US3773005A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Crimping machine for standing seam roofs
Assignee: Butler Manufacturing Co
•
Filing: 1972-12-11
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Granted: 1973-11-20
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Expires: 1992-12-11
Abstract
Abstract A self-propelled machine which can be attached at any point along a standing seam and moved in either direction along the seam for a crimping operation.
Inventors
- 👤 D Day
- 👤 C Halstead
- 👤 N Huck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:19
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21D; B21D39/00; B21D39/02; E; E04; E04D; E04D15/00; E04D15/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53709; Y10T29/53787
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
531 words
A self-propelled, reversible machine to be mounted on a track section of a standing seam and finish crimp a partially crimped section of the seam, the machine comprising: first and second housings; means connecting the housings and providing for the same to be relatively rotatable toward and away from one another as between closed and open positions, in the closed position the machine being mounted on the seam and in the open position the machine being removable from the seam and also positionable on the seam; a pair of crimping rollers each having a crimping surface; means rotatably mounting the crimping rollers respectively on the first and second housings so that when the housings are in closed position the crimping surfaces of the crimping rollers engage therebetween the portion of the seam to be crimped, the engagement being for use in the crimping surfaces finish crimping said portion when the machine is moving along the seam in one direction or in the opposite direction; a first pair of drive rollers each having a drive surface and a crimping surface; means rotatably mounting the first drive rollers respectively on the first and second housings at one side of said crimping rollers and so that when the housings are in the closed position, the drive surfaces of the first drive rollers engage therebetween track portions of the seam, the engagement being for use in holding the machine along the seam and for use in driving the machine along the seam further in the closed position the crimping surfaces of the first drive rollers engage therebetween the partially crimped portions of the seam, last said engagement being for use when the machine is moving along the seam in said one direction to further partially crimp the partially crimped portions of the seam prior to the same being finish crimped by the crimping rollers; a second pair of drive rollers each having a drive surface and a crimping surface; means rotatably mounting the second drive rollers respectively on the first and second housing at the opposite side of said crimping rollers so that when the housings are in the closed position the drive surfaces of the second drive rollers engage therebetween track portions of the seam, the engagement being for use in holding the machine on the seam and for use in driving the machine along the seam and further in the closed position the crimping surfaces on the second drive rollers engage therebetween the partially crimped portions of the seam, last said engagement being for use when the machine is moving along the seam in said opposite direction to further partially crimp the partially crimped portions of the seam prior to the same being finished crimped by the crimping rollers; each mounting means for each roller on the second housing including a spring interconnected between the rollers and the second housing and operable during the crimping operation to urge the roller toward the other roller of the pair on the first housing; and reversible drive means connected to the rollers on the first housing for rotating the rollers at the same linear speed and in said one direction or alternatively in said opposite direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
531 words
A self-propelled, reversible machine to be mounted on a track section of a standing seam and finish crimp a partially crimped section of the seam, the machine comprising: first and second housings; means connecting the housings and providing for the same to be relatively rotatable toward and away from one another as between closed and open positions, in the closed position the machine being mounted on the seam and in the open position the machine being removable from the seam and also positionable on the seam; a pair of crimping rollers each having a crimping surface; means rotatably mounting the crimping rollers respectively on the first and second housings so that when the housings are in closed position the crimping surfaces of the crimping rollers engage therebetween the portion of the seam to be crimped, the engagement being for use in the crimping surfaces finish crimping said portion when the machine is moving along the seam in one direction or in the opposite direction; a first pair of drive rollers each having a drive surface and a crimping surface; means rotatably mounting the first drive rollers respectively on the first and second housings at one side of said crimping rollers and so that when the housings are in the closed position, the drive surfaces of the first drive rollers engage therebetween track portions of the seam, the engagement being for use in holding the machine along the seam and for use in driving the machine along the seam further in the closed position the crimping surfaces of the first drive rollers engage therebetween the partially crimped portions of the seam, last said engagement being for use when the machine is moving along the seam in said one direction to further partially crimp the partially crimped portions of the seam prior to the same being finish crimped by the crimping rollers; a second pair of drive rollers each having a drive surface and a crimping surface; means rotatably mounting the second drive rollers respectively on the first and second housing at the opposite side of said crimping rollers so that when the housings are in the closed position the drive surfaces of the second drive rollers engage therebetween track portions of the seam, the engagement being for use in holding the machine on the seam and for use in driving the machine along the seam and further in the closed position the crimping surfaces on the second drive rollers engage therebetween the partially crimped portions of the seam, last said engagement being for use when the machine is moving along the seam in said opposite direction to further partially crimp the partially crimped portions of the seam prior to the same being finished crimped by the crimping rollers; each mounting means for each roller on the second housing including a spring interconnected between the rollers and the second housing and operable during the crimping operation to urge the roller toward the other roller of the pair on the first housing; and reversible drive means connected to the rollers on the first housing for rotating the rollers at the same linear speed and in said one direction or alternatively in said opposite direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said reversible drive means includes a reversible motor and a gear train between the motor and each of the rollers on the first housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
A construction in accordance with claim 1 furtheR including an outrigger shaft on the first housing and an outrigger shaft on the second housing, each shaft extending generally normal to the direction of movement of the machine along the seam and roller means on each outrigger shaft for use in contacting a panel being crimped and maintaining the machine in generally upright position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
138 words
A construction in accordance with claim 1 where said means connecting the housings includes a control link having a pivotal connection to the first housing, a drive link having a pivotal connection to the second housing and a pivotal connection to the control link, handle means connected to the control link to rotate the same, rotation of the control link in one direction causing the drive link to rotate the second housing away from the first housing to open position and rotation of the control link in the opposite direction causing the drive link to rotate the second housing toward the first housing to closed position and in the closed position the pivot connection between the control and drive links being offset from said pivotal connections to the housings whereby to lock the second housing in closed position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
118 words
A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means mounting drive roller on the second housing includes a carriage mounting the roller and said spring is connected between the carriage and the second housing and further including a control rod connected to the carriage, a cam rotatably mounted on the control rod and rotatable to a lock position wherein the rod and the carriage are moved against the force of the spring so that the drive roller is substantially spaced away from the drive roller on the first housing or alternatively the cam being rotatable to a position wherein the spring performs its function of urging the drive roller toward the drive roller on the first housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
322 words
A self-propelled, reversible machine to be mounted on a track section of a standing seam and finish crimp a partially crimped section of the seam, the machine comprising: first and second housings; means connecting the housings and providing for the same to be relatively rotatable toward and away from one another as between closed and open positions, in the closed position the machine being mounted on the seam and in the open position the machine being removable from the seam and also positionable on the seam; a pair of crimping rollers each having a crimping surface and being respectively mounted on the first and second housings so that when the housings are in closed position the crimping surfaces of the crimping rollers engage therebetween the portion of the seam to be crimped; a first pair of drive rollers each having a drive surface and a crimping surface and being respectively mounted on the first and second housings at one side of said crimping rollers and so that when the housings are in the closed position, the drive surfaces of the first drive rollers engage therebetween track portions of the seam; a second pair of drive rollers each having a drive surface and a crimping surface and being respectively mounted on the first and second housings at the opposite side of said crimping rollers so that when the housings are in the closed position the drive surfaces of the second drive rollers engage therebetween track portions of the seam; each mounting means for each roller on the second housing including a spring interconnected between the roller and the second housing and operable during the crimping operation to urge the roller toward the other roller of the pair on the first housing; and reversible drive means connected to the rollers on the first housing for rotating the rollers at the same linear speed and in said one direction or alternatively in said opposite direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
322 words
A self-propelled, reversible machine to be mounted on a track section of a standing seam and finish crimp a partially crimped section of the seam, the machine comprising: first and second housings; means connecting the housings and providing for the same to be relatively rotatable toward and away from one another as between closed and open positions, in the closed position the machine being mounted on the seam and in the open position the machine being removable from the seam and also positionable on the seam; a pair of crimping rollers each having a crimping surface and being respectively mounted on the first and second housings so that when the housings are in closed position the crimping surfaces of the crimping rollers engage therebetween the portion of the seam to be crimped; a first pair of drive rollers each having a drive surface and a crimping surface and being respectively mounted on the first and second housings at one side of said crimping rollers and so that when the housings are in the closed position, the drive surfaces of the first drive rollers engage therebetween track portions of the seam; a second pair of drive rollers each having a drive surface and a crimping surface and being respectively mounted on the first and second housings at the opposite side of said crimping rollers so that when the housings are in the closed position the drive surfaces of the second drive rollers engage therebetween track portions of the seam; each mounting means for each roller on the second housing including a spring interconnected between the roller and the second housing and operable during the crimping operation to urge the roller toward the other roller of the pair on the first housing; and reversible drive means connected to the rollers on the first housing for rotating the rollers at the same linear speed and in said one direction or alternatively in said opposite direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A construction in accordance with claim 6 further including mechanism on opposite sides of the machine for use respectively in contacting a panel being crimped and maintaining the machine in generally Upright position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
A construction in accordance with claim 6 further including means respectively connected on opposite sides of said housing and extending horizontally outward above the seam when the machine is mounted thereon and each including mechanism to stop the travel of the machine when the same reaches a predetermined distance from the end of the seam.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-19 | 1977-05-21 | 1977-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-19 | 1981-05-21 | 1981-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-19 | 1985-05-21 | 1985-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |