Patent Application
20250171997
The present disclosure relates generally to protective enclosures for protecting outdoor equipment and, more particularly, to portable protective enclosures for protecting outdoor equipment.
Equipment located outside is exposed to the weather which can cause damage to the equipment. While shelters exist for housing and protecting outdoor equipment from weather conditions, a need and a desire for an improved equipment shelter that is readable portable, can be installed over existing equipment, and can protect the equipment from cold weather remains.
The present disclosure provides a portable protective enclosure for outdoor equipment that overcomes the disadvantages in protective enclosures now existing.
It is an object of embodiments of the invention to provide a protective enclosure for equipment that is easily portable by towing and is used to provide an insulated and heatable enclosure for protecting equipment from cold weather.
In embodiments, a portable protective enclosure comprising is provided. The enclosure may have first and second skids being arranged parallel and spaced to one another defining a space therebetween, the first and second skids having a first end and an opposite second end. The enclosure may further have a building supported on the skids for movement therewith, the building comprising first and second end walls each extending across the skids, first and second side walls one each extending along a length of a respective skid, and a roof spanning the first and second end walls and the first and second side walls, the building being free of a floor.
In embodiments, the enclosure may have the first end wall comprising a pair of first swing doors that are openable to permit access to an interior of the building and to the space between the first and second skids; and the second end wall comprising a pair of second swing doors that are openable to permit access to an interior of the building and to the space between the first and second skids.
In embodiments, the enclosure may have each swing door of the pair of first swing doors has a forward access panel located at a bottom of the door and extending along a width of the door, wherein the forward access panel is insulated panel or is a strip of flexible rubber material; and each swing door of the pair of second swing doors having two side-by-side rearward access panels located at a bottom of the door and extending along a width of the door, wherein the rearward access panels are insulated panels or a strip of flexible rubber material.
In embodiments, the enclosure may have a tow beam extending between the first and second skids at the first ends thereof, the two beam being removably attached at its opposite ends to the first and second skids; and two tow eyes attached to the tow beam and configured to be connected to a tow vehicle for towing the skids and attached building.
In embodiments, the enclosure may have a first cross member pivotally attached at one end to the first skid for rotation within the space between the first and second skids between a first position wherein the first cross member extends between the skids and a second position wherein the first cross member extends along a length of the first skid, the opposite end of the first cross member being detachably secured to the second skid when in the first position.
In embodiments, the enclosure may have a second cross member pivotally attached at one end to the second skid for rotation within the space between the first and second skids between a first position wherein the second cross member extends between the skids and a second position wherein the second cross member extends along a length of the second skid, the opposite end of the second cross member being detachably secured to the first skid when in the first position.
In embodiments, the enclosure may have the first side wall having a pair of first side access panels disposed at a bottom end of the first side wall approximate the second end wall, wherein the first side access panels are insulated panels or a strip of flexible rubber material; and the second side wall having a pair of second side access panels disposed at a bottom end of the second side wall approximate the second end wall, wherein the first side access panels are insulated panels or a strip of flexible rubber material.
In embodiments, the enclosure may have one or more doors in one or both of the first and second side walls. In embodiments, the enclosure may also have one or more steps attached to one or both of the first and second side walls.
Numerous additional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated embodiments of the invention.
This description and the accompanying drawings that illustrate inventive aspects, embodiments, implementations, or applications should not be taken as limiting—the claims define the protected invention. Various mechanical, structural, and operational changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this description and the claims. In some instances, well-known devices, structures, or techniques have not been shown or described in detail in order not to obscure the invention. Like reference numbers in two or more figures represent the same or similar elements.
Although this description is made to be sufficiently clear, concise, and exact, scrupulous, and exhaustive linguistic precision is not always possible or desirable, since the description should be kept to a reasonable length and skilled readers will understand background and associated technology.
In addition, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context indicates otherwise. And the terms “comprises”, “includes”, “has”, and the like specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups.
With reference to
Enclosure 10 has a pair of elongated, spaced, and parallel rigid beams providing skids 12 and 14 that are configured to be towed across a ground surface. Enclosure 10 further has a building structure 16 that is attached to and supported on the skids 12 and 14 for, among other aspects, to be towed to a location for use, as will be further described herein.
Building 16 has a pair of end walls 18 and 20, a pair of side walls 22 and 24, and a roof 26 that spans the walls to form an enclosed, protective space therebetween. End walls 18 and 20 extend across the skids 12 and 14, and side walls 22 and 24 each extend along a length of a respective skid. End wall 18 is located near a first end of skids 12 and 14 with a length of each skid extending beyond the wall. As further shown, side walls 22 and 24 extend beyond the opposite ends of the skids 12 and 14. As it will become apparent, the purpose for this configuration is to allow space along the building for equipment components, such as, for example suction and discharge lines of a pump without requiring disconnecting these lines for placement of the enclosure about the pump.
Importantly, building 16 does not have a floor which allows enclosure 10 to be positioned over equipment by moving the enclosure on its skids, as further explained below. Preferably, the walls and roof are insulated to provide heat insulation to the building. This is ideal when enclosure 10 is used to protect equipment in cold weather environments. While not shown, enclosure 10 can be provided with heaters to heat the interior space of building 16.
In aspects, end wall 18 may be comprised of a pair of swing doors 28 and 30 and end wall 20 may also be comprised of a pair of swing doors 32 and 34. These doors may be opened from the shown closed position to allow positioning enclosure 10 about equipment.
In aspects, swing doors 28 and 30 may have access panels, representatively shown as two access panels 36a and 36b arranged side-by-side along the bottoms of the doors. These access panels may be hingedly attached to the swing doors and can be rotated between a down position where the panels extend downwardly from the doors and a flipped-up position where the panels lay generally against the doors. When in the down position, panels 36a and 36b fill a gap between the bottoms of doors 28 and 30 and the ground. When in the raised position, the panels are positioned to not interfere with the opening and closing of the doors 28 and 30 against the skids 12 and 14. In aspects, these access panels 36a and 36b can be insulated, rigid panels.
In aspects, swing doors 32 and 34 may have access panels, representatively shown as four access panels 38a-38d arranged side-by-side along the bottoms of the doors. These access panels may be hingedly attached to the doors and can be rotated between a down position where the panels extend downwardly from the doors and a flipped-up position where the panels lay generally against the doors. When in the down position, panels 38a-38d fill a gap between the bottoms of doors 32 and 34 and the ground. When in the raised position, the panels provide for an opening for equipment components to pass into and/or out of the interior space of building 16. In aspects, these access panels 38a-38d can be insulated, rigid panels.
In aspects, side wall 22 may have access panels, representatively shown as two access panels 40a-40b arranged side-by-side along the bottom of the wall and approximate end wall 18. These access panels may be hingedly attached to the side wall and can be rotated between a down position where the panels extend downwardly from the wall and a flipped-up position where the panels lay generally against the wall. When in the down position, panels 40a-40b fill a gap between the bottom of wall and the ground. When in the raised position, the panels provide for an opening for equipment components to pass into and/or out of the interior space of building 16. In aspects, these access panels 40a-40b can be insulated, rigid panels.
In aspects, side wall 24 may have access panels, representatively shown as two access panels 42a-42b arranged side-by-side along the bottom of the wall and approximate end wall 18. These access panels may be hingedly attached to the side wall and can be rotated between a down position where the panels extend downwardly from the wall and a flipped-up position where the panels lay generally against the wall. When in the down position, panels 42a-42b fill a gap between the bottom of wall and the ground. When in the raised position, the panels provide for an opening for equipment components to pass into and/or out of the interior space of building 16. In aspects, these access panels 42a-42b can be insulated, rigid panels.
As shown, access panels 42a-42b, access panels 38a-38d, and access panels 40a-42b are arranged side-by-side, wrapping around end wall 18. In this manner, these access panels can be opened to accommodate different equipment configurations to allow equipment components, such as fluid lines, for example, to pass into and/or out of the interior of building 16.
In aspects, one or both side walls 22 and 24 may have a door 44 and 46 to allow a person to enter the interior space of building 16. As shown in
With further reference to
In aspects, a tow beam 66 may be provided which extends between the skids 12 at the first ends of the skids. The tow beam may be removably attached at its opposite ends to the skids by a coupling located on each skid. The coupling may have a receiver for receiving the end of the tow bar and a removable bolt that extends through the receiver and the end of the tow bar. Tow eyes 68 may be attached to the tow beam 66 for coupling with a tow vehicle for towing the enclosure over the ground.
In aspects, cross members, representatively two cross members 70 and 72 may be attached to the skids 12 and 14 to increase its rigidity during towing. Each cross member 70 and 72 may be pivotally attached at one end to one skid for rotation within the space between the skids and between a first, extended position wherein the cross members extend between the skids and a second, rotated stored position wherein the cross members extend along a length of a skid. In the first position, the end of each cross member opposite the pivot attachment is removably secured to the opposite skid by a coupling. The coupling may have a receiver for receiving the end of a cross member and a removable bolt that extends through the receiver and the end of the cross member.
As representatively shown, cross member 70 is pivotally attached at one end to skid 12 for rotation with the opposite end being removably connectable to skid 14 by the coupling. And cross member 72 is pivotally attached at one end to skid 14 for rotation with the opposite end being removably connectable to skid 12 by the coupling. When the cross members 70 and 72 are in the extend positions and are attached at both ends to the skids 12 and 14, the cross members provide rigidity to the structure. When in the rotated, stowed position the space between the skids 12 and 14 is unobstructed by the cross members, thus allowing the enclosure to be moved over equipment with the equipment disposed between the skids.
In use, enclosure 10 is prepared to be towed to the service location by configuring the enclosure by securing the tow beam 66 at its ends to the skids 12 and 14 with the tow beam extending between the skids, securing the swing doors 28-32 in the closed position by respective latches, securing the access panels, 36a-36b, 38a-38d, 40a-40b, and 42a-42b, in the raised, opened position by respective latches, securing steps 48-54 in the raised, stowed position by respective latches, and securing each cross members 70 and 72 in its extended position with its ends secured to the skids.
In the ready-tow configuration, an equipment operator would drive an appropriate size of equipment, such as a loader, to the enclosure and couple the loader to the tow beam 66 for towing by the loader by securing a tow sling to the tow eyelets 68. The operator would use the loader to tow the enclosure to the end use location.
Once the enclosure is towed to the end use location, the operator would unhook the tow slings and position the forks of the loader on the underside of the tow beam 66. The operator would use the forks on the loader to maneuver the enclosure in front of the critical piece of equipment that is already fully set up, functioning and in place with the backside (the side opposite of the tow beam) of the enclosure closest to the critical piece of equipment such as a pump. Once the enclosure is in position, the swing doors 28-32 are opened and secured in the open position by respective latches. With the swing doors open, the operator has a clear view through the enclosure while sitting in the loader. The cross members 70 and 72 are disconnected at their respective connection ends to the skids 12 and 14 and are rotated into the second position with the cross members laying generally parallel along a respective skid.
In this configuration, the interior of the building and the space between the skids are completely open with no obstructions as the building has no floor. The operator then, using the loader, pushes the entire enclosure over the top of the critical piece of equipment, such as a pump, for example. Once the enclosure is positioned over the equipment, the enclosure may be configured to a use configuration.
In a use configuration, as best seen in
The operator would then plug in the lighting circuits and heaters into a mobile power source such as a power generator (not shown). The critical piece of equipment, such as pump 78, is now fully enclosed and protected by enclosure from the harsh cold winters experienced in the northern hemispheres. The critical piece of equipment will not freeze up inside enclosure 10 that may also a fully electrified enclosure including lights and heaters. When an end user needs to relocate enclosure 10, the operator would just do the steps above in reverse order and tow the enclosure away to the next desired location.
Enclosure 10 may have alternative configurations. For example, in
In
It is important to note that the foregoing described enclosure 10 configurations are examples and are not mutually exclusive. For example, in any configuration one or more access panels 38a-38d, 40a-40b, and 42a-42b may be provided and/or one or more access panels may be replaced by a skirt 80.
While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, unless otherwise stated such illustration and description are to be considered exemplary and not restrictive in character, it being understood that illustrative embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected. It will be noted that alternative embodiments of the present disclosure may not include all the features described yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations that incorporate one or more of the features of the present disclosure and fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
