Vehicle apparatus for use on a roof and method of assembling and installing commercial roofing
A roof vehicle has a chassis, a plurality of motor-driven wheels coupled to the chassis, a man-basket coupled to the chassis, wherein the man-basket is moveable on a y-axis and is configured to lower to an elevation beneath that of the plurality of motor-driven wheels, a deck for transporting equipment, and a power supply. A method for assembling and installing a roof involves moving the roof vehicle to the desired location on the roof of a structure, lowering the man-basket at least partially beneath the surface roof, and performing work (e.g., welding) to secure the roof to the structure of the building.
1. A roof vehicle, comprising:
a chassis comprising motor-driven wheels; wherein the motor-driven wheels straddle a gap in a roof;
a deck coupled to the chassis, the deck comprising a steering wheel for steering at least two of the motor-driven wheels, and an actuator pedal and a brake pedal for controlling the motor-driven wheels via a motor;
a man-basket coupled on one end of the chassis, the man basket comprising a control panel for:
a. moving the man basket on a y-axis, wherein the man-basket is lowerable on the y-axis into the gap in the roof and lowerable to an elevation beneath that of the motor-driven wheels;
b. controlling the steering wheel;
c. controlling the motor that drives the motor-driven wheels coupled to the chassis;
at least two guide wheels lowerable into roof corrugations to aid in preventing misalignment of the roof vehicle on the roof;
a storage compartment comprising a power inverter;
at least one optical safety sensor; and
a power supply.
2. The roof vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a counter-weight opposite the man-basket.
3. The roof vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a safety railing coupled to the chassis perimeter.
4. The roof vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the deck is configured to accept and hold in place various materials, canisters, tools, and other tools or items.
5. A method of using a roof vehicle to secure a roof to an underlying structure, the method comprising:
placing the roof vehicle on a roof;
lowering a man-basket containing a user into an opening in the roof;
welding or otherwise securing the roof to the underlying structure;
raising the man-basket;
moving the roof vehicle to the next location on the roof.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the roof vehicle straddles openings in the roof.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the roof vehicle is adjacent to the openings in the roof.