Apparatus and method for welding overlapping water-proof membranes to each other

A method for welding an edge of a thermoplastic membrane to an angle piece fixed on a free edge of a surface to which thermoplastic membranes are being attached, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an apparatus for heat welding to each other two overlapping thermoplastic membranes mounted on a surface, the apparatus comprising:
• a frame;
• a support member connected to said frame;
• a nozzle mounted on said support member and adapted to direct heated air to a weld location beneath an upper one of the membranes;
• weld wheels mounted on said support member adjacent to, and in operation immediately following, said nozzle for pushing a heated portion of the upper one of the membranes toward the underlying one of the membranes to effect a weld;
• wherein said support member is adapted to be fixed to said frame member in a first position proximate a first side of said frame for welding the two membranes together;
• releasing said support member from the first position;
• moving said support member from the first position to a second position on said frame nearer a second side of said frame;
• releasably fixing said support member on said frame in the second position;
• placing an angle piece on the surface free edge, the angle piece having a coating of a plastics material on an upper surface thereof;
• and
• moving the apparatus along the edge of one of the thermoplastic membranes with said nozzle disposed between the one thermoplastic membrane and the coating on the angle piece,
• whereby to weld the thermoplastic membrane edge to the angle piece upper surface.

Apparatus for heat welding to each other two overlapping thermoplastic membranes mounted on a surface and for heat welding one membrane to an angle piece disposed on a free edge of the surface, the apparatus comprising:

• drive wheels for providing for locomotion of the apparatus;
• a support member mounted on said apparatus adapted to be disposed in a first location on the apparatus for directing heated air from a nozzle mounted thereon to a weld area between the two membranes, and for a weld wheel mounted thereon to be disposed in a first location on the apparatus for the welding of the two membranes to each other;
• and
• said support member, and therewith said nozzle and said weld wheel, being movable to a second location on the apparatus to position said nozzle and said weld wheel for the welding of the one membrane to the angle piece.

A method for heat welding to each other two overlapping thermoplastic membrane mounted on a surface and for heat welding one membranes to an angle piece mounted on a free edge of the surface, the method comprising the steps of:

• laying the two membranes on the surface such that edge portions of the two membranes overlap;
• providing an apparatus comprising:
• drive wheels for providing for locomotion of the apparatus;
• a support member adapted to be disposed in a first location on the apparatus;
• a nozzle disposed on the support member for directing heated air to a weld area between the two membranes when the support member is in the first location;
• and
• a weld wheel disposed on the support member for the welding of the two membranes to each other when the support member is in the first location;
• at least one of the drive wheels, and the support member each being movable to a second location on the apparatus for the welding of the one membrane to the angle piece;
• placing the drive wheel in the first location;
• moving the apparatus along the overlap of the two membranes, such that the nozzle directs heated air between the two membranes and the weld wheel thereafter presses the two membranes firmly together;
• placing the angle piece on the free edge of the surface;
• moving the support member and the at least one drive wheel to second locations on the apparatus;
• and
• moving the apparatus along an outboard edge of the one membrane such that the nozzle directs heated air between the one membrane and the angle piece and the weld wheel thereafter presses the one membrane and the angle piece firmly together.