Roofing Shingle Remover Fork and Tine Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

The labor-intensive process of removing old shingles from roofs is challenging due to the difficulty in accessing and removing nails, which often results in broken shingles and hazards for laborers, requiring significant time and effort.

Innovation Solution

A portable shingle remover device with a fork riser assembly and pusher assembly that allows for simultaneous removal of shingles and nails, featuring a front crank shaft with cams to push forks under shingles and a rear crank shaft with cams to secure the device, enabling efficient removal at any angle and location without prior removal of overlapping shingles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If laborers manually remove old shingles by pulling them up with nails still intact, then shingles can be removed from the roof, but the shingles break into multiple pieces during removal and the process becomes more time-consuming and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshingle removal speedVSAvoidshingle integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The device segments the shingle removal process into two distinct functional components: forks that engage and lift the shingle from below, and tines that engage and hold the nail heads. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, preventing shingle breakage while maintaining removal speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device introduces an intermediary tool between the laborer and the shingle-nail assembly. Rather than directly pulling shingles with nails (which causes breakage), the device mediates the removal process by using forks to lift and tines to secure, enabling controlled extraction that preserves shingle integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If laborers forcefully pull up old shingles with nails still intact, then shingles can be removed, but the process becomes more difficult and old shingles break into multiple pieces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshingle removal easeVSAvoidshingle完整性

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The device enables self-service shingle removal by providing integrated forks and tines that work together automatically. The forks engage the shingle and the tines engage the nails simultaneously, allowing the device to perform the removal function without requiring laborers to manually manipulate each shingle and nail separately

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The device acts as an intermediary that simplifies the removal process by providing mechanical advantage and proper engagement points. The forks provide a secure under-shingle grip while tines capture nail heads, making the operation easier and preventing breakage that occurs with direct manual pulling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If laborers remove old shingles manually, then shingles can be removed from the roof, but old nails are left in the roof presenting hazards and requiring additional removal time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoverall removal efficiencyVSAvoidnail hazards

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device merges two functions into a single tool: shingle removal and nail removal. The forks remove the shingle while the tines simultaneously engage and extract the nails, eliminating the need for a separate nail removal step and preventing hazards from leftover nails

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The device maintains continuous useful action by removing both shingles and nails in a single motion. Rather than removing shingles first and then separately removing nails (which creates hazards and delays), the device continuously performs both functions simultaneously throughout the removal process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Ease of operation

If an upper shingle must be removed first to expose a lower shingle, then shingles can be removed in sequence, but the process becomes more time-consuming and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshingle access easeVSAvoidtime for sequential removal

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The device inverts the traditional removal approach by enabling access to lower shingles without first removing upper shingles. The forks can reach underneath overlapping shingles to engage the target shingle, and the tines can engage nails even when partially obscured, allowing removal in any sequence rather than requiring top-to-bottom progression

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS11499317B2Roofing shingle remover

Publication Date: 2022.11.15 CARTER DAVID L

AI summary

A shingle remover includes a fork riser, a pusher, and front and rear crank shafts. The fork riser includes forks separated by fork spacers. The forks are configured to push under shingles and separate them from roof structures. The fork spacers and forks pull out the nails associated with the shingles. Scoops on some of the forks urge pulled shingles away from the shingle remover for disposal. A fork carrier associated with the fork riser secures the forks to a front crank shaft while a cam associated with the front crank shaft periodically urges the forks forward under the shingles. A slot in the fork carrier engages with the rear crank shaft to limit movement of the forks to a substantially horizontal back-and-forth direction. The pusher includes tines that bite into the roof to oppose movement of the shingle remover as the forks push under and remove the shingles.