Roofing material removal apparatus
View Patent ↗A roofing material removal apparatus is an apparatus to aid in the removal of existing roof shingles and tar paper. The device utilizes a removal frame, made of aluminum pipe, that is positioned on one side of a roof that is to be torn off. The removal frame is adjustable in overall length to fit the size of the roof. It is envisioned that extremely wide sections of roofs would be done in two or more passes. A section of strong aircraft cable is connected to the center of the removal frame and routed through a pulley that is fastened to the opposite side of the roof. The pulley prevents roof damage by keeping the cable from cutting into the roof. This cable is then connected to a vehicle mounted winch at grade level. During operation, the removal frame starts at the far end of the roof, removing all shingles, tar paper and similar roofing materials. As the removal frame is pulled forward by the cable and the winch, it pushes all of the loose material in much the same manner as a plow. Upon reaching the far side of the roof, the material simply falls into a properly placed dumpster.
1 . A roofing material removal apparatus comprising:
a lower frame;
an upper frame; and,
a set of sleeves on the lower front portion, lower rear portion, and upper rear portion of the frames, said sleeves providing width adjustment along an adjustable width travel path; and,
wherein the lower frame and the upper frame are joined together at a pair of pivot points;
wherein the upper frame is pivotable between an open insertion space and a closed position; and,
wherein the apparatus includes a pulling eye positioned at a central point of the lower frame and,
wherein said lower frame and said upper frame are constructed of individual structural elements, selected from the group consisting of steel tubing and steel angle;
wherein the lower frame comprises a rectangular steel frame having a lower front portion, a pair of lower side portions, and a lower rear portion, while the upper frame comprises a three-sided steel frame having a pair of upper side portions and an upper rear portion; and,
wherein a pair of lugs extend upward from opposing front corners of the lower frame, said lugs providing a pivoting attachment for a distal front ends of the pair of upper side portions to the lugs.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said sleeves are secured with at least one first fastener.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising multiple threaded lower tabs spaced along the lower rear portion of the lower frame, and multiple threaded upper tabs spaced along an upper rear portion of the upper frame, said tabs coaligning when the upper frame is in the closed position.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising lower gripping teeth extending outward from an upper surface of the lower rear portion, a set of sleeves, and the lower side portions of the lower frame.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising upper gripping teeth extending outward from an upper surface of the upper rear portion and an upper side portions of the upper frame.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the upper frame pivots about the pivot points to produce the open insertion space.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of second fasteners configured to hold aligned pairs of tabs in physical contact when the apparatus is in the closed position.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pulling eye is used in conjunction with a flexible high strength cable, a pulley, and a capstan winch to move the apparatus along a roofed surface.
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the high strength cable is routed through the pulley and onto the capstan winch, and the capstan winch is secured to an immovable object.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is adjustable in length by manipulating the set of sleeves and first fasteners to extend the apparatus along an adjustable length travel path.
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lower frame and the upper frame form a minimal gap between each other when in the closed position.
12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the upper frame is approximately eight inches (8 in.) wide and six feet (6 ft.) long.
13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lower frame comprises a lower front portion having a pulling eye located at the front portion and extending forwardly therefrom.
14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is used to remove roofing material, such as existing roof shingles and tar paper, from a roofing surface of a structure and onto a ground surface or a container.
15 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is for use on sections of a roofing surface that are smaller and larger than a overall length by adjusting a length of the apparatus using a set of sleeves and first fasteners.
16 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein multiple passes of the apparatus are used to remove roofing material from extremely larger roofed surface areas.