Roofing apparatus

An apparatus for welding a synthetic strip to a roofing membrane that is attached to a roofing construct, the synthetic strip having a central raised portion that extends along the longitudinal length of the synthetic strip, the synthetic strip having flanges extending widthwise from the central raised portion, and the synthetic strip having a substantially planar underside portion, the apparatus comprising:

• a self-propelled housing having a drive wheel for movably supporting the housing on the membrane;
• a first guide-wheel element mounted to the housing and positioned in or underneath the housing and the first guide-wheel element having a peripheral channel adapted to engage and receive the underside flat-planar portion of the synthetic strip and guide the synthetic strip, wherein the guide-wheel receiving channel has a channel width adapted to receive the total width of the synthetic strip;
• the drive wheel bring mounted to said housing rearwardly of the first guide-wheel element, the drive wheel being motor driven and having a circumferential channel adapted to receive and apply pressure to the central raised portion of the synthetic strip as the housing passes over the synthetic strip;
• the drive wheel having flange-engaging circumferential edges adapted to engage and apply pressure to the flanges;
• and
• further comprising a heated-air source having a nozzle for conveying heated air to a location between the synthetic strip and the sealing membrane.

An apparatus for welding a synthetic strip to a roofing membrane that is attached to a roofing construct, the synthetic strip having a central raised portion that extends along the longitudinal length of the synthetic strip, the synthetic strip having flanges extending widthwise from the central raised portion, and the synthetic strip having a substantially planar underside portion, the apparatus comprising:

• a self-propelled housing having a drive wheel for movably supporting the housing on the membrane;
• a first guide-wheel element mounted to the housing and positioned in or underneath the housing and the first guide-wheel element having a peripheral channel adapted to engage and receive the underside flat-planar portion of the synthetic strip and guide the synthetic strip, wherein the guide-wheel receiving channel has a channel width adapted to receive the total width of the synthetic strip;
• the drive wheel bring mounted to said housing rearwardly of the first guide-wheel element, the drive wheel being motor driven and having a circumferential channel adapted to receive and apply pressure to the central raised portion of the synthetic strip as the housing passes over the synthetic strip;
• the drive wheel having flange-engaging circumferential edges adapted to engage and apply pressure to the flanges;
• and
• wherein absent from the apparatus is a non-wheel guide member mounted on the front housing, adapted to be positioned over the synthetic strip in order to engage and receive the central raised portion so as to guide the synthetic strip into a position beneath the housing as the housing moves over the synthetic strip.