Transportable satellite communication station including double-expandable trailer
First Claim
1. An expandable trailer for transportation and deployment of satellite communication related electronic equipment, said trailer comprising:
- a generally horizontal support frame having a front end configured to interconnect with a towing vehicle and a rear end, said support frame including ground engaging wheels for transport purposes and an upper surface defining a floor;
a pair of spaced apart generally vertical side walls extending upwardly from said support frame and defining an interior transport area therebetween, one of said side walls having an opening defined therein;
an expansion module supported in said opening, said module comprising;
a front panel and a rear panel each being generally vertical and having an inboard edge and an outboard edge, said panels spaced apart so as to define the front and rear of said expansion module;
a generally vertical side panel extending between said outboard edges of said front and rear panels, said side panel having an upper edge and a lower edge;
said expansion module having a closed position wherein said side panel is generally aligned with said one side wall and said outboard edges of said front and rear panels are adjacent said one side wall, said expansion module further having an expanded position wherein said side panel is spaced from said one side wall and said inboard edges of said front and rear panels are adjacent said one side wall; and
a movable floor panel having a storage position wherein said floor panel is generally parallel to said side panel, said floor panel being placed in said storage position when said expansion module is in said closed position, said floor panel further having a use position wherein said floor panel is generally perpendicular to said side panel, said floor panel being placed in said use position when said expansion module is in said expanded position such that said floor panel extends between said floor of said trailer and the lower edge of said side panel.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An expandable trailer is designed for transportation and use of satellite communication related electronic equipment. The trailer has a generally horizontal support frame with an upper surface defining a floor of the trailer. A pair of spaced apart generally vertical side walls extend upwardly from the support frame and define an interior transport area between the walls. An expansion module is supported in an opening in one of the side walls. The expansion module has a vertical front panel and rear panel with inboard edges and outboard edges. The panels are spaced apart to define the front and rear of the expansion module. A generally vertical side panel extends between the outboard edges of the front and rear panels and has an upper edge and a lower edge.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. An expandable trailer for transportation and deployment of satellite communication related electronic equipment, said trailer comprising:
-
a generally horizontal support frame having a front end configured to interconnect with a towing vehicle and a rear end, said support frame including ground engaging wheels for transport purposes and an upper surface defining a floor;
a pair of spaced apart generally vertical side walls extending upwardly from said support frame and defining an interior transport area therebetween, one of said side walls having an opening defined therein;
an expansion module supported in said opening, said module comprising;
a front panel and a rear panel each being generally vertical and having an inboard edge and an outboard edge, said panels spaced apart so as to define the front and rear of said expansion module;
a generally vertical side panel extending between said outboard edges of said front and rear panels, said side panel having an upper edge and a lower edge;
said expansion module having a closed position wherein said side panel is generally aligned with said one side wall and said outboard edges of said front and rear panels are adjacent said one side wall, said expansion module further having an expanded position wherein said side panel is spaced from said one side wall and said inboard edges of said front and rear panels are adjacent said one side wall; and
a movable floor panel having a storage position wherein said floor panel is generally parallel to said side panel, said floor panel being placed in said storage position when said expansion module is in said closed position, said floor panel further having a use position wherein said floor panel is generally perpendicular to said side panel, said floor panel being placed in said use position when said expansion module is in said expanded position such that said floor panel extends between said floor of said trailer and the lower edge of said side panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9)
-
-
8. An expandable trailer for transportation and deployment of satellite communication related electronic equipment, said trailer comprising:
-
a generally horizontal support frame having a front end configured to interconnect with a towing vehicle and a rear end, said support frame including ground engaging wheels for transport purposes and an upper surface defining a floor;
a pair of spaced apart generally vertical side walls extending upwardly from said support frame and defining an interior transport area therebetween, one of said side walls having an opening defined therein;
an expansion module supported in said opening, said module comprising;
a front panel and a rear panel each being generally vertical and having an inboard edge and an outboard edge, said panels spaced apart so as to define the front and rear of said expansion module;
a generally vertical side panel extending between said outboard edges of said front and rear panels, said side panel having an upper edge and a lower edge;
said expansion module having a closed position wherein said side panel is generally aligned with said one side wall and said outboard edges of said front and rear panels are adjacent said one side wall, said expansion module further having an expanded position wherein said side panel is spaced from said one side wall and said inboard edges of said front and rear panels are adjacent said one side wall; and
a movable roof panel having a first edge hingedly connected to said one side wall above said opening, said movable roof panel extending downwardly adjacent said side panel when said expansion module is in said closed position and said roof panel being pivoted upwardly when said expansion module is moved to said expanded position such that said roof panel extends outwardly from said one side wall and rests atop said upper edge of said side panel. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A transportable satellite communication station comprising:
-
an expandable trailer having a central portion comprising a support frame defining a floor and a pair of spaced apart upwardly extending side walls defining an interior transport area therebetween, each of said side walls having an opening defined therein;
an expansion module supported in each of said openings for movement between a closed position and an expanded position, each expansion module comprising a front panel and a rear panel and a side panel extending between said front and rear panels, each of said side panels being generally aligned with one of said side walls when said expansion modules are in said closed position and being outwardly spaced from said side walls when said expansion modules are in said expanded position;
satellite communication related electronic components being supported on said floor and filling substantially all of the space between said side walls, said electronic components having outwardly facing control panels which are adjacent said side panels when said expansion modules are in said closed position, said control panels being accessible by a human operator only when said expansion modules are in said expanded position wherein said side panels are spaced from said control panels so as to define a working space. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
Specification