Method and apparatus for providing a controlled movable environment

A method of providing a controlled environment in which a construction, inspection or repair operation may be conducted and which controlled environment may be moved relative to a work site, said method comprising:

• a providing platform means that is capable of resting upon the surface of said work site;
• providing a lightweight collapsible building structure that is supported by said platform means and in which building structure said operation may take place;
• erecting said lightweight collapsible building structure;
• moving said platform means and said lightweight building structure along the surface of said work site to a desired location;
• modifying the height-to-width ratio of said lightweight building structure to increase the stability of said building structure, to provide an adequately high ceiling for working operations and to allow passage of said building structure through work sites that are more narrow than the normal width of said building structure;
• said lightweight building structure being composed of thin and flexible sheet material for permitting adjustment of the height of the building structure relative to the platform contained within the structure by extending and retracting wall portions of the sheet material;
• and
• adjusting the spacing of the platform means disposed in spaced relation within the building structure.

A method of providing a controlled environment in which a construction, inspection or repair operation may be conducted and which controlled environment may be moved along a moving work site, said method comprising:

• providing platform means that is capable of resting upon the surface adjacent said moving work site;
• providing a lightweight collapsible building structure that is supported by said platform means and in which building structure said operation may take place;
• erecting said lightweight collapsible building structure;
• moving said platform means and said lightweight building structure along the surface as said work site also moves along the surface;
• modifying the height-to-width ratio of said lightweight building structure to increase the stability of said building structure, to provide an adequately high ceiling for working operations and to allow passage of said building structure through work sites that are more narrow than the normal width of said building structure which structure is composed of thin and flexible sheet material and said platform means includes platforms disposed in spaced relation;
• adjusting the height of said building structure relative to said platform means by extending and retracting wall portions of said sheet material;
• and
• adjusting the spacing of said platform means.

A controlled environment for protection of a work area from any hostile effects of the atmospheric environment, said controlled environment being movable to selected positions along a moving work site and comprising:

• platform means having site engaging means;
• a lightweight building structure being attached to said platform means and providing a protective enclosure, said enclosure substantially containing said controlled environment, said lightweight building structure being formed of a thin flexible material maintained in erect condition responsive to maintenance of a superatmospheric pressure condition therein;
• air supply means provided for in said controlled environment for maintaining a regulated super-atmospheric pressure within said lightweight building structure at all times, said super-atmospheric pressure being controllably regulatable for stabilization of said building structure relative to the wind velocity at said work site;
• motive means being provided for said platform means and causing desired movement of said platform means and said lightweight building structure relative to said moving work site;
• and
• wherein flap means is provided on said lightweight building structure, said flap means engaging deformities in the work site and conforming to objects resting upon the site and maintaining a substantial seal therewith to prevent leakage of large volumes of air from said lightweight building structure.

A method of providing a controlled environment in which a construction, inspection or repair operation may be conducted and which controlled environment may be moved along a moving work site, said method comprising:

• providing platform means that is capable of resting upon the surface adjacent said moving work site;
• providing a lightweight collapsible building structure that is supported by said platform means and in which building structure said operation may take place;
• erecting said lightweight collapsible building structure;
• moving said platform means and said lightweight building structure along the surface as said work site also moves along the surface;
• modifying the effective weight of said platform means to control the stability of said building structure, said effective weight being determined responsive to forces tending to impart undesirable movement to said building structure;
• and
• wherein the effective weight of said platform means is varied by controllably altering the pressure conditions within said building structure.