Portable protective enclosure
View Patent ↗A portable protective enclosure for equipment located outside, such as, for example pumps, it preassembled and towable to an in-service position for enclosing the equipment and protecting it from cold weather environments. The enclosure has first and second skids being arranged parallel and spaced to one another defining a space therebetween, the first and second skids having a first end and an opposite second end. The enclosure may further have a building supported on the skids for movement therewith, the building comprising first and second end walls each extending across the skids, first and second side walls one each extending along a length of a respective skid, and a roof spanning the first and second end walls and the first and second side walls, the building being free of a floor.
1 . A portable protective enclosure comprising:
first and second skids being arranged parallel and spaced to one another defining a space therebetween, the first and second skids having a first end and an opposite second end;
a building supported on the skids for movement therewith, the building comprising first and second end walls each extending across the skids, first and second side walls one each extending along a length of a respective skid, and a roof spanning the first and second end walls and the first and second side walls, the building being free of a floor; and
a first cross member pivotally attached at one end to the first skid for rotation within the space between the first and second skids between a first position wherein the first cross member extends between the skids and a second position wherein the first cross member extends along a length of the first skid, the opposite end of the first cross member being detachably secured to the second skid when in the first position.
2 . The portable protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein:
the first end wall comprising a pair of first swing doors that are openable to permit access to an interior of the building and to the space between the first and second skids; and
the second end wall comprising a pair of second swing doors that are openable to permit access to an interior of the building and to the space between the first and second skids.
3 . The portable protective enclosure of claim 2 , wherein:
each swing door of the pair of first swing doors has a forward access panel located at a bottom of the door and extending along a width of the door, wherein the forward access panel is an insulated panel or is a strip of flexible rubber material; and
each swing door of the pair of second swing doors having two side-by-side rearward access panels located at a bottom of the door and extending along a width of the door, wherein the rearward access panels are insulated panels or a strip of flexible rubber material.
4 . The portable protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein:
the first end wall comprising a pair of first swing doors that are openable to permit access to an interior of the building and to the space between the first and second skids.
5 . The portable protective enclosure of claim 4 , wherein:
each swing door of the pair of first swing doors has a forward access panel located at a bottom of the door and extending along a width of the door, wherein the forward access panel is an insulated panel or is a strip of flexible rubber material.
6 . The portable protective enclosure of claim 1 , wherein:
the second end wall comprising a pair of second swing doors that are openable to permit access to an interior of the building and to the space between the first and second skids.
7 . The portable protective enclosure of claim 6 , wherein:
each swing door of the pair of second swing doors having two side-by-side rearward access panels located at a bottom of the door and extending along a width of the door, wherein the rearward access panels are insulated panels or a strip of flexible rubber material.
8 . The portable protective enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising:
a tow beam extending between the first and second skids at the first ends thereof, the tow beam being removably attached at its opposite ends to the first and second skids; and
two tow eyes attached to the tow beam and configured to be connected to a tow vehicle for towing the skids and attached building.
9 . The portable protective enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second cross member pivotally attached at one end to the second skid for rotation within the space between the first and second skids between a first position wherein the second cross member extends between the skids and a second position wherein the second cross member extends along a length of the second skid, the opposite end of the second cross member being detachably secured to the first skid when in the first position.
10 . The portable protective enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising:
the first side wall having a pair of first side access panels disposed at a bottom end of the first side wall proximate the second end wall, wherein the first side access panels are insulated panels or a strip of flexible rubber material; and
the second side wall having a pair of second side access panels disposed at a bottom end of the second side wall proximate the second end wall, wherein the first side access panels are insulated panels or a strip of flexible rubber material.
11 . The portable protective enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more doors in one or both of the first and second side walls.
12 . The portable protective enclosure of claim 11 , further comprising:
one or more steps attached to one or both of the first and second side walls.
13 . A portable protective enclosure comprising:
first and second skids being arranged parallel and spaced to one another defining a space therebetween, the first and second skids having a first end and an opposite second end;
a building supported on the skids for movement therewith, the building comprising first and second end walls each extending across the skids, first and second side walls one each extending along a length of a respective skid, and a roof spanning the first and second end walls and the first and second side walls, the building being free of a floor, the first and second end walls, the first and second side walls, and the roof being insulated;
the first end wall comprising a pair of first swing doors that are openable to permit access to an interior of the building and to the space between the first and second skids;
the second end wall comprising a pair of second swing doors that are openable to permit access to an interior of the building and to the space between the first and second skids;
a tow beam extending between the first and second skids at the first ends thereof, the two beam being removably attached at its opposite ends to the first and second skids;
two tow eyes attached to the tow beam and configured to be connected to a tow vehicle for towing the skids and attached building;
each swing door of the pair of first swing doors has a forward access panel located at a bottom of the door and extending along a width of the door, wherein the forward access panel is insulated panel or is a strip of flexible rubber material;
each swing door of the pair of second swing doors having two side-by-side rearward access panels located at a bottom of the door and extending along a width of the door, wherein the rearward access panels are insulated panels or a strip of flexible rubber material;
the first side wall having a pair of first side access panels disposed at a bottom end of the first side wall approximate the second end wall, wherein the first side access panels are insulated panels or a strip of flexible rubber material;
the second side wall having a pair of second side access panels disposed at a bottom end of the second side wall approximate the second end wall, wherein the first side access panels are insulated panels or a strip of flexible rubber material; and
a first cross member pivotally attached at one end to the first skid for rotation within the space between the first and second skids between a first position wherein the first cross member extends between the skids and a second position wherein the first cross member extends along a length of the first skid, the opposite end of the first cross member being detachably secured to the second skid when in the first position.
14 . The portable protective enclosure of claim 13 , further comprising:
a second cross member pivotally attached at one end to the second skid for rotation within the space between the first and second skids between a first position wherein the second cross member extends between the skids and a second position wherein the second cross member extends along a length of the second skid, the opposite end of the second cross member being detachably secured to the first skid when in the first position.
15 . The portable protective enclosure of claim 13 , further comprising:
the first side wall having a first door;
the second side wall having a second door;
a first access step pivotally attached to the first side wall on an exterior surface thereof and at a location below the first door;
a second access step pivotally attached to the first side wall on an interior surface thereof and at a location below the first door;
a third access step pivotally attached to the second side wall on an exterior surface thereof and at a location below the second door; and
a fourth access step pivotally attached to the second side wall on an interior surface thereof and at a location below the second door.
16 . A portable protective enclosure comprising:
first and second skids being arranged parallel and spaced to one another defining a space therebetween, the first and second skids having a first end and an opposite second end;
a building supported on the skids for movement therewith, the building comprising first and second end walls each extending across the skids, first and second side walls one each extending along a length of a respective skid, and a roof spanning the first and second end walls and the first and second side walls, the building being free of a floor, the first and second end walls, the first and second side walls, and the roof being insulated;
the first end wall comprising a pair of first swing doors that are openable to permit access to an interior of the building and to the space between the first and second skids;
the second end wall comprising a pair of second swing doors that are openable to permit access to an interior of the building and to the space between the first and second skids;
a tow beam extending between the first and second skids at the first ends thereof, the two beam being removably attached at its opposite ends to the first and second skids;
two tow eyes attached to the tow beam and configured to be connected to a tow vehicle for towing the skids and attached building;
a first cross member pivotally attached at one end to the first skid for rotation within the space between the first and second skids between a first position wherein the first cross member extends between the skids and a second position wherein the first cross member extends along a length of the first skid, the opposite end of the first cross member being detachably secured to the second skid when in the first position;
a second cross member pivotally attached at one end to the second skid for rotation within the space between the first and second skids between a first position wherein the second cross member extends between the skids and a second position wherein the second cross member extends along a length of the second skid, the opposite end of the second cross member being detachably secured to the first skid when in the first position;
each swing door of the pair of first swing doors has a forward access panel located at a bottom of the door and extending along a width of the door, wherein the forward access panel is insulated panel or is a strip of flexible rubber material;
each swing door of the pair of second swing doors having two side-by-side rearward access panels located at a bottom of the door and extending along a width of the door, wherein the rearward access panels are insulated panels or a strip of flexible rubber material;
the first side wall having a pair of first side access panels disposed at a bottom end of the first side wall approximate the second end wall, wherein the first side access panels are insulated panels or a strip of flexible rubber material;
the second side wall having a pair of second side access panels disposed at a bottom end of the second side wall approximate the second end wall, wherein the first side access panels are insulated panels or a strip of flexible rubber material;
the first side wall having a first door;
the second side wall having a second door;
a first access step pivotally attached to the first side wall on an exterior surface thereof and at a location below the first door;
a second access step pivotally attached to the first side wall on an interior surface thereof and at a location below the first door;
a third access step pivotally attached to the second side wall on an exterior surface thereof and at a location below the second door; and
a fourth access step pivotally attached to the second side wall on an interior surface thereof and at a location below the second door.