Abstract:
A storage facility for an airship includes a wall that is made from a plurality of box-like ISO containers. The wall surrounds an area on the ground, and a semicylindrical member is affixed to the top of the wall. This creates an enclosed volume over the area for the storage and protection of the airship. Buttresses for supporting the wall can be made from additional containers, and restraints can be used to secure the containers of the facility to each other.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention pertains generally to storage and work place facilities. More particularly, the present invention pertains to temporary facilities for storing and protecting airships. The present invention is particularly, but not exclusively, useful as an airship hangar facility that can be assembled using a plurality of ISO containers for its sidewalls, and the semicylindrical portion of a Quonset hut for its roof. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Temporary facilities for buildings such as work places, storage areas, and aircraft hangars are often needed for immediate use, for relatively short periods of time. Not infrequently, a requirement for such a facility arises under a variety of different adverse circumstances and, when raised, will present a number of unforeseen difficulties. In any event, under such circumstances it is preferable if temporary facilities can be made using locally available materials with minimal labor requirements. It is also preferable if the construction materials are essentially prefabricated. 
         [0003]    For the particular case that involves an aircraft hangar, with its associated work places and storage areas, it can easily happen that the requirement for a temporary facility will arise in a foreign theater of operations. If so, factors such as the time for construction, and the availability of construction materials may become of paramount importance. It happens, however, that certain materials are frequently available under such circumstances that can be adapted for use in constructing temporary facilities. Namely, the so-called “conex container” and the familiar “Quonset hut” are usually available, or easily obtainable, in any area of operations. 
         [0004]    In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hangar/storage facility, and a method for its manufacture, that relies essentially on locally available construction materials and requires minimal labor requirements. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a temporary hangar/storage facility that is suitable as a hangar for a lighter-than-air airship. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a temporary hangar/storage facility that is suitable as a hangar for a lighter-than-air airship that is simple to construct, is easy to use, and is relatively cost effective. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In accordance with the present invention, a storage and hangar facility for an airship is made using a plurality of box-like containers. More specifically, the containers are stacked and arranged along the periphery of a substantially rectangular shaped area. In this context, a first plurality of the containers is used to create a first side for the facility. Similarly, a second plurality of the containers is used to create a second side for the facility. As envisioned for the present invention, the first side and the second side respectively extend along the length of the rectangular area, with the area located between the two sides. In a variation of this configuration, a third plurality of containers can be used to extend between the first side and the second side to establish a closed end for the facility. Together, the containers are stacked to establish a wall for the facility. 
         [0006]    Once various stacks of containers have been arranged to establish the wall for the facility, a roof can be added. Specifically, for this purpose, a semicylindrical member, such as from a Quonset hut, is used. In detail, the semicylindrical member has a pair of linear edges that are generally parallel to each other. These edges are then affixed to the top of the wall to establish a roof for the facility. Together, this roof and the wall are dimensioned to create an enclosed volume for the storage and protection of an airship. 
         [0007]    For the construction and assembly of the wall, it is to be appreciated that each container will have a top panel and a bottom panel. These panels are both substantially flat, and they are parallel to each other. As envisioned for the present invention, the containers are stackable, with each stack including a base container and, at least one, but more likely, a plurality of elevated containers. In combination, the bottom panel of an elevated container is juxtaposed to the top panel of the base container. When there is a plurality of elevated containers, adjacent containers in the stack are juxtaposed at an interface, with the bottom panel of a higher container being installed against the top panel of a lower container at the interface. Each stack is then stabilized by restraints (e.g. chains) that are attached to at least two containers in the stack to secure the containers to each other. Additional restraints can be then used to secure the stacks of containers to each other. Further, stacks of containers can be used to buttress each other. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a storage facility in accordance with the present invention shown with an airship inside the hangar of the facility; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of two containers shown positioned for assembly as a stack of containers; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a storage facility showing the interaction of stacked containers with a roof for the facility. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1  a facility in accordance with the present invention is shown and is generally designated  10 . As shown, the facility  10  includes a side  12 , and a side  14 , with the side  14  being positioned substantially parallel to the side  12 . The facility  10  also includes a roof  16  that extends between the sides  12  and  14 . Specifically, the roof  16  covers a ground area  18  that is located below the roof  16  and that extends between the sides  12  and  14 .  FIG. 1  also shows that the area  18  is preferably rectangular in shape and will have a length “l” and a width “w”. Together, the sides  12  and  14 , and the roof  16  enclose a volume (space)  20  over the area  18  in which an airship  22  can be hangared. 
         [0013]    As envisioned for the present invention, the facility  10  will be constructed using a plurality of base containers  24 , and a plurality of elevated containers  26 . For the facility  10  of the present invention, the base containers  24  and elevated containers  26  are combined in a plurality of stacks  28 . As shown, the stacks  28  are arranged to form the facility  10 . By way of example, the base container  24  and the elevated container  26  seen in  FIG. 2  are shown positioned for combination as a stack  28  (see  FIG. 1 ). It is to be appreciated that the number of elevated containers  26  in a stack  28  may vary according to the needs of construction. For instance, the stack  30  shown in  FIG. 1  includes a base container  24 ′ and the elevated containers  26   a ′,  26   b ′,  26   c ′ and  26   d ′. On the other hand, the stack  28  includes only the base container  24  and the single elevated container  26 . 
         [0014]    With reference now to  FIG. 2  it will be seen that the base container  24  has a top panel  32 , and that the elevated container  26  has a bottom panel  34 . In the construction of the facility  10 , the top panel  32  of base container  24  will be juxtaposed with the bottom panel  34  of elevated container  26 , and affixed thereto. The result is the stack  28  seen in  FIG. 1 . For purposes of the present invention, all base containers  24 , and all elevated containers  26  are substantially identical. Preferably, the containers  24  and  26  are so-called “conex” (ISO) containers with overall dimensions of approximately eight feet in width, ten feet in height, and forty feet in length (8′×10′×40′). Generally, such containers are available locally and can be obtained commercially. 
         [0015]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , it will be seen that, in addition to the sides  12  and  14 , the facility  10  may also include a closed end  36 . Like the sides  12  and  14 , the closed end  36  is also made from stacks  28  of base containers  24  and a plurality of elevated containers  26 . Further,  FIG. 3  also shows that the sides  12  and  14  of facility  10  can be supported by buttresses  38  and  40 . More specifically, and by way of example, the buttress  38  that is shown supporting side  12  includes the stack  28  and an additional stack  42 . In this case the stacks  28  and  42  are positioned in a side-by-side relationship with the side  12 . As envisioned for the present invention, the buttresses  38  and  40  can be specifically conformed to meet the particular support requirements for the facility  10 . 
         [0016]    Still referring to  FIG. 3 , it will be seen that the roof  16  has an edge  44  and an edge  46  that is substantially parallel to the edge  44 . Further,  FIG. 3  indicates that the roof  16  is dimensioned so that the edge  44  can be affixed to the top of side  14 , and that the edge  46  can be affixed to the top of side  12 . When so affixed, the roof  16  is positioned to cover the area  18  (see  FIG. 1 ). As envisioned for the present invention, the roof  16  can be the same semicylindrical structure that is used in the familiar “Quonset” hut. 
         [0017]    As indicated above, the various containers  24 / 26  that are used in the construction of the facility  10  need to be somehow attached, or affixed, to each other. Preferably, this is accomplished in either of two ways. In both ways, a lower container (e.g. a base container  24 ) is attached to a higher container (e.g. elevated container  26 ). In one way, however, the higher container and the lower container are in the same stack. In the other way, the higher container is in a stack that is adjacent to the stack of the lower container. For an example of when the containers are in adjacent stacks, consider the restraint  50  that is shown in  FIG. 3 . This restraint  50  is attached, or affixed, directly to the corner  52  of the lower base container  24  that is located in the stack  28 . The restraint  50  is also shown attached, or affixed, directly to the corner  54  of the higher container  56  that is located in the adjacent stack  48 . Thus, the restraint  50  is oriented diagonally across both of the stacks  28 / 48 . Now consider the restraint  58  that is used to interconnect the container  60  in stack  48  with the container  62  that is also in stack  48 . In this case, the restraint  58  is connected to the end  64  of the lower container  60 , and to the end  66  of the higher container  62 . Again, somewhat like the restraint  50 , there is a diagonal orientation of the restraint  58 . As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, as many restraints  50 / 58  may be used as are needed for construction of the facility  10  in its required configuration. As will also be appreciated by the skilled artisan, the restraints  50 / 58  may be chains, or straps, or bands, or any other type tether that is well known in the pertinent art. 
         [0018]    While the particular System and Method for Establishing a Protected Work and Storage Space as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims.