GB2521763A

GB2521763A - Movable workshop

Info

Publication number: GB2521763A
Application number: GB1422532.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steven John Barrett
Original assignee: XPRESS REFINISH SOLUTIONS Ltd
Current assignee: XPRESS REFINISH SOLUTIONS Ltd
Priority date: 2013-12-20
Filing date: 2014-12-17
Publication date: 2015-07-01
Also published as: GB201322780D0

Abstract

The movable workshop 1 comprises a four-sided metal framework having cladding on three sides, a door 5 in the fourth side, a roof 36, and lifting points 42 at or adjacent at least the four corners, the lifting points having jackable wheels 41 for raising and lowering the workshop. The framework may have a seal 44 beneath it for preventing the ingress of water, an internal floor, external ramps and a removable brace between opposite sides at ground level. The workshop may have a vehicle lift with a tray beneath it, and studwork and cupboards along one longer side and one shorter side. The studwork may comprise an extractor, a spray booth and/or a compressor. The workshop may have a gantry suspended from the roof with a panel for heating repainted vehicles and at least one outer security door 6. The jackable wheels may be located inside the workshop walls.

Description

MOVABLE WORKSHOP

The present invention relates to a movable workshop.

Workshop space in a car dealership for instance is at a premium. Where routine maintenance work keeps the main workshop fufly occupied, there may he little space for tess specialist, cheaper work such as cleathng and minor bodywork repairs. Often this type of work is carried out in the open air in a portion of a forecourt. Temporary buildings such as tents are used. There is a need for an improved temporary workshop.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved temporary workshop.

According to the invention there is provided a movable workshop adapted to he set-up on level ground. the workshop comprising: * a four-sided metal framework, having four sides and an end one of the sides having a doorway aperture; * cladding on three of the four sides; * a door in the doorway aperture in the fourth side; * aroolover the framework; and * lifting points spaced at or adjacent at least the four corners of the framework, the lifting points having: jackable wheds enabling the workshop to be jacked up for movement and lowered for use.

Conveniently we can include: * a seal beneath bottom members of the sides of the framework br seahng the sides against groundievel ingress ol water to the workshop.

lii a preferred embodiment, we provide an internal Iloor, at ground level, between the bottom members of the sides. Externally of the door, one or more ramps to floor level can he provided. The floor can have a vehicle hft arranged inwards of the door for lifting a car to be worked on in the workshop off the floor. The vehicle lift is provided with a tray beneath it covering the ground which would otherwise be exposed when the vehicle lift is raised.

Originally we envisaged alternatives such as demountable jacks being provided for lifting the workshop in conjunction with wheels to he positioned beneath the framework, we prefelTed to provide jockey-wheel type lifting devices incorporating both a lifting function and a wheeled movement function for attachment to the lifting points. We now prefer to provide jockey wheels accommodated within the sides.

For moving the workshop, originally we preferred to provide a removable hrace between opposite sides of the framework at ground level. However its function is performed by the floor where provided.

Whilst we can envisage the framework heing pinned together on assembly. we prefer to bolt (he framework together.

Preferably, we provide cupboards along one longer side and one shorter end of the inside of (he workshop, studwork for the cupboards preferably being incorporated into the sides prior to their assembly.

To suit the movable workshop to automotive paint-work, part of the space within the studwork at the end of the framework opposite from the doorway can he occupied by an extractor and part of the space in the studwork along the long side can be occupied by a small spray booth. Accommodation for a compressor, with an external door can be provided at the corner intersection of the side and end studwork.

A gantry can be suspended from the roof, with a panel for heating repainted parts of a vehicle.

To help understanding of the invention, two specific cmhodimcnts thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from one side and one end of a movable workshop of the invention; Figure 2 is a similar perspective view from the one side and the other end of the Figure 3 is an end view of the one end of the workshop of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective of die frame work of the workshop of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a plan view taken on the line V-V in Figure 6 of a second movable Figure 6 is an inside side view on the line VT-VT in Figure 5, showing the workshop raised on its wheels for movement; and Figure 7 is an inside end view on the line Vu-Vu in Figure 5.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, a movable workshop I is set-up on a level forecourt 2. It has a doorway 3 arranged slightly off centre in a short side 4. The door way has an inner pair of double fold doors 5 with glazing and a pair of outer, security doors 6 covering the entire side 4 when closed. Two long sides 7.8 extend back from the corners 9,10 to which the outer doors are hinged. A fourth short side II extends between the long sides opposite from the doorway side.

The sides comprise box-section fl-ames 40, 70, 80, 110. Each has a top member 21, a bottom member 22 and at least one upright member 23 distinct from the corner members 24.

These latter are of a length to extend from the top of the top members and the bottom of the bottom members, with a pair of upper and lower sockets 25 set at right angles to each other and of a size to receive the ends of the top and bottom members. With bolts 26 passing through the projections and the received ends of the top and bottom members, the corners unify their two side and the four corners unify the entire cuboid framework.

A further frame ill is attached beyond the frame 110 in like manner. This frame provides the outer short side 11.

Inside the side frame 70, a secondary frame 71 is connected in like manner. Thus both one long side 7 and the short side 11 have inner frames or studwork, which can be fitted out with cupboards 31. The bottom members at these sides are provided with nogs 32 to which spacers 33 are secured for supporting cupboard bottoms (not shown as such). At frame top level transverse members 34 are provided between the frames 70 & 71 and on to the opposite side frame 80.

For supporting a roof, upper triangular members 35 are provided ahove the end top members to give the roof 36 a fall. Non-shown purlins are provided to support panels 37 making up the roof The sides 7,8 and 11 are clad, whereby the movable workshop is weather tight, with the additional provision of the roof and doors.

For it to he movable, the framework is provided with four jockey wheel jacks 41 per side, secured to four of the uprights 23,24, via jacking points 42. With all the jockey wheels lowered and load beanng. the workshop can bc manhandled into position. The secondary frame 71 stiffens the side 7 for manoeuvring. The opposite side 8 can be connected to the side 7 at the level of the bottom members by a removable brace 43 for holding side 8 flat during manoeuvring. An elastomeric seal 44 is provided under the bottom members 22 and the bottom sockets 25. When the framework is lowered the seal seals it with respect to the ground, making the workshop weather tight at ground level.

The cupboards can be fitted out for automotive paint work for instance. In this case the long side 7 can include paint stores, a paint mixing space and a wheel spray booth. The cupboards in the end side can house more fitted equipment. such as an extractor. A compressor can he housed in the corner where the cuphoarded sides meet. This corner space can be accessed by an external door 45. Lighting -not shown -can be provided from roof level.

Optional features br the workshop are insu'ation inside the cladding and a floor that can be lifted for movement of the workshop and re-laid.

RefelTing on to Figures 5 to 7, the workshop 101 there shown has jockey wheel type jacks 141 arranged in its corners 151 within removable covers 152. The wheels can he lowered for lifting and manoeuvring the workshop and retracted once the workshop is positioned as required.

The workshop is provided with a floor 153 supported on members fast with bottom members of the sides of the workshop, whereby the floor is lifted with the workshop for its positioning. Centrally of the floor a vehicle lift 154 is provided. It as a tray 155 beneath it covering the ground which would otherwise be exposed when the lift is raised and closing the lift opening in thc floor against draughts.

Beneath a ceiling 156 above the floor, a gantry 157 is provided with a flexible ant 158 supporting a healing panel 159 for healing, for paint curing, redecorated parts of a vehicle being worked on.

In a long side of the workshop remote from the vehicle doors 105 is provided an emergency exit 160. In the opposite corner, a small cubicle 161 is provided with a viewing window 162 into the body of the workshop. Thc cubiclc allows a customer to view his car being worked on. It has an external door 163 adjacent the vehicle doors and an internal door 164 into the body of the workshop.

A small spray booth 165 is provided adjoining the spray booth with air conditioning equipment 166 provided above. Compressor equipment 167 is provided adjacent the booth and air exlraclion equipment 168 is provided at the end of the booth. The cubicle, spray booth and mentioned equipment are all housed within studwork and the framework of the outer walls.

A roller shutter 169 is provided to close outside the vehicle doors and a ramp 170 is provided to enable a vehicle to be driven in the workshop.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A movable workshop adapted to be set-up on level ground. the workshop comprising: * a four-sided metal framework, having four sides and an end one of the sides having a doorway aperture; * cladding on three of the four sides; * a door in the doorway aperture in the fourth side; * a roof over the framework; and * lifting points spaced at or adjacent at least (he four corners of (he framework, the lifting points having: * jackable wheels enabling the workshop to he jacked up for movement and lowered for use.
2. A movable workshop as claimed in claim 1, including a seal beneath bottom members of the sides of the framework for sealing the sides against ground-level ingress of water to the workshop and a removable brace between opposite sides of the framework at ground level.
3. A movable workshop as claimed in claim I, including an internal floor, at ground level, between the bottom members of the sides.
4. A movable workshop as claimed in claim 3, including one of more ramps to floor level externally of the door.
5. A movable workshop as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4. including a vehicle lift ammged inwards of the door for lifting a car to be worked on in the workshop off the floor.
6. A movable workshop as claimed in claim 5. wherein the vehicle lift is provided with a tray beneath it covering the ground which would otherwise he exposed when the vehicle Uft is raised.
7. A movable workshop as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the jackable wheels are accommodated inside the sides.
8. A movable workshop as claimed in any preceding claim, induding studwork and cupboards along one longer side and one shorter end of the inside of the workshop.
9. A movable workshop as claimed in any preceding claim. induding in the studwork an extractor, and/or a spray booth and/or a compressor.
10. A movable workshop as claimed in any preceding claim, including a gantry suspended from the roof, with a panel for heating repainted parts of a vehicle.
11. A movable workshop as claimed in any piceding claim, wherein the doors comprise at least one primary door and at least one outer security arranged to close outside thc primary doors when closed.
12. A movable workshop substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 and Figures 5 to7 of the accompanying drawings.