Robust Deployable Superstructure Enclosure System

The U.S. shipbuilding industry has fallen behind the global industry in terms of meeting “World Class” commercial best manufacturing practices. The U.S. shipbuilding industry desires to recover our status as a world leader in this area. One step along the path of upgrading our infrastructure to world class manufacturing quality and standards is to utilize enclosure systems during ship maintenance, surface preparation, and coatings work. Currently this type of work is often performed in an open air environment which, decreases productivity, reduces efficiency and allows release of regulated air emissions into the environment. An enclosure system that is easy to use, easy to relocated from one work location to the next, easily maintained, storable within a small cube, and robust is desired. Finally, it is desirable that these structures are able to function onboard the ship to enclose the ship’s superstructures and around other complicated geometries. Enclosures of this type will increase productivity, by decreasing down time (allowing work to continue during inclement weather). These enclosures will also allow capture of regulated air emissions (VOC’s), and ultimately increase worker efficiency, comfort, and safety. Federal Fabrics-Fibers (FFF) proposes an AirBeam supported Large Modular Super Structure Enclosure System (LMSSES) solution. This enclosure will be supported using our AirBeam and AirFrame technology. FFF has considerable experience in designing and manufacturing custom AirBeam supported shelters, i.e. tents and enclosures. Due to the nature of the AirBeam and AirFrame technology this system lends itself to be easily adapted to different configurations and sizes. For example FFF has produced “enclosures” ranging from as small as 15 ft spans 43 ft spans by potentially unlimited lengths. In addition, individual AirBeams with spans of over 80 ft have been produced here at FFF and adding a skin to make a relatively large enclosure is a simple task.