EP1614629A1 - Method and device for the distribution and the storage of firewood - Google Patents

Abstract

The process involves providing a container (22) to contain wooden logs (37) and to selectively release the logs. A receiving chassis (1) containing the container is provided on a warehousing location. The container is filled with the logs in parallel stacks and transported to the location and introduced in the chassis. The logs are released and the container is removed from the chassis so that the logs remain stored in the chassis. An independent claim is also included for a device for implementing a process of distributing and warehousing firewood.

Description

The present invention relates to the distribution and storage of firewood in the form of logs.

In recent decades, household consumption has evolved in the direction of the removal of wood-burning central heating in homes, which causes too much stress, and simultaneous development of amenity chimneys as secondary heating.

At the same time, there is a development of professional structures using wood heating, such as pizzerias.

Pizzerias and fireplaces require firewood cut into logs of appropriate size, which must be stored near the place of use.

Traditionally, firewood has been cut into logs about 30 to 50 cm long, which must be transported to the storage area. In the storage area, the logs must be protected from moisture, stored to reduce volume and facilitate gripping and subsequent access.

Until now, the transport is done on a truck in a bucket where the logs are placed in bulk, covered with a net to prevent their movement and the risk of falling on the road.

The deliveryman dumps the pile of loose logs on the ground.

The logs must then be handled one by one to move them to a storage location where they must be stored in a regular pile, and the soil must be cleaned from the spill site to the storage site.

This results in relatively numerous manipulations, sources of waste of time and energy, which lead to a relatively expensive transport.

The problem proposed by the present invention is to design a new method of distributing firewood, and means for facilitating its transport and storage near the place of use.

The invention aims in particular to reduce the cost of production and distribution of firewood, maintaining cleanliness in the vicinity of the storage location, avoiding any degradation of the vicinity of the storage location.

The invention aims to provide a new source of income to the timber industry, by encouraging consumers to use the wood heating method thanks to its low distribution cost.

Also, the invention aims to avoid the risk of accidents, both during road transport by avoiding any risk of falling logs on the road, that when handling from the transport truck to the storage structure.

• a) prévoir un conteneur transportable, adapté pour contenir une quantité de bûches de bois ; et adapté pour libérer sélectivement les bûches,
• b) prévoir, sur le lieu d'entreposage, un châssis receveur conformé pour contenir le conteneur transportable,
• c) remplir le conteneur avec des bûches rangées horizontalement selon une ou plusieurs piles parallèles,
• d) transporter le conteneur plein de bûches jusqu'au lieu d'entreposage,
• e) introduire le conteneur plein de bûches dans le châssis receveur,
• f) libérer les bûches et retirer le conteneur hors du châssis receveur, en laissant ainsi les bûches rangées dans le châssis receveur.

To achieve these and other aims, the invention provides a method for the distribution and storage of firewood, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a transportable container adapted to hold a quantity of logs; and adapted to selectively release the logs,
• b) providing, at the storage site, a receiving frame shaped to contain the transportable container,
• c) fill the container with logs arranged horizontally along one or more parallel stacks,
• (d) transport the container full of logs to the place of storage,
• e) introduce the container full of logs into the receiving frame,
• f) release the logs and remove the container from the receiving frame, leaving the logs in the receiving frame.

Advantageously, during step d), the transport can be performed on a truck that includes several containers placed side by side.

According to a first embodiment, the container is a removable rigid structure, so as to be at least partially dismounted in step f) to remove the container while releasing the logs it contains so that they remain in the container. receiver frame.

According to a second embodiment, the container is a flexible peripheral envelope structure that can be cut or torn during step f) to remove the container while releasing the logs it contains so that they remain in the container. the receiver frame.

• le châssis receveur est généralement parallélépipédique, comportant une face antérieure et une face supérieure pouvant être entièrement ouvertes,
• on prévoit un conteneur, de taille légèrement inférieure à celle du châssis receveur pour être introduit dans le châssis receveur, conformé pour recevoir et transporter au moins une pile rangée de bûches de bois de chauffage, comportant des moyens d'accrochage pour être déplacé par un moyen de levage tel qu'une grue, et comportant des moyens pour libérer sélectivement les bûches en les laissant en place selon ladite au moins une pile rangée de bûches.

According to another aspect, the invention proposes a device for the implementation of the above method, comprising a receiving frame adapted to receive and hold logs stacked horizontally and stacked, and such that:

• the receiving frame is generally parallelepipedal, having an anterior face and an upper face that can be fully open,
• a container is provided, of a size slightly smaller than that of the receiving frame to be introduced into the receiving frame, shaped to receive and transport at least one row pile of firewood, having hooking means to be moved by a lifting means such as a crane, and having means for selectively releasing logs leaving them in place along said at least one row stack of logs.

Generally, the receiving frame will be limited by a large front face, a large rear face, two side faces, the upper face, and a lower face, delimited by four corner posts, two lower longitudinal members, and ante-posterior connecting ties .

In a first application, the receiving frame is a carriage provided with rolling means on the ground, its upper face being permanently open. This application is particularly suitable for professional structures such as pizzerias, but also for individuals who want to store wood inside a building such as a garage.

According to a second application, the receiving frame comprises means for anchoring to the ground, and then constitutes a fixed receiving frame structure, the anchoring means avoiding any risk of tipping under the effect of the load or external stress .

In the latter case, the upper face of the receiving frame can advantageously be closed by a retractable roof, for example by rotation along a rear horizontal axis. This creates an autonomous structure, which protects the logs against the weather.

The previous amounts can advantageously be connected by a removable upper spar. Removal of the upper spar facilitates insertion of the container into the receiving frame by movement from top to bottom and from front to back.

Preferably, the lower rails are fixed on the uprights in raised position relative to the ground, to protect the logs against soil moisture, and to facilitate the removal of the lower longitudinal members of the container after introduction into the receiving frame.

Depending on a particular application, the side faces may be closed, but at least one of the side faces may open to facilitate the removal of the lower container spars.

In its first embodiment, the container may be a removable rigid structure made from metal tubes arranged according to four corner posts, four longitudinal members and crosspieces; at least the lower rails are detachable amounts. In this way, when the container is introduced into the receiving frame and contains wood logs, it is possible to detach the lower longitudinal members of the container, they can be removed from below or from one side, and the remainder can be removed from above. container structure, leaving the logs in place in the receiving frame.

The upper longitudinal members of the container may be connected by at least two cross members provided with articulated hoisting rings as hooking means. This ensures a stable lifting of the container, facilitating its movement from the transport truck to the receiver frame structure.

Preferably, the amounts of the container are connected to the longitudinal members by rounded corner structures, avoiding damage to the receiving frame during handling of the container by a crane for its introduction into the receiving frame.

According to a particular application, the upper rails and the cross members of the container are also detachable amounts, allowing the disassembly of the container elements that can be easily removed separately from the receiving frame.

In its second embodiment, the container may be a flexible peripheral envelope structure having at least a portion that can be torn or cut to subsequently remove the container leaving the wood logs in the receiving frame.

In all embodiments, within the container and the receiving frame, the logs are preferably oriented in the anteroposterior direction. This facilitates the subsequent handling of the logs for their transport from the receiving frame to the home.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective d'un châssis receveur selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention, constituant une structure fixe ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective partielle de l'ossature du châssis receveur de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue partielle en perspective de la partie supérieure d'un châssis receveur de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective d'une structure de châssis receveur selon un second mode de réalisation de l'invention, constituant un chariot ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective d'une structure de conteneur selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 6 est une vue en perspective montrant le conteneur de la figure 5 introduit dans le châssis receveur de la figure 4 et portant des bûches de bois ;
• la figure 7 est une vue en perspective illustrant l'étape de retrait du conteneur hors du châssis receveur en laissant en place les bûches de bois ;
• la figure 8 illustre le transport des conteneurs sur un camion ; et
• la figure 9 illustre en perspective une structure de conteneur à enveloppe souple, selon un second mode de réalisation de l'invention.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of particular embodiments, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a receiving frame according to a first embodiment of the invention, constituting a fixed structure;
• Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of the frame of the receiving frame of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the upper part of a receiving frame of Figure 1;
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of a receiver frame structure according to a second embodiment of the invention, constituting a carriage;
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of a container structure according to a first embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the container of Figure 5 introduced into the receiving frame of Figure 4 and carrying logs of wood;
• Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating the step of removing the container from the receiving frame leaving the wood logs in place;
• Figure 8 illustrates the transport of containers on a truck; and
• Figure 9 illustrates in perspective a container structure with flexible envelope, according to a second embodiment of the invention.

We first consider a fixed receiver frame as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3.

In this embodiment, the receiving frame 1 is generally parallelepipedal, having an anterior face 2 and an upper face 3 which can both be fully open, but which can also, at least as regards the upper face 3, be selectively closed by a protective wall.

In practice, the receiving frame 1 is bounded by a large front face 2, a large rear face 4, two lateral faces 5 and 6, the upper face 3, and a lower face 7.

The carrying structure of the receiving frame 1 is formed of four corner posts, designated respectively by the reference numerals 8, 9, 10 and 11, two lower longitudinal members 12 and 13 (FIG. 2), and ante-posterior connecting ties such as the sleepers. 14, 15 and 16.

The upper face 3 of the receiving frame 1 is closed by a roof 17 retractable by rotation along a rear horizontal axis 18 (Figure 3).

As seen in Figure 2, the lower beams 12 and 13 are advantageously fixed on the corresponding uprights 8 and 9 in raised position relative to the ground. Logs are thus isolated from soil moisture and container removal is facilitated, as will be explained later.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the lateral faces 5 and 6 are closed by isolation walls, for example made of wood, at least one of the lateral faces, for example the lateral face 5 in FIG. open for example by rotation of posterior vertical axis.

Alternatively, the side faces 5 and 6 can remain open, the logs can be sufficiently held by the end posts such as the uprights 8 and 9.

In this embodiment of a receiving frame 1 intended to be fixed, ground anchoring means 21 are preferably provided, for example by the extension of the uprights 8 and 9 such as the extension 21 illustrated in FIG. avoid any risk of overturning the receiver frame structure 1.

The rear face 4 of the receiving frame 1 of this embodiment can advantageously be closed by an isolation wall, for example a wall made of horizontal planks as illustrated in FIG.

The anterior face 2 may also be partly obscured, as illustrated in FIG. 1, by boards such as the board 2a slid into lateral grooves such as the grooves 8a (FIG. 2) and 10a (FIG. 1) of the corresponding lateral uprights 8 and 10. This avoids any risk of overturning the intermediate logs of the stack of logs, and thus avoids some risk of accident to which are exposed children. The boards 2a can be removed as and when the consumption of logs.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the rear uprights such as the posterior upright 9 and the corresponding upright 11 (FIG. 1) are connected by the lower spar 13, by an upper spar 13a, and possibly by an intermediate spar 13b.

By cons, the previous amounts 8 and 10 are connected only by the lower spar 12, without intermediate spar. It is possible, if necessary, to provide a removable upper spar 12a, which must be removed when the container is inserted into the receiving frame 1.

We then consider the second embodiment of the receiver frame 1, as shown in Figure 4.

It is then a carriage, provided with rolling means on the ground such as the wheels 19, 19a, 20 and 20a. The upper face 3 of the carriage 1 is permanently open. The carriage structure is in fact made of tubular elements, forming two lower longitudinal members 12 and 13, four uprights 8, 9, 10 and 11 ending in free upper ends, and cross members such as cross members 14 and 15.

FIG. 5, which illustrates a possible container structure 22, according to a first embodiment.

The container 22 is a removable rigid structure made from metal tubes arranged according to four corner posts 23, 24, 25 and 26 respectively, four longitudinal members 27, 28, 29 and 30, and cross members 31, 32, 33 and 34 on the side faces. In addition, two upper crosspieces 35 and 36 are provided, provided with articulated hoisting rings 35a and 36a, respectively, which constitute hooking means.

The posts 23-26 are connected to the corresponding longitudinal members 27-30 by rounded corner structures as shown in the figure.

To selectively release the logs, the lower longitudinal members 27 and 28 are detachable uprights 23-26, providing for example that the longitudinal members 27 and 28 have curved ends in which the lower ends of the uprights 23-26 fit together, the joining being provided by keys 23a-26a and 27b, 28b engaged in corresponding holes of the ends of spars and uprights. By removing the keys 23a-26a, the lower beams 27 and 28 are released relative to the uprights 23-26. The lower rails 27 and 28, once released, can be removed from the front or the side. This is facilitated by the elevation of the lower beams 12 and 13 of the receiving frame 1 above the ground.

In practice, the first ends of the lower longitudinal members 27 and 28 can be bent at 90 °, as seen in the figures, while the second ends of the longitudinal members 27 and 28 receive corner pieces 27a and 28a reported, bent at 90.degree. °, which connect them to the other two uprights 25 and 26. The corner pieces 27a and 28a reported, after separation by removal of the keys 27b and 28b, to slide longitudinally the lower rails 27 and 28 without risk of snagging on the superimposed logs.

FIGS. 6 and 7, which illustrate the use of the container 22 vis-à-vis a carriage-type receiving frame 1 according to the embodiment of FIG.

The container 22 is filled with logs such as the log 37, arranged in a stack. It is moved by means of a hoist such as a crane, hooked by the two lifting rings 35a and 36a, to introduce it through the upper face 3 into the receiving frame 1, until it reaches the position of Figure 6 wherein the container 22 is fully inserted into the receiving frame 1. The front and rear ends of the lower logs 37 then rest on the longitudinal members 12 and 13 of the carriage 1. Then separates the lower beams 27 and 28 the container 22 vis-à-vis the uprights 23-26 of the container 22, and we can then remove the lower beams 27 and 28 by the space under the longitudinal members 12 and 13 of the receiving frame 1, and can withdraw the rest of the container structure by lifting upwards, the wood logs 37 remaining laid and stored on the receiving frame 1, as shown in Figure 7.

As seen in Figure 8, several containers such as containers 22, 22a and 22b can be transported on a same truck 38, on which they are arranged next to each other.

FIG. 9 illustrates a second embodiment of the container according to the invention, which is designated globally by the reference 122.

The container 122 is a flexible peripheral envelope structure 122a, made for example by a network of flexible links taking the general shape of a cylinder section. Alternatively, the flexible peripheral envelope 122a may be a flexible film, for example a heat-sealable plastic film. The upper part comprises crosspieces 35 and 36 provided with articulated lifting rings 35a and 36a which constitute attachment means.

The flexible peripheral envelope 122a is closed at the place of loading around the logs 37 rows.

To selectively release the logs 37, a part of the flexible peripheral envelope 122a is cut or torn, for example by means of a cutting tool. The envelope, once torn or cut, releases the logs 37 and can be removed from the front, side or top of the receiver frame 1.

At the place of production of the firewood, the trees are cut down, they are cut into logs and the logs are conditioned in containers such as the container 22 or the container 122.

For distribution, the containers 22 or 122 are then lifted by a lifting device such as a crane to place them on the truck 38. When the truck 38 is at the distribution place, a container 22 or 122 containing the containers is lifted. logs of wood using a hoist such as a crane, the crane can be provided on the truck 38 itself. The crane can move the container 22 or 122 away from the truck 38, for example in a range of about 6 meters, to introduce a container 22 or 122 into a receiving frame 1. The container structure is then removed leaving the logs in place in the receiver frame 1.

As will be appreciated, the handling of the wood from the firewood production site to the receiver frame structure 1 produces no degradation of the environment and no debris that would then need to be removed.

Handling with lifting equipment such as cranes avoids any risk of domestic accidents. On the truck 38, the container structures 22 or 122 ensure in themselves the maintenance of logs of wood, and avoid any risk of falling logs on the road.

The delivery of the wood at home can be done off property, thanks to the reach of a crane that allows to place the container 22 or 122 away from the truck 38. This avoids damaging the environment.

By lowering the cost of transportation and distribution, it becomes possible to distribute smaller amounts of wood, which avoids the large volumes of storage around the properties.

In practice, there may be several sizes of containers: containers of standard size, having about 1.80 m high by 1.90 m wide; smaller containers, 90 cm high by 1.90 m wide.

The size of these containers corresponds to a demand for regional distribution.

Containers 1.80 m high by 2.40 m long can also be provided, with containers that are reduced by half. Such a dimension of 2.40 m corresponds to the usual width of a truck, which makes it possible to optimize transport.

The half height containers can be positioned on the higher containers, in order to optimize the loads during transport. They are also suitable for low consumption uses, or for recharging a receiving frame whose consumption is not completed.

The receiving frames may have dimensions corresponding to those of the containers, while being slightly longer.

In embodiments of receiving chassis with closed vertical walls, one or more vertical walls may advantageously be perforated, to facilitate the ventilation and drying of the logs.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been explicitly described, but it includes the various variants and generalizations thereof within the scope of the claims below.

Claims (18)

Method for distributing and storing firewood, comprising the steps of: a) providing a transportable container (22, 122), adapted to hold a quantity of logs (37), and adapted to selectively release the logs, b) providing, at the storage site, a receiving frame (1) shaped to contain the transportable container (22, 122), c) filling the container (22, 122) with logs (37) arranged horizontally along one or more parallel stacks, d) transporting the container (22, 122) full of logs (37) to the storage location, e) introducing the container (22, 122) full of logs (37) into the receiving frame (1), f) releasing the logs and removing the container (22, 122) from the receiving frame (1), thus leaving the logs (37) stored in the receiving frame (1). A method according to claim 1, characterized in that , during step d), the transport is performed on a truck (38) which groups together several containers (22, 22a, 22b) placed side by side. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the container (22) is a removable rigid structure, so as to be at least partially dismounted during step f) to remove the container (22) while releasing the logs (37) that it contains so that they remain in the receiving frame (1). Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the container (122) is a flexible peripheral envelope structure (122a) which can be cut or torn during step f) to remove the contents ( 122) while releasing the logs (37) that it contains so that they remain in the receiving frame (1). Device for implementing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a receiving frame (1) adapted to receive and hold the logs (37) arranged horizontally and stacked, characterized in that : - The receiving frame (1) is generally parallelepipedic, having an anterior face (2) and an upper face (3) can be fully open, a container (22, 122), slightly smaller than that of the receiving frame (1), is provided to be introduced into the receiving frame (1), shaped to receive and transport at least one row pile of firewood logs; (37), having lifting rings (35a, 36a) for being moved by a lifting means such as a crane, and having means for selectively releasing the logs (37) by leaving them in place according to said at least one pile of logs. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the receiving frame (1) is bounded by a large front face (2), a large rear face (4), two side faces (5, 6), the upper face (3). , and a lower face (7), delimited by four corner posts (8-11), by two lower longitudinal members (12, 13), and by ante-posterior connecting rails (14-16). Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the receiving frame (1) is a carriage provided with rolling means on the ground (19, 19a, 20, 20a), its upper face (3) being permanently open. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the receiving frame (1) comprises ground anchoring means (21) constituting a fixed receiver frame structure. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the upper face (3) of the receiving frame (1) is closed by a roof (17) retractable by rotation along a rear horizontal axis (18). Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the front uprights (8, 10) are connected by a removable upper spar (12a). Device according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the lower longitudinal members (12, 13) are fixed on the uprights (8-11) in raised position relative to the ground. Device according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the side faces (5, 6) are closed, at least one of the side faces (5) being open. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 12, characterized in that : - The container (22) is a removable rigid structure made from metal tubes arranged according to four corner posts (23-26), four longitudinal members (27-30), and sleepers (31-34), - at least the lower longitudinal members (27, 28) are detachable from the uprights (23-26), so that when the container (22) is introduced into the receiving frame (1) and contains logs (37), the bottom longitudinal members (27, 28) can be detached from the container, can be removed from below or from one side, and the structural remainder of the container (22) can be removed from above, leaving the wood logs in place (37) in the receiver frame (1). Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the upper longitudinal members (29, 30) of the container (22) are connected by at least two crosspieces (35, 36), provided with articulated lifting rings (35a, 36a). Device according to one of claims 13 or 14, characterized in that the corner posts (23-26) of the container (22) are connected to the longitudinal members (27-30) of the container by rounded corner structures. Device according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the upper longitudinal members (29, 30) of the container and the crosspieces (31-36) of the container are also detachable from the uprights, allowing the dismantling of the container (22). in elements that can be easily removed separately from the receiving frame (1). Device according to any one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that , in the container (22) and in the receiving frame (1), the logs (37) are oriented in the anteroposterior direction. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 12, characterized in that the container (122) is a flexible peripheral envelope structure (122a) having at least one portion which can be torn or cut to subsequently remove the container (122). ) leaving the wood logs (37) in place in the receiving frame (1).

Images