Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2118170
AN ENCLOSURE STRUCTURE
Field of Invention
This invention relates to an enclosure structure. In particular, this
invention relates to illl~luvelllents in an enclosure structure which can be erected
S about a relatively large object for main~aillillg stable ellvilolllllental conditions
thereabout.
Background of Invention
During the construction or repair of large naval vessels, aircraft or
other buildings and structures, it is desirable to build or erect a temporary
10 structure to enclose the space under repair or construction. Envi~olllllental
conditions can be maintained within the structure in order to carry out certain
repairs or construction steps.
In the case of large naval vessels, bllilrlings or structures, it is usually
not possible to bring the vessel, building or other structure indoors. In the case
15 of aircraft, while it is possible to bring the aircraft into a hangar, it is not
economically feasible to ~llvilonlllentally control the entire hangar in order to
carry out certain repairs.
In the past, framed structures using traditional scaffolding have been
erected about the vessel or aircraft. A plastic sheeting is attached to the
20 scaffolding to enclose the structure providing a controllable ellvilolllllent therein
which can be stabilized using col~ven~ional heating, air conditioning and ventilating
systems.
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plovelllents have been made to the type of plastic sheeting which
is used to enclose the framed scaffold structure. The sheeting has been reinrorced
with various high strength fibers. High strength grommets are used to reinforce
the plastic sheeting for attachment to the framed scaffold structure. Flexible
S plastic ties have been threaded through the grommets and tied to the tubularscaffold frame. Other two piece connectors have also been used to connect the
sheeting to the scaffold frame.
The convelllional connectors can only retain the plastic sheet next
to the tubular scaffold frame. These connectors are unable to provide any
stability along the length of the tubular frame member as the tie is allowed to
slide along the length thereof.
Another problem which has been encountered using scaffolding, is
that the scaffolding requires a relatively large area for its footing or foundation.
If the enclosure is required to be erected to cover the entire width of the deck of
a large naval vessel, the footing or foundation with ~rcvent full access. The
scaffold frame must be constructed from the ~u~lounding ground upwardly and
then over the deck of the vessel. This additional structure increases the costs for
undertaking such a project.
SummaIg of the Invention
The disadvantages of the prior art may be uvercollle by providing
an enclosure structure COlllpli.7illg a framed structure having a plurality of T-bolt
fasteners for releasably connecting an outer sheeting to a framed structure.
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It is desirable to provide a framed structure having a plurality of
extruded tubular components having an outwardly facing T-bolt channel for
receiving a T-bolt which is inserted through a grommet of an outer sheeting and
secured within the T-bolt channel.
S It is desirable to provide a framed structure COlllpliSillg a pair of
tubular members connected together with a plurality of stringers in a lateral like
fashion.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an
enclosure structure colllplisillg a framed assembly defining a space to be enclosed
and an outer sheeting for covering said framed assembly. The illl~ruvelllent
complises a plurality of T-bolt fasteners releasably joining the outer sheeting to
the framed assembly.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an
enclosure structure having a framed assembly and an outer sheeting covering the
framed structure. The framed assembly defines a space to be enclosed. The
framed assembly has a plurality of outwardly extending T-bolt channels. The
outer sheeting has a plurality of holes therein. A plurality of T-bolt fasteners,
each of which extends through one of said plurality of holes and engages the T-
bolt channel releasably joining the outer sheeting to the framed assembly.
Description of Drawings
In drawings which illustrate the embodiment of the invention,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present invention;
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Figure 2 is side elevational view of the embodiment of Figure
l;
Figure 3 is front elevational view of the frame assembly of the
embodiment of Figure l;
Figure 4 is side elevational view of a purlin of the embodiment
of Figure l;
Figure 5 is a top plan view of an end-to-end connector of the
embodiment of Figure l;
Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the end-to-end connector
of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a side elevational view of a vertical frame member
of the embodiment of Figure l;
Figure 8 is a side elevational view of a elbow member of the
embodiment of Figure l;
Figure 9 is a side elevational view of a truss member of the
embodiment of Figure l;
Figure 10 is a side elevational view of a hip member of the
embodiment of Figure l;
Figure 11 is a side elevational view of a frame connector of the
embodiment of Figure l;
Figure 12 is an end elevational view of a peak member of the
embodiment of Figure l;
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Figure 13 is a front elevational view of the elbow member to
purlin connection of the embodiment of Figure 1;
Figure 14 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of the
purlin to vertical frame member of the embodiment
S of Figure 1;
Figure 15 is a top plan view of the connection of Figure 13;
Figure 16 is a top plan view of the connection of Figure 14;
Figure 17 is a elevational view, partly in section, of the T-bolt
fastener of the embodiment of Figure 1; and
Figure 18 is a perspective view of the outer sheeting of the
embodiment of Figure 1.
Detailed Description of Invention
Referring to Figure 1, the enclosure structure 10 of the present
invention is illustrated. The enclosure structure 10 generally co~ ises frame
15 assemblies 12 defining a space to be enclosed and outer sheeting 14. Outer
sheeting 14 extends about the frame assemblies 12 to fully enclose the space
within.
Referring to Figure 2, a side elevational view of the frame structure
is illustrated. The frame assemblies 12 are connected together by a plurality of
20 holi~onlally extending purlins 16.
Referring to Figure 3, frame assembly 12 generally co"~ es
vertical frame members 18 connected to elbow members 20 connected to truss
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members 22 connected to hip member 24. Optionally, stability rod 26 may extend
between opposite sides of the frame assembly 12 to increase the structural
integrity of frame assembly 12.
Referring to Figure 4, purlin 16 is co~ lised of two parallel
S extending extrusions 28 connected together by frame bars 30. Each extrusion 28
has three T-bolt channels 32 (See Figures 13 and 14), one of which will extend
outwardly relative to the enclosed spaced. Frame bars 30 are connected to the
extrusions 28 by connectors 34. At the end of each extrusion end connectors 36
are releasably connected to the T-bolt channel using a T-bolt. End connectors 36
10 are used to connect each purlin 16 to frame assembly 12.
Referring to Figures 5 and 6, end connectors 36 are more
particularly illustrated. End connector generally has a corner angled plate 38,
each having an opening 40 therein sized to retain a T-bolt head. Each plate has
a flange 42 extending perpendicularly thercli Olll. Each flange 42 may also include
a plurality of dimples 43. Dimples 43 space flange 42 away from the outer wall
of the T-bolt channels allowing corner angle plate 38 to lie flat over the top of the
T-bolt channel.
Referring to Figure 7, the vertical frame member 18 colll~ises two
parallel extending extrusions 44 connected by frame bars 46 with connectors 48.
20 Each extrusion 44 has 4 ci~;ulllrerenLially spaced T-bolt channels extending the
length thereo A cross section of the extrusion 44 is illustrated in Figures 15 and
16.
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Referring to Figure 8, elbow member 20 has two pairs of extrusions
50 and 52 welded together at a predelellllined angle. Frame bars 54 join the
pairs of extrusions 50, 52 with connectors 56. Angle braces 58 are bolted by T-
bolt fasteners or welded between extrusions 50 and 52 to increase the structural
S strength thereof.
Referring to Figure 9, truss member 22 has two parallel extending
extrusions 60 joined together by frame bar 62 using connectors 64. Extrusions 60
have four T-bolt channels extending along the length thereof.
Referring to Figure 10, the hip member 24 co,l,plises extrusions 66,
10 68 joined together by frame bars 70 using connectors 72. Corner brace 74 may
be bolted with T-bolt fasteners or welded across extrusions 68 to increase the
structural integrity thereof.
Referring to Figure 11, a frame connector 76 for joining components
of the frame assemblies 12 is illustrated. Frame connector 76 co~ ises a tube
15 having a plurality of diagonally opposed holes. The holes are spaced to align with
complementary holes in the ends of each of the components of the frame
assembly 12 for connecting using convel,lional nut and bolt fasteners or other
similar fasteners.
Referring to Figure 12, the peak member colllplisillg extrusion 80
20 is illustrated. Peak extrusion 80 has a single T-bolt channel 82 for receiving a T-
bolt fastener 84. An angle brace 86 has a centrally located aperture in the
holi;Gonlal portion and two apertures in the vertical portion in the end regions
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thereo The hole on the hori~olllal portion receives a T-bolt fastener 84 for
connecting peak extrusion 80 to the angle brace. The holes on the vertical
portion connects the T-bolt fasteners 84 with a T-bolt channel of extrusions 66 of
hip member 24.
Referring to Figures 13, 14, 15 and 16 the connection between
purlin 16 and frame assembly 12 is illustrated.
Referring to Figure 17, the T-bolt channel and T-bolt fastener is
illustrated. The T-bolt fastener 84 COlll~liSCS a bolt having a head 88 having awidth sub~lalllially equal to the opening 90 of T-bolt channel 82. Head 88 has alength a~ tely the inner width of T-bolt channel 82. In this manner, the
head 88 may be inserted in the channel anywhere along the length thereof and thebolt 92 is engaged with the thread of the T-bolt to releasably secure the T-boltfastener thereto.
Preferably, the frame assemblies 12 and purlins 16 are extruded
aluminulll. Alulllh~ulll is prefelable due to its relative light weight and strength.
Referring to Figure 18, the outer sheeting 14 is illustrated. The
outer sheeting 14 is a sheet 94 ~rert;l~bly of low density polyethylene having
reinrorced scrim 96 molded therein. Spaced about the sheet are grommets 98 for
reinrorcing holes 100. Such sheeting is available under the trade-mark
MONARFLEX T from Monarflex, Inc.
At the lower end of each extrusion of vertical members 18 have feet
102 for levelling the structure. As is a~parel-t, the area covered by the feet of the
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structure 10 is ",i~i",i~e-l Access is allowed between adjacent frame assemblies
12. As is apparent, the required floor space for erecting an enclosure structure
10 is l~
In use, the frame assemblies 12 are assembled using well known
5 con~l, uction techniques. The frame assemblies are then covered with strips of the
sheeting 94. The head of T-bolt fasteners 84 are inserted through aperture 100
of grommet 98 and presented to a T-bolt channel of frame assembly 12. The bolt
is rotated 90 for retention with the T-bolt channel and a nut 92 thre~(lingly
engages the T-bolt firmly fastening the sheeting 94 onto the framed assembly.
10 The process is repeated until the sheeting fully encloses the enclosure structure
10. Adjacent rows of sheeting are then sealed together with adhesives or other
known processes.
The above description relates to the ~lerelled apparatus by way of
example only. Many variations on the invention will be obvious to those
15 knowledgeable in the field, and such obvious variations are within the scope of the
invention, whether or not expressly described.
