection can, for example, include railing elements.

[0041] One or more side protection fastening elements can be attached to the loading and positioning device. In this way, the device can also serve as fall protection. Under certain circumstances, this may even eliminate the need for scaffolding.

[0042] The device can also be used as a means of transporting a side guard that is no longer needed. For example, a side guard that is no longer required can be attached to the side guard mounting elements using (disposable) webbing slings and transported back to the truck along with the device. For this purpose, carabiners can be welded to the sides of the longitudinal beams. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. These show: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a device for loading and positioning a prefabricated roof element; Figure 2 shows a side view of several configurations of the device according to the invention for different batten grids. DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EXECUTION EXAMPLE

[0044] Figure 1 Figure 1 shows a loading and positioning device, designated with reference numeral 10, with which a prefabricated roof element 12, shown here only in sketch form and with dashed lines, can be loaded and positioned.

[0045] The prefabricated roof element 12 typically has several rafters 14 defining a longitudinal direction L. The rafters 14 are connected by means of cross battens 16, which are arranged along the rafters 14 at a predetermined grid spacing RL and nailed and / or screwed onto them. The prefabricated roof element 12 thus forms a cohesive unit.

[0046] Other components of the prefabricated roof element 12, such as insulation layers, vapor barriers and / or panel substructures, are not important for the present invention and are not shown here, but they may additionally be present on a prefabricated roof element 12.

[0047] A roof element often has a counter-batten running longitudinally L behind the cross battens 16, which provides ventilation for the roof tiles. However, this is of minor importance for understanding the present invention, since the counter-batten is comparable to the rafters 14 shown here in relation to the device according to the invention.

[0048] The loading and positioning device 10 has two longitudinal beams 18 and 20, which are connected to each other via two crossbeams 22 and 24. In the present embodiment, all components are made of steel. However, other materials are also conceivable.

[0049] The longitudinal beams 18, 20 are essentially constructed from two U-profiles 26 and 28 placed with their back faces against each other. The U-profiles 26, 28 are slightly spaced apart from each other, leaving a gap 30 between them. To fix this construction, cover plates 32 are welded to the end faces of the longitudinal beams 18, 20.

[0050] When the loading and positioning device 10 is connected to the prefabricated roof surface element 12, the longitudinal beams 18, 20 run approximately parallel to the rafters 14 of the roof surface element 12.

[0051] The two crossbeams 22, 24 are designed here as rectangular hollow section beams, which are attached at their ends to the longitudinal beams 18, 20, in particular by welding. The two crossbeams 22, 24 rest on the longitudinal beams (in Fig. 1 from above).

[0052] The positioning of the two crossbeams 22, 24 along the longitudinal beams 18, 20 is crucial here. They are spaced a distance A in the longitudinal direction from the respective ends of the longitudinal beams 18, 20. This distance A is, for example, approximately 50 cm. It can be identical on both sides, but it can also differ.

[0053] Furthermore, retaining lugs 34 are attached to the crossbeams 22, 24 as crane attachment points, with which the loading and positioning device 10 can be attached to crane hooks of a crane not shown.

[0054] Between the two longitudinal beams 18, 20, a further longitudinal beam, designated as a central longitudinal beam 36, is arranged. The central longitudinal beam 36 is slidable along the crossbeams 22, 24 and can be fixed in different positions by means of a clamping device 38.

[0055] Fixed slat grippers 40 and movable slat grippers 42 are arranged along the longitudinal beams 18, 20, 36.

[0056] The fixed batten grippers 40 are arranged on the longitudinal beams 18, 20 in the area between the crossbeams 22, 24. In particular, the fixed batten grippers 40 are arranged at approximately 1 / 3 of the length of the longitudinal beams 18, 20.

[0057] The fixed batten grippers 40 define a kind of zero point for the arrangement of the movable batten grippers 42, since these must be positioned according to the grid dimension RL of the cross battens 16 of the prefabricated roof surface element 12.

[0058] The sliding batten grippers 42 each have a gripping hook 44 with which the cross battens 16 are engaged from behind. Furthermore, the sliding batten grippers 42 have a counter plate 46 which rests on the opposite side of the longitudinal beam 18, 20 with respect to the gripping hook 44. The gripping hook 44 and the counter plate 46 are connected to each other by a screw 48, which passes through the gap 30 between the two U-profiles 26, 28 of the longitudinal beam 18, 20. By tightening the screw 48, the sliding batten grippers 42 can be fixed at any position along the longitudinal beam 18, 20 and the central longitudinal beam 36. The screw 48 thus serves as a simple locking device.

[0059] Furthermore, the loading and positioning device 10 has a locking pin 60 as a locking element, which is arranged here on the stationary slat gripper 42 of the central longitudinal beam 36. The locking pin 60 can be used when the cross slat is inserted. Finally, the loading and positioning device 10 can also have four carabiner hooks (not shown here) as side protection fastening elements.

[0060] The loading and positioning device 10 can be used, for example, as follows: First, the movable batten grippers 42 and the central longitudinal beam 18, 20 are adjusted and fixed so that their distances to the grid dimension RL of the cross battens 16 or the distances of the rafters 14 of a prefabricated roof surface element 12, which is to be loaded or positioned, are compatible.

[0061] In Figure 2Various position configurations of the sliding batten clamps 40 and 42 for different batten grids are shown. The dimensions indicated on the right correspond to the standard batten spacings for various roof tile coverings.

[0062] Out of Figure 2 It is also evident that the positioning of the crossbeams 22, 24 and the fixed slat grippers 40 are of particular importance in order to be able to use the loading and positioning device 10 for the most important standard slat widths.

[0063] The loading and positioning device 10 is then attached to the roof panel 12 so that the batten grippers 40, 42 engage behind the cross battens 16. The loading and positioning device 10, together with the roof panel 12, is suspended from a crane using the lifting eyes 34. The crane can then easily load the roof panel 12 or position it on a roof truss.

[0064] Before the loading and positioning device 10 is transported back from the roof to a truck, a side guard that is no longer needed can be attached to the carabiner hooks using webbing slings. In this way, the loading and positioning device 10 also serves as a means of transport for the side guard.

Claims

1. Device (10) for loading and positioning prefabricated roof top elements (12) which carry transverse battens on one side, comprising a) two longitudinal beams (18, 20, 36), along each of which a plurality of batten grippers (42) are arranged, the batten grippers (42) being displaceable along the longitudinal beams (18, 20, 36) and fixable in different positions along the longitudinal beams (18, 20, 36), wherein the batten grippers (42) are configured to cooperate with the transverse battens of the prefabricated roof top element (12), b) two cross beams (22, 24) via which the longitudinal beams (18, 20, 36) are connected to one another, wherein c) at least one of the cross beams (22, 24) is arranged at a spacing (A) from the ends of the longitudinal beams (18, 20, 36), characterized in that d) at least one batten gripper (42) of the displaceable batten grippers (42) comprises a gripping hook (44) and a counterplate (46), and the gripping hook (44) is connected to the counterplate (46) via a locking means (48) in order to clamp the displaceable batten gripper (42) on the longitudinal beam (18, 20, 36) in a selectable position, wherein the gripping hook (44), which engages behind the transverse battens of the prefabricated roof top element (12), is arranged on the side of the longitudinal beams (18, 20, 36) facing the roof top element (12) and the counterplate (46) runs on the side of the longitudinal beams (18, 20, 36) facing away from the roof top element (12).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that both cross beams (22, 24) are arranged at a spacing (A) from the respective ends of the longitudinal beams (18, 20, 36).

3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two longitudinal beams (18, 20, 36) have a length between about 200 cm and 400 cm, preferably between 260 cm and 350 cm, in particular between 290 cm and 320 cm.

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spacing (A) of the cross beams (22, 24) from the ends of the longitudinal beams (18, 20, 36) is between 45 cm and 60 cm, preferably between 47 cm and 55 cm.

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a central longitudinal beam (36) is arranged between the two longitudinal beams (18, 20), the central longitudinal beam (36) being displaceable along the cross beams (22, 24) and being fixable in different positions along one of the two cross beams (22, 24).

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a fixed batten gripper (40) is arranged on at least one of the longitudinal beams (18, 20) and / or on the central longitudinal beam (36), the fixed batten gripper (40) being fixed immovably along the longitudinal beams (18, 20) and / or the central longitudinal beam (36).

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the batten grippers (40, 42) project from one side of the longitudinal beams (18, 20) and the cross beams (22, 24) are arranged on the side of the longitudinal beams (18, 20) opposite the batten grippers (40, 42).

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least three, preferably four, crane suspension points (34) are provided.

9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one side-protection fastening element, in particular a carabiner hook, is provided.