Method and apparatus for attaching a membrane roof using induction heating of a susceptor

• US 20060237448A1
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OMG Incorporated (Steel Partners Holdings LP)
• Original Assignee: Nexicor, LLC
• Inventors: Barber, John P., Challita, Antonios, Cravens, Robert C. II, Stanton, Susan A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,399,949 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/621
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/46 heated by induction
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/5057 positioned between the surfaces to be joined B29C65/5035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7844 cooperating with specially formed features of at least one of the parts to be joined, e.g. cooperating with holes or ribs of at least one of the parts to be joined parts to be joined comprising holes or slots for the purpose of positioning said parts B29C65/7808; parts to be joined comprising inter-cooperating positioning features B29C65/7814; welding using friction, the welding tool cooperating with specially formed features of at least one of the parts to be joined, e.g. cooperating with holes or ribs of at least one of the parts to be joined B29C65/069
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/43 Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles B29C66/45 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/45 Joining of substantially the whole surface of the articles methods or apparatus for laminating B32B37/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/474 said single elements being substantially non-flat
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8181 characterised by the cooling constructional aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/861 Hand-held tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8618 being battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/108 Roofs
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 15/04 for roof coverings comprising slabs, sheets or flexible material
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/105 using a susceptor
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/14 Tools, e.g. nozzles, rollers, calenders

Abstract

An improved induction heating apparatus is provided for attaching membrane roofs. A top membrane layer is attached to attachment disks that hold sheets of thermal insulation to the top of roof substrates. The heating apparatus emits a magnetic field that raises the temperature of the disks and a heat-activated adhesive on top of the disks which, after cooling, becomes adhered to the bottom surface of the top membrane layer. The disks in turn are attached via fasteners to the substrate portion of the roof structure. The apparatus includes a set of bottom guides that allow a user to find the attachment disks mechanically, without actually seeing those disks beneath the top membrane layer. A fine locator circuit is provided, using a magnetic field, and the apparatus allows a user to stand upright while operating the apparatus.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. An induction heating apparatus, comprising:

(a) a lower base portion, (b) an upper handle portion, and (c) a body portion located therebetween;

(d) an electrical power supply and a controller;

(e) a manually perable actuation device located in said handle portion;

(f) an induction coil located in said base portion; and

(g) a plurality of heat sink elements located on a surface of said base portion.

15. The induction heating apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said plurality of heat sink elements comprise one of:

(a) individual pin heat sinks that are substantially vertically mounted on an upper surface of said base portion; and

(b) at least one heat sink having multiple fins, mounted on an upper surface of said base portion.

16. The induction heating apparatus as recited in claim 14, further comprising a base portion housing that covers said plurality of beat sink elements, wherein said base portion housing has a plurality of slots to allow ambient air to flow to said plurality of heat sink elements.

17. The induction heating apparatus as recited in claim 14, further comprising a body portion housing that covers said electrical power supply and said controller, wherein said body portion housing has a plurality of slots to allow ambient air to flow to said electrical power supply and said controller.

18. The induction heating apparatus as recited in claim 14, further comprising a second plurality of beat sink elements that are located on a surface of said body portion.

19. The induction heating apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein when said manually-operable actuation device is operated by a user, said induction coil emits a magnetic field that induces eddy currents in an electrically conductive portion of a susceptor.

20. The induction heating apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein said susceptor comprises an attachment member used in a membrane roof structure.

21. The induction heating apparatus as recited in claim 20, further comprising:

a mechanical guide structure located along a bottom surface of said base portion, said mechanical guide structure being of a size and shape to assist in positioning said induction heating apparatus proximal to said attachment member.

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)