Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02436463 2003-07-30
DEVICE AND PROCESS FOR TRANSFERRING A MANUFACTURED HOUSE
ONTO A TRANSPORTER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device and process for transfernng a
building from a factory or
other location to a transporter and more particularly for transfernng a
manufactured house from a
factory or other location to a transporter.
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 or other location for subsequent
transport to the
installation 1 ocation o f t he m anufactured house, for a xample i n a s
ubdivision, i s w ell-known.
Additionally, the use of a transporter for moving a manufactured house from
one location to another
is well known.
When the manufacturing of a manufactured house has been completed at a factory
location or other
location, it is necessary to transfer the completed manufactured house to a
transporter, for subsequent
transportation to and installation onto a foundation.
United States Patent Number 5,402,618 (Biffis et al.) discloses the
manufacturing of a manufactured
house within the factory, the manufactured house being manufactured on a
manufacturing flatbed
having rollers thereon, and upon completion of the manufactured house, the
manufactured house is
rolled onto a delivery flatbed truck, also having rollers thereon, the flatbed
of the delivery flatbed
truck being positioned directly adjacent to the manufacturing flatbed,
allowing the manufactured
house to be rolled from the manufacturing flatbed, to the delivery flatbed
truck, for subsequent
installation on a foundation. The process described in Biffis et al. utilizes
a steel base member upon
which the manufactured house is assembled to support the manufactured house
during movement
so that the manufactured house will not flex or bend during movement or
transfer. This technology
is disadvantageous, requiring significant structural upgrades to the
manufactured house to ensure that
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it does not wrack of become damaged during the transfer process. Furthermore,
this technology does
not permit convenient adjustment to the lateral or rotational alignment of the
manufactured house
relative to the delivery flatbed truck during the transfer of the manufactured
house from the
manufacturing flatbed to the delivery flatbed truck.
S
United States Patent Number 4,187,659 (Blachura) also discloses the transfer
of a manufactured
house within a factory onto a trailer or transporter, the manufactured house
being manufactured on
stationary jacks, a trailer or transporter thereafter being positioned beneath
the manufactured house
when the manufactured house is ready to be moved outside of the factory for
installation onto a
foundation. With the trailer or transporter positioned beneath the
manufactured house , the j acks are
lowered to position the manufactured house onto the trailer or transporter.
Disadvantageously, this
technology requires the manufactured house to be built or completed in a
raised and stationary
location and does not readily permit significant or convenient lateral or
rotational alignment of the
manufactured house relative to the trailer or transporter during the transfer
of the manufactured
house to the trailer or transporter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide an improved device and
process for transferring a
manufactured house to a transporter which obviates or reduces the limitations
described above with
reference to the above-referenced prior art.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a simple and safe
method and device for
transfernng a manufactured house from a factory or other location to a
transporter, without requiring
the manufactured house to be raised or lowered in the process, while
permitting rotational flexibility
of the manufactured house, to thereby facilitate the alignment of the
manufactured house relative
to the transporter.
Accordingly, the invention relates to a method for the transfer of a
manufactured house which is
positioned on factory skate beams, to a transporter upon which are positioned
runner beams,
comprising the steps of, aligning the runner beams with the factory skate
beams, securing the runner
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beams to the factory skate beams, moving the manufactured house from the
factory skate beams to
the runner beams until the manufactured house is positioned on the runner
beams directly above the
transporter, securing the manufactured house to the transporter, and
disconnecting the runner beams
from the factory skate beams.
Advantageously, the present invention allows the manufactured house to be in
close proximity to the
factory floor during the transfer of the manufactured house to the transporter
permitting taller
manufactured houses to be manufactured in an enclosed factory, and permitting
increased flexibility
in the movement of the manufactured house as it is transferred to the
transporter, the manufactured
house being movable through a wide range of positions prior to and during the
loading of the
manufactured house onto the transporter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with
reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a factory which is positioned proximate to a subdivision
in which houses
manufactured in factory are to be installed;
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
lower skates positioned on the outer beams of the trailer unit;
Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment of a transporter, the trailer unit having a
flat metal load
bearing platform;
Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment of a transporter, the txailer unit having a
flat metal load
bearing platform with lower skates positioned on the trailer unit;
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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 lower skates positioned on the outer beam of the trailer unit, and runner
beams
positioned upon the lower skates;
Figure 8 illustrates an embodiment of a transporter unit, including the
tractor and trailer unit,
with lower skates positioned on the trailer unit, and runner beams positioned
upon the lower
skates;
Figure 9 illustrates a manufactured house positioned upon carrier beams which
are supported
by upper skates and by factory skate beams;
Figure 10 illustrates a cross-section of an embodiment of a carrier beam;
Figure 11 illustrates an embodiment of a transporter unit, including the
tractor and trailer
unit, with lower skates positioned on the outer beam of the trailer unit,
runner beams
positioned upon the lower skates, upper skates positioned on the runner beams,
and carrier
beams and a manufactured house positioned thereon;
Figure 12 illustrates a trailer unit and movement of the trailer unit in the
horizontal plane;
Figure 13 illustrates a trailer unit and movement of the trailer unit in the
horizontal plane;
Figure 14 illustrates a trailer unit and movement of the trailer unit in the
horizontal plane;
Figure 15 illustrates a trailer unit and movement of the trailer unit in the
horizontal plane;
Figure 16 illustrates a cross-section of an embodiment of a runner beam
(and/or factory skate
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beam) in the form of an "I" beam;
Figure 17 illustrates a cross-section of an embodiment of a runner beam
(and/or factory skate
beam) in the form of a double "I" beam;
Figure 18 illustrates a cross-section of an embodiment of a runner beam
(and/or factory skate
beam) in the form of an upright "1" beam upon which is securely positioned a
horizontally
oriented "I" beam;
Figures 19A,19B and 19C illustrate an embodiment of a runner beam (and/or
factory skate
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 additional embodiments of an upper skate;
Figures 22A and 22B illustrate two additional embodiments of an upper skate;
Figures 23 illustrates an embodiment of a lower skate;
Figure 24 illustrates an embodiment of a lower skate attached to a runner
beam;
Figure 25A, 25B and 25C illustrate embodiments of the connections between the
runner
beams and the factory skate beams;
Figure 26 illustrates an embodiment of the movement of the manufactured house
onto the
trailer unit;
Figures 27A, 27B, and 27C illustrate embodiments of the movement of the
manufactured
house onto the trailer unit;
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Figure 28 illustrates an embodiment of the movement of the manufactured house
onto the
trailer unit;
Figure 29A and 29B illustrate an embodiment of the movement of the
manufactured house
onto the trailer unit;
Figure 30 illustrates a cross-section of one embodiment of a typical upper
skate loaded with
a Garner beam, and resting upon a runner beam and lower skate;
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 lower skate;
Figures 32 and 33 illustrate an embodiment of a runner beam (and/or factory
skate beam)
having ratchet mechanism and hydraulic jack to move the skate relative to the
runner beam
(and/or factory skate beam);
Figure 34 illustrates an embodiment of a manufactured house loaded onto a
transporter,
being moved from the factory;
Figures 35A, 35B and 35C illustrate embodiment of a skid shoe resting upon a
runner beam
(and/or factory skate beam)..
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the preferred embodiment, a house manufacturing factory 1 is established
within, or in close
proximity to a subdivision 3 which is being built as illustrated in Figure 1.
The proximity of the
factory to the subdivision may beneficially allow for the manufacture of
complete or substantially
complete manufactured houses within a factory for subsequent delivery of the
manufactured house
to the subdivision, with reduced or entirely eliminated likelihood of
interference during the delivery
of the manufactured house from the factory 1 to its foundation 9 in the
subdivision due to bridges,
overhead wires, narrow roads or other impediments and with reduced or entirely
eliminated need to
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utilize public access roads and highways (that is, roads and highways to which
the public generally
has access) during the transport of the manufactured house from the factory to
its installation
location in the subdivision. It is also understood that the present invention
may be utilized in
circumstances where the manufacturing facility is located physically remote
from the subdivision
or installation location of the manufactured house.
Referring to Figure 9, a completed or substantially completed manufactured
house 2 is illustrated,
ready for transportation from the factory 1, the manufactured house 2 resting
upon parallel or
substantially parallel carrier beams 4, the carrier beams 4 resting upon six
way upper skates 60 (as
more fully described herein), the six way upper skates 60 resting upon and
being supported by
factory skate beams 94 (as more fully described herein), the factory skate
beams 94 being stably
positioned upon the factory floor 6.
In the preferred embodiment, the manufactured house 2 is supported by Garner
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
9. In one
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 f or transportation to the installation location for the manufactured
house. In another
embodiment, the Garner beams 4 are integrated into and form part of the
manufactured house 2.
Refernng to Figure 10, in the preferred embodiment, the carrier beams 4 are
upright "I" beams
having an upper flange 91 and a lower flange 92 as illustrated in Figure 10,
it being understood that
various different configurations or cross-sections of Garner beams may be
utilized, depending for
example on the unique characteristics of a particular house, or manufactured
house manufacturing
process.
The factory skate beams 94 permit the manufactured house 2 to move across the
factory floor 6, for
example, to the factory loading area 5 (which conveniently may be located
outside of the factory, or
inside of the factory), which in the preferred embodiment is a concrete pad
that is adapted to receive
the factory skate beams 94 and the manufactured house 2, and to receive the
runner beams 40 from
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the transporter 8 as more fully described herein.
In the preferred embodiment, six way upper skates 60 (as more fully described
herein) are then
positioned on the factory skate beams 94, and upon which are positioned the
carrier beams 4, the
manufactured house 2 thereafter being constructed on top of the carrier beams
4. The six way upper
skates 60 are adapted to engage with the underside of the Garner beams 4.
Referring to Figure 2, one embodiment of a transporter 8 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 herein referred to as
the "foundation") upon
which the manufactured house 2 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
persons skilled in the art.
Referring to Figure 2, 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, as more fully described herein.
1n 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
Garner beams 4 and runner beams as more fully described herein, the metal
platform 20 being
2S 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 %2
inch and 1 inch.
The frame 14 of the trailer unit 12 is securely supported by dollies 22 or
wheels, embodiments of
which are illustrated in Figures 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D and 6E, which permit the
trailer unit 12, the runner
beams and the loaded manufactured house 2 to be readily positioned as
described herein.
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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,
or by other suitable means of attachment known to persons skilled in the art.
The dollies 22 may
pivot in relation to the trailer unit 12 about a substantially vertical axis,
by means, for example, 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 12, 13, 14 and 1 S.
The tractor unit IO or other vehicle or mechanical device may be used to
provide horizontal and
rotational movement of the trailer unit 12 and the manufactured house 2. 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 2. 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 jack 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 jacks
26 is raised or lowered the same distance, the elevation of the frame 14 is
raised o r 1 owered
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 jacks 26, the levelness and
angle of the frame 14 or metal
platform 20 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 trailer
unit 12 may be leveled in all
directions (relative to the factory floor) and raised and/or lowered to
facilitate the alignment of the
runner beams 40 with the factory skate beams 94 referred to herein so that the
manufactured house
2 may be moved from the factory loading area 5 onto the trailer unit 12 as
described more fully
herein.
In the case of the trailer units 12 having the configuration as shown in
Figure 2, and in the case of
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the trailer units 12 having the configuration as shown in Figure 4, lower
skates 30, one embodiment
of which is illustrated in Figure 23, may be utilized, as illustrated in
Figures 3 and 5 respectively
which are capable of pivoting and rotating about a substantially vertical
axis, and moving along the
outer beams 18 of the frame 14 as shown in Figure 3, or capable of moving
about the flat metal
platform 20 of the trailer unit 12 in the case of the trailer unit 12 having
the configuration shown in
Figure 4. As illustrated in Figure 23, the lower skate 30 has a lower Teflon
pad 32 to allow the lower
skate 30 to move smoothly along the outer beam 18 or across the flat metal
platform 20 of the trailer
unit 12. In one embodiment, a metal plate 36 is affixed with bolts 34 to the
Teflon pad 32 for
securely supporting the Teflon pad 32. In the preferred embodiment, the metal
plate 36 is a steel
plate of 1 %z inch to 2 inches thickness, the steel plate 36 being bolted to
the Teflon pad 32. As
illustrated in Figures 23 and 24, the lower skate 30 may be securely attached
to a runner beam 40 by
means of nuts 39 and bolts 38 or by other suitable means, it being understood
that a wide variety of
different methods could be used to securely attach the lower skate 30 to the
runner beam 40.
It is understood that in place of the Teflon pad 32, lower skates 30 may
alternatively be fabricated
using one of many readily available devices known to any person skilled in the
art including wheels,
rollers, bearings, casters or other well-known means to enable the lower
skates 30 to pivot and to
move freely along the outer beams 18, in the case of the trailer units 12
having the configuration
shown in Figure 2, and on the flat metal platform 20, in the case of trailer
units 12 having the
configuration shown in Figure 4.
As illustrated in a Figures 7 and 8, runner beams 40 are positioned on the
trailer unit 12, securely
affixed to lower skates 30, 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 8, in such a way that when the trailer unit 12 is positioned
alongside the factory
loading area S, the runner beams 40 will be in substantial alignment with the
factory skate beams
referred to herein as illustrated in Figure 28. 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 a nit 12 is
safely between the
outermost runner beams 40.
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In one embodiment, the runner beams 40 (and factory skate beams) 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 (and factory skate beams) 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 (and
factory skate beams) 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" 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 (and factory skate 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.
It is understood that in the preferred embodiment, the factory 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 factory skate beams 94 to the runner beams 40 as more fully described
herein.
As illustrated in Figure 9, the manufactured house 2 is assembled and ready
for transport from the
factory, the factory skate beams 94 being positioned on the factory floor 6,
substantially parallel to
one another. In one embodiment, the factory skate beams 94 are permanently
positioned on the
factory floor 6. In the preferred embodiment, the factory skate beams 94 are
temporarily positioned
in a suitable location on the factory floor 6 in an area convenient to the
manufacture or assembly of
a manufactured house 2.
As illustrated in Figures 20A, 20B, 21A, 21B, 22A and 22B, the 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 it must conform to the embodiment of the factory
skate beams 94 and runner
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beams 40 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 or
manufactured house
dictate.
The lower body 62 of the upper skate 60 illustrated in Figures 20A and 20B may
be utilized when
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 factory skate beams 94 (and thereafter 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 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 factory skate beam 94 and runner beam 40 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 factory skate beams 94 and thereafter the runner beam 40.
The lower body 62 of the upper skate 60 depicted in Figure 21 may be used in
conjunction with the
embodiment of the factory skate beam 94 or 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
of rollers 74 which allow the skate to roll along the lower surface of the
channel 56 of the factory
skate beam 94 or 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 factory
skate beam 94 (and
thereafter the runner beam 40).
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In the preferred embodiment, a "T" shaped lower body 78 to the upper skate is
utilized as illustrated
in Figure 22, the lower end 80 of the "T" being capable of being positioned
between the two "I"
beams as illustrated in Figure 19A, 19B and 19C, and the underside 82 of the
upper part of the "T"
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
factory skate beam 94
(and thereafter the runner beam 40). Likewise, the surfaces of the "T" shaped
lower body of the
upper skate may be lubricated to facilitate movement of the upper skate
relative to the factory skate
beam 94 (and thereafter the runner beam 40). Furthermore, in one embodiment,
the lower bodies
I O of the upper skates, may be fitted with hydraulic jacks 110 as illustrated
in Figures 32 and 33 to
push against spaced teeth I 08 positioned within the factory skate beam 94
(and thereafter the runner
beam 40), the hydraulic jacks 110 being used to ratchet and propel the upper
skates (and
manufactured house) in the desired direction along the factory skate beam (and
thereafter the runner
beam) as the hydraulic j acks I I O 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 manufactured house 2 in the desired direction along the factory skate beam
94 (and thereafter the
runner beam 40), examples of which are more fully described herein.
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 factory skate beam (and
thereafter the runner
beam as referred to herein).
It is understood that in each configuration, the lower body 62 of the upper
skate 60 allows the upper
skate 60 to move readily in both directions along the factory skate beam (and
thereafter the runner
beam), and that the lower body 62 of the upper skate 60, in cooperation with
the factory skate beam
(and thereafter the runner beam), eliminates or substantially eliminates
lateral movement of the
upper skate relative to the factory skate beam (and thereafter the runner
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
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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, 21B, 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 j ack 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 Garner beam 4. In one embodiment illustrated in Figures 21A and 21B, the
upper body 64 of the
upper skate 60 is generally "U" s haped 8 4, t he c arner b eam 4 b eing s
upported o n r oilers 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 Garner beam 4, which may also be lubricated with
Teflon, graphite or a
similar lubricant to ensure the smooth travel of the carrier beam 4 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 Garner beam 4.
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 and lower skate 30, 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 and lower skate 30, is shown in Figure 31.
In another embodiment as illustrated in Figures 35A, 35B and 35C, rather than
utilizing upper skates,
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a skid shoe 121 is utilized, having an inverted "U" shaped cross-section, the
arms 122 of the
inverted "U" extending downwardly past the upper flanges of the factory skate
beams 94 (and/or
runner beams), the skid shoes 121 presenting an upper surface 126 upon which
the carrier beams 4
are positioned and supported, and a lower surface 124 which may slide along
the upper surface of
S the factory skate beam 94 (and/or runner beam), a suitable lubricant such as
graphite or a similar
lubricant known to persons skilled in the art is preferably used between the
upper surface of the
factory skate beam 94 (and/or runner beam) and the skid shoe's lower surface
124. The Garner beams
resting on the upper surface may pivot in relation to the upper surface when
sufficient force is
applied to manufactured house or carrier beams for this purpose. The skid
shoes are typically greater
than 3 feet in length, and may be connected to one or more skid shoes, as
required. The skid shoe
121 may be moved utilizing hydraulic j acks 110 being used to ratchet and
propel the skid shoe (and
manufactured house) in the desired direction along the factory skate beam (and
thereafter the runner
beam) as the hydraulic jacks 110 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 manufactured house 2 in the desired direction along the factory skate beam
94 (and thereafter the
runner beam 40).
As illustrated in Figures 26, 27A and 27B, when the manufactured house 2 is to
be transferred from
the factory 1 to the transporter 8, the transporter 8 moves into position at
the factory loading area 5,
the trailer unit 12 being positioned to align or substantially align the
runner beams 40 with the
factory skate beams 94. In the preferred embodiment, the runner beams 40
extend over both sides
of the trailer unit 12, the trailer unit 12 being raised a short distance (by
raising the hydraulic jacks
26) to allow the runner beams 40 to move freely above the floor in the factory
loading area 5 during
the process of aligning the runner beams 40 with the factory skate beams 94.
To align or substantially align the runner beams 40 with the factory 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 12, 13, 14, and 15, and tilted, or raised or lowered, the dollies 22
of the trailer unit 12
providing increased flexibility in positioning the trailer unit 12 and runner
beams 40 relative to the
factory skate beams 94.
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Referring to Figures 26, 27A, 27B, and 27C the trailer unit 12 of the
transporter 8 carrying the runner
beams 40 brings the runner beams 40 into alignment or substantial alignment
with the factory skate
beams 94. If necessary, more precise alignment may be achieved by moving the
runner beams 40 a
short distance relative to the trailer unit 12 by utilizing a winch, chain,
crowbar or similar device
known to a person skilled in the art, the lower skates facilitating such
alignment process by allowing
the runner beams to move readily relative to the trailer unit 12.
In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated in Figure 27C once the runner
beams 40 have been
positioned in precise alignment with the factory skate beams 94, the runner
beams 40 are lowered
onto the floor in the factory loading area 5 by lowering the previously raised
trailer unit 12 a short
distance, the runner beams 40 then being securely engaged with the factory
skate beams 94 with
the upper surfaces of the runner beams 40 aligned with the upper surfaces of
the factory skate beams
94, and the lower surfaces of the runner beams resting on the floor in the
factory loading area 5, the
connected factory skate beams 94 and runner beams 40 presenting a stable level
support surface for
the subsequent movement of the manufactured house 2 from the factory skate
beams 94 to the runner
beams 40 as more fully described herein.
The connection between the factory skate beams 94 and the runner beams 40 can
take on different
configurations, it being understood that the factory skate beams 94 and runner
beams 40 will be
disconnected from one another prior to the trailer unit 12, loaded with the
manufactured house 2
being moved away from the factory loading area 5. Conveniently, in one
embodiment as illustrated
in Figure 25A, connector plates 113 are welded 58 to the corresponding end of
each of the factory
skate beams 94 and runner beams 40 respectively, through which connector
plates 113 corresponding
holes 100 are cut or drilled, and which allow for temporary connection between
the factory skate
beams and the runner beams by means of bolts 98 and nuts 96 as illustrated in
Figure 25, it being
understood that suitable connection techniques would be known to persons
skilled in the art. 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 both connector plates 113 to permit the lips
72 of the lower body of
the upper skate to pass the connector plates 113 without interference. In the
preferred embodiment
illustrated in Figures 25B and 25C, to connect the factory skate beam 94 to
the runner beam 40,
when the factory skate beams is aligned with and abutting the runner beam, a
bolt 118 passes through
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CA 02436463 2003-07-30
holes in the runner beam 40 and through the holes 116 in the connector bars
114, the bolt 118
thereafter having a nut 120 threaded thereto thereby securely engaging the
runner beam to the factory
skate beam.
Referring to Figures 28, 29A and 29B, the movement of the manufactured house 2
from its location
within the factory resting on the factory skate beams 94 to a position on the
runner beams 40, and
thereafter to a position on the trailer unit 12, may be conveniently achieved
by pushing or pulling
the manufactured house 2 with a suitable motorized vehicle 90, such as a truck
or tractor, or other
vehicle known to persons skilled in the art, or by pulling it with a chain,
winch or similar device
known to persons skilled in the art, it being understood that the points of
contact between the
pushing and/or pulling equipment must be chosen or suitably prepared to
minimize the risk of
damage to the manufactured house 2 during such movement, it also being
understood that braking
or stopping devices will be utilized to ensure safety and to minimize the risk
of damage during the
movement of the manufactured house 2. In this manner, the manufactured house 2
may be moved,
by way of the upper skates, from the factory skate beams 94 within the
factory, to the runner beams
40, and thereafter positioned on the trailer unit 12. Alternatively, as
previously described, the use
of hydraulic jacks 110 positioned within the factory skate beams 94 and runner
beams 40 may be
used to move the manufactured house 2 along the factory skate beams 94 and
runner beams 40.
In the event that the manufactured house 2 requires angular adjustment
relative to the trailer unit 12
before being positioned on the trailer unit, the six way upper skates 60
permit such angular
adjustment, the manufactured house 2 (and carrier beams 4) being rotatable
relative to the factory
skate beams 94 and runner beams 40, as the Garner beams 4 are capable of, by
way of the upper
skates 60, moving and pivoting freely relative to the factory skate beams 94
(andlor runner beams),
thereby allowing the manufactured house 2 to be precisely positioned, rotated
and aligned relative
to the trailer unit 12. 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 trailer unit 12.
Once the manufactured house 2 has been transferred to the trailer unit 12, and
securely positioned
thereon and chained or otherwise effectively secured to the trailer unit, the
runner beams 40 may be
disconnected from the factory skate beams 94, the trailer unit 12 may be
raised a short distance until
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CA 02436463 2003-07-30
the runner beams 40 are clear of the floor in the factory loading area 5, as
illustrated in Figure 29B,
allowing the trailer unit 12 to freely transport the manufactured house 2 to
its destination as
illustrated in Figures 34 and 11 an 12.
In an alternative embodiment, a significant volumetric segment, section or
portion of a manufactured
house can be transferred from a factory to a transporter utilizing the method
of the present invention,
which significant volumetric segment, section or portion of a manufactured
house can thereafter be
combined with one or more other similarly constructed significant volumetric
segments, sections or
portions of a manufactured house at the installation location to form a
complete or substantially
complete manufactured house, the segments, sections or portions each
representing a significant
volumetric aspect of the completed house, and typically greater than 10% of
the volume of the
completed house.
It is also understood that the method of the present invention may be utilized
when constructing
dwellings in various formats, including, for example, whole or substantial
parts of duplexes,
triplexes, townhouses, row houses, semi-detached houses and single detached
homes.
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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