Weather proof dome to envelop outdoor objects, use of such a dome and a method for protecting outdoor objects

Abstract

The self-supporting weather proof dome envelops outdoor objects. The dome is made of a material and structure that maintains the shape of the dome and clearance between the dome and the objects whereby the dome has an inner structure that withstands external pressure forces and an outer structure that through pulling forces on the outer structure holds the inner structure together. The outer and inner structures are not bonded to each other and at least the outer structure is attachable to a base mount. The dome consists of an inner structure made of form rigid cellular plastic. The enveloped outer structure consists of an UV-resistant plastic fabric wind-stopper.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] A self-supporting weather proof dome to envelop outdoor objects, the dome being of a material and structure that maintains the shape of the dome and clearance between the dome and the enclosed objects characterized in that the dome comprises and inner structure that withstands external pressure forces and an outer structure that through pulling forces on the outer structure holds the inner structure together, which outer and inner structures are not bonded to each other and at least the outer structure is attachable to a base mount. BACKGROUND ART [0002] Different weather conditions on earth, both on-land an oceans, put demand on some kind of weather protections regarding humans and other sensitive outdoor objects. Mostly it concerns weather protections against heavy wind-loads, rain, snow, arctic temperature, strong influence of sunshine, UV-radiation etc. The type of weather protection units varies but often requires a kind of housing to completely en...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015] This object has been achieved in that a dome of type specified in Claims no. 1 includes the specific features that the dome comprises an inner structure that withstands external pressure forces and an outer structure that through pulling forces on the outer structure holds the inner structure together, which outer and inner structures are not bonded to each other and at lest the outer structure is attachable to a base mount. The dome construction with an outer structure and an inner structure, not bonded to each other, meet all demands on a self-supporting dome—a weather proof unit—in terms of mechanical structure stiffness, rigidity, material stress, thermal insulation, signal gain attenuation and cross-polarisation etc. The inner structure offers required mechanical structure stiffness and rigidity by offering a geometrical momentum generated by thickness of the inner structure material, consisting of a large number of cells filled with air, giving acceptance to required electromagnetic transmission in microwave frequency bands with a minimum of signal gain attenuation through the inner structure in combination with a good thermal insulation. Further, the dome construction according to the present invention with an outer and inner structure, not bonded to each other, gives an advantage in that it offers an extended surface load compared to other known similar constructions like a tent model described by a number of point loads between a framework and a fabric mounted tightened on top of it generating friction and material stress. All advantages concerning the present invention offers to a minimum of manually hands on labour work investment.

Problems solved by technology

They are both in plastics made by manually hands-on work, which make them rather expensive to produce.

However, it is at least a 3 times more expensive material compared to Divinycell.

Both “Single skin” and “Sandwich” domes are very heavy constructions, putting hard demands on the mechanical mounting bed to be stiff enough to carry such a dome.

That puts a very hard demand on the base-mount in terms of mechanical structural strength, being able to carry the dome with the equipment inside without generating mechanical flexibility.

The self-supporting dome is not allowed to affect the transmitting or receiving signal frequencies, especially not in terms of signal gain or cross-polarisation.

Due to that, the demands on a self-supporting plastic dome material are extremely high in terms of electrostatics, electromagnetic transparency, and material thickness, meanwhile meeting the hardest environmental weather conditions, generated by wind-loads, temperature and UV-radiation in combination with air pollution.

However, this type of technical solution put demands on the fabric to handle heavy wind-loads with a very strong impact on the fabric, often much over the material elastic limit, followed by a material stress, with a collapse as the result.

The fabric material fatigue occurs very quickly due to the ongoing material stress caused by friction between fabric and framework, especially in maritime applications under impact from UV radiation, salt and sulphuric air pollutions, the fabric collapse.

Sometimes it happens that fabric elasticity causes a geometrical deformation with a concave fabric structure between parts of frameworks under impact from heavy wind-loads, putting the whole dome in motion generating mechanical problems inside the dome, often ending-up with a operational drift-stop.

Except for all maritime applications, the modest production cost makes the self-supporting weather proof dome available to replace ordinary tent models, for example in arctic expeditions, military applications, but also in rescue and surveillance operations.

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