GB2158850A

GB2158850A - Dismantlable enclosure

Info

Publication number: GB2158850A
Application number: GB08511669A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Norman Clive Dickinson
Original assignee: Link Miles Ltd
Current assignee: Link Miles Ltd
Priority date: 1984-05-14
Filing date: 1985-05-08
Publication date: 1985-11-20
Also published as: GB8412233D0; GB8511669D0; GB2158850B

Abstract

A hemi-spherical dome 10, composed of triangular panels bolted together, has a series of rooms 11 ranged around its inner periphery to accommodate ancillary equipment and provide work spaces. The individual rooms are assembled from floor structure 13, inner and outer wall panels, and two roof panels, of which one is rectangular and extends transverse to a radius of the dome to support a walkway 26 across the roof of the rooms. The walkway, reached by stairs 27, provides access to equipment housed in the dome and to services contained in ducting 28 and 29. The dome and the rooms with it can be dismantled for storage and transport. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dismantlable enclosure The present invention relates to a dismantlable enclosure comprising a domed structure assembled from panels joined together. A known enclosure of this type is composed of a multiplicity of triangular panels with edge flanges which project inwardly from the panels and are fastened to the edge flanges of adjacent panels. The panels can be made of fibre-reinforced synthetic resin. When diasassembled they pack flat for storage and transport.

Existing structures provide a single domed enclosure which has one or more entrances. It is often necessary to provide ancillary structures of more conventional shape to house workshop and office facilities and other equipment ancillary to that contained within the main enclosure.

In a structure in accordance with the present invention a number of rooms are arranged peripherally within the structure with their sides adjacent one another and each of these rooms is formed by wall and roof panels joined together. Thus the rooms are themselves dismantlable for storage and transport and are located within the area covered by the dome so that the whole installation is within the dome and it is not necessary to provide ancillary buildings and connect up these buildings and the equipment within them with the interior of the dome structure and the equipment housed in the dome. Protection againt adverse atmospheric conditions is provided for the whole installation by the dome structure and the assembly of the ancillary rooms and equipment can in consequence be simplified.

Preferably a principal roof-panel of each room is of generally rectilinear form and extends across the room perpendicular to a radius of the domed structure to support a walkway structure passing across the tops of the rooms. The roof panel is preferably strengthened by edge flanges to enable it to support the walkway. Such a walkway is particularly useful in providing access to the equipment housed in the main body of the dome, for example a flight simulator, for maintenance and repair. It may also provide access to ducting running across the roofs of the rooms to provide air conditioning and other services for the rooms.

The invention will now be described in more detail with the aid of an example illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section of a dome structure with internal rooms in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a partial plan view of the arrangement of rooms within the dome structure, and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the structure of an individual room.

The dome 10 shown in outline in Fig. 1 can be constructed in conventional manner as described above. Its dimensions may, if necessary, be enlarged to provide additional floor area for the internal rooms 1 1. These rooms, as best seen in Fig. 2, have adjacent sides 1 2 which lie on lines radial to the dome so that the rooms fit closely together and extend around the periphery of the dome close to the dome wall. Each room has a floor structure 13, (Fig. 3) an outer wall panel 14, an inner wall panel 15, a principal roof panel 1 6 and an outer roof member 17, the latter forming the upper part of the outer wall and the outer part of the roof. The panels 1 4 to 1 7 have flanges 1 8 for connection to the flanges of an adjacent room.The roof panel 1 6 has upstanding flanges 1 9 along its edges which are connected to corresponding flanges 20 and 21 on the panels 1 5 and 17, respectively.

The floor structure 1 3 includes supporting trusses and a floor 22. The space under the floor can accommodate wiring and other services. The front panel 1 5 includes a main vertical section with a window 23, a sloping section with a window 24 and a short horizontal section 25 forming part of the roof. The main roof panel 1 6 which extends across the width of the room has sufficient strength to serve as or support a walkway 26 which traverses the rooves of all the rooms and to which access is obtained by a staircase 27.

Ducting 28 resting on the rooves of the rooms communicates with vertical ducts within the rooms to provide air conditioning.

Trunking 29 resting on the ducting 28 accommodates wiring for electrical services.

One or more of the rooms 11 communicates with the exterior of the dome structure through a lobby 30 with doors 31. Similarly doors 32 provide access to the interior of the dome structure from one or more of the rooms.

1. A dismantlable enclosure comprising a domed structure, assembled from panels joined together, and a number of rooms arranged peripherally within the structure with their sides adjacent one another, each of the rooms being formed by wall and roof panels joined together.

2. An enclosure as claimed in claim 1 wherein a principal roof panel of each room is of generally rectilinear form and extends across the room transverse to a radius of the domed structure to support a walkway structure passing across the tops of the rooms.

3. An enclosure as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of the said principal roof panels is strengthened by edge flanges to enable it to

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Dismantlable enclosure The present invention relates to a dismantlable enclosure comprising a domed structure assembled from panels joined together. A known enclosure of this type is composed of a multiplicity of triangular panels with edge flanges which project inwardly from the panels and are fastened to the edge flanges of adjacent panels. The panels can be made of fibre-reinforced synthetic resin. When diasassembled they pack flat for storage and transport. Existing structures provide a single domed enclosure which has one or more entrances. It is often necessary to provide ancillary structures of more conventional shape to house workshop and office facilities and other equipment ancillary to that contained within the main enclosure. In a structure in accordance with the present invention a number of rooms are arranged peripherally within the structure with their sides adjacent one another and each of these rooms is formed by wall and roof panels joined together. Thus the rooms are themselves dismantlable for storage and transport and are located within the area covered by the dome so that the whole installation is within the dome and it is not necessary to provide ancillary buildings and connect up these buildings and the equipment within them with the interior of the dome structure and the equipment housed in the dome. Protection againt adverse atmospheric conditions is provided for the whole installation by the dome structure and the assembly of the ancillary rooms and equipment can in consequence be simplified. Preferably a principal roof-panel of each room is of generally rectilinear form and extends across the room perpendicular to a radius of the domed structure to support a walkway structure passing across the tops of the rooms. The roof panel is preferably strengthened by edge flanges to enable it to support the walkway. Such a walkway is particularly useful in providing access to the equipment housed in the main body of the dome, for example a flight simulator, for maintenance and repair. It may also provide access to ducting running across the roofs of the rooms to provide air conditioning and other services for the rooms. The invention will now be described in more detail with the aid of an example illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section of a dome structure with internal rooms in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a partial plan view of the arrangement of rooms within the dome structure, and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the structure of an individual room. The dome 10 shown in outline in Fig. 1 can be constructed in conventional manner as described above. Its dimensions may, if necessary, be enlarged to provide additional floor area for the internal rooms 1 1. These rooms, as best seen in Fig. 2, have adjacent sides 1 2 which lie on lines radial to the dome so that the rooms fit closely together and extend around the periphery of the dome close to the dome wall. Each room has a floor structure 13, (Fig. 3) an outer wall panel 14, an inner wall panel 15, a principal roof panel 1 6 and an outer roof member 17, the latter forming the upper part of the outer wall and the outer part of the roof. The panels 1 4 to 1 7 have flanges 1 8 for connection to the flanges of an adjacent room.The roof panel 1 6 has upstanding flanges 1 9 along its edges which are connected to corresponding flanges 20 and 21 on the panels 1 5 and 17, respectively. The floor structure 1 3 includes supporting trusses and a floor 22. The space under the floor can accommodate wiring and other services. The front panel 1 5 includes a main vertical section with a window 23, a sloping section with a window 24 and a short horizontal section 25 forming part of the roof. The main roof panel 1 6 which extends across the width of the room has sufficient strength to serve as or support a walkway 26 which traverses the rooves of all the rooms and to which access is obtained by a staircase 27. Ducting 28 resting on the rooves of the rooms communicates with vertical ducts within the rooms to provide air conditioning. Trunking 29 resting on the ducting 28 accommodates wiring for electrical services. One or more of the rooms 11 communicates with the exterior of the dome structure through a lobby 30 with doors 31. Similarly doors 32 provide access to the interior of the dome structure from one or more of the rooms. CLAIMS

3. An enclosure as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of the said principal roof panels is strengthened by edge flanges to enable it to support the walkway structure.

4. An enclosure as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which each room has a floor structure, an outer wall panel, an inner wall panel, a principal roof panel and an outer roof member which joins the outer wall panel and the principal roof panel and forms an upper part of the outer wall.

5. An enclosure as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the domed structure is substantially hemi-spherical.

6. An enclosure as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the domed structure is composed of triangular panels.