EP0957324A1

EP0957324A1 - A module element for building up a self-supporting inner wall of a composite outer wall of a drying kiln for wooden material

Info

Publication number: EP0957324A1
Application number: EP99850080A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Heikki Partanen
Original assignee: WSAB Virkestorkar AB
Current assignee: WSAB Virkestorkar AB
Priority date: 1998-05-15
Filing date: 1999-05-11
Publication date: 1999-11-17
Also published as: NO992361L; FIU990142U0; FI4046U1; NO992361D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a module element (1) for building up a self-supporting inner wall of a composite outer wall of a drying kiln for wooden material. According to the invention the element (1) consists of a metal sheet having flanges (2) along two opposite edges of the sheet which flanges have the same width and are parallel to each other, the web (3) of the metal sheet element, i.e. the part of the metal sheet lying between the flanges (2), having least one part which is inclined in relation to a plane parallel to the edges containing the flanges (2) and perpendicular to the flanges (2)..

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is related to a module element for building up a self-supporting inner wall of a composite outer wall of a drying kiln for wooden material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The walls and also the roofs of drying kilns for wooden material, such as plank and boards, have conventionally been manufactured as concrete constructions, often being casted in situ, wherewith a surface of casted concrete is facing the inner space of the drying kiln. Isolating material is mounted on the outside of the concrete construction in accordance with conventional building technique.
Commonly used sandwich constructions has also to some degree been used for the walls of drying kilns.
Nowadays, the temperatures used in drying kilns for wooden material are very high and this has led to that the concrete constructions used has been subjected to temperature loads that these constructions, in spite of protection treatment of the concrete surfaces, .can not bear without problems. It has been found that cracks have been formed in the wall surfaces, through which moisture can infiltrate into the inner of the wall construction and damage for example the armoured concrete.
It is known to try to solve these problems by providing inner walls and roofs of metal construction, wherewith stainless steel or aluminium has been chosen as material for the inner walls, in order to be able to cope with the highly corrosive atmosphere inside the drying kiln. These walls have been constructed as sheets attached to a supporting frame. The costs for manufacturing such frames are high, for one reason due to the costs of a separate frame. As sheet material in such a frame usually a relatively thin plate is used, having a thickness of about 1 mm. Such a plate will hardly withstand the load from a tilted woodpile without damages on the wall.
The object of the present invention is to provide a self-supporting wall of a drying kiln for wooden material which is easy to build to a relatively low cost and that can withstand the load from a tilted woodpile without damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is obtained by a module element for building up a self-supporting inner wall of a composite outer wall of a drying kiln for wooden material, characterised in that the element consists of a metal sheet having flanges along two opposite edges of the sheet which flanges have the same width and are parallel to each other, the web of the metal sheet element, i.e. the part of the metal sheet lying between the flanges, having least one part which is inclined in relation to a plane parallel to the edges containing the flanges and perpendicular to the flanges. By the use of module elements for the drying kiln, the manufacture of the wall material is very cost effective, thereby bringing down the costs for a drying kiln. Furthermore, it is very easy to construct a self-supporting wall by fixing modules elements to each other and such a wall can be built very fast due tió the use of prefabricated module elements.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the web of the element includes at least one bending line which is parallel to the opposite edges containing the flanges the free edges of the flanges are located on the same side of the web whereby the element in section has a staple-like form. In a variant the web of the element has an arcuate form.
In a further embodiment, the free edges of the flanges are located on opposite sides of the web, whereby the element in section has a Z-like form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The present invention will now be described with reference to the enclosed Figures; of which,
Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of two module elements according to an embodiment of the invention being attached to each other, the upper part of one of the module elements being cut off, and
Fig. 2a-d shows sectional views of different embodiments of module elements according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The two module elements 1 shown in Figure 1 are manufactured from a relatively thick metal sheet, having a thickness of about 2-4 mm. The elements 1 are preferably made of stainless steel. The elements 1 are bent so that vertical attachment flanges 2 are formed in opposite edges of the two elements 1. These flanges are used for attaching adjacent elements 1 to each other when constructing a wall with the help of the module elements 1. The two flanges 2 on an element 1 are connected to each other by a web 3, the flanges 2 being integrated parts of the same sheet as the web 3. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 are the flanges 2 located on the same side of the web 3.
The elements 1 shown in Figure 1 has a staple-like form in a horizontal sectional view, as is evident from Figure 2a. The web 3 is bent along two vertical bending lines 3', 3" and is inclined towards a plane passing through the free ends of the flanges 2 in the respective parts between the outer vertical edges and the bending lines 3', 3". This construction gives the elements 1 a very high rigidity, whereby a wall made of a sheet having a sufficient thickness will have the ability to support the roof of the drying kiln and the drying apparatus usually located in the upper part of the drying kiln. Due to their rigidity such modular elements are very suitable for the construction of a roof for a drying kiln.
The flanges have preferably L-form in horizontal sectional views, thereby having intumed portions 2'. These intumed portions increase the rigidity of the flanges 2, two flanges attached to each other forming a T-beam. Furthermore do these portions facilitate attachment of the outer covering of the wall of the drying kiln as well as guiding elements for the stream of air that should be led into the drying space.
The module elements have preferably a height of about 6-9 meters, which in most of the cases is a sufficient height for the walls of a drying kiln. However, if a higher wall is required a U-beam 4 is attached to the upper edge of the module element 1, as is the case for the left of the elements 1 in Figure 1. This beam can be attached to the intumed portions 2' of the flanges for example by a weld and/or to the web can be attached to this beam by a weld seam. Such a U-beam is also preferably attached to the underside of each module element 1 and saddles a concrete beam in the foundation, as is indicated in Figure 1.
The embodiment described can of course be modified within the scope of the invention, as is evident from the enclosed Figures 2b-d. In Figure 2b, a web having only one bending line is shown and in Figure 2c, a web which in a horizontal sectional view has an arcuate form is shown. In Figure 2d is shown in a horizontal sectional view a modular element
having a different construction, in which the flanges are located on opposite sides of the web, thereby giving the element a Z-like sectional form The form shown in Figure 2d gives a high rigidity but also a versatility in use, such as a suitability as a partition wall.

Claims

A module element (1) for building up a self-supporting inner wall of a composite outer wall of a drying kiln for wooden material, characterised in that the element (1) consists of a metal sheet having flanges (2) along two opposite edges of the sheet which flanges have the same width and are parallel to each other, the web (3) of the metal sheet element, i.e. the part of the metal sheet lying between the flanges (2), having least one part which is inclined in relation to a plane parallel to the edges containing the flanges (2) and perpendicular to the flanges (2)..
The element according to Claim 1, characterised in that the web (3) of the element (1) has an arcuate form.
The element according to Claim 1, characterised in that the web (3) of the element (1) includes at least one bending line which is parallel to the opposite edges containing the flanges (2).
The element according to Claim 3, characterised in that the free edges of the flanges (2) are located on the same side of the web (3), whereby the element in section has a staple-like form.
The element according to Claim 3, characterised in that the free edges of the flanges are located on opposite sides of the web, whereby the element in section has a Z-like form.