A body for transporting a load or a piece of equipment

Technical Field

This invention relates principally to a body for transporting a load or piece of equipment.

More specifically, the load is in the form of a piece of equipment or the like, especially in the form of a piece of equipment forming part of a processing plant, such as a plant or site for making manufactured articles for the building construction sector.

Background Art For the transportation of loads in general and, in particular, of equipment intended to form part of a processing plant for making manufactured articles for the building construction sector, the components of the plant are placed on respective closed containers, each container being in the form of a box-shaped case, composed of a bottom wall, corresponding longitudinal and transversal walls and an upper covering wall. In prior art containers, there is an opening at the rear end provided with rear doors to allow the load or equipment transported to be unloaded from the inside of the container.

In prior art containers, which are transported on articulated lorries or other means of transport - such as ships, trains and so on - the container consists of a compact box-shaped case whose bottom, side and top walls are all integral with, or fixed to, each other.

In prior art containers of this kind, when the transported goods intended for a construction plant or site are unloaded, each container is emptied completely of its load through the rear opening and it is usual for the container to return unladen to the point from where it came.

Particularly in the sector of construction plants or sites where building construction products are made, the equipment and plant are normally installed in the areas where large building construction works are in progress and remain operational only until the work is completed.

Once the plant has completed its work, the plant is dismantled and the equipment forming part of it is disposed of in various ways. In practice, the equipment may be scrapped or parts of it resold as used equipment and thus without transferring and reusing the plant in its entirety.

According to current practice, the procedure for setting up the plant is excessively time-consuming.

Moreover, current practice also leads to economic loss, especially as a result of non-optimum recycling of the working equipment forming part of the plant when the latter ceases operations.

Summary of the Invention

It is provided a body for transporting a load, the load being preferably in the form of a piece of equipment or the like, particularly in the form of a piece of equipment forming part of a processing plant, such as a plant or site for making manufactured articles for the building construction sector, characterised in that it comprises a base and means for covering the base to form a space for accommodating the load and also being characterised in that the covering means and the base are connected to each other in such a way that they can engage and disengage.

That way, the base, whether with or without a respective load or piece of equipment fixed to or supported by it can be moved separately from the respective covering means which are, in particular, in the form of a box-shaped case placed over the base. The base and the covering means are thus ready for specific further uses other than transportation.

That way, the total weight to be lifted at once is reduced and loading and unloading operations are made easier and are possible even when lifting gear available is limited in capacity and would not be able to lift the entire body, particularly if it contains the load or piece of equipment.

It is also provided a body for transporting a load, the load being in the form of a piece of equipment or the like, especially in the form of a piece of equipment forming part of a processing plant, such as a plant or site for making manufactured articles for the building construction sector, characterised in that it comprises a base for supporting the load or piece of equipment, said base comprising means for engaging and moving the base itself.

That way, the base, in particular when it supports the load or piece of equipment, can be moved quickly and easily.

It is further provided a body for transporting a load, the load being in the form of a piece of equipment or the like, especially in the form of a piece of equipment forming part of a processing plant, such as a plant or site for making manufactured articles for the building construction sector, characterised in that it comprises means for covering the load or piece of equipment and which are designed to form a respective accommodation compartment or unit. That way, it is possible to provide accommodation units for a construction site and to reuse the covering means in a respective body for transporting loads or construction site equipment when site operations cease and the site is dismantled.

It is further provided a structure, in particular a structure which can be assembled and disassembled; the structure in particular being designed to form a logistics zone, particularly of a processing plant, such as a plant or site for making manufactured articles for the building construction sector; the structure comprising one or more accommodation units, having respective walls; being characterised in that the accommodation unit is formed by at least one part of a corresponding transportation body. That way, it is possible to provide a logistics zone using a minimum amount of material and able to be quickly dismantled without producing an excessive amount of waste.

The present invention also relates to a convoy or series of bodies, an accommodation unit, a supporting base and a piece of equipment as described in the respective claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

These and other advantageous features are clearly described in the claims below and are more apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred non-limiting example embodiments of the invention and in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a shed for accommodating the working equipment forming part of the plant;

- Figure 2 is a schematic top plan view of the shed of Figure 1, showing the interior of the shed containing the working equipment forming part of the processing plant;

- Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a structure forming the logistics zone of the plant or construction site;

- Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of an articulated lorry for 5 transporting a pair of bodies according to a preferred embodiment of the body according to this invention;

- Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view showing lifting means being unloaded;

- Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a body during unloading of0 the equipment used to make the load-bearing structures of the shed and/or the roof of the logistics zone;

- Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a situation where the box-shaped covering case of the body according to the invention is being removed from the supporting base under it; 5 - Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the positioning of a box-shaped covering case of the body according to the present piece of equipment in a logistics zone to form a respective construction;

- Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a step of using the above mentioned lifting and transportation equipment to pick up a supporting base o which has, attached to it, a piece of working equipment forming part of the plant;

- Figure 10 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a step of positioning a piece of equipment inside the shed of the plant using the lifting and movement means;

- Figure 11 is a schematic side view showing one side of the body5 according to the present container in an assembled condition;

- Figure 12 is a schematic side view showing the side of the body opposite that of Figure 11, in the preferred embodiment of the body according to the present invention, in an assembled condition;

- Figure 13 is a schematic front view of the preferred embodiment of the o body according to the present invention in an assembled condition;

- Figure 14 is a schematic rear view of the preferred embodiment of the body according to the invention in an assembled condition;

- Figure 15 is a schematic horizontal cross section of the preferred embodiment of the body according to the invention in an assembled condition;5 - Figure 16 is a schematic longitudinal cross section of the preferred embodiment of the body according to the invention in an assembled condition;

- Figure 17 is a schematic partial cutaway perspective view showing, in particular the metallic supporting framework of the body;

- Figure 18 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an intermediate step of constructing the structure forming the logistics zone of the plant;

- Figure 19 is a schematic perspective view showing another step of constructing the structure forming the logistics zone of the plant and illustrating in particular the structure that supports the roofing of the structure.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the plant or construction site, in particular for making manufactured articles for the building construction sector, is composed essentially of an operations zone C, or processing plant proper, which makes the building construction articles, in particular in the form of respective panels comprising a slab of lightening or insulating material, to which respective metal meshing is fixed, said panels being labelled AP in Figure 2 and are of a type well known in the trade and not described in detail so as to avoid making this description too lengthy.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the construction site or plant also comprises a logistics zone or structure, labelled L in its entirety, which is adapted to form respective housing or accommodation units to provide spaces intended principally for the use of personnel working in the main plant of Figure 1.

More specifically, as may be easily inferred from Figure 2, the processing plant comprises a first machine, labelled Al and A2, described in more detail below, designed to make a metal meshing by combining longitudinal wires or rods from a respective magazine A31, A32, with transversal wires or rods from the straightening machine A4, said meshing, labelled AR, then being temporarily stored downstream of said equipment.

This equipment also comprises means for making polystyrene blocks using the basic material A9 from a respective magazine, said material first going through respective means A8 for metering and mixing virgin polystyrene with similar recycled material, and then reaching means A7 for pre-foaming the polystyrene, and from there a machine A6 which forms compact blocks of expanded polystyrene. The polystyrene blocks, labelled AB ₅ are stacked downstream of the means A6 and are then delivered to an apparatus AlO which cuts them into suitably shaped slabs AL which are stacked downstream of the cutting apparatus or machine AlO itself.

The shaped slabs AL, like the metal meshing AR, are then transferred to a

5 panel making machine, or means, labelled All, which assembles the metal meshing with the respective polystyrene slabs, as will become clearer as this description continues. The panels AP are then transported by the forklift truck AO outside the shed or protective structure C. The forklift truck AO is also used to move the blocks AB, the shaped slabs AL and the meshing AR, and to perform0 other operations.

The plant also comprises a magazine A3' for feeding metal rods or wires, preferably to the straightening machine A4.

Other equipment forming part of the plant are: a mill, or means, Al 4 for grinding polystyrene scraps to be recycled, located in the line used for making the5 polystyrene blocks; an apparatus, or bench, A20 for making special panels; a machine, or means, Al 2, for making and bending the metal meshing into special shapes, in particular for making reinforcement meshing or specially shaped meshing used for making staircase panels.

The plant, or construction site, also comprises equipment housed in o respective bodies located outside the shed C. This external equipment includes a steam generating station Al 5, comprising a boiler and a steam accumulator. The steam is conveyed to means Al 6 which supplies compressed air for the operation of the working equipment forming part of the plant and which receives the water to be evaporated from a water tank Al 7. 5 Further, the plant is supplied with electrical energy by a power generator set

Al 8, accommodated in the respective container, the unit Al 8 being supplied with fuel by a tank Al 9 accommodated in the respective container.

Figure 4 shows an articulated lorry 2, which has on its load-carrying platform a pair of bodies 1, 1, constituting, in particular, respective containers for o transporting the load or equipment.

As may be easily inferred with reference also to Figures 5 to 7, the body 1, which is of the mobile or transferrable type, accommodates a respective load, for example in the form of metal rods A' used for constructing a respective shed C, or for constructing a roof 71 for a logistics zone, or in the form of a piece of working5 equipment, generically labelled A in the drawings, forming part of the plant. More specifically, as stated, the equipment or the like, is especially in the form of equipment used in or forming part of a processing plant such as a plant or site for manufacturing articles used in the building construction sector, and preferably a plant of the type outlined above. As shown in Figure 5, the body may also accommodate a piece of handling equipment, or forklift truck AO, of suitable size to fit in the body.

Advantageously, the body comprises a base 11 and means 21 for covering the base, to form a space for accommodating the load or equipment, the base and the covering means being connected to each other in such a way that they can engage and disengage, as may be clearly inferred from Figure 7.

More specifically, the body advantageously comprises covering means 21, or box-shaped covering case, which can be detached from the base 11 at the bottom of the body.

That way, the base, whether with or without a respective load or piece of equipment fixed to or supported by it, can be moved separately from the respective covering means, in particular in the form of a box-shaped case, leaving the latter free for other uses or purposes, such as, for example, to form an accommodation unit for a logistics zone of the construction site, as will become clearer as this description continues. Furthermore, separating the base, or floor, at the bottom of the body from the box-shaped covering case, at the top of it, advantageously reduces the total weight to be lifted at once and makes it easier to load and unload the body from the means used to transport it, even when the lifting gear available is limited in capcity. Also, according to another advantageous aspect, which may be easily inferred from Figure 9, a mobile base 11 is provided, in particular forming part of a respective transportation body, said base 11 supporting the load or piece of equipment A fixed to it.

Advantageously, the base 11 comprises means 311, 311 for engaging and moving the base 11. That way, the base 11, supporting the load or piece of equipment A fixed to it can be moved independently and separately from the box- shaped covering case 21.

Advantageously, the means 311, 311 for engaging and moving the base 11 are made directly on the base itself and are in the form of a first and a second elongate cavity provided in the base 11, said cavities, or holes, being adapted or of a size such as to receive the tines AOl ₃ AOl of a lift fork A02 mounted on the lift truck AO.

As illustrated, the forklift truck AO also has an extending arm A03, in particular of the telescopic type, pivoted to a supporting frame A04 mounting a driver's cab A05, and an engine not illustrated in the drawings, and is movable on wheels A06.

Advantageously, this lifting equipment or means AO ₅ has dimensions, in particular width and height, such that it can be easily accommodated inside a respective body, from which, as shown in Figure 6, it can be unloaded and, after the construction site has been dismantled and must be transferred to another location, subsequently reloaded.

As illustrated, the base 11 has a generally flat shape, delimited by corresponding longitudinal, or side edges, 11a, lib and transversal, leading and trailing end edges lie, 1 Id at right angles to each other. More specifically, the cavities 311, 311 for receiving the forks of the forklift truck are made in the supporting base 11 and extend transversally of the base 11, opening onto respective longitudinal, or side, edges 11a and lib of the base 11 itself. That way, advantageously, the base plate 11 can be lifted by either of the two opposite longitudinal sides. Furthermore, at the four corners of the base 11 there are means 41 for reversible connection to respective supporting means, that is to say, for attachment to matching protrusions 41' provided on the load carrying platform of an articulated lorry or other means of transport. Said attachment means provided on the base 11 are in the form of cavities open at the bottom and adapted to engage standard retaining protrusions 41 ' provided on the means of transport. The cavities 41 can be made in exactly the same way as the traditional cavities provided on prior art containers for attachment to the retaining protrusions 41' of standard type and will not therefore be described in detail.

Advantageously, the piece of equipment A is fixed or secured to the base 11 by resting it on the top surface 11' of the base, thanks to suitable fastening means, for example in the form of bolts inserted into holes, which may be provided in the feet of the equipment resting on the base or in brackets for retaining the equipment, and into matching holes made in the base 11. The slab, or base 11 also has an underside 11" which rests on the ground or on the load carrying platform 3 of the means of transport 2. That way, the equipment A can be quickly and easily unloaded from the means of transport and immediately and easily positioned at its required location in the processing plant C.

As illustrated, the base 11 is in the form of a generally flat, metal plate with a rectangular outer profile.

The present container also has covering means 21 which can be removed from the base 11 , or floor, under it.

Advantageously, the covering means 21 can be attached at the bottom to the supporting base 11. More specifically, as may be inferred also with reference to Figures 11 to

16, the covering means 21 are in the form of a hollow, open-bottomed parallelepiped shaped case comprising a plurality of lateral containment walls, consisting of longitudinal side walls 211, 212, a transversal leading-end or front wall 213 and a trailing-end or rear wall 214. The covering means 21 also comprise an upper covering wall 215. As illustrated, the upper covering wall extends horizontally and the lateral walls of the covering means extend vertically to form a hollow case of general prismatic shape.

Advantageously, the covering means, or unit, 21 are adapted to form an accommodation compartment for a logistics zone of a construction site or plant and, more specifically, are adapted to form a habitable compartment.

As may be inferred from Figure 8, to form the respective accommodation unit, the covering means 21 have a bottom end for resting on a corresponding fixed bottom surface, in particular of a separate supporting floor slab 51', preferably of concrete, which in turn rests on the ground. In practice, the covering means 21 have lateral walls 211, 212, 213, 214 whose respective bottom edges rest on the top surface of the floor slab 51'.

The covering means 21 are internally configured or fitted out to form a habitable compartment, that is to say, an office 21a, a bathroom 21b, a dormitory 21c, a kitchen 21d and a pantry 21e. m addition, there is a compartment 21f for accommodating a power generator set. Thus, all the essential facilities for a logistics zone of a plant or construction site, including the electricity supply, are guaranteed.

According to another aspect which will become clearer as this description continues, the covering means 21 are made in such a way as to, or are adapted to, support a structure for covering the logistics zone of a construction site, in particular in the form of a latticed structure with a protective tarpaulin over it, as clearly shown in Figures 18 and 19.

The covering means 21 also have at least one opening 217, 218 made in one of the lateral walls, in particular in a respective side wall 211. In practice, an opening 217 is provided which extends upwards from the bottom of the respective wall 211 to form a doorway wide enough to allow the passage of at least one person.

Also provided is an opening 218 extending upwards in an intermediate area of the respective wall 211 to form a window for the accommodation unit. The openings 217, 218 are provided with opening and closing means or panels 217', 218' constituting a door or a window sash.

Further, the covering means 21, as illustrated, have a rear opening P to allow the parts of the load through and closed by respective doors, labelled 214a, 214b. As may be inferred from Figure 17, the covering means 21 comprise a metal framework for mounting respective infill panels, preferably made from metal sheets.

More specifically, the mounting framework comprises pairs of uprights extending vertically and located at the longitudinal ends, or opposite longitudinal edges, of the covering means 21, said uprights being labelled 21'. The mounting framework also comprises corresponding crosspieces connecting respective pairs of uprights, the crosspieces being labelled 21", as well as corresponding longitudinal members 21"', connecting the top ends of the uprights 21' of respective pairs of uprights. The box-shaped covering case 21 also comprises infill panels, labelled 221, made from corrugated or ribbed metal sheets mounted on the mounting framework and forming the lateral and upper walls of the covering means.

In practice, there are a transversal leading end or front panel, and a pair of longitudinal or side panels, with a corresponding opening for a door and/or window provided in at least one of them.

As illustrated, the covering means 21 have engagement and movement means 51 for lifting means AO.

The engagement and movement means 51 on the covering means 21 are in the form of corresponding hooking means located at the corners of the covering means, in particular at the top ends of the respective uprights, and are in the form of respective cavities 51 having holes for receiving respective lifting hooks.

These means for engaging and lifting the covering means 21 may be made in exactly the same way as those used for lifting traditional containers and must be considered as substantially known to those familiar with the trade and will not 5 therefore be described in detail.

The covering means 21 can be rested on a top surface of the supporting base 11.

More specifically, a bottom edge of the perimeter walls of the covering means rests on a respective edge zone of the top surface 11' of the supporting baseo 11.

The supporting base 11 has respective lateral longitudinal edges 11a, lib, a transversal front edge l ie and a transversal rear edge 1 Id, the rear edge 1 Id being provided with engagement means 59 for the ends of the bolts 61' for closing the doors 214a, 214b. 5 Between the base 11 and the covering means 21, engageable/disengageable connecting means, not illustrated in detail, are advantageously provided. In one preferred embodiment, however, the means for the engageable/disengageable connection of the covering means 21 to the base 11 may comprise protruding means extending from a respective part, that is, from the base 11 or from the box- o shaped case 21 , of the body.

Said protruding means may, in particular, be in the form of movable means that can be retracted to a disengaged position and extended to an engaged position where they engage and retain the other part 21 or 11 of the body.

These engageable/disengageable connection means between the base 11 and5 the covering case 21 are, in particular suitable for applying a direct downward action on the covering means 21.

Advantageously, as stated, it is provided a body designed to accommodate handling means, in particular in the form of a forklift truck AO.

Further, as may be clearly inferred from Figure 2, a base 11 is provided 0 which supports means Al , A2 for making a metal mesh.

In practice, a respective base 11 is provided which supports a first part Al of the means for making a metal mesh, comprising means for welding the transversal wires or elements to the longitudinal elements, and which extends at the leading end and is transversal to a second part A2 of the means for making a5 metal mesh, comprising means for positioning the longitudinal wires, supported on a respective supporting base 11. More in detail, the means for making the metal mesh are in the form of means for straightening and aligning the longitudinal wires or rods and an automatic, microprocessor controlled welding unit. A flat mesh composed of pre-straightened wires or rods is thus obtained. 5 A base 11 is also provided which supports magazine means A31, A32 for feeding corresponding wires or rods for making a metal mesh, hi practice, a base 11 is provided which supports a first part A31 of the magazine means, for feeding corresponding wires or rods for making the longitudinal elements of a metal mesh. Another base 11 supports a second part A32 of the magazine means, for feeding o corresponding wires or rods for making the longitudinal elements of a metal mesh. hi practice, a complete magazine for feeding longitudinal wires is obtained, composed of a first part A31 for the outside wires or rods and a second part A32 for the inside wires or rods.

Also provided is a base 11 which supports straightening means A4 for wires5 or rods, designed to make the transversal elements of the metal mesh AR. The machine A4 is also designed to straighten and cut wires or rods, even of steel up to

4 mm in diameter, in such a way as to form the transversal wires or rods of the metal meshing.

A base 11 is also provided which supports a magazine A3' for feeding o corresponding metal rods or wires, preferably to the straightening machine A4.

Also provided is a base 11 which supports means A6 for forming blocks of insulating or lightening material AB. The automatic machine A6 for forming blocks of expanded polystyrene is equipped with a mechanical block transfer device. 5 Also provided is a base 11 which supports means A7 for expanding the polystyrene used to make the block of insulating or lightening material. In practice, the polystyrene pre-foamer A7 is designed to operate continuously and offers the possibility of performing a second step of expanding the polystyrene.

Further provided is a base 11 which supports means A8 for metering and0 mixing the polystyrene. This is a unit A8 for metering and mixing virgin and recycled polystyrene and comprises two silos coupled to each other. The metering and mixing means A8 receive the polystyrene from the silos A9 for curing the polystyrene.

Further provided is a base 11 which supports means AlO for cutting the5 block of insulating or lightening material to form shaped polystyrene slabs AL. This is an electronically controlled hot wire cutting apparatus AlO.

Further provided is a base 11 which supports means Al 1 for making a panel AP, preferably composed of a shaped polystyrene slab and respective metal meshing means, comprising, in particular, two electrically welded meshes placed at the opposite large faces of the respective shaped polystyrene slab. In practice, each base 11 supports a panel making apparatus Al 1 equipped with controlling microprocessor, said apparatus being adapted to automatically assemble and weld single or double panels.

Also provided is a base 11 which supports means Al 2 for cutting and bending a metal mesh, said means being in the form of an electrically-controlled machine Al 2 for cutting and bending the mesh used to make the flat and right- angled reinforcement meshing, as well as the reinforcement meshing for the staircase panels.

Further provided is a body comprising a base 11 which supports steam producing means Al 5 in the form of a steam generating station comprising a boiler and a steam accumulator.

Further provided is a body comprising a base 11 which supports means Al 6 for supplying compressed air to the plant, said means being in the form of a compressed air supply unit comprising two rotary compressors, an air storage tank and an air dryer.

Further provided is a body comprising a base 11 which supports means Al 7 for containing the water used to generate the steam, said means being hi the form of a tank.

Further provided is a body comprising a base 11 which supports means Al 8 for generating electrical energy for the plant, said means being in the form of a power generator set.

Further provided is a body comprising a base 11 which supports means Al 9 for containing the fuel used to feed the means for generating electrical energy, said means being hi the form of a tank. The body according to the invention also comprises covering means 21 designed to accommodate respective tanks for supplying the plant, in particular tanks for the compressed air, fuel and water to be used in the plant.

According to another advantageous aspect, as may be inferred from Figures

3, 18 and 19, the invention provides a structure of the type that can be assembled and dismantled and adapted to form a logistics zone of a processing plant, such as a plant or construction site for making manufactured articles for the building construction sector.

The structure, labelled L in its entirety, comprises one or more accommodation units or cells 21a, 21b, 21c, 2 Id, 2 Ie, where each accommodation unit is constituted by the structure 21 of a respective transportation body.

In practice, the accommodation unit is constituted by at least one part 21 of a transportation body, that is, by the covering means 21 of the body, said means forming a corresponding rigid box, or rigid box-shaped case made of a metal material. The rigid box, or box-shaped case 21, as described above, comprises a plurality of lateral walls, a covering wall, and is open at the bottom in such a way that the bottom edge of the lateral walls rests on a corresponding surface forming the bottom, or floor, of the accommodation unit.

In practice, this structure is adapted to form a logistics zone L, in particular for a plant or construction site C.

As illustrated, the structure is completed by a bottom floor flab 51' which the accommodation unit 21 is rested on and which is made preferably of concrete or other material, possibly with metal reinforcement meshing embedded in it, and which in turn rests on the ground. The floor slab 51', extending principally in two dimensions, is used to a form a floor or pedestrian surface on which the upper boxes or box-shaped cases 21 of the transportation body are rested.

The floor slab 51' may have any desired shape, or perimeter, but preferably is generally quadrangular in shape and of a size suitable for supporting the elevated part of the structure.

As illustrated, the accommodation unit or upper part of the body 21 has a short dimension, or short side, and a long dimension, or long side.

As illustrated, the structure comprises at least one longitudinal row of accommodation units and, in particular, comprises a first and a second longitudinal row 61, 62, which are parallel with each other and transversally spaced by a distance corresponding to the size of the accommodation unit 21.

More specifically, the longitudinal rows of accommodation units are transversally spaced from each other by a distance equal or substantially equal to the large dimension, or long side, of the accommodation unit, or box-shaped case of the body. The structure also comprises a transversal row 63 of accommodation units. As illustrated, the accommodation units as a whole are arranged in a U- shaped configuration. In effect, as illustrated, the longitudinal rows 61, 62 extend from the respective transversal row 63. More specifically, the row 61 of accommodation units comprises an end accommodation unit 21a, constituting an office, an accommodation unit 21b, constituting a toilet, and a series of accommodation units 21c constituting a dormitory.

More specifically, the row 62 of accommodation units comprises an end accommodation unit 2 If, constituting a room for accommodating a power generator set, an accommodation unit 21b, constituting a toilet, and a series of accommodation units 21c constituting a dormitory.

Further, the transversal row 63 of accommodation units comprises accommodation units 2 Id constituting a kitchen and an accommodation unit 21 e constituting a pantry.

As illustrated in Figure 18, in the respective row, and more specifically, in each longitudinal row 61, 62, the long side of each accommodation unit 21 extends transversally to the direction of extension or longitudinal direction of the row, while the short side of the accommodation unit 21 extends parallel to the direction of extension of the row or longitudinal direction.

In the same way, in the respective row, and more specifically, in the transversal row 63, the short side of each accommodation unit 21 extends perpendicularly to the direction of extension, in particular, perpendicularly to the transversal direction of extension of the row, while the long side, or long dimension, of the accommodation unit 21 extends parallel to said direction of extension of the transversal row.

Moreover, in each row 61, 62, 63, the accommodation units 21 are placed side by side, with the facing sides in contact, or substantial contact, with each other. In practice, as illustrated, hi each longitudinal row, the facing sides of the accommodation units are the respective long sides, while hi the transversal row, the facing sides of the accommodation units are the respective short sides.

Advantageously, the structure also has a roof or canopy 71, said roof 71 being rested on and supported by at least one accommodation unit 21 and being, more specifically, rested on a plurality of accommodation units 21 and only on these ones.

More specifically, the roof 71 rests on the top face or covering wall 215 of the accommodation units 21.

As shown clearly in Figure 19, the cover 71 comprises a metal supporting structure 711, composed of a plurality of parallel girders 712 in the form of latticed girders composed of metal elements connected by corresponding longitudinal members 713.

The roof 71 further comprises a plurality of transversal girders 712 which rest on respective accommodation units 21, in particular on the accommodation units of the longitudinal rows 61, 62, resting substantially along the full length of its long side.

The roof 71 further comprises a plurality of transversal girders 712 which extend beyond the edge of the respective accommodation units 21 to form a pedestrian area 714 covered by the same roof 71. As illustrated, the roof 71 extends across opposite longitudinal rows 61, 62 of the structure it rests on and it also rests on the whole transversal row 63 of the structure.

The roof 71 also comprises superposed covering means in the form of a tarpaulin 81 placed over the metal construction bearing the roof or canopy 71, said tarpaulin constituting advantageous shielding and protective means.

The tarpaulin 81 rests on the transversal girders and also extends downwards above the front and rear outer sides of the respective longitudinal end girders.

Thanks to the present body, therefore, it is possible to obtain a convoy or series of bodies for transporting loads or equipment forming part of a plant, in particular a building construction plant or site, said convoy comprising a plurality of accommodation bodies 21 of the same size. The convoy comprises a body for accommodating movement means, in particular in the form of a forklift truck AO, at least one body for accommodating metal profile sections used to make the structure of a work shed or building, and at least one body for accommodating metal profile sections used to make the structure of the roof of a logistics zone.

The convoy or series of bodies also comprises bodies of the type described above and, more specifically, for supporting and accommodating a first machine Al, A2 for making metal mesh, a magazine A31, A32, a straightening machine A4, and another magazine A3' for feeding metal wires or rods. The convoy or series of bodies also comprises bodies of the type described above for supporting and accommodating means A8 for metering and mixing the polystyrene, means A7 for pre-foaming the polystyrene, a machine A6 for forming compact blocks of expanded polystyrene, an apparatus AlO for cutting the polystyrene blocks and a machine Al 1 for making the panels.

The convoy or series of bodies also comprises bodies of the type described above for supporting and accommodating a mill Al 4 for grinding the polystyrene scraps, a bench A20 for making special panels and a machine A 12, for making and bending the metal meshing into special shapes. The convoy or series of bodies further comprises bodies of the type described above for supporting and accommodating means Al 6 for supplying compressed air for the operation of the working equipment forming part of the plant, a water tank Al 7, a power generator set Al 8 and a tank Al 9 for the fuel of the power generator set. As may be inferred from the drawings, the method for making a plant or construction site comprising an operations zone equipped with working equipment and a logistics zone provided with accommodation, in particular for personnel, is described briefly below.

In a first step, illustrated in Figure 5, the lifting equipment AO is unloaded from a respective body after it has been transported on a means of transport, as illustrated in Figure 4.

Next, a first and a second floor slab C and 51', preferably of concrete, are laid to provide a smooth, level floor for the work shed C and logistics zone L.

Then, as illustrated in Figure 6, the metal rods A' used for making the shed C of the operations zone or plant, and the roof 71 for the logistics zone L are unloaded.

Next, the shed C, composed of a metal supporting structure, is erected and covered by a protective tarpaulin similar to the tarpaulin used to cover the logistics zone. Advantageously, the shed is erected using the lifting equipment AO.

Next, as illustrated in Figure 7, the lifting equipment AO is used to lift the box-shaped case 21 of the body, disengaging or separating it from the base 11 and placing it, as illustrated in Figure 8, on the floor slab 51 ' for the logistics zone L.

As illustrated in Figure 9, the lifting equipment AO is used to lift the base 11, which supports a corresponding piece of equipment, disengaging it from the load-carrying platform 3 of the transport means 2, to transfer it into the shed C through a corresponding opening, which can be closed by a door Cl. That way, all the equipment and apparatuses forming part of the plant are placed at their working positions.

5 Next, the roof structure 71 is erected on the accommodation units 21, as illustrated in Figures 18 and 19.

Obviously, to dismantle the construction site and the logistics zone, the above procedure can be followed in the reverse order to that described above so that the means forming part of the construction site and the logistics zone can be i o transported and set up at another location.

As may be inferred, therefore, it is provided an advantageous method for setting up a building construction plant or site, in particular for making manufactured articles for the building construction sector, especially in the form of panels used in building construction such as panels comprising a block of 15 insulating or lightening material, preferably an expanded plastic material such as expanded polystyrene, and respective reinforcement mesh, the plant comprising an operations zone, equipped with working equipment, and a logistics zone provided with accommodation units, in particular for personnel.

Advantageously, according to the preferred method, the box-shaped case 21 20 of the body is separated from the base 11 and the base 11 of the body supporting a corresponding piece of working equipment A is positioned at a respective working location of the plant.

As may be inferred, the preferred method further comprises placing the cover 21 of the body on a respective floor slab 51' to form the logistics zone L of 25 the plant.

Advantageously, as may be inferred, the preferred method also comprises unloading a piece of lifting equipment AO from a respective body.

Furthermore, as may be inferred, the preferred method also comprises using the lifting equipment AO to lift the covering case 21 of the body by disengaging or 3 o separating it from the base 11.

Advantageously, as may be inferred, the preferred method further comprises separating the covering case 21 of the body from the base 11, while the base 11 of the body is still situated on the transport vehicle.

Furthermore, as may be inferred, the preferred method comprises erecting a 35 roof structure 71 of the logistics zone L on a respective box-shaped covering case 21.

As may be inferred, the preferred method further comprises, upon dismantling the construction site and/or the logistics zone, engaging the covering case 21 of the body with the base 11 of the body, the base 11 of the body 5 supporting a respective piece of working equipment A. More specifically, upon dismantling the construction site and/or the logistics zone, the base 11, which supports a respective piece of working equipment A is placed on the transport vehicle, and the covering case 21 is engaged with the base 11.

In practice, as may be inferred, the preferred method makes use of the0 advantageous body described in the foregoing and comprises erecting or using the advantageous structure described in the foregoing.

It is provided a body for transporting a load and comprising a base 11 for supporting and moving a piece of equipment and accommodation means 21 which can advantageously be separated &om the base. 5 That way, a plant or construction site can be set up quickly and easily.

In the same way, the plant or construction site can also be dismantled quickly and easily.

In practice, a mobile construction site is obtained which can be easily transported to a work location and which, when work has been completed, can o advantageously be dismantled and transferred to another work location.

In practice, it is provided an accommodation unit, in particular for a processing plant such as a plant or site for making manufactured articles for the building construction sector, said accommodation unit being constituted by at least one part of a transportation body and, more specifically, is constituted by covering5 means or a box-shaped containment case 21 as described in the foregoing.

Also provided is a piece of equipment for a plant, in particular a processing plant such as a plant or site for making manufactured articles for the building construction sector, said piece of equipment being fixed to a supporting base 11 which can be associated with a transportation body and which, more specifically,0 is designed to form a transportation body, said piece of equipment being, in particular made as described in the foregoing.

Also provided is a base for supporting a load or piece of equipment, which can be associated with a transportation body and which, more specifically, is designed to form a respective transportation body, said base being, in particular5 made as described in the foregoing. In practice, the present body comprises a base that can be separated from the cover and which is adapted to support a piece of equipment A comprising a framework for mounting operating or working means, said mounting framework being integral with the base 11. More specifically, as already mentioned, the operating means forming part of the equipment, are adapted to process metal reinforcement means, in particular a metallic mesh for producing a building construction.

Further, the operating means forming part of the equipment are adapted to make and/or shape a block of insulating or lightening material, especially expanded plastic material such as expanded polystyrene, for making a panel, in particular a panel for building construction.

Further, the operating means forming part of the equipment are adapted to process a panel comprising a block of insulating or lightening material, and reinforcement means, in particular for making a panel for use in building construction.

Advantageously, means are provided for fixing the frame of the equipment to the base of the body so that the equipment can be moved together with the base and separately from the box-shaped covering case.

In practice, the base 11 of the body constitutes the base on which the piece of equipment A is rested on the ground in working conditions in the context of a plant, hi particular a plant for the production of panels used to form the structure of a building construction.

The invention described above is susceptible of industrial application and may be modified and adapted in several ways without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all the details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.