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

SWEDEN (12) PATENT WRITING (13) C2 (11) 522 233

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2004-01-27

2004-01-27

2003-04-07

2003-04-07 (19) SE (51)

International class ⁷

H05K 5/06

PATENT AND REGISTRATION (45) (41) (22) (24) (62) (86) (86) (83)

Patent filed Application widely available The patent application was submitted on expiration date

Tribal application number

International filing day Filing date dares to apply for European patent Deposit of microorganism (21) Patent application number 0301007'1

Application received as:

Swedish patent application completed international patent application with number □ converted European patent application with number (30) Priority information (73) (72) (74) (54) (56) (57)

PATENT OWNER Mats Nilsson, Älgövägen 321 133 37 Saltsjöbaden SEE INVENTOR Mats Nilsson, Saltsjöbaden SEE OMBUD Lennart Sjöö

NAME Weather protection for ex. outdoor equipment

CALLED PUBLICATIONS: - - SUMMARY ·

Weather protection for outdoor equipment includes a two-layer spherical plastic casing and some overpressure in the plastic casing.

The plastic cover (11-12) consists of an inner layer (11) of rigid cellular plastic and an outer layer (12) of UV-resistant, windproof cloth.

Tensioning straps (13-15) are attached to the outer layer (12) and arranged for secure anchoring of the plastic housing (11-12) to the weatherproof base.

Expansion chamber (101-103) is symmetrically attached along vertical meridian planes in the lower part of the outer casing layer (12).

Zips (91-93) are symmetrically attached along vertical meridian planes mainly in the lower part of the outer casing layer (12) with the top ends of the zipper extending up to a horizontal diameter plane (90-90) through the casing (11-12).

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The numbers in brackets indicate international identification code, INID code. Letters within clamps indicate interna- tional document code.

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SUMMARY

Weather protection for outdoor equipment includes a two-layer spherical plastic casing and some overpressure in the plastic casing.

The plastic cover (11-12) consists of an inner layer (11) of rigid cellular plastic and an outer layer (12) of UV-resistant, windproof cloth.

Tensioning straps (13-15) are fixed to the outer layer (12) and are arranged for securely anchoring the plastic housing (11-12) to the weatherproofing base.

Expansion chamber (101-103) is symmetrically attached along vertical meridian planes in the lower part of the outer casing layer (12).

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Zips (91-93) are symmetrically attached along vertical meridian planes mainly in the lower part of the outer casing layer (12) with the top ends of the zipper extending up to a horizontal diameter plane (90-90) through the casing (11-12).

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TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to weather protection for outdoor equipment, e.g. electronic radio equipment. The cover comprises a substantially spherical plastic casing with at least two layers and with some overpressure in the plastic casing.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

The weather and its impact on e.g. Sensitive electronic radio equipment in outdoor environments places great demands on weather protection.

Various types of weather protection for outdoor equipment are available today. Existing designs for these types are generally associated with extensive production costs. These are mainly due to the choice of design method, which places high demands on a significant number of manually performed working hours to achieve the desired functions and high efficiency.

In radio communication, electronic equipment is used to transmit and transmit. receive signals. The higher up in the frequency range communication takes place, the higher demands are placed on a well-functioning weather protection. This must not adversely affect radio communication. Therefore, significant demands are placed on the choice of material, thickness of material, etc. when designing weather protection.

In the microwave range (f&gt; 1000 MHz), completely enclosing weather protection is usually used, mainly with respect to wind load, ambient temperature and UV radiation.

The majority of today's designs are made of plastic. The shape is usually spherical or semi-spherical, with a cylindrical foot. The shape is chosen primarily to minimize the reflection of radio waves upon their passage through the weather protection. The spherical shape also helps to reduce the effect of pressure load from wind loads. The requirement for strength based on the maximum permissible thickness of the material with special consideration for the frequency range concerned determines the choice of material. The higher the frequency range, the less the thickness of the goods can be allowed in the radome. It can be said that the material thickness of the material should not exceed one quarter of the current wavelength for the selected frequency range in radio communication. For example, for 12 GHz, the corresponding wavelength is about 25 mm, with a thickness of no more than 6 mm being advisable.

To counteract geometric deformation, these radomas are usually molded into suitably shaped segments, often referred to as panels, so as to be more easily handled during transport and during assembly. Panels based on double-curved areas are most common. Unfortunately, the total mass of these weatherproofs usually exceeds the weight of the equipment to be protected, which in turn places high demands on the foundation to support the complete equipment.

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Two main lines are available when designing weather protection. The most common is a self-supporting shell and mainly applies to weather protection with an overall diameter less than 4 m. The other is a framework, truss construction, to support a significant number of "panels" that together form the weather protection. This method is mainly applied to larger diameter weather protection.

The growing market, especially in marine communications, places demands on well-functioning weather protection of smaller models. In doing so, the self-supporting shell method is a natural choice when designing the cover. These self-supporting shells consist of a number of panels that are joined together and thereby form the enclosing shell, the weatherproofing.

The less costly designs usually consist of hand-made fiberglass with polyester as the binder. When the requirement for low signal losses through the weather protection is increased, a sandwich construction consisting of two worn plastic layers with an intermediate laminate of the Divinycell or Rawcell brand, is advantageously used. In military applications, a laminate of the latter mark is used, which is about 3 times more expensive than the first mentioned mark.

When a larger, comprehensive cover with a diameter exceeding 4 m is needed, a framework, truss structure, is usually built, suitable for mounting panels against. These together form a functioning weather protection.

There are also different types of tent structures with tent cloth spanning the frameworks of truss construction. Unfortunately, this design solution causes the tent cloth to be exposed to a wind load that far exceeds the stretch limit of the material and defects when it is exposed to the influence of external wind load etc. Fatigue of the material (the tent cloth) occurs rather quickly due to a constant movement of the material under the influence of abrasion against the framework and influence of UV radiation with the result that the canvas is broken. It also happens that under the wind load, the tent canvas is stretched and curved inward between parts of the frame structure, whereby the entire weather protection is set in motion and thereby affects its contents, with infrequent functional failure as a result.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Weatherproofing of the aforementioned kind has a plastic cover consisting of an inner layer of rigid cellular plastic and an outer layer of UV-resistant, windproof cloth. Furthermore, a plurality of straps are attached to the outer layer and arranged for attaching the plastic cover to the weatherproofing base. Further features are shown in the following claims

When designing weather protection, the following issues should be given priority;

stiffness - low weight - minimum possible volume during transport - ease of installation on site easy access via the protective wall at service &amp; maintenance - low production cost - UV resistance at least 5 years outdoors in marine mölö island at the equator - ability to withstand instantaneous wind loads at wind forces up to 65 m / s - and the ability to withstand other types of known mechanical pressure loads, and generally set requirements for weather protection for sensitive electronic radio equipment.

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DESCRIPTION

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which schematically Fig. 1 shows a basic view of a weather protection according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a side view, obliquely from above, of a casing consisting of pentahedral segments; Fig. 3 shows the same cover as Fig. 2, top view;

Fig. 4 shows one of the segments included in the housing of Figs. 2-3;

Fig. 5 shows a housing consisting of "cleavage V" shaped segments;

Fig. 6 shows a support for a plastic casing according to Figs. 2-3 or Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 shows part of a modified support according to Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a side view of a weather protection constructed with a casing according to Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a side view of a weatherproofing with three zippers in an outer casing layer; and Fig. 10 shows a windshield with three expansion chambers attached to the outer casing layer.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The weather protection according to Fig. 1 has a spherical plastic casing 11-12 consisting of an inner layer 11 of rigid cellular plastic (EPS plastic) and of an outer layer 12 of UV-resistant, windproof cloth. At the outer layer 12 are fixed a plurality of clamping straps 13-15, arranged for attaching the plastic housing 11-12 to the surface of the weather protection. The spherical plastic housing 11-12 rests and is anchored in a horizontal cylindrical metal ring 16.

Thus, a device for providing a comprehensive weather protection and at the same time fulfilling previously stated requirements imposed on such weather protection can advantageously be made of rigid cellular plastic, which must then contain no additives of metal compounds or flame retardants. In practice, such additives have been shown to reduce the use of the material in radio communications. Cellular plastic is a favorable material that is well suited to form the body for a completely enclosing, spherical weather protection. The rigid cellular plastic can advantageously be manufactured in smaller segments consisting of double-curved areas and which are joined to the desired shape by joint fitting (male-female fitting).

The casing shown in Fig. 2 consists of a number of (12) pentahedral, double-curved segments interconnected, and Fig. 3 shows the same casing from above. Fig. 4 shows in perspective one of the segments included in the housing of Fig. 2-3.

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The casing shown in Fig. 5 from the side consists of a number of (6) elongated, vertical and approximately "split" shaped segments.

The plastic casing shown in Fig. 6 consists of a cylindrical metal ring, and the part of a metal ring shown in Fig. 7 has two raised edges 71, 72 from the bottom of the metal ring 70. Between these edges the lower edge of a plastic casing shall be anchored.

The weather protection shown in Fig. 8 from the side consists of "gap"-shaped segments 81, 82 ... and has straps 85, 86, 87, 88 ... for anchoring the weather protection to the ground.

The weather protection shown in Fig. 9 is formed with three symmetrically placed zips 91.92,93 in the outer layer of the housing; zips 91 and 93 on the front of the housing and the zipper) 92 on the back of the housing. The zips preferably reach the horizontal diameter plane 9090.

The windshield according to Fig. 10 has three expansion chambers 101,102,103, mounted symmetrically and vertically in the lower part of the outer casing layer along each meridian, thus at an angle of 120 ° to each other.

The rigid cellular plastic in the inner layer 11 of the plastic envelope consists mostly of air (98%), which means that the material's visible and measurable thickness of material can be allowed to exceed the dimensions normally indicated and which are based on measurement for more homogeneous materials.

Stiff cellular plastic is not normally UV resistant, so it must be protected by an outer cohesive thin surface layer adapted to prevailing marine environmental aspects. This surface layer together with the rigid cellular plastic form a well-functioning enclosing weather protection. Since the rigid cellular plastic is extremely light, it must, together with the applied surface layer, be held in place for the resulting wind loads etc.

A UV-resistant windproof fabric, which is capable of providing optimal protection against mechanical overload), while the material in the fabric is not allowed to affect radio communication, can be molded to fit as an outer layer on the outside of the rigid cellular plastic. The tablecloth is provided with vertically fastened straps for suitable attachment to available ground, for example against a ship deck. The upper and lower hemispheres of the outer layer constitute a molded unit, the lower hemisphere of which is provided with three symmetrically spaced, vertically longitudinal zippers. These are primarily intended to facilitate the mounting against the spherically rigid cellular plastic (the inner layer). In addition, the zippers allow for easy access to the interior of the fully enclosed weather cover. A suitably fitted panel in the form of a hatch in the rigid cellular plastic, strategically located inside the outer layer constitutes inresp. outlet in the weather protection if service and maintenance of equipment is needed inside the housing.

A further device for effectively aligning the outer layer with the die against the rigid spherical inner layer consists of fixed pressurized expansion chambers. These are in an example three to the number and vertically fixed to the lower part of the outer layer 12 along meridians spaced apart at a mutual distance corresponding to 120 °. The chambers consist of flexible material, e.g. rubber hose, which can be pressurized with e.g. air. The hoses are stitched in woven polyester plastic, and in a flattened state, have been applied firmly to the outer protective cloth (outer layer 12). By pressurizing the hoses, their width is significantly reduced (reduced)

522 233 from flat state to round state. A hose which in a flat state has a width of 30 mm has a diameter of 20 mm in the pressurized state, ie a stretch of 30 - 20 = 10 mm. This ensures that the outer protective cloth (outer layer) sits tightly and encloses the inner, spherical body (inner layer) of joined panels.

The fastened straps allow in-place fixation of the weather protection to the tire and meet the set requirements even in severe weather. The rigid cellular plastic has a very high deformation stiffness and can absorb an applied high, evenly distributed surface pressure via the outer protective material. The friction between the outer protective material and the rigid cellular plastic is almost non-existent due to good consistency in dimensions between the two curved surfaces of these two layers in combination with the aforementioned pressurized expansion chamber.

By using an electronic wind strength meter in conjunction with this weather protection in combination with the barometer to determine the external pressure against the spherical body, the air pressure inside the sphere is always controlled to be slightly higher than the external pressure. The method provides increased support for maintaining the rigidity under harsh wind conditions with mechanical impact through snow or rain. '

The method of using overpressure inside the weather protection prevents the risk of penetration of salt saturated, moist air through the weather protection. The desired air pressure inside the weather protection is obtained by supply of dehumidified and desalinated air, adjusted to the temperature suitable for the purpose through an externally mounted air conditioning system.

The proposed plastic cover offers a good weather protection fully comparable to what is currently offered on the market through the most technically advanced weather protection, but at a significantly lower cost. The plastic casing has extremely good rigidity, low weight, low production cost, low transport costs, low signal loss, easy and fast installation at the intended location, low spare parts costs, even temperature and humidity inside the weather protection with non-existent risk of ice formation, and automatic pressure control.

The combination of panel structure, which is self-locking after installation, supports in the form of a metal ring designed to provide a reliable connection to the substrate, e.g. vessel decks, as well as the surface-resistant UV-resistant fabric, manufactured to withstand mechanical stress such as drag and elongation under the influence of external wind loads, together provide an extremely good weather protection.

The sewn-on straps in combination with three zippers fitted with a Velcro overlay cover provide an overall opportunity for easy mounting of the carefully molded UV cloth.

To further prevent wind from getting attached to the UV cloth, it is further tightened around the panel structure through the three pressurized expansion chambers which are secured with the UV cloth.

This dense weather protection in combination with a simple air conditioner allows some overpressure inside the weather protection under strictly all circumstances and prevents salt saturated air from coming into contact with the enclosed radio equipment (reduces the risk of corrosion).

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