Enclosure for housing operating equipment

Abstract

An enclosure for housing operating equipment, includes a base having a mounting surface on which equipment is to be positioned. At least one shell is pivotally secured to the base for pivotal movement about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open access position. The shell has side walls and a top forming an enclosure which overlies the mounting surface of the base when the shell is in the closed position. The shell is positioned adjacent to the base leaving the mounting surface of the base completely uncovered when in the open access position.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an enclosure for housing operating equipment such as engines or pumps.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is common practise to house equipment, such as engines or pumps, in structures such as sheds in order to protect them from deterioration due to the elements and protect them from tampering or vandalism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided an enclosure for housing operating equipment. The enclosure includes a base having a mounting surface on which equipment is to be positioned. At least one shell is pivotally secured to the base for pivotal movement about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open access position. The at least one shell has side walls and a top forming an enclosure which overlies the mounting surface of the base when the at least one shell is in the closed position. The at least one shell is positioned adjacent to the base leaving the mounting surface of the base completely uncovered when in the open access position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiment or embodiments shown, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view an enclosure for housing operating equipment constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, with cooperating shells in the closed position.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the enclosure for housing operating equipment illustrated in FIG. 1, with cooperating shells in the open access position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment, an enclosure for housing operating equipment generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Structure and Relationship of Parts:

Referring to FIG. 2, enclosure 10 has a base 12 with a bottom 14, a shallow peripheral side wall 16 and an mounting surface 18 on which equipment, generally indicated by reference numeral 100 is to be positioned. Mounting surface 18 is positioned entirely within peripheral side wall 16. A pair of cooperating shells, hereinafter identified as first shell 20 and second shell 22 are provided. Both first shell 20 and second shell 22 are pivotally secured to base 12 for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal pivot axis 24 between a closed position illustrated in FIG. 1 and an open access position illustrated in FIG. 2. Each of first shell 20 and second shell 22 has side walls 26 and a top 28 forming an enclosure 30 which overlies a portion of mounting surface 18 of base 12 when first shell 20 and second shell 22 are in the closed position. First shell 20 covers a first portion 32 of base 12 and second shell 22 covers a second portion 34 of base 12. Referring to FIG. 1, together first shell 20 and second shell 22 cover all of mounting surface 18 of base 12. Referring to FIG. 2, when first shell 20 and second shell 22 are in the closed position, they are positioned adjacent to the base leaving mounting surface 18 of base 12 completely uncovered. In order to limit pivotal movement of first shell 20 and second shell 22 in the open access position, tether lines 36 are provided which extend from base 12 to each of first shell 20 and second shell 22.

Operation:

The use and operation of enclosure 10 will now be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 1, enclosure 10 is normally left with first shell 20 and second shell 22 in the closed position. In this position, equipment 100 is protected from the weather and is not accessible by members of the public. Referring to FIG. 2, during servicing first shell 20 and second shell 22 are pivoted about their respective horizontal pivot axis 24 to the open access position. This enables open access to equipment 100 without space constraints inherently imposed when the equipment is enclosed within a shed structure. This also provides ample access to natural light, so the serviceman can see what he is working on without reliance upon artificial lighting. Peripheral side wall 16 contains any liquid leakage which may occur from equipment 100.

Variations:

In the preferred embodiment, two cooperating shells are illustrated. If will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the same result may be obtained through the use of a single shell or more than two cooperating shells. In the preferred embodiment, the cooperating shells are pivotally secured for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal pivot access. If an additional vertical structural support were incorporated into the base, it would be possible to achieve the same result with a structure that pivoted about a substantially vertical pivot access. Peripheral side wall 16 is solely provided for liquid containment, and could be eliminated if environmental damage through leakage were not of concern.

In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined in the Claims.

Claims

1. An enclosure for housing operating equipment, comprising: a base having a mounting surface on which equipment is to be positioned; and at least one shell pivotally secured to the base for pivotal movement about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open access position, the at least one shell having side walls and a top forming an enclosure which overlies the mounting surface of the base when the at least one shell is in the closed position, the at least one shell being positioned adjacent to the base leaving the mounting surface of the base completely uncovered when in the open access position.

2. The enclosure as defined in claim 1, wherein the pivot axis is a substantially horizontal pivot axis.

3. The enclosure as defined in claim 1, wherein stops are provided to limit pivotal movement of the at least one shell in the open access position.

4. The enclosure as defined in claim 3, wherein the stops are tether lines which extend from the base to the at least one shell.

5. The enclosure as defined in claim 1, wherein there are two shells, a first shell covering a first portion of the base and a second shell covering a second portion of the base, the first shell and the second shell collectively covering all of the mounting surface of the base.

6. The enclosure as defined in claim 1, wherein the base has a bottom and a shallow peripheral side wall.

7. An enclosure for housing operating equipment, comprising: a base having a bottom, a shallow peripheral side wall and a mounting surface within the peripheral side wall on which equipment is to be positioned; and at least two cooperating shells pivotally secured to the base for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal pivot axis between a closed position and an open access position, each shell having side walls and a top forming an enclosure which overlies a portion of the mounting surface of the base when the shells are in the closed position, a first of the shells covering a first portion of the base and a second of the shells covering a second portion of the base, the first shell and the second shell collectively covering all of the mounting surface of the base, the shells being positioned adjacent to the base leaving the mounting surface of the base completely uncovered when in the open access position.

8. The enclosure as defined in claim 7, wherein stops are provided to limit pivotal movement of the at least two shells in the open access position.

9. The enclosure as defined in claim 8, wherein the stops are tether lines which extend from the base to the at least two shells.