Abstract:
A portable weather resistant enclosure for supporting electronics in the field, having a body in sealable engagement with a door, a pedestal for elevating the enclosure above a surface, at least two lifting eyes for transporting the enclosure, the portable weather resistant enclosure being constructed to resist deformation during transport.

Description:
FIELD 
     The present embodiment generally relate to a tough resistant electronics supporting enclosure that is tough, weather resistant and liftable without deformation for use in the field, particularly in harsh environments such as the Arctic or Saudi Arabia. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A need exists for a sturdy enclosure for use with supporting solar arrays and with holding electronics in a weather resistant manner. 
     A further need exists for liftable enclosure that can be lifted by a crane to a barge or flatbed full loaded with electronics that will not deform or twist or subject the electronics to weather. 
     The present embodiments meet these needs. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description will be better understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings as follows: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of one embodiment of an enclosure. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of one embodiment of an enclosure. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of an enclosure. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of an enclosure connected to a solar array. 
     
    
    
     The present embodiments are detailed below with reference to the listed Figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Before explaining the present apparatus in detail, it is to be understood that the apparatus is not limited to the particular embodiments and that it can be practiced or carried out in various ways. 
     The present embodiments relate to a portable weather resistant enclosure for supporting electronics which can include solar controllers, power chargers and battery systems. 
     The enclosure can be made from powder coated metal, such as aluminum that can be between about 1/16 inches to about ⅜ inches thick. 
     The enclosure can have a body and a movable door adapted to engage the body. The body can be generally a rectangular box with at least one movable door hinged to the body, and the movable door can overlap the walls of the box. The movable door, in one embodiment, can be removable from the body and can be attachable to the body with a plurality of fasteners, such as two fasteners. The fasteners can be attached to the body to hold the movable door. 
     In an embodiment, the body can be square or rectangular in shape. The body can have five walls, with each wall having an outer side and an inner side. One of the walls can form a base parallel to a surface on which the body can rest. 
     The body can be oval or circular in shape for a particular body. If oval or circular in shape, then only two or three walls would be used with one wall being the bottom or base. 
     In one embodiment, the body can be about 54 inches high, about 54 inches wide and about 28 inches deep. Various embodiments are envisioned for smaller or larger sizes depending on the equipment to be stored within the body. 
     The movable door, like the body, can be made of power coated aluminum having an aluminum thickness of between about 1/16 inches to about ⅜ inches. 
     The movable door can be the same height and width as the body, but can have an overhanging lip of up to several inches enabling the movable door to cover the open portion of the body and cover part of any wall that forms the portions of the body engaging the movable door. 
     A first seal, such as a rubber gasket can have a width of about 1 inch and a thickness of about ¼ inches can be fastened such as with an adhesive, to the movable door to provide a weather tight sealing engagement with the body. The first seal can prevent water, steam, sand and other undesirable materials from getting inside the enclosure. 
     Various types of electronics can be positioned within the body either on a frame, or on a back plane which can be welded or secured to the base or secured to the interior of the body. 
     The electronics can include measurement equipment, telemetry equipment, flow control equipment, other equipment and combinations thereof. 
     In an embodiment, the electronics can be removably attached to the back plane. In an additional embodiment, the electronics can be removably attached to the frame. The enclosure can be designed so that parts of the electronics can be removed from the back plane or frame for repair if needed. 
     If a frame is used, the frame can be secured to the interior of the body, such as the bottom of the body or to a bulk head. 
     In another embodiment, a flange can be welded to one of the walls. The flange can encircle the walls, like a small frame on top of the body. The flange can be used to support first and second lifting eyes. The flange can also have lifting holes drilled in it for lifting of the portable weather resistant enclosure without the lifting eyes. 
     Insulation, such as an insulating material or insulating coating can be secured to the inside of each of the walls of the body or portions of some walls in the body. The overall size of the interior insulation can match the dimensions of the inner side of the walls of the body. The insulation can cover all or part of the walls, but at least about 50 percent can be contemplated as useful to reduce water build up inside the body. 
     A foldable tray having a size between about 10 inches to about 16 inches in length, about 6 inches to about 10 inches in width and a thickness suitable for supporting a portable device can be secured within the enclosure. The foldable tray can be mounted to a frame assembly, to a bulkhead, or to the bottom for supporting a computer, a lap top, or other computing device. The foldable tray can fold out from the frame assembly providing unique space saving and a place for resting a computer that can be used to run diagnostics and perform other functions on electronic components. 
     The movable door can be controlled using two pneumatic shocks, one, which can be connected on an inner side of a first wall, and the other, which can be connected to a second wall on the inner side opposite the first wall. Channel bars can be used to add strength to the walls and reinforce the power of the pneumatic shocks when used with the movable door. The channel bars can be welded or bolted to the walls and the shocks can be bolted or attached to the channel bars or directly to the interior of the walls. 
     Turning now to the figures,  FIG. 1  shows an enclosure  8  including a body  9  resting on a pedestal  76 . The body  9  is illustrated with a plurality of walls, including a top  50 , a bottom  52  and side walls  54   a ,  54   b . One of the walls  54   a  is illustrated with an inner side  62   a  and an outer side  60   a  and a second wall  54   b  is illustrated on the opposite side with an inner side  62   b  and an outer side  60   b . Pedestal flanges  75  on the bottom of the pedestal  76  can provide a secure means for resting flush with a surface  77  and can be used to fasten the pedestal  76  to the surface  77 . The modular design of the enclosure  8  can allow a crane to move and position the apparatus, and the pedestal flanges  75  can permit securing the apparatus at a single location. 
       FIG. 1  further illustrates a movable door  10   a  in an open position providing access to the components contained within the body  9 . The movable door  10   a  can be controlled using two pneumatic shocks  28   a ,  28   b . One pneumatic shock  28   a  can be connected on an inner side  62   a  of a first wall  54   a  through a channel bracket  66   a , and one pneumatic shock  28   b  can be connected on an inner side  62   b  to a second wall  54   b  through a channel bracket  66   b . In one embodiment, a single pneumatic shock can operate the movable door. The pneumatic shocks can also be mounted directly with the walls  54   a ,  54   b.    
     A parallel stiff non-deformable bar  83   a , can be seen in  FIG. 1 , which can provide structural support to the body  9 , with at least a second parallel stiff non-deformable bar  83   b , which is obstructed from view by the first parallel non-deformable bar  83   a.    
     A bulkhead  13  can be disposed in the body  9  forming a top compartment  25  and a bottom compartment  26 . A bulkhead support  88  can further divide the bottom compartment into a right compartment  90  and a left compartment  92 . 
     A foldable tray  18  is illustrated mounted with the bulkhead  13 . The foldable tray can be affixed by hinges in order to pivot between two positions. The foldable tray is illustrated in a storage position, but can pivot providing a flat surface for computers, lap tops or other portable devices. 
     A power charger can be contained within the body  9  for receiving an outside source of power. The power charger can be an uninterrupted power supply adapted to receive an AC current. The power charger can also be a solar controller for receiving power from a solar array. In either case, the power charger can receive power from a power source for the purpose of charging batteries  27   a ,  27   b  which can be located in the bottom compartment  26  below the bulkhead  13 . 
       FIG. 1  further illustrates the power charger as an uninterruptable power supply  32  connected to a power source  68 , which can be an external AC power source. The uninterruptable power supply can be connected to the batteries  27   a ,  27   b  through a low voltage distribution block  38 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts a side view of the enclosure  8  which can have two movable doors  10   a ,  10   b  pivotally mounted the body  9  by hinges  64   a ,  64   b . Pneumatic shocks  28   b ,  28   c  are illustrated holding each movable door  10   a ,  10   b  in an open position. In one embodiment pneumatic shocks  28   a ,  28   d , which are not visible in  FIG. 2 , can be located opposite pneumatic shocks  28   b ,  28   c  while in another embodiment each movable door can require a single pneumatic shock or multiple pneumatic shocks. 
     Seals  12   a ,  12   b  can be seen on the inner surface of the movable doors  10   a ,  10   b  for forming a sealing engagement between movable doors  10   a ,  10   b  and the body  9 . The seals  12   a ,  12   b  can prevent rain, dirt and other elements from reaching the interior of the body  9 . The elevated position on the body  9  on the pedestal  76  can further prevent debris and water for entering the body. 
     The movable doors  10   a ,  10   b  can also include lights  130   a ,  130   b ,  130   c ,  130   d . The lights  130   a ,  130   b ,  130   c ,  130   d  can be configured within each movable door  10   a ,  10   b  to point generally downward, or to be slightly tilted towards the interior of the body  9 . In this way the equipment stored in or operating in the enclosure  8  can be illuminated, improving a workers ability to work on the equipment or take readings from the equipment. 
     The lights  130   a ,  130   b ,  130   c ,  130   d  can be connected to the batteries  27   a ,  27   b  or to the uninterruptable power supply  32 . 
     The pneumatic shocks  28   b ,  28   c  are illustrated connected to the body  9  through a channel bracket  66   b . The channel bracket  66   b  can add support to the enclosure  8  and can further provide a mounting position for the pneumatic shocks. 
     Lifting eye  82   b  is illustrated and can be secured through flanges welded on the near side of the body  9 . 
     The bulkhead support  88  can be seen and can be attached between the bottom  52  of the body  9  and the bulkhead  13 , just above the pedestal  76 . 
     The back plane  24  can be seen mounted to the bulkhead  13 , and can support a power charger such as an uninterruptable power supply  32  for supplying power through a low voltage distribution block  38 . The uninterruptable power supply  32  can be connected to the batteries  27   a ,  27   b  and other electronics equipment in the body  9 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the enclosure  8  including a body  9 , which can be secured to a pedestal  76 . Movable door fasteners  11   a ,  11   b  can be used for securing the movable door to the body. Both movable doors  10   a ,  10   b  are illustrated in the open position. The body  9  and movable doors  10   a ,  10   b  illustrated in  FIG. 3  can include each of parts of the body previously illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , but the power charger has been omitted from this view. 
     Parallel stiff non-deformable bars  83   a ,  83   b  can be seen in the view of  FIG. 2 , which can further provide structural support to the body  9 . The parallel stiff non-deformable bars  83   a ,  83   b  can also be used as supports for mounting objects to the exterior of the body. 
     The foldable tray  18  can be seen secured to the bulkhead  13  within the body  9 . The bulkhead support  88  can be seen attached between the bottom  52  of the body  9  and the bulkhead  13 . 
     Insulation  74  can be seen cut way from the interior of the body  9 . The interior of the body  9  can be completely or partially covered with insulation  74 , including the interior side of each movable door  10   a ,  10   b.    
     From this perspective view each of the lifting eyes  82   a ,  82   b  can be seen on generally opposite sides of the body providing a balanced means for lifting the enclosure. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment, wherein the body  9  and movable doors  10   a ,  10   b  can contain the same parts as  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , but can further include a solar controller  112  which can be connected to a solar array  110  for power. 
     A solar controller  112  can be in communication with a low voltage distribution block  38 , which can be mounted to the back plane  24 . The low voltage distribution block  38  can receive power from a solar array  110  and can distribute power to the batteries  27   a ,  27   b.    
     While these embodiments have been described with emphasis on the embodiments, it should be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the embodiments might be practiced other than as specifically described herein.