Abstract An underframe structure, system and method for use with mobile homes and other transportable buildings including a pair of longitudinal beams made of C-sections, an interlocking C-section used at the area of greatest bending moment, a reinforcing hatsection member rigidly affixed to each beam but removable therefrom to increase stiffness in the area of greatest bending moment, a wheel support structure depending from the hat-section member, and a removable hitch on the underframe which can be attached to the wheel support structure and hat-section members to move them independently of the underframe. The disclosure also includes a method of assembly of such an underframe structure, using a minimum of simple jigs. There is also disclosed a method for moving a mobile building from a first location to another location wherein a wheel support structure which includes elongate stiffening members is mounted beneath the building in such a way as to improve the stiffness of the building underframe during transporting, a removable hitch member is attached to the frame of the building, the building is moved to the other location, and the support structure and hitch are then removed from the mobile building and attached to each other for transportation independently of the building, while the building is lowered to a suitable foundation.
A support frame comprising a pair of parallel spaced-apart beams, a plurality of cross-members secured therebetween, and a support structure connected to said beams to support said beams along at least one line traversing said beams intermediate their ends, whereby the bending moment on said beams at and adjacent said line is substantially greater than at other points along the length of the beams, each of said beams comprising a C-section with its web lying in the vertical plane, said Csection having upper and lower flanges of different widths, a second C-section having substantially identical web width and flange widths interlocked with the first C-section with the narrower flange of each C-section nesting within the wider flange of the other C-section, said second C-section extending a length encompassing a substantial portion of the area of substantially greater bending moment but substantially less than the length of the first C-section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A support frame comprising a pair of parallel spaced-apart beams, a plurality of cross-members secured therebetween, and a support structure connected to said beams to support said beams along at least one line traversing said beams intermediate their ends, whereby the bending moment on said beams at and adjacent said line is substantially greater than at other points along the length of the beams, each of said beams comprising a C-section with its web lying in the vertical plane, said Csection having upper and lower flanges of different widths, a second C-section having substantially identical web width and flange widths interlocked with the first C-section with the narrower flange of each C-section nesting within the wider flange of the other C-section, said second C-section extending a length encompassing a substantial portion of the area of substantially greater bending moment but substantially less than the length of the first C-section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A support frame as defined by claim 1 wherein the lip of the exteriorly disposed flange of each C-section is welded to the web of the other C-section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A support frame as defined by claim 1 and including a channel-shaped member affixed to the lowermost flange of each beam to depend therebelow and extending longitudinally of the beam for a length encompassing a substantial portion of the area of substantially greater bending moment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A support frame as defined by claim 3 wherein said channel-shaped member is hat-shaped.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A support frame as defined by claim 3 wherein the support structure is connected to the channel-shaped members, whereby the support frame is supported through the channel-shaped members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A support frame as defined by claim 5, wherein the support structure comprises a pair of wheels mounted on an axle, and the axle is mounted on leaf springs, the ends of which are secured to the channel-shaped members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A support frame as defined by claim 5 wherein the channel-shaped members are removably attached to the beams.