GB2617665A - Enclosure - Google Patents

Abstract

An enclosure 1 suitable for covering a surface, the enclosure comprises a water impermeable canopy 5 mounted at its edges onto a plurality of anchors 10a, 10b joined end to end to form a continuous support for the canopy. In use the areas of the canopy between its edges are supported away from the surface by a framework 5, each anchor comprises a reduced pressure chamber (11, Fig 2) and a resiliently deformable member (15, Fig 2). The chamber of each anchor includes an opening along one face of the chamber, the face of the chamber with the opening is mounted upon the resiliently deformable member which is in contact with the surface in use. The resiliently deformable member has at least one aperture therethrough in fluid communication with the chamber via the face of the chamber with the opening, wherein the chamber of each of the plurality of anchors is in fluid communication with an extraction pump. The canopy may be fully or partially inflatable.

Description

ENCLOSURE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an enclosure, particularly an enclosure for covering a surface.

Background to the Invention

The coating of exposed floors and decks is a specialist area of technology. Such surfaces are typically concrete or steel and the coatings are used to provide environmental protection, wear protection and slip prevention, amongst other things. Conventional coatings might be screeds or resins which take con-siderable time to lay and provide an effective surface, and then considerable time to cure. During this time any weather ingress such as rain, dust or other matter can damage the coating, and even in some cases prevent proper curing. As such, floor coating is only carried out when the weather is dry or the area being coated can be moved indoors. This therefore considerably restricts the op-portunity for effective coating and makes scheduling a headache.

There has now been devised an enclosure which overcomes and/or mitigates the above referenced and or other disadvantages associated with the prior art.

Summary of the Invention

In an aspect of the invention there is provided an enclosure for covering a surface, the enclosure comprising a water-impermeable canopy mounted at its edges onto a plurality of anchors joined end to end to form a continuous support, in use the areas of the canopy between its edges being supported away from the surface by a framework, each anchor comprising a reduced pressure chamber and a resiliently deformable member, the chamber of each anchor having an opening along one face of the chamber, the face of the chamber with the opening being mounted against the resiliently deformable member which is in contact with the surface in use, the resiliently deformable member having at least one aperture therethrough in fluid communication with the chamber via the face of the chamber with the opening, wherein the chamber -2 -of each of the plurality of anchors is in fluid communication with an extraction pump.

The enclosure according to the invention is advantageous primarily because it provides a watertight environment in which to attend to the coating of part of an otherwise exposed surface, such as an area of ground, or a floor or pre-prepared area, without damaging the surface on which the enclosure is placed. In other words there are no destructive fixings or heavy damaging weights used. The plurality of anchors involved, means that the enclosure is modular and can be made up to any size required. In use, the pump is activated to and a reduced pressure seal is formed between anchors and the surface beneath through the resiliently deformable member which allows each individual anchor to mould to the varied surface profile and levels upon which the enclosure is placed. The reduced pressure seal firmly attaches the anchors to the surface, and as the canopy is mounted to the anchors, thus the canopy and therefore the whole enclosure is attached to the surface and prevented from budging, for example by wind. Having a plurality of anchors allows for the enclose to be sealed onto an uneven surface. The feature of wherein the chamber of each of the plurality of anchors are in fluid communication with an extraction pump, means that the plurality of anchors can seal with the surface upon which they are placed all together and in one activity. The resiliently deformable mem- ber of each anchor of the plurality of anchors, which are joined end to end to form a continuous support for the canopy, also provides a fully water-impermeable seal, preventing water ingress below the enclosure (i.e. underneath each anchor). This, combined with the water impermeable canopy, en- sures that the surface area underneath the enclosure (i.e. the internal floor) re-mains dry and coatings can be applied effectively to the surface. The enclosure further allows the control of the internal environment e.g. humidity, temperature, which are controlled by external equipment already available on the market and can be ducted into the work area.

Whilst it will be appreciated that the enclosure is designed to be used when coating a floor or deck, it is clear that the enclosure might also be used in other circumstances, such as protecting a vehicle or plant from the weather, or -3 -providing a temporary greenhouse structure, for example. As such, the enclosure may be used in any circumstance where a temporary controlled environment is required. Whilst it will be appreciated that the enclosure is for covering a surface, and generally the surface will be a substantially horizontal surface, it will be appreciated that because the anchors are capable of fixing to any un even surface, and the canopy is supported by a framework and mounted to the anchors, the surface may be of considerable inclination in use. Thus the enclosure may be used for covering an area of a sloping surface, a wall surface or other upright structure surface.

to Whilst the fluid communication between the chamber of each anchor and the pump may be achieved by separate conduits from each chamber to the pump, preferably, the fluid communication is achieved by a conduit which links neighbouring chambers. Preferably therefore, the fluid communication of the chamber of each anchor with an extraction pump is by a conduit which links neighbouring chambers to each other and to the extraction pump. This keeps the amount of conduits to a minimum. In the invention a conduit is an air tight pipe or hose.

Preferably each conduit comprises a valve for closing the fluid communication between neighbouring chambers. This enables individual anchors or the anchors as a group or a whole to have their reduced pressure within their chambers to be fixed. This means that once the reduced pressure is created within each chamber in each anchor, the respective valve can be closed and the extraction pump turned off. This enables the user to operate under the canopy without the reduced pressure pump turned on. The feature of each conduit comprising a valve also means than the extraction pump can be introduced at any point around the plurality of anchors. Indeed there may be two or more extraction pumps used in operation of the enclosure and the valves allow the pumps to be introduced into the plurality of anchors at different positions. This means that the work done by the pumps is shared between them, rather than relying on one pump.

In some cases it may be required to evacuate individual chambers, for example, if it is noted that individual anchors are losing contact with the surface, -4 -and losing pressure. For this is it preferable that each conduit comprises a port connectable to an extraction pump, the port comprising a valve.

The face of the chamber comprising the opening may simply sit on top of or against the resiliently deformable member. Preferably though, the face of the chamber comprising the opening comprises a channel for receiving the resilient-ly deformable member. This allows the chamber to locate easily and accurately over the resiliently deformable member. Thus the face of the chamber with the opening is mounted directly or indirectly against a resiliently deformable member. In this circumstance, the channel may be a plate welded over the opening, the plate comprising a number of openings to allow fluid communication with the interior of the chamber and the apertures in the resiliently deformable member. For an effective seal, neighbouring resiliently deformable members of neighbouring anchors must form a continuous seal. Therefore, preferably each resiliently deformable member comprises formations which in use when neigh-bouring resiliently deformable members are abutted against one another, the neighbouring resiliently deformable members are aligned substantially with respect to one another. The formations prevent neighbouring resiliently deformable members from moving upwards, downwards or sideways with respect to each member of each anchor. Therefore it is easier to place a row of anchors in a straight line. This feature also improves the combined sealing effect of the re- siliently deformable members against the surface onto which they are placed. The canopy edges may be mounted onto the plurality of anchors in a number of ways depending on the style of canopy used. Indeed the canopy may be mounted onto the chamber of each anchor onto the face of the chamber ad-jacent the face with the opening. Preferably though, the canopy is mounted to the face of the chamber opposite the face comprising the opening. The mounting of the canopy edges to the anchors may be by semi rigid fixings. Suitable semi rigid fixings include but are not limited to straps, buckles, ties which tie the anchors to the canopy edge. To improve how the canopy edges mount to the anchors, preferably a canopy edge support is mounted to the face of the chamber opposite the face comprising the opening, the edge support comprising fixing means. Suitable fixing means include but are not limited to openings to al- -5 -low for straps to be inserted through and around the canopy edges, or straps or ties themselves. The edge support and the edge of the canopy are preferably mutually engageable. This stabilises the connection between the edge of the canopy and the anchor. That is to say the edge of the canopy may be formed to substantially fit inside the edge support, or the edge support substantially formed to fit inside the edge of the canopy. An example of such an arrangement, where the edge of the canopy is formed into inflatable sections (as will be described below), the edge of the canopy forms long tubular structures, which fit into the edge support which is formed into a receiving channel/furrow. In other examples the canopy may have edges which are formed integrally with a semi rigid tube or pipe, and the tubes or pipes fit within the edge support which is likewise formed into a receiving channel. Alternatively the edge support may be formed into a ridge and the edge of the canopy, whether by inflatable portion or otherwise formed into a furrow to receive said ridge. All this has the benefit that the weight of the canopy acts directly downwards through the anchors and assists with the sealing of the resiliently deformable member against the surface upon which the anchor is placed. Having a support also makes attachment of the canopy simple and quick.

Examples of suitable canopies include but are not limited to tents, mar-quees, tarpaulins, sheets. Preferably the canopy is a tent. Water-impermeable may also mean impervious or substantially impervious to water. The framework may be manufactured from rigid solid or tubular, metal, wood, composite or plastic. For ease of assembly, preferably the canopy is fully or partially inflatable. This cuts down the weight. It also means that where otherwise a metal or other rigid framework would be used to support the canopy away from the surface, those parts of the canopy can be replaced by inflatable portions which act as a framework themselves, are lighter, and are easier to erect.

Preferably, neighbouring anchors are connectable to one another by braces at opposite ends of the chamber of each anchor. When the braces are connected together, then neighbouring anchors are held rigid with respect to one another. As such the whole plurality of anchors can be arranged in position and moved as one single formation. This is useful for example when treating an -6 -area of floor, and when the treatment has cured, the whole formation is then slid to another location without having to undo all the anchors and reassembling them individually.

When neighbouring anchors are connectable to one another by braces at opposite ends of the chamber of each anchor, and in other situations, it is pref-erable that three or more of the anchors comprise wheels, the wheels being moveable from a first position when they are disposed away from the surface to a second position in which they are engaged with the surface and raise the enclosure from the surface. To do so the wheels may be mounted on screw to threads or on cams in order for them to be engageable with the ground to lift the enclosure from the surface. This feature enables the enclosure to function as a protective enclosure in use and when the wheels are in the first position, but then when the enclosure is not in use, the wheels can be moved to the second position thus raising the enclosure and the whole enclosure moved/rolled to a separate location without disengaging any of the anchors from each other or from the canopy. After moving the whole enclosure the wheels can be moved back into the first position again and the enclosure re-engaged with the surface at said separate location.

The resiliently deformable member may be any material which is also impervious to water. Suitable materials for the resiliently deformable member include but are not limited to foam, rubber, or polymer materials such as silicone etc. A preferred material for the resiliently deformable member is EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber). This is because EPDM has been found to have surprising weathering properties, including excellent ozone and sunlight resistance. EPDM also delivers surprising tear, abrasion, and steam resistance, as well as good resistance to compression set, dilute acids, ketones, and alkalis.

Whilst the term reduced pressure is used herein throughout, preferably the reduced pressure is a vacuum or near vacuum. This provides the optimum sealing effect for the pads against the surface on which the enclosure is placed.

Whilst at least one aperture through the resiliently deformable member can enable the enclosure to function, it will be recognised that preferably there a -7 -plurality of apertures extending through the resiliently deformable member. This serves to spread the suction force of the reduced pressure in use and thereby enables the resiliently deformable member to form a surprisingly efficient seal with the surface it is placed against.

The invention will now be described by way of example only in which like references represent like features.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the enclosure, Figure 2 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of an anchor as shown in figure 1, Figure 3 shows an exploded view of a second embodiment of an anchor as shown in figure 1, Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the anchor of Figure 2 and Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the enclosure.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment

In figure 1 there is shown an embodiment of the enclosure which is gen-erally designated 1. In the example shown the enclosure 1 is positioned on a concrete surface. The enclosure 1 comprises a canopy 5 which is attached to sixteen anchors generally designated 10. Each anchor is in contact with a separate portion of the surface in use.

The enclosure 1 provides a watertight and controllable environment in 25 which to work in. Such work may include treating the concrete surface, for example with resin or the like, or a screed, or could include any other work which requires shelter.

The anchors 10 are provided in two styles, a straight anchor 10a as shown in figure 2 and a corner anchor 10b as shown in figure 3. In the example of the enclosure 1 shown in figure 1 there are four corner anchors 10b which are each three separated from each other by straight anchors 10a laid end to -8 -end. Thus the anchors 10a, 10b are formed into a square. Each type of anchor will now be described in further detail.

The straight anchor 10a is shown in figure 2. The straight anchor comprises a reduced pressure chamber 11, a lid 12, a canopy support 13, a channel alignment plate 14 and a foam pad 15. The chamber 11 is made of steel and is a rectangular section box approximately lm long. The chamber 11 has two long sides 11 a and 11 b which are opposite one another and two short sides 11 c and 11d which are opposite one another. The lid 12, which is a rectangular flat metal plate, is welded to the top of the sides 11a, 11 b, 11 c and 11d and seals in an to airtight manner the sides 11a-d with the lid 12. The underside of the chamber 11 is open. This underside may be referred to as a face, open though it is open. Indeed the terms face and side may be used interchangeably throughout. Bolted to the exterior surface of the lid 12 is the support 13. The support 13 is a section of metal forming a curved channel extending the length of the anchor 10a (thus forming a furrow). The underside of the support 13 has welded to it two stand offs 13a and 13b. Bolts extend through the support 13 and the stand offs 13a and b to engage into threads tapped into the lid 12. In the side 11 b of the chamber there is a first port 16 and a second port 17. The alignment plate 14 is welded to the bottom of the sides 11 a-d opposite the lid 12. The alignment plate 14 is a steel plate having five apertures 14a therein which extend through the entirety of the plate 14. The plate 14 is generally flat with two downwardly extending lips which extend the whole length of the plate 14. Thus the plate 14 can be described as a channel section member, as it has a channel cross section. Thus, the plate 14 forms the face of the chamber 11 with openings 14a.

The plate 14, fits over the foam 15, with the lips 14b extending partially down the sides of the foam pad. The effect of the lips 14b is therefore to locate the foam pad 15 accurately with respect to the remainder of the anchor 1 and vice versa. The foam pad 15 is made of EPDM and has six apertures 15a in it also, which match up with the apertures 14a. However the apertures 15a are wider than the apertures 14a. The apertures 15a also extend through the entire thick-ness of the foam pad 15. A metal ring washer (not shown) is inserted into each aperture 15a and retained there by resistance fit. Each ring is approximately -9 -half the thickness of the pad 15 and prevents the pad 15 from distorting during use. The apertures 15a are therefore in fluid communication from with chamber 11.

The foam pad 15 is approximately the same length as the plate 14 and 5 has two opposite ends 15b and 15c. End 15b the pad 15 is formed with two inclined facets 15d and 15e. Each facet 15d and 15e slopes downward (i.e. towards the surface the pad is placed on) and away from the pad 15. The opposite end 15c of the pad 15, is also fashioned into inclined facets (not shown) but at the end 15c the facets match negatively the facets 15d and 15e. Therefore 10 the end 15b of the pad 15 can be regarded as a male end and the opposite end 15c a female end.

Figure 3 shows a right angle version of the anchor. The major difference between the anchor 10b shown in figure 3 and the anchor 10a shown in figure 2, is that the main components are formed into a right angle. Anchor 10b, there-fore forms a corner anchor. The chamber 11 is formed into a right angle box section. Therefore sides 11 a and 11 b extend into right angles. The lid 12 is designed to fit the top of the right angle chamber. Similarly the plate 14 and pad 15 are also both rights angles to match the chamber. In this example there are eight apertures 15a in the pad 15, which match up with the eight apertures 14a in the plate 14.

The straight anchor 10a, when assembled looks like the anchor 10a shown in figure 4. Each port 16 and 17 is connected to a right angle tube 16a and 17. Both right angle 16a and 17a have attached to them connectors 16b and 17b respectively. Between the right angle 17a and the connector 17b there is mounted a valve 17c.

In use, each anchor 10a or 10b is positioned around the area to be worked on with the foam pads 15 inserted underneath and directly in contact with the surface (concrete in this case). Care is taken to make sure that each foam pad marries up correctly with the neighbouring foam pad. That is to say the pads 15 are arranged so that the male end of one pad abuts the female end of the neighbouring pad. The interlocking of the male and female ends of each pad 15 ensures that the pads are laid straight, and cannot lift. The numbers of anchors 10a and 10b are chosen depending on the size and dimensions of the required enclosure. Flexible hoses 20 (see figure 1) are connected between neighbouring anchors 10, by connecting one end of the hose to connector 16b of the respective anchor and the opposite end to connector 17b of the neigh-bouring anchor. In such a way all of the reduced pressure chambers 11 for all of the anchors 10a, 10b are linked in series and are in fluid communication with each other. An extraction pump (not shown) is connected at one point within this series of anchors. To do so, one of the anchors 10 has one of its ports 16, 17 disconnected from that of its nearest neighbour, by removing the hose 20 which connects said neighbouring anchors. For example, the hose is removed from port 16 on one of the anchors 10 and the extraction pump is connected directly to the connector 16b. The valve 17c of the neighbouring anchor is closed, thereby maintaining the integrity of all of the chambers so that they are all still air tight. The pump is activated which extracts the air from within each of the chambers 11 and from apertures 15a and 14a which are all in fluid communica-tion with each other. Due to the reduced pressure, the chamber 11 and plate 14 are pulled downward onto the top of the pad 15, thus forming an airtight seal therebetween, and due to the resiliently deformable nature of the foam pads 15, the pads 15 are pulled downward on to the concrete surface forming an airtight and water-impermeable seal between the underside of the foam pad 15 (around the apertures 15a) and the concrete surface. The result of this reduced pressure is that the anchors 10a 10b are sealed to the concrete surface, anchored thereto, and cannot be moved in any way. Any undulations in the concrete surface are allowed for due to the resilient deformability in the foam pad 15. The water-impermeable canopy 5 is then attached to the anchors. In this example the canopy 5 is a metal framed tent 6 having an inflatable tubular base 7. The tent 6 and its base 7 are erected and inflated respectively to form the canopy which is then placed on top of the supports 13. The base 7 locates in the curved channel of each support 13. Straps are attached to the tent 6 and base 7.

These straps extend through the gap created by the stand offs 13a and 13b between the supports and chamber lid 12 of each anchor 10a 10b, and are used to tie the secure the canopy 5 to the anchors 10a, 10b. Thus the addition of a water impermeable canopy 5 to the water impermeable anchors 10, creates a watertight enclosure. Optionally, lighting, fume extraction, dehumidification, heating / cooling etc is applied via sensors as required to maintain a safe, compliant environment within the interior of the enclosure. Work is conducted inside 5 the enclosure as required and once this has been completed any outside connections to services are disconnected and the whole enclosure disassembled. In another example of the invention the enclosure 1 is as described above except there are two extraction pumps used. The second extraction pump is connected into the series of anchors 10 in the same way as the first ex-traction pump but some distance away from the first pump, ideally opposite. The two pumps are both linked to a shared evacuation tank (not shown). Activation of both pumps allows the anchors to pull down onto the surface from both sides/ends of the enclosure, and thereby the work is shared between the pumps.

In another example of the invention the enclosure is as described above, except that each anchor 10a, 10b has a brace attached to the ends 11 c and 11d of the chamber. Neighbouring anchors at attached rigidly to one another by connecting the braces of neighbouring anchors together.

The brace arrangement (not shown) consists of a metal plate that is posi-tioned on the outside edge (side 11 b) of the chamber 11. One end of the plate is bolted to one end of the chamber, whilst the opposite end of the brace is connected to the opposite end of a neighbouring chamber. Each chamber has two braces attached (one at each end of the chamber). The function of the brace is to connect two adjacent anchors thereby providing rigidity to the structure when being moved and to act as a locator point to assist in alignment of the anchors.

Before the canopy is erected the braces of neighbouring anchors are engaged together, thereby linking all the bases as a completed rigid structure. The canopy is applied as described above, but then rather than disassembling the complete structure after the work has been completed, the whole enclosure 1 is then simply lifted and moved on to the next area to be worked on. To lift the structure, jockey wheels or castors can be applied to the anchors and the enclosure wheeled to the required location.

In another example of the invention as shown in Figure 5 the enclosure is as described above, except that the canopy is entirely inflatable. This provides a self-supporting canopy structure.

In another example of the invention (not shown) the enclosure 1 is as 5 described above, but it does not have the plate 14 welded to the chamber. The chamber 11 simply abuts against the pad 15.

In another example of the invention (not shown) the enclosure is as described above, but there is only a single aperture 15a through the pad 15. Where there is no plate 14, the single aperture 15a is in fluid communication directly with the chamber 11. Where there is a plate 14, the plate has a similar aperture 14a, which aligns with the aperture 15 a, and the apertures 14a, and 15a and chamber are all in fluid communication with each other.

Claims (12)

1. CLAIMS1. An enclosure for covering a surface, the enclosure comprising a water-impermeable canopy mounted at its edges onto a plurality of anchors joined end to end to form a continuous support for the canopy, in use the areas of the canopy between its edges being supported away from the surface by a framework, each anchor comprising a reduced pressure chamber and a resiliently de-formable member, the chamber of each anchor having an opening along one face of the chamber, the face of the chamber with the opening being mounted against the resiliently deformable member which is in contact with the surface in use, the resiliently deformable member having at least one aperture therethrough in fluid communication with the chamber via the face of the chamber with the opening, wherein the chamber of each of the plurality of anchors is in fluid communication with an extraction pump.
2. 2. An enclosure according to claim 1, wherein the fluid communication of the chamber of each anchor with an extraction pump is by a conduit which links neighbouring chambers to each other and to the extraction pump.
3. 3. An enclosure according to claim 2, wherein each conduit comprises a valve for closing the fluid communication between neighbouring chambers.
4. 4. An enclosure according to claim 2, wherein each conduit comprises a port connectable to an extraction pump, the port comprising a valve.
5. 5. An enclosure according to any preceding claim, wherein the face of the chamber comprising the opening comprises a channel for receiving the resiliently deformable member.
6. 6. An enclosure according to any preceding claim, wherein each resiliently deformable member comprises formations which in use when neighbouring resiliently deformable members are abutted against one another neighbouring resiliently deformable members are aligned substantially with respect to one another.
7. 7. An enclosure according to any preceding claim, wherein a canopy edge support is mounted to the face of the chamber opposite the face comprising the opening, the edge support comprising fixing means.
8. 8. An enclosure according to any preceding claim, wherein the canopy is fully or partially inflatable.
9. 9. An enclosure according to any preceding claim, wherein the canopy is a tent.
10. 10. An enclosure according to any preceding claim, wherein neighbouring anchors are connectable to one another by braces at opposite ends of the chamber of each anchor.
11. 11. An enclosure according to any preceding claim, wherein three or more of the anchors comprise wheels, the wheels being moveable from a first position 10 when they are disposed away from the surface to a second position in which they are engaged with the surface and raise the enclosure from the surface.
12. 12. An enclosure according to any preceding claim, wherein there are a plu-rality of apertures extending through the resiliently deformable member.