Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Shaped or strengthened by fluid pressure – Intersecting tubular elements form framework
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-26
2003-08-19
Canfield, Robert (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Shaped or strengthened by fluid pressure
Intersecting tubular elements form framework
C052S002190, C052SDIG001, C052SDIG001, C135S087000, C135S900000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06606826
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to inflatable work shelters for another structure and in particular to temporary shelters for use in the maintenance of aircraft engines in the open, or for use with other equipment and units.
One of the major problems with aircraft engine maintenance is that very often the aircraft engine has to be repaired in situ. This may be because either there is not hangar space available, or, for example, the particular airline as is becoming the normal practice has flown their own maintenance crew out to maintain or replace the engine, whose own maintenance crew does not have covered facilities or hangars to store the aircraft for maintenance, or alternatively, the cost of such storage is prohibitive. There is thus a need for a temporary structure that would cover portion of the aircraft to at least encapsulate the engine pod below the wing to which it is attached giving sufficient covered spaced beneath the wing to allow the maintenance staff to work thereon in reasonable comfort.
It has always been appreciated that it would be virtually impossible to build any temporary structure around and beneath the wing of the aircraft which would achieve this function because of the relatively high winds and adverse conditions encountered in airports. The amount of damage that could be caused by such a structure being blown over or falling could be considerable. The damage might not alone be to the aircraft to which it was attached or mounted beneath, but to adjoining aircraft and even more importantly to personnel. Thus, it has been considered heretofore as being relatively impossible to provide such a structure.
Similar problems arise with equipment attached to the outside of buildings or other structures. Equipment such as switchgear, boilers, power units and meters for services are often for safety, access and other reasons placed outside buildings. The enclosures, if any, in which they are placed are often insufficient to provide protection from the elements for those working on them.
The problem has been appreciated particularly for construction projects that are being built under extremely adverse environmental conditions of, for example, building gas and oil pipelines across difficult terrain. It has been appreciated for many years that one of the best ways of providing such protection is to use some type of inflatable portable structure or shelter which could be used by personnel working under such conditions. The advantage of this is that as the particular building or unit is constructed the shelter can be deflated and removed to another site. Indeed it has been known to provide such inflatable shelters for fishermen and some maintenance personnel. A typical example of such a structure is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,192,105 (Morgan). However, to provide such an enormous structure to enclose a whole aircraft would be virtually an impossible task and thus heretofore it has been considered that even if temporary structures were required that inflatable shelters would be inappropriate in situations such as that envisaged above namely for the maintenance of aircraft engines in situ where shelter around the aircraft appears to make it totally impractical in use.
The present invention is directed towards providing an inflatable shelter for mounting beneath the wing of an aircraft to at least encapsulate an engine pod, but also for mounting against or beneath another structure to enclose portion of it to provide protection from the environment for equipment and personnel when work is being cared out on the structure.
Ideally such a shelter should also be capable of being used as a free standing enclosed shelter or building in its own right when not attached to another structure.
Indeed the invention is also directed towards providing temporary structures generally.
STATEMENT OF INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided an inflatable temporary work shelter for another structure, the shelter comprising walls, at least portion of which are inflatable to provide a free standing shelter characterised in that the walls define an open structure embracing spine having side edges urged on inflation towards each other into a closed position with portion of the structure enclosed therein. The advantage of this is that as well as the inflatable shelter only having to be sufficiently large to encapsulate the portion of the structure that it is desired to work on, it also has the advantage of using the structure to partially anchor it in position. By the spine engaging an embracing portion of the structure, the inflatable nature of the shelter ensures a close contact between the side edges of the spine and the structure thus providing a seal preventing the ingress of dirt, moisture and other contaminants. Thus an enclosed shelter can be provided and if it is necessary to provide heating, air conditioning or the like within the shelter, this can be readily easily provided in an energy efficient manner.
Ideally, the side edge faces are urged on inflation to contact the structure. By having the side edge faces contact the structure suitable anchorage and sealing from the ingress of dirt and moisture or indeed the prevention of, for example, the outflow of hot air will be readily easily achieved. Ideally, portion of the side edge faces contact each other on inflation to surround part of the structure. In one embodiment of the invention, portion of the side edge faces contact each other intermediate their ends to accommodate portion of the structure projecting therethrough.
Ideally the walls comprise a framework formed by inflatable interconnected frame members and a covering material attached thereto, the spine being provided by two adjacent facing bearing frame members. This particular structure is very useful as the facing bearing frame members will form a tight grip against the structure.
Ideally, the spine member comprises a pair of arcuate elongate facing bearing frame members forming on inflation a structure receiving hole, the side faces being urged on inflation to contact the structure. This can be a particularly advantageous arrangement where, for example, an aeroplane has an engine pod which is not, for example, suspended from the engine wing by a pylon but is in effect formed substantially integral with the wing. In this case it is necessary to inflate the structure so that it can encompass the whole of the engine pod and bear up against the underneath portion of the wing. This could be particularly important, for example, where the engine includes cowling of the gull-wing type which cowling when open lies along the underneath the wing and thus the hole might have to be sufficiently large to accommodate not just simply the engine itself but also be sufficiently wide as to allow the cowling lie within the shelter or alternatively for the structure to lie or bear up against the underneath of the gull-wing cowling.
Ideally each bearing frame member includes at least one hinge portion intermediate its length for limited pivotal movement about itself. The advantage of this is that the side edges of the spine will accommodate irregularities and changes in shape of the structure against which it is mounted thus providing an even closer contact between the side edges of the spine and the structure than if no hinges were provided.
In one embodiment of the invention, each bearing frame member comprises a plurality of separate frame members interconnected by extension sheet material to permit extension of the peripheral dimensions of the spine portion to accommodate the structure. Again the advantage of this is that, as will often be the case, the structure to which the shelter is being attached will be relatively large and thus the spine opening might not of itself be sufficient to encapsulate the portion of the structure. This will allow greater flexibility in mounting.
Ideally the two bearing frame members are configured to contact each other firmly on inflation when the structure is not encapsulated therein. The advantage of this is that the shelter, when not us
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