Worksite enclosure and method
An enclosure includes a first surface with first and second apertures, a second surface punctured by a first aperture and spaced apart from the first surface along a work direction, and lateral surfaces spanning between the first and second surfaces to define an enclosed volume. One aperture may include a hinged flap or door. The enclosure includes a lifting affordance and may further include a perforated shelf within the enclosed volume, tubes mounted proximate to the lateral surface with lumina communicating outside the volume, and rectangular tubes piercing both the first and second surfaces for receiving forklift forks. The enclosure may also incorporate a roof membrane spanning between the first and second surfaces, with the lifting affordance attached to the roof, and the roof may also include strakes for increasing structural integrity. Simpler embodiments of the enclosure may be fabricated from scrapped pressure vessels or timbers such as railroad ties.
1 . An enclosure comprising
a first surface punctured by a first aperture,
a second surface at least partially spaced apart from said first surface along a work direction and punctured by a first aperture,
at least one lateral surface spanning between said first and second surfaces whereby said first and second surfaces and said at least one lateral surface define an enclosed volume,
with at least a portion of said first surface not parallel to a portion of said second surface, a lifting affordance,
said enclosure further comprising
at least one tube mounted proximate to said lateral surface and piercing said first surface at an orifice where a lumen of said tube communicates outside said enclosed volume, said lumen of said tube is closable by a flap hingeably affixed to said first surface proximate said orifice, and
an occluder affixed proximate to one of said first apertures.
2 . The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein a second aperture of said first surface comprises a flap hingeably affixed proximate thereto.
3 . The enclosure of claim 2 , further comprising a perforated shelf located between said first and second apertures of said first surface.
4 . The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein said tube is defined by a structural beam having an open contour closed by abutting said contour to any lateral surface.
5 . The enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising at least a first rectangular tube which pierces both said first and second surfaces of said enclosure.
6 . The enclosure of claim 5 , further comprising a second rectangular tube parallel to said first rectangular tube which also pierces both said first and second surfaces of said enclosure.
7 . The enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising at least one strake proximate a juncture of said first and second surfaces.
8 . The enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising a roof membrane spanning between said first and second surfaces, with said lifting affordance being affixed thereto.
9 . The enclosure of claim 8 , wherein said roof membrane comprises a shape selected from the set of shapes consisting of: a rectangle, a square, a triangle, a portion of a sphere, a dome, a portion of a cylinder, a portion of an ovoid, a parabolic arched vault, and a barrel vault.
10 . The enclosure of claim 8 , further comprising at least one strake affixed to said roof membrane.
11 . The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein said first surface comprises a perimeter interrupted by said first aperture.
12 . The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein said second surface comprises a perimeter interrupted by said first aperture.
13 . The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein said first aperture in said second surface is reinforced by reinforcing strips mounted proximate a perimeter of said first aperture of said second surface.
14 . The enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising an oblique floor plate proximate a bottom of said tube, said oblique floor plate being oriented skew from perpendicular to an axis of said tube.
15 . The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein said lifting affordance comprises a bar affixed to an upper aspect of said enclosure, said bar being formed to create an aperture for receiving lifting means.
16 . The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein said lifting affordance comprises a loop of lifting chain having ends affixed to an upper aspect of said enclosure.