GB2104569A

GB2104569A - Inflatable temporary cabin

Info

Publication number: GB2104569A
Application number: GB08223421A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Edward Mcloughlin; Peter John Ruff
Original assignee: UK Secretary of State for Defence
Current assignee: UK Secretary of State for Defence
Priority date: 1981-08-27
Filing date: 1982-08-13
Publication date: 1983-03-09
Also published as: GB2104569B

Abstract

The cabin has an inflatable frame 11 and an attachment frame 10 of waisted or Figure 8 cross-section for sealed registration in a doorway. Frame 10 comprises 2 rectangular tubes 10a, 10b sealed together. The cabin may be an airlock for association with an NBC (nuclear, biological, or chemical hostilities) shelter, and thus be a chamber having also an inflatable frame with non-rigid walls, a door in the inflatable doorway frame and a door in the frame remote therefrom. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Temporary cabin The present invention relates to temporary cabins, especially those formed to locate against an existing structure, fixed or mobile, as an extension thereto. In particular the invention provides a temporary airlock extension which is sealedly attachable to a habitable structure.

According to the present invention a temporary cabin of the type formed to locate against an existing structure has an inflatable attachment frame of waisted cross-section whereby it can be sealedly attached within a doorway in an existing structure.

The waisted cross-section attachment frame may be realised with two rectangular tubes attached one to another so that the attachment frame has a figure of eight cross-section, the two tubes, or even parts thereof, perhaps being independently inflatable. Seal means, such as a sealed resilient plastics sponge, may be accommodated in the waist to augment the seal between the cabin and the doorway. Moreover, the upstream part of the attachment frame may carry a flap which can be sealed to a door surround with adhesive tape etc. for a similar purpose.

The remainder of the cabin may comprise an inflatable cabin frame with walls and doors slung thereon, the walls and doors may be formed from a plastics sheet material, preferably one impervious to atmospherically borne toxic substances. The plastics sheet may be fabric reinforced and therefore relatively inelastic. If an inflatable frame is employed for the remainder of the cabin it is preferably inflatable independently of the attachment frame.

According to an important feature of the invention the cabin may be an airlock, that is to say a structure, having two doors, one remote from the other, and permitting entry by a person into an existing structure without bringing with him any significant quantity of the outside atmosphere. The airlock may be arranged to contain washing and changing facilities and typically is large enough to contain two men carrying a stretcher. It may further be arranged that the floor comprises a trough for decontamination liquid or powder such as Fuller's Earth. Also the cabin may incorporate an internal divider door, perhaps forming a one-person booth therewithin, to augment purging.

An inflatable airlock in accordance with the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the airlock, and Figure 2 is a section on Il-Il in figure 1.

The inflatable airlock shown in the drawings has an inflatable attachment frame 10 comprising two rectangular tubes 1 Oa, 1 Ob sealedly attached one to another so as to evince a waisted, or rather a figure-of-eight cross-section (see figure 2).

The airlock also has an inflatable main frame 11 associated with the attachment frame. Extending between frame members is a structure wall 12.

Extending across the attachment frame 10 is a door member 13 and across the structure frame remote from the attachment frame is a door member 14. The frames, walls and doors are formed of non-rigid, inelastic, impervious plastics sheet. The door members have sliding fastener closure devices 1 5 and windows 1 6 which are porous in structure. Attached to the base of the wall 12 at locations relatively remote from the attachment frame 10 are anchoring devices 17.

Erection of the airlock is accomplished in three stages. Firstly, the airlock is roughly located in a suitable open doorway 20 and partially inflated.

Then location of attachment frame 10 in the doorway 20 is adjusted to the configuration exhibited in figure 2. Finally, inflation of the airlock is completed.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention the cabin has, in addition to the features already described with reference to the drawings, an encased resilient strip 1 8 (see figure 2) attached to the attachment frame 10 within the waist and arranged to bear in use against the door frame 20, and a surround flap 1 9 (see figure 2) attached to the frame tube 1 Oa which can be sealed to a door surround, floor and perhaps ceiling, with adhesive tape 1 9a. Moreover, the cabin has an internal divider 14a with sliding fasteners 1 spa forming a one-man booth at the attachment frame end of the cabin (see figure 2).

A particular application of structures in accordance with the invention, especially the airlock particularly described, is as a temporary airlock associable with a building or room therein or even a vehicle designated as a shelter in the event of nuclear, biological or chemical hostilities or other environmental pollution. For such use clear air would normally be pumped from the shelter interior through the airlock via the doorways 13, 14 or windows 1 6. It would ciearly be required operating practice that only one door 13, 14 be open at any one time and that both would normally be closed.

1. A temporary cabin of the type formed to locate against an existing structure and having an inflatable attachment frame of waisted crosssection whereby it can be sealedly attached within a doorway in an existing structure.

2. A cabin as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the waisted cross-section attachment frame is realised with two rectangular tubes attached one to another so that the attachment frame has a figure of eight cross-section.

3. In claim 2 and wherein the attachment frame tubes are independently inflatable.

4. In any one of claims 1 to 3 and having a sealed resilient plastics sponge seal augmenter in the waist.

5. In any one of claims 1 to 4 and wherein the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Temporary cabin The present invention relates to temporary cabins, especially those formed to locate against an existing structure, fixed or mobile, as an extension thereto. In particular the invention provides a temporary airlock extension which is sealedly attachable to a habitable structure. According to the present invention a temporary cabin of the type formed to locate against an existing structure has an inflatable attachment frame of waisted cross-section whereby it can be sealedly attached within a doorway in an existing structure. The waisted cross-section attachment frame may be realised with two rectangular tubes attached one to another so that the attachment frame has a figure of eight cross-section, the two tubes, or even parts thereof, perhaps being independently inflatable. Seal means, such as a sealed resilient plastics sponge, may be accommodated in the waist to augment the seal between the cabin and the doorway. Moreover, the upstream part of the attachment frame may carry a flap which can be sealed to a door surround with adhesive tape etc. for a similar purpose. The remainder of the cabin may comprise an inflatable cabin frame with walls and doors slung thereon, the walls and doors may be formed from a plastics sheet material, preferably one impervious to atmospherically borne toxic substances. The plastics sheet may be fabric reinforced and therefore relatively inelastic. If an inflatable frame is employed for the remainder of the cabin it is preferably inflatable independently of the attachment frame. According to an important feature of the invention the cabin may be an airlock, that is to say a structure, having two doors, one remote from the other, and permitting entry by a person into an existing structure without bringing with him any significant quantity of the outside atmosphere. The airlock may be arranged to contain washing and changing facilities and typically is large enough to contain two men carrying a stretcher. It may further be arranged that the floor comprises a trough for decontamination liquid or powder such as Fuller's Earth. Also the cabin may incorporate an internal divider door, perhaps forming a one-person booth therewithin, to augment purging. An inflatable airlock in accordance with the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the airlock, and Figure 2 is a section on Il-Il in figure 1. The inflatable airlock shown in the drawings has an inflatable attachment frame 10 comprising two rectangular tubes 1 Oa, 1 Ob sealedly attached one to another so as to evince a waisted, or rather a figure-of-eight cross-section (see figure 2). The airlock also has an inflatable main frame 11 associated with the attachment frame. Extending between frame members is a structure wall 12. Extending across the attachment frame 10 is a door member 13 and across the structure frame remote from the attachment frame is a door member 14. The frames, walls and doors are formed of non-rigid, inelastic, impervious plastics sheet. The door members have sliding fastener closure devices 1 5 and windows 1 6 which are porous in structure. Attached to the base of the wall 12 at locations relatively remote from the attachment frame 10 are anchoring devices 17. Erection of the airlock is accomplished in three stages. Firstly, the airlock is roughly located in a suitable open doorway 20 and partially inflated. Then location of attachment frame 10 in the doorway 20 is adjusted to the configuration exhibited in figure 2. Finally, inflation of the airlock is completed. In an alternative embodiment of the invention the cabin has, in addition to the features already described with reference to the drawings, an encased resilient strip 1 8 (see figure 2) attached to the attachment frame 10 within the waist and arranged to bear in use against the door frame 20, and a surround flap 1 9 (see figure 2) attached to the frame tube 1 Oa which can be sealed to a door surround, floor and perhaps ceiling, with adhesive tape 1 9a. Moreover, the cabin has an internal divider 14a with sliding fasteners 1 spa forming a one-man booth at the attachment frame end of the cabin (see figure 2). A particular application of structures in accordance with the invention, especially the airlock particularly described, is as a temporary airlock associable with a building or room therein or even a vehicle designated as a shelter in the event of nuclear, biological or chemical hostilities or other environmental pollution. For such use clear air would normally be pumped from the shelter interior through the airlock via the doorways 13, 14 or windows 1 6. It would ciearly be required operating practice that only one door 13, 14 be open at any one time and that both would normally be closed. CLAIMS

5. In any one of claims 1 to 4 and wherein the attachment frame has a surround flap for sealing to a door surround.

6. In any one of the preceding claims and wherein the remainder of the cabin comprises frame with walls and doors slung thereon.

7. In claim 6 and wherein the walls and doors are formed from a plastics sheet material.

8. In claim 6 or claim 7 and wherein the cabin frame is inflatable independently of the attachment frame.

9. In any one of the preceding claims and which is an airlock, having two doors, one remote from the other, and permitting entry by a person into an existing structure without bringing with him any significant quantity of the outside atmosphere.

10. In any one of the preceding claims and having an internal divider door.

11. A temporary cabin substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.