Low-Cost Redeployable Protective Shelter

Abstract

A protective shelter is presented. The protective shelter includes a substantially cylindrical wall member defining a shelter interior. The wall member has a first end and a second end and an opening formed there through. A domed member is coupled to the first end of the wall member. A door coupled to the wall member. The door is openable to permit ingress and egress into and out of the shelter interior through the opening and being closeable to cover the opening. At least one anchor point is coupled to the wall member adjacent to the second end, such that the protective shelter can be anchored to an underlying substrate.

1 . A protective shelter comprising:
 a substantially cylindrical wall member defining a shelter interior, the wall member having a first end and a second end and an opening formed there through;   a domed member coupled to the first end of the wall member;   a door coupled to said wall member, said door being openable to permit ingress and egress into and out of the shelter interior through said opening and being closeable to cover said opening; and   at least one anchor point coupled to said wall member adjacent to said second end, such that the protective shelter can be anchored to an underlying substrate.   
   
   
       2 . The protective shelter of  claim 1 , wherein each dimension of the door exceeds a corresponding dimension of the opening, such that a perimeter of said door overlaps the wall member along an entire perimeter of said opening. 
   
   
       3 . The protective shelter of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the underlying substrate is earth; and   said at least one anchor point is configured for anchoring said protective shelter to the earth.   
   
   
       4 . The protective shelter of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the underlying substrate is a concrete substrate; and   said at least one anchor point is configured for anchoring said protective shelter to the concrete substrate.   
   
   
       5 . The protective shelter of  claim 1 , further comprising a fan within the shelter interior. 
   
   
       6 . The protective shelter of  claim 1 , further comprising a lamp within the shelter interior. 
   
   
       7 . The protective shelter of  claim 1 , wherein said wall member and domed member are made of steel. 
   
   
       8 . The protective shelter of  claim 1 , wherein said wall member, said domed member, and said door are made from at least one pressure vessel. 
   
   
       9 . The protective shelter of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one pressure vessel is at least one decommissioned liquid propane (LP) tank. 
   
   
       10 . A method of installing a protective shelter, said method comprising:
 placing the protective shelter on an installation site, wherein said protective shelter has a shelter interior and includes a floor having a hole formed there through; and   installing an anchor through the floor of said protective shelter and fastening said anchor in the shelter interior.   
   
   
       11 . The method of installing of  claim 10 , and further comprising testing resistance of the protective shelter to movement by placing a first predetermined tension on said anchor with respect to the shelter interior. 
   
   
       12 . The method of installing of  claim 11 , said method further comprising:
 measuring tension on the anchor; and   if said measuring indicates a decrease in the tension on the anchor after applying said first predetermined tension, re-tensioning said anchor with greater than said first predetermined tension until measured tension on the anchor does not decrease more than a selected amount during a waiting period.   
   
   
       13 . The method of installing of  claim 12 , said method further comprising:
 in response to determining that the measured tension does not decrease more than the selected amount during the waiting period, decreasing tension applied to the anchor to a second predetermined tension and fastening said anchor within the shelter interior while the second predetermined tension is applied.   
   
   
       14 . The method of installing of  claim 10 , said method further comprising coupling a door to a wall member of said protective shelter, said door being openable to permit ingress and egress into and out of the shelter interior through an opening in the protective shelter and being closeable to cover said opening. 
   
   
       15 . A method of constructing a protective shelter, said method comprising:
 receiving a pressure vessel having a substantially cylindrical wall member coupled between first and second domed end members;   removing the second domed end member;   forming an opening in the wall member of the pressure vessel; and   attaching a door to said wall member to cover the opening.   
   
   
       16 . The method of constructing of  claim 15 , wherein said pressure vessel is a decommissioned liquid propane (LP) tank. 
   
   
       17 . The method of constructing of  claim 15 , said method further comprising attaching at least one anchor point to said wall member. 
   
   
       18 . The method of constructing of  claim 15 , said method further comprising attaching a solid floor adjacent to an end of said wall member opposite the first domed end member. 
   
   
       19 . The method of constructing of  claim 15 , wherein;
 each dimension of the door exceeds a corresponding dimension of the opening; and   attaching comprises attaching the door such that a perimeter of the door overlaps the wall member along an entire perimeter of the opening.   
   
   
       20 . The method of constructing of  claim 15 , wherein said removing further comprises cutting around a circumference of said wall member orthogonally to a longitudinal axis of said wall member.