Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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RAISABLE TRANSPORT AND ALIGNMENT DEVICE AND PROCESS
FOR MANUFACTURED HOUSES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device and process for moving and aligning
a building, and more
particularly to a device and process for moving and aligning a manufactured
house prior to and
during its installation onto its foundation.
I O DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
The manufacturing of completed or partially completed houses (both of which
are referred to herein
as "manufactured houses") within a factory for subsequent transport to the
installation location of
the manufactured house, for example in a subdivision, is well-known.
Additionally, the use of a
transporter for moving a manufactured house from one location to another is
well known.
Generally, when a new subdivision is being built, subdivision roads are
constructed early in the
process to allow the construction and other equipment and materials easy
access to the building site.
While the final asphalt or concrete surface may or may not have been laid,
these roads generally
provide a more stable and uniform surface for construction vehicles and other
equipment than the
surrounding land, which may be pitted with holes, obstacles, unstable soil or
otherwise unsuited for
the overland transportation of heavy construction equipment and the like.
For this reason, it is generally advantageous when transporting a manufactured
house to a
subdivision site, to operate the transporter on the finished or unfinished
subdivision roads whenever
possible, to thereby provide a relatively smooth and stable surface for
improved manoeuverability
of the transporter particularly when precisely positioning the loaded
transporter in tight or difficult
to access areas and to provide a stable surface for supporting the transporter
and the manufactured
house resting thereon.
Difficulties may arise with respect to the transfer of the manufactured house
from the transporter to
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the foundation, such difficulties being compounded by such factors as the
weight, center of gravity
and dimensions of the manufactured house, and the levelness and stability of
the surface around the
foundation.
United States Patent Number 5,402,618 (Biffis et al.) discloses one such
transfernng process, and
the use of a mobile crane at the foundation site to remove the house from the
truck trailer or
transporter onto the foundation. The use of a mobile crane in the manner
described in Biffis et al.
requires the mobile crane to be available for each move, which crane must be
positioned in a location
having access to both the transporter and the foundation, which may not be
readily achieved in all
circumstances, particularly in subdivisions where the foundations are not
close to the road, or where
there are obstacles to locating the crane is such a position, and further
requires an elaborate lifting
frame, cables, straps and attachment elements to secure the house during the
lifting, placement and
lowering processes. Furthermore, the process described in Biffis et al.
requires the use of a steel base
member upon which the house is assembled to support the house so that the
house will not flex or
bend during movement.
United States Patent Number 4,187,659 (Blachura) also discloses the use of a
mobile crane at the
foundation site to remove a house from the truck trailer or transporter onto
the foundation and the
use of lifting rods which extend through the walls of the house to engage
beams located beneath the
house. The rods extend through the roof of the house, being attached to a
rigid rectangular frame
harness located above the house, from which cables or chains extend for
lifting by the mobile crane.
The previous efforts to move a manufactured house from a transporter to a
foundation, and to align
the manufactured house relative to its foundation prior to it being lowered
onto the foundation has
required the utilization of expensive and difficult-to-use lifting equipment
such as cranes, which
additionally require significant site preparation to receive and position the
crane for proper use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide an improved device and
process for aligning a
manufactured house relative to the foundation and moving the manufactured
house from a
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transporter to a position above the foundation for the manufactured house, and
for aligning the
manufactured house relative to the foundation upon which it will be placed.
It is a further obj ect of the present invention to provide an improved device
and process for moving
a manufactured house from the manufactured house transporter to a position
above and in alignment
with its final resting position on a foundation and in particular to provide
an improved, efficient and
safe method for moving a manufactured house from the transporter to a position
above and in
alignment with the foundation prior to it being lowered onto the foundation.
Accordingly, the invention relates to a device for positioning a manufactured
house on a house
foundation, comprising supporting means for supporting the manufactured house,
such supporting
means being engageable with the manufactured house, at least two skate beams
which are capable
of spanning the house foundation, transporter means for transporting the
manufactured house and
the supporting means relative to the house foundation, lifting means adapted
to releasably engage
the supporting means and to lift and lower the manufactured house, at least
two runner beams
adapted to be supported by the transporter means, and adapted to pivot about a
substantially vertical
axis and to move relative to the transporter means in a substantially
horizontal plane, and each of
which two runner beams are detachably securable to a corresponding skate beam,
at least three upper
skates having an upper and lower body, the lower body adapted to move along
the length of the
runner beams and the skate beams with a minimum of lateral movement, and
adapted to support the
upper body of the upper skate, and to permit the upper skate to pivot relative
the lower body about
a substantially vertical axis, the upper body being adapted to receive and
securely support the
supporting means and the manufactured house, and to allow the supporting means
and the
manufactured house to move longitudinally relative to the upper skate, the
runner beams being
aligned with and secured to the skate beams after the manufactured house has
been lifted by the
lifting means, the manufactured house thereafter being repositioned from the
transporter to a position
above and in alignment with the foundation by means of the at least three
upper skates.
The advantage of the present invention is that it eliminates the need to
utilize a crane or similar
device to lift, move and align the manufactured house when it is being
transferred from the
transporter to the foundation and the associated difficulties in positioning
and operating a crane or
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similar lifting device.
Furthermore, the present invention advantageously provides for an improved
device and process for
simplifying the alignment of the runner beams to the skate beams during the
installation of the
manufacturer house from the transporter unit.
It is a further advantage of the present invention that it reduces the amount
of on-site labor and time
required to transfer the manufactured house from the transporter to a precise
position above and in
alignment with the foundation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with
reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1A illustrates a manufactured house positioned upon carrier beams and
Figure 1B
illustrates a cross-section of an embodiment of a Garner beam;
Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of a transporter, including the tractor and
trailer unit.
Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment of a transporter, including the tractor and
trailer unit with
support beams positioned on the outer beams of the trailer unit, and hydraulic
jacks
positioned upon the support beams;
Figure 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a transporter, the trailer
unit having a flat
metal load bearing platform;
Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment of a transporter, the trailer unit having a
flat metal load
bearing platform with support beams positioned on the trailer unit, and
hydraulic jacks
positioned upon the support beams;
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Figures 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D and 6E illustrate an embodiment of front and rear
dollies which may
be used for supporting and transporting the trailer unit, and a hydraulic jack
which may be
integrated into and form part of the dollies;
Figure 7 illustrates an embodiment of a transporter unit, including the
tractor and trailer unit,
with support beams positioned on the outer beam of the trailer unit, and
hydraulic jacks
positioned upon the support beams, with runner beams positioned between the
support
beams;
Figure 8 illustrates an embodiment of a transporter unit, including the
tractor and trailer unit,
with support beams positioned on the trailer unit, and hydraulic jacks
positioned upon the
support beams, with runner beams positioned between the support beams;
Figure 9 illustrates an embodiment of a transporter unit, including the
tractor and trailer unit,
with support beams positioned on the outer beams of the trailer unit and
hydraulic jacks
positioned upon the support beams, with runner beams positioned between the
support
beams, and a manufactured house and carrier beams being supported by the
hydraulic j acks
and support beams, the manufactured house being in the lowered position;
Figure 10 illustrates a manufactured house positioned on the foundation;
Figure 11 illustrates an embodiment of the trailer unit, upon which is
positioned four support
beams upon which are positioned hydraulic j acks, and three runner beams,
supporting by way
of upper skates, carrier beams and a manufactured house;
Figure 12A and 12B illustrate an embodiment of a runner beam having a ratchet
mechanism
and hydraulic jack to move the skate relative to the runner beam;
Figures 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D illustrate a trailer unit and various degrees of
movement of
the trailer unit in the horizontal plane;
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Figure 14 illustrates an embodiment of the foundation, with skate beams
positioned across
the foundation, and supported by skate beams supports, with hydraulic jacks
positioned on
the basement floor of the foundation;
Figures 15A, 15B, and 15C illustrate an embodiment of the transporter unit
aligning the
manufactured house relative to the foundation prior to unloading the
manufactured house
onto the foundation;
Figure 16 illustrates a cross-section of an embodiment of a runner beam in the
form of an "I"
beam;
Figure 17 illustrates a cross-section of an embodiment of a runner beam in the
form of a
double "I" beam;
Figure 1$ illustrates a cross-section of an embodiment of a runner beam in the
form of an
upright "I" beam upon which is securely positioned a horizontally oriented "I"
beam;
Figures 19A, 19B and 19C illustrate an embodiment of the runner beam in the
form of two
upright "I" beams in spaced relation to one another, securely positioned upon
a flat beam
with a portion of a lower skate positioned thereon;
Figures 20A and 20B illustrate two embodiments of an upper skate;
Figures 21A and 21B illustrate two other embodiments of an upper skate;
Figures 22A and 22B illustrate two other embodiments of an upper skate;
Figures 23 illustrates a cross-section of an embodiment of a manufactured
house in the
partially raised position;
Figures 24A and 24B illustrate cross-sections of two embodiments of a
manufactured house
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in the lowered position;
Figures 25A and 25B illustrate an embodiment of a loaded transport unit
positioned adjacent
the foundation, and the subsequent alignment of the runner beams to the skate
beams,
respectively;
Figure 26 illustrates an embodiment of the transport unit positioned adj acent
the foundation,
with the runner beams in alignment with the skate beams, the runner beams and
skate beams
being supported by supports;
Figure 27 illustrates an embodiment of the connection between the runner beams
and skate
beams;
Figures 28A, 28B, 28C and 28D illustrate the movement of the manufactured
house from the
transport unit to a position above the foundation;
Figures 29A and 29B illustrate the final alignment of the manufactured house
relative to the
foundation, prior to it being lowered onto the foundation;
Figure 30 illustrates a cross-section of one embodiment of a typical upper
skate loaded with
a carrier beam, and resting upon a runner beam and the trailer unit;
Figure 31 illustrates a cross-section of another embodiment of a typical upper
skate loaded
with a carrier beam, and resting upon a runner beam and the trailer unit;
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figure 1A, a manufactured house 2 is illustrated resting upon
substantially parallel
Garner beams 4. In the preferred embodiment, the manufactured house 2 is
supported by carrier
beams 4 which are positioned beneath the manufactured house 2, and which
carrier beams 4 travel
with the manufactured house 2 during transportation and installation onto a
foundation. In one
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embodiment, the carrier beams 4 are securely engaged with the underside of the
manufactured house
2 during the manufacturing of the manufactured house 2 prior to the loading of
the manufactured
house 2 for transportation to the installation location for the manufactured
house. In another
embodiment, the carrier beams are integrated into and form part of the
manufactured house 2.
Refernng to Figure 1B, in the preferred embodiment, the Garner beams 4 are
upright "I" beams
having an upper flange 91 and a lower flange 92 as illustrated in Figure 1B,
it being understood that
various different configurations or cross-sections of carrier beams may be
utilized, depending for
example on the unique characteristics of a particular house, or manufactured
house manufacturing
process.
Refernng to Figure 2, one embodiment of the transporter 8 of the present
invention includes a tractor
unit 10 and a trailer unit 12, which together are capable of moving a
manufactured house 2 from one
location to another, for example, from a manufacturing facility in which the
manufactured house 2
is manufactured, to the foundation, footing or like support (any of which may
be hereinafter referred
to as the "foundation") upon which the manufactured house will be installed.
In one embodiment,
the tractor unit 10 is a truck, it being understood that the tractor unit 10
may take a wide range of
alternative forms known to a person skilled in the art.
In one embodiment, the trailer unit 12 of the transporter 8 includes a frame
14 having an opening 16
therein to permit easy access to the underside of manufactured house 2 when
positioned on the trailer
unit 12. In this embodiment, the frame 14 includes two substantially parallel
outer beams 18 which
are capable of supporting a loaded manufactured house 2, and its Garner beams
4 and the runner
beams and support beams, as more fully described herein.
In another embodiment as illustrated in Figure 4, the frame 14 of the trailer
unit 12 securely supports
a substantially flat metal platform 20 capable of supporting a loaded
manufactured house 2, and its
carrier beams 4 and the runner beams and support beams as more fully described
herein, the metal
platform 20 being supported from beneath by the frame 14 of the trailer unit
12. In the preferred
embodiment, the flat metal platform 20 is comprised of sheet steel having a
thickness of between
'/z inch and 1 inch.
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The frame 14 of t he trailer unit 12 is securely supported by dollies 22 or
wheels an embodiment of
which is illustrated in Figures 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D and 6E, which permit the
trailer unit 12 and the
loaded manufactured house 2 to be transported and positioned.
As illustrated in Figures 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D and 6E, the dollies 22 or wheels may
be attached to the
underside of the trailer unit 12 or frame 14 by a plate 24 bolted to the
underside of the trailer unit 12.
The dollies 22 may pivot in relation to the trailer unit 12 about a
substantially vertical axis, by means
of a ball and socket or similar arrangement 28 allowing the trailer unit 12 to
be moved forward and
backward, from side to side, and diagonally, and to pivot clockwise or
counterclockwise, as generally
shown in Figures 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D.
The tractor unit 10 or other vehicle or mechanical device may be used to
provide horizontal and
rotational movement of the trailer unit 12 and the manufactured house. It is
understood that more
than 3 dollies 22 may be utilized, and the dollies 22 may have as few as one
wheel and tire, or may
have 2 or more axles, and as many wheels and tires as are required to support
the trailer unit 12
loaded with a manufactured house. In addition, in one embodiment, rather than
utilizing wheels and
tires, tracks such as those used on bulldozers can be utilized instead of
wheels to decrease the ground
pressure exerted by the loaded trailer unit 12.
Furthermore, as illustrated in Figures 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D and 6E, in one
embodiment, each of the
dollies 22 has a hydraulic j ack 26 positioned on the dolly 22 for raising and
lowering, or re-aligning
or leveling the frame 14 or metal platform 20 of the trailer unit 12. When
each of the hydraulic j acks
26 is raised or lowered the same distance, the elevation of the frame 14 and
manufactured house 2
are raised or lowered correspondingly. If one (or more) of the hydraulic jacks
26 is not raised or
lowered to the same extent as at least one of the other hydraulic j acks 26,
the levelness and angle of
the frame 14 or metal platform 20 and manufactured house 2 will accordingly be
adjusted, the ball
and socket or similar arrangements 28 on the dollies permitting the frame 14
or metal platform 20
of the trailer unit 12 to tilt relative to the dollies 22. By selectively
raising or lowering the hydraulic
jacks 26, the manufactured house 2 maybe leveled in all directions (relative
to the foundation) and
raised and/or lowered to facilitate the alignment of the runner beams and
skate beams referred to
herein so that the manufactured house may be moved from the trailer unit 12
onto the foundation
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6
Referring to Figures 3 and 5, two substantially parallel support beams 77 are
positioned at either end
of the trailer unit 12. In the preferred embodiment, four hydraulic j acks 79
are positioned in spaced
relation to each other securely atop each of the support beams 77, the
hydraulic jacks 79 being
positioned to engage the underside of and to raise and/or lower the carrier
beams when the
manufacturing house and carrier beams are positioned on the trailer unit, as
more fully described
herein. It is understood that fewer or more than 4 hydraulic jacks may be
utilized for each support
beam as may be required given the various different particular circumstances
and configurations of
each manufactured house. In the preferred embodiment, the support beams are
upright "I" beams,
it being understood that persons skill in the art may substitute suitable
alternative beams or structures
in their place. It is also understood that more than two support beams 77 may
be utilized, and in one
embodiment, four substantially parallel support beams are utilized as
illustrated in Figures 11, 23,
24A, and 24B.
As illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, runner beams 40 are positioned on the
trailer unit 12, the runner
beams 40 being positioned generally parallel to one another and being oriented
generally laterally
relative to the principal direction of travel (forward) of the transporter
unit, in such a way that when
the trailer unit 12 is positioned to unload the manufactured house 2 at the
foundation site, the runner
beams 40 will be in substantial alignment with the skate beams referred to
herein. The runner beams
40 are positioned in spaced relation to one another so as to stably bear the
weight of the
manufactured house 2 and so that the center of gravity of the manufactured
house 2 when loaded on
the trailer unit 12 is safely between the runner beams 40.
In one embodiment, the runner beams 40 are upright "I" beams 42, a cross-
section of one such
runner beam being illustrated in Figure 16. In another embodiment, the runner
beams 40 are double
upright "I" beams 42, a cross-section of which is illustrated in Figure 17,
the upper flanges 52 of the
"I" beams being welded 53 or securely fastened together, and the lower flanges
54 of the "I" beams
also being welded 55 or securely fastened together for additional strength and
stability. In another
embodiment, the runner beams 40 comprise two "I" beams, a first vertically
oriented "I" beam 42,
upon which is positioned a horizontally oriented "I" beam 44, the top of the
vertically oriented "I"
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beam 42 being welded 57 or securely fastened to the horizontally oriented "I"
beam 44 as illustrated
in Figure 18. In the preferred embodiment, the runner beams include two
parallel upright "I" beams
42 which are in spaced relation to each other, the bases of which "I" beams
are welded 41 or securely
fastened to a flat beam 46, a cross-section of which embodiment is illustrated
in Figure 19.
As illustrated in Figures 20A, 20B, 21 A, 21 B, 22A and 22B, six way upper
skates 60 have a lower
body 62 and an upper body 64, the upper body 64 being pivotable in relation to
the lower body 62,
such that the upper body 64 may be capable of rotating through 360 degrees
about a substantially
vertical axis. It is understood that the precise configuration and shape of
the lower body 62 of the
upper skate is such that must conform to the embodiment of the runner beams 40
and skate beams
94 being utilized and that the lower bodies 62 of the upper skates 60 may be
interchanged with
different upper bodies as the circumstances of a particular project dictate.
The lower body 62 of the upper skate 60 illustrated in Figures 20A and 20B may
be utilized when
1 S the single I beam illustrated in Figure 16 or the double I beam
illustrated in Figure 17 is utilized, the
lower body 62 of the upper skates 60 illustrated in Figures 20A and 20B having
a lips 72 to engage
beneath the upper flanges 52 of the upright and double upright "I" beams. In
this configuration, the
lower body 62 of the upper skate 60 utilizes a plurality of rollers 74 which
allow the upper skate 60
to roll along the runner beam 40 (and thereafter the skate beam), it being
understood that a wide
variety of different mechanisms can be utilized for this purpose, including
wheels or casters. In an
alternative configuration, a smooth lubricated load bearing contact surface
may be presented on the
underside of the lower body 62 of the upper skate 60, the contact surface
being in contact with the
upper surface 48 of the upper flange 52 of the single or double upright "I"
beam configurations of
the runner beam illustrated in Figure 16 and 17 respectively, which may also
be lubricated with
Teflon, graphite or a similar lubricant to ensure the smooth travel of the
skate along the rumier beam
(and thereafter the skate beam).
The lower body 62 of the upper skate 60 depicted in Figure 21A and 21 B may be
used in
conjunction with the embodiment of the runner beam 40 illustrated in Figure
18, with the lower
body 62 of the upper skate 60 being able to move within and along the channel
56 of the horizontally
oriented "I" beam. In this configuration, the lower body 62 of the upper skate
60 utilizes a plurality
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of rollers 74 which allow the skate to roll along the lower surface of the
channel 56 of the runner
beam 40, it being understood that a wide variety of different mechanisms can
be utilized for this
purpose, including wheels or casters. In an alternative embodiment of the
lower body 62 of the
upper skate 60, a smooth lubricated load bearing contact surface is presented
on the underside of the
lower body of the upper skate, the contact surface shaped to rest within the
channel 56 presented by
the horizontal "I" beam. In this embodiment, both the contact surface and the
lower and side surfaces
of the channel 56 may also be lubricated with Teflon, graphite or a similar
lubricant to ensure the
smooth travel on the skate along the runner beam (and thereafter the skate
beam).
In the preferred embodiment, a "T" shaped lower body 62 to the upper skate 60
is utilized as
illustrated in Figures 22A and 22B, the lower end 80 of the "T" being capable
of being positioned
between the two "I" beams as illustrated in Figure 19C, and the underside of
the upper part of the
"T" 82 resting upon the upper flanges 48 of the "I" beams as illustrated in
Figures 19B and 19C. In
this embodiment, the upper surfaces of the "I" beams 48 are coated with a
Teflon, graphite or similar
lubricant to allow the skate to move freely along the upper surface 48 of the
runner beam (and
thereafter the skate beam). Likewise, the surfaces of the "T" shaped lower
body of the upper skate
may b a 1 ubricated t o facilitate m ovement o f t he a pper s kate r elative
t o t he r unner b eam ( and
thereafter the skate beam). Furthermore, in one embodiment, the lower bodies
of the upper skates,
may be fitted with hydraulic j acks 110 as illustrated in Figures 12A and 12B
to push against spaced
teeth 108 positioned within the runner and skates beams, the hydraulic jacks
110 being used to
ratchet and propel the upper skates (and manufactured house) in the desired
direction along the
runner and skate beams as the hydraulic jacks are extended and contracted in a
step-wise manner.
It is understood that persons skilled in the art will understand the various
devices and methods
available to propel the skate/manufactured house 2 in the desired direction
along the runner and skate
beams.
It is understood that the upper skates 60 may be any one of many readily
available devices known
to any person skilled in the art and may make use of wheels, rollers, bearings
or other well-known
means to enable the skates 60 to move freely along the runner beams 40 (and
subsequently the skate
beams as referred to herein).
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It is understood that in each configuration, the lower body 62 of the upper
skate 60 allows the upper
skate 60 to move freely in both directions along the runner beam 40 (and
subsequently the skate
beam), and that the lower body 62 of the upper skate 60, in cooperation with
the runner beam 40
(and subsequently the skate beam), eliminates or substantially eliminates
lateral movement of the
upper skate relative to the runner beam/skate beam.
As illustrated in Figures 20A, 20B, 21A, 21B, 22A, and 22B, the upper body 64
of the upper skate
60 is adapted to allow the Garner beams 4 referred to herein to move in either
direction relative to
the upper skate 60, the upper body 64 of the upper skates 60 being able to
rotate in either direction
relative to the lower body 62 of the upper skates 60 about a substantially
vertical axis. The rotation
of the upper body 64 of the upper skate 60 relative to the lower body 62 of
the upper skate 60 can
be achieved in many alternative and conventional manners, including a
substantially vertically
aligned axle or bolt 66. As illustrated in Figure 20B, 21 B, and 22A, the
upper skates 60 may
alternatively incorporate a ball and socket or similar device 68 to provide
for the rotation of the
upper body 64 relative to the lower body 62, as well as to permit the upper
body 64 to tilt relative
to the lower body 62. In one embodiment, the upper skates 60 are also height
adjustable by means
of a substantially vertical hydraulic jack 70 positioned between the lower
body 62 and the upper
body 64 of the six way upper skate 60 as illustrated in Figures 20B, 21 B and
22A. This embodiment
permits each of the upper skates 60 to be independently positioned and loaded.
In one embodiment,
the hydraulic jack 70 may be incorporated into its pivoting and tilting
mechanism such as a ball and
socket or similar device 68.
The upper body 64 of the upper skate 60 is adapted to support and to permit
limited movement of
a carrier beam 4. In one embodiment illustrated in Figures 21A and 21B, the
upper body 64 of the
upper s kate 6 0 i s g enerally "U" s haped 8 4, t he c arrier b eam 4 being
supported o n r ollers 8 6
positioned within the "U" 84. In another embodiment, a smooth lubricated load
bearing contact
surface is presented on the upper side of the upper skate, the contact surface
being in contact with
the lower flange of the carrier beam, which may also be lubricated with
Teflon, graphite or a similar
lubricant to ensure the smooth travel of the carrier beam relative to the
upper skate 60. In another
embodiment illustrated in Figures 20A, 20B, 22A and 22B, the upper body 64 of
the upper skate 60
has lips 88 to engage above the lower flange 92 of the carrier beam 4.
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An illustration of a cross-section of one embodiment of a typical upper skate
60 loaded with a carrier
beam 4, and resting upon a runner beam 40 is shown in Figure 30. An
illustration of a cross-section
of another embodiment of a typical upper skate 60 having a T shaped lower body
62, the upper skate
being loaded with a carrier beam 4, and resting upon a runner beam 40 is shown
in Figure 31.
As described herein, prior to lowering the manufactured house onto the trailer
unit 12, the upper
skates 60 may be pre-positioned on the carrier beams 4, hanging from the
carrier beams 4 by way
of the lips 88 on the upper body 64 of the upper skate 60, or alternatively,
may be pre-positioned on
the runner beams 40. The manufactured house 2 and carrier beams 4 may then be
lowered onto the
runner beams 40, with the upper skates 60 positioned between the runner beams
40 and earner
beams 4.
In one embodiment, when runner beams such as those illustrated in Figure 19A,
19B and 19C are
utilized, prior to loading the manufactured house 2 onto the trailer unit 12,
the upper skates 60 may
be pre-positioned in engagement with the underside of the earner beams 4, for
example by utilizing
upper skates having an upper body such as that shown in Figures 20A, 20B, 22A
and 22B, the lips
88 of the upper body engaging with and hanging from the lower flange 92 of the
earner beams 4, the
upper skates also utilizing a "T" shaped lower body such as that illustrated
in Figures 22A and
Figure 22B oriented so as to engage with the runner beam when the manufactured
house is lowered
onto the trailer unit. Figure 23 illustrates a manufactured house in a
partially raised position, the
upper skates as illustrated in Figure 22A hanging from the carrier beams and
the runner beams
having a configuration such as that shown in Figure 19A, resting on the
transporter unit. Figure 24B
illustrates a cross-section of a manufactured house in a lowered position
resting on carrier beams,
supported by runner beams having a configuration such as that shown in Figure
19A and utilizing
upper skates as illustrated in Figure 22A.
Alternatively, when runner beams such as those illustrated in Figure 18 are
utilized, similarly, the
upper skates 60 may be prepositioned in engagement with the underside of the
carrier beams, for
example by utilizing upper skates having an upper body such as that shown in
Figures 20A, 20B,
22A and 22B, the lips 88 of the upper body engaging with and hanging from the
lower flange 92 of
the carrier beams 4, the upper skates also utilizing a lower body such as that
shown in Figures 21 A
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and 21 B, the upper skates being prepositioned in spaced relationship to one
another, the lower body
of the upper skate being oriented so as to allow the lower body of the upper
skates to engage with
and be positioned within the channel 56 of the runner beams illustrated in
Figure 18 when the
manufactured house 2 is lowered onto the trailer unit 12 as illustrated in
Figure 9.
In another embodiment, when upper skates having upper bodies such as those
illustrated in Figure
21 A and 21 B are utilized, the upper skates may be prepositioned on the
runner beams such that when
the manufactured house and carrier beams are lowered onto the trailer unit,
the U-shaped upper body
of the upper skates will engage with and extend above the lower flange 92 of
the carrier beams.
In one embodiment, the hydraulic j acks 79 positioned on the support beams 77
may be utilized when
lowering the manufactured house onto the trailer unit. In this embodiment,
prior to lowering the
manufactured house onto the trailer unit, the hydraulic j acks 79 are
positioned on the support beams
77 to receive the carrier beams as the manufactured house is partially lowered
onto the trailer unit,
the extended hydraulic j acks 79 engaging the underside of the carrier beams,
thereby supporting and
receiving of the load of the manufactured house prior to it being fully
lowered onto the runner
beams. When the manufactured house is secured in this partially lowered
position, final adjustments
may be made to the prepositioning of the upper skates to ensure that they will
properly engage both
the carrier beams and the runner beams when the manufactured house is
thereafter fully lowered onto
the trailer unit.
As illustrated in Figure 9, the manufactured house 2 is positioned safely and
stably on the trailer unit
12 before being chained or otherwise effectively secured to the trailer unit
12.
In the preferred embodiment, after the placement of the manufactured house 2
upon the trailer unit
12 for transport to the foundation 6, the manufactured house 2 is secured to
the trailer unit 12 for safe
transportation to a location near or adjacent the foundation 6.
In the preferred embodiment, prior to unloading the manufactured house 2 at
its installation location,
skate beams 94 as illustrated in Figure 14 are installed across the foundation
6 upon which the
manufactured house 2 is to be installed, the skate beams 94 extending across
the foundation 6, and
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supported within the foundation 6, and on either side of the foundation 6 by
skatelrunner beam
supports 102 as illustrated in Figure 14. It i s a nderstood that the skate
beams 94 will have a
substantially identical structure, cross-section and configuration as the
runner beams 40 to allow the
manufactured house 2 to be readily and smoothly transferred by means of the
upper skates 60 from
the runner beams 40 to the skate beams 94 as more fully described herein.
In the preferred embodiment, prior to lowering the manufactured house 2 onto
the foundation 6,
hydraulic j acks 9 8 a re p ositioned o n t he b asement floor 9 6 o f t he
foundation 6 t o p ermit t he
manufactured house 2 and carrier beams 4 to be raised for the removal of the
skate beams 94 prior
to lowering the manufactured house 2 onto the foundation 6. Slots 100 in the
foundation 6 (and
corresponding slots in the rim joists) are positioned to allow the carrier
beams 4 to be lowered below
the upper surface of the foundation/rim joist as the manufactured house 2 is
being lowered onto the
upper surface of the foundation/rim joist.
As illustrated in Figures 15A, 15B and 1 SC, when the transporter 8 loaded
with a manufactured
house 2 arrives at the foundation site, the trailer unit 12 is positioned to
align or substantially align
the runner beams 40 with the skate beams 94. To align or substantially align
the runner beams 40
with the skate beams 94, the trailer unit 12 may readily be moved through a
wide range of directions,
and may be pivoted as illustrated in Figures 13A,13B,13C and 13D, and tilted,
or raised or lowered,
the dollies 22 of the trailer unit providing increased flexibility in
positioning the trailer unit and
runner beams relative to the skate beams.
Referring to Figure 15C, the trailer unit 12 of the transporter 8 carrying the
manufactured house 2
is brought into close proximity with the foundation and with the runner beams
40 in alilmment or
substantial alignment with the skate beams 94.
Once the runner beams 40 are in alignment or substantial alignment with the
skate beams 94, any
required further alignment of the runner beams 40 relative to the skate beams
94 may be achieved
by partially extending, evenly and in substantial unison with one another, the
hydraulic jacks 79
positioned on the support beams 77 so as to completely or substantially remove
the load of the
manufactured house from the runner beams while maintaining the engagement of
the upper body of
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the upper skates with the earner beams, and the lower body of the upper skates
with the runner
beams, and allowing the runner beams 40 to move relative to the frame 14 of
the trailer unit 12 as
illustrated in Figures 25A and ZSB, the runner beams being moved or adjusted
relative to the trailer
unit 12 using, for example, chains, winches, or hydraulic rams or other
similar device attached to the
transporter 8 to achieve or facilitate precise alignment of the runner beams
40 with the skate beams
94.
Once the runner beams 40 are in precise alignment with the skate beams 94,
they are securely
fastened to one another in a conventional manner. In the preferred embodiment,
they are bolted 106
together as illustrated in Figure 27, it being understood that a wide variety
of alternative techniques
known to persons skilled in the art may be used to securely and temporarily
fasten the runner beams
40 to the skate beams 94. In one embodiment when a lower body of an upper
skate of the type
illustrated in Figures 20A and 20B is used, a cut 112 is inserted into either
side of the connector 113
to permit the lips 72 of the lower body of the upper skate to pass the
connector 113 without
interference.
Once the runner beams are securely fastened to the skate beams, the hydraulic
jacks 79 may once
again be lowered evenly and in substantial unison with one another so that the
load of the
manufactured house is again placed on the runner beams by way of the earner
beams and upper
skates as illustrated in Figure 24A.
It is understood that when the hydraulic jacks 79 are loaded or partially
loaded with the weight of
the manufactured house, they are extended and retracted evenly and in
substantial unison with one
another to ensure that the manufactured house is stably supported at all
times.
As illustrated in Figure 26, prior to the movement of the manufactured house 2
from the transporter
8 to the foundation 6, additional skate/runner beam supports 102 may be
positioned beneath the
skate beams 94 and runner beams 40 entirely independently of the transporter
to ensure that the
manufactured house 2 is securely and stably supported by the skate beams 94
and runner beams 40
as it moves from the transporter 8 to the foundation 6.
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As illustrated in Figures 28A, 28B, 28C and 28D, once the runner beams 40 are
securely connected
to the skate beams 94, the manufactured house 2, supported by the earner beams
4 and upper skates
60 is moved off of the runner beams 40 and onto the skate beams 94 using for
example, chains,
winches, hydraulic rams or other similar devices or the ratchet and hydraulic
jack mechanism
illustrated in Figures I2A and 12B, and positioned directly above and in
alignment with the
foundation 6, the upper skates 60 permitting the manufactured house 2 and
earner beams 4 to be
moved along the runner beams 40 and skate beams 94. In the preferred
embodiment, the "T" shaped
lower body 78 of the upper skate slides along the upper surfaces of the runner
beams and skate
beams, thereby allowing the manufactured house 2 and carrier beams 4 to be
moved from the
transporter 8 to the foundation 6.
Refernng to Figure 29A the manufactured house 2 is shown having been moved
substantially to its
desired position, but is requiring angular adjustment relative to the
foundation 6 before being
lowered onto the foundation 6. The six way upper skates 60 permit the
manufactured house 2 (and
earner beams 4) to be rotated as illustrated in Figure 29B relative to the
foundation 6 prior to it being
lowered onto the foundation 6, as the earner beams 4 are capable of, by way of
the upper skates 60,
moving and pivoting freely relative to the skate beams 94, thereby allowing
the manufactured house
2 to be precisely positioned, rotated and aligned relative to the foundation
6, for final positioning
before lowering the manufactured house 2 onto the foundation 6. Chains,
winches, bars and other
equipment known to persons skilled in the art may be used to precisely
position and rotate the
manufactured house 2 relative to the foundation 6.
With the manufactured house 2 now precisely positioned directly above and in
alignment with the
foundation 6, the hydraulic j acks 98 positioned on the basement floor 96
within the foundation 6 may
now be utilized to lift the carrier beams 4 and the manufactured house 2 a
short distance, permitting
the skate beams 94 to be removed. Thereafter the hydraulic jacks 98 may lower
the manufactured
house 2 onto the foundation 6 as illustrated in Figure 10, (the carrier beams
4 having been pre-
aligned with slots I00 in the foundation/rim joists to prevent the
interference of the carrier beams
4 with the foundation/rim joists during the lowering process).
Once the manufactured house 2 has been positioned and lowered onto the
foundation 6, the carrier
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beams 4 may be disconnected from the manufactured house 2 and removed for re-
use.
The present invention has been described herein with regard to preferred
embodiments. However,
it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that a number of variations
and modifications can be
made without departing from the scope of the invention as described herein.
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