EP2498962A1

EP2498962A1 - Method for treating cut tree trunks by means of soaking fibers with a treatment solution, and facility for treating cut tree trunks

Info

Publication number: EP2498962A1
Application number: EP10787508A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alex DEGALE
Original assignee: Anor Distribution - Pierre Lodigeois Consultant Ste
Current assignee: Anor Distribution - Pierre Lodigeois Consultant Ste
Priority date: 2009-11-13
Filing date: 2010-11-04
Publication date: 2012-09-19
Also published as: FR2952574B1; FR2952574A1; WO2011058240A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for treating cut tree trunks by means of soaking fibers with a suitable treatment solution (1), wherein said solution is longitudinally injected, under pressure, into said trunk (Tr) from one (41) of the front ends (41, 42) thereof. According to the invention: the treatment solution (1) is injected in the direction of the sap flow; the effluents (2), such as the sap, which are pressed out of the trunk (Tr) during the injection of said treatment solution are recovered; and said effluents are recirculated by means of the addition of at least one treatment material (3, 31) such as to obtain a treatment solution for soak-treating a trunk during a new injection phase.

Description

PROCESS FOR TREATMENT OF CUTTING SHAFT TRONCS BY FIBER IMPREGNATION THROUGH TREATMENT SOLUTION AND INSTALLATION FOR TREATMENT OF CUTTING TREE TRONCS

The invention relates to a method for the treatment of cut tree trunks, impregnation of the fibers of a treatment solution, and to an installation for the treatment of cut tree trunks.

In the field of wood, it is known to treat the freshly cut logs by impregnating a specific treatment solution, to protect the wood against mold, insects or all kinds of parasites.

To do this, a first impregnation method consists in essentially immersing the trunks in the treatment solution. This method over time has the disadvantage of requiring large pools, containing said treatment solution, and make the impregnation treatment relatively long. In addition, the wood of the trunks is not treated at heart, which can cause in time a longitudinal burst of the wood starting precisely from the heart.

In order to remedy these drawbacks, another impregnation method, taught in document FR-2,767,739, essentially consists of impregnating the ridge from one of its front ends, under pressure.

To do this, it is particularly known from FR-2,767,739 injection means of the treatment solution, consisting of a deformable bell, adapted to cap one of the front ends of the trunk to be treated. Once secured in a sealed manner at this front end, the volume defined between the inner face of the bell, which is brought the treatment solution, and said end of the trunk associated with said bell constitutes a compression chamber.

During the treatment, the solution is thus conveyed under pressure into said compression chamber which causes the migration of the solution from the said end of the trunk, longitudinally to the trunk, following the direction of the veins of the wood. The migration of the solution displaces the sap that the trunk contains by gradually replacing it with the treatment solution. Such a method thus makes it possible to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks, but nevertheless generates a large volume of effluents; the sap expelled from the trunk.

The purpose of the present invention therefore aims to overcome the disadvantages known from the prior art by providing a method for the treatment of cut tree trunks that do not generate or little effluent.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plant for treating cut tree trunks remedying the aforementioned drawbacks.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given for information only and which is not intended to limit it.

The invention relates to a method for the treatment of cut tree trunks, by impregnation of the fibers of a suitable treatment solution, in which said solution is injected, under pressure, longitudinally to said trunk from one of its ends. front.

According to the invention:

the treatment solution is injected in the direction of the sap flow,

the effluents, such as sap, are recovered and expressed by the trunk during the injection of said treatment solution and

said effluent is recycled by adding at least one treatment product in order to obtain a treatment solution intended for impregnation treatment of a trunk during a new injection phase.

According to optional features, taken alone or in combination:

a volume of treatment solution that is greater than the volume of said effluents expressed by the trunk is injected into the trunk, the effluents are completed with said treatment product but also with water, in order to obtain said treatment solution.

The invention also relates to an installation for the treatment of cut tree trunks, by impregnating the fibers of a treatment solution, comprising means for injecting the pressurized solution, longitudinally to said trunk from one of the its front ends.

According to the invention, the plant has means for recycling the effluents expressed by the trunk during the injection of said treatment solution as a component of said treatment solution intended for a new injection phase.

According to optional features, taken alone or in combination:

said means for recycling the effluents as a component of the treatment solution comprise means for collecting said effluents and means for raising said effluents to a storage tank for said effluents, at least one tank for a treatment product, means for for the preparation of the treatment solution by mixing at least said effluents and said treatment product, comprising a tank for said treatment solution;

a pneumatic pressurizing device is associated with said tank for the treatment solution, said tank thus constituting a pressurizing flask;

the tank for the treatment solution is equipped with a bubbler;

a weighing device is associated with said tank for the treatment solution;

- The injection means of the pressure solution is constituted by a bell, adapted to cover one of the front ends of the trunk, provided on its inner diameter of a pneumatic O-ring;

said effluent recycling means, such as component of the treatment solution further comprises a vessel intended for water, fed in particular by the network water and / or by a wellbore.

The invention finds a particular application, but not limited to the treatment in the mass of logs of beech or other species.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description accompanied by the single appended figure which schematically illustrates an installation according to the invention according to one embodiment.

The invention relates to a method for treating cut tree trunks by impregnating the fibers of a suitable treatment solution 1.

According to the method, said solution is injected, under pressure, longitudinally to said trunk Tr from one of its 41 end ends 41, 42.

This process allows the treatment by axial impregnation of European hardwoods, mainly beech, treated in the mass of wood. The process can however be applied to other wood species.

The impregnation is preferably carried out on freshly cut logs by injecting the solution under pressure from one of the ends and applied in the direction of the flow of sap. The sap contained in the vessels of the trunk is expressed and gradually replaced by the treatment solution adapted to the essence of the log, the treatment solution pushing the sap outside the ridge. The process thus generates a large quantity of effluents (the sap) which will, according to the invention, be recovered and will be used for the preparation of a treatment solution intended for a new injection phase.

Also, according to the invention:

the treatment solution 1 is injected in the direction of the flow of sap,

the effluents 2, such as sap, are recovered, expressed by the trunk during injection of said treatment solution and,

- Recycle said effluent by the addition of at least one treatment product 3, 31 to obtain a treatment solution for impregnating treatment of a trunk during a new injection phase.

Advantageously, according to one embodiment, a volume of treatment solution greater than the volume of said effluents expressed by the trunk is injected into the trunk. This difference in volume may result in the addition of a small amount of liquid, from time to time, in the mass of the wood but above all, it ensures that the process does not cause effluents not to cause of waste.

Optionally, in addition to said treatment process, the effluents 2 are supplemented with water 32 in order to obtain the treatment solution 1.

The invention also relates to an installation 5 for the treatment of cut tree trunks, by impregnating the fibers of a treatment solution 1, comprising means 6, 7 for injecting the solution under pressure longitudinally to said trunk Tr from of one 41 of its front ends 41, 42.

According to the invention, the plant has means for recycling the effluents 2 expressed by the trunk Tr during the injection of said treatment solution as a component of said treatment solution intended for a new injection phase.

An embodiment of the installation 5 is illustrated, by way of example, in FIG.

In this embodiment, the effluent recycling means comprise:

means for collecting said effluents and means for raising said effluents to a storage tank for said effluents,

at least one tank 11, 12 for a treatment product 3, 31,

means 14, 131, 132 for the preparation of the solution treatment 2 by mixing at least said effluents 2 and said treatment product 3, 31, said means comprising a tank 14 for said treatment solution.

More particularly, with reference to the nonlimiting embodiment of FIG. 1, the effluents 2 pushed by the treatment solution during the injection drop and flow by gravity along the inclined plane 81, to a pool 82 provided with means 8 for collecting said effluents. In this basin 82 are provided the lifting means, in the form of a submerged pump 9, whose startup is conditioned by a level sensor 92, such as for example of the float type.

When the level of the effluents in the basin 22 reaches or exceeds a threshold value, the sensor controls the pump running, which then conveys the effluents to the storage tank 10. When the effluent level is below a minimum value, the level sensor 92 controls the pump 9 at a standstill.

The treatment solution is carried out, as a priority, from the effluents 2 contained in the tank 10, if necessary, when the volume of said effluents 2 is insufficient thanks to the water 32 contained in a tank 15. This water 32 can come from mains water or even a well.

A plurality of ducts respectively join each of the tanks 10, 11, 12, 15, respectively containing one of the components of the solution and the tank 14 for the treatment solution 1, each of the pipes being provided with a solenoid valve 132, controlled allowing the closing or opening of the pipe, and a pump 131.

A weighing device 16 is associated with the tank

14 for the treatment solution 1. In this case, the dosage of each of the components of the solution 1 is carried out one after the other.

For example, to prepare a treatment solution, the tank 14 is first filled with the effluents 2 from the tank 10. When the weight increase of the tank 14 targeted by the weighing device 16 corresponds to the desired volume of the tanks. effluents 2 in the solution of treatment, the pump 131 and the solenoid valve 132 on the pipe 20 effluents are respectively stopped and closed.

We can then fill the tank 14 with a treatment product 11 or 12, adapted to the essence of the log to be treated. Similarly, when the increase of the weight of the tank 14 targeted by the weighing device 16 corresponds to the volume of the treatment product 11 or 12 desired, the pump 131 and the solenoid valve 132 on the pipe 21 or 22 of the treatment product 11 or 12 are respectively stopped and closed.

Once the various components of the solution present in the tank 14, a bubbler 17 can be started to proceed to stir the components of the solution (effluent 2, treatment product (s) 11 and / or 12, or water 32). This bubbler 17 may in particular be supplied with air by means of an associated pneumatic device 13, designed to pressurize the tank 14.

This vessel 14 for the treatment solution accumulates, thus according to this example, a reactor function for the preparation of said treatment solution, but also a pressure vessel function. The pneumatic device 13 thus makes it possible to raise the pressure inside the tank 14 to a level at least equal to the pressure necessary to inject the solution longitudinally to the trunk Tr.

The injection means may be constituted by a bell 6, adapted to cap one of the front ends 41, 42 of said trunk, provided on its inner diameter with a pneumatic O-ring 7. This bell is intended to cap one of the ends 41 of the trunk, the seal being achieved through said O-ring 7 by pressurizing it. This bell 6 defines a compression chamber between the front end of the trunk 41 and the inner wall of the bell. A flexible hose 46 conveys the treatment solution from the tank 14 into the compression chamber of the bell 6.

Naturally, other embodiments could have been envisaged by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the claims below.

Claims

1. A method for the treatment of cut tree trunks, by impregnating the fibers of a suitable treatment solution (1), in which said solution is injected, under pressure, longitudinally to said trunk (Tr) from one of (41) of its front ends (41, 42) characterized in that:

the solution is injected in the direction of the flow of sap,

the effluents (2), such as sap, are recovered as expressed by the trunk (Tr) during the injection of said treatment solution and,

- Recycle said effluent by adding at least one treatment product (3, 31) to obtain a treatment solution for impregnating treatment of a trunk during a new injection phase.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein is injected into the trunk a volume of treatment solution greater than the volume of said effluent expressed by the trunk.

The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein, in addition to said at least one treatment product, the effluents (2) are supplemented with water (32) to obtain said treatment solution.

4. Installation (5) for the treatment of cut tree trunks, by impregnating the fibers of a treatment solution (1), comprising means for injecting (6, 7) the pressurized solution, longitudinally to said trunk (Tr) from one (41) of its front ends (41, 42), characterized in that the plant has means for recycling the effluents (2) expressed by the trunk (Tr) during the injecting said treatment solution as a component of said treatment solution intended for a new injection phase.

The plant of claim 4, wherein said effluent recycling means as a component of said treatment solution comprises:

means for collecting (8) said effluents and means for raising (9) said effluents to a storage tank (10) for said effluents (2), at least one tank (11, 12) for a treatment product

(3; 31),

means (14, 31, 132) for the preparation of the treatment solution (2) by mixing at least said effluents (2) and said treatment product (3, 31), comprising a tank (14) for said solution treatment.

6. Installation according to claim 5, having a pneumatic device (13) pressurizing the vessel (14) for said treatment solution, said vessel (14) thus forming a pressurizing flask.

7. Installation according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the tank (14) for treatment solution is equipped with a bubbler (17).

8. Installation according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein a weighing device (16) is associated with said vessel (14) for the treatment solution.

9. Installation according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the injection means are constituted by a bell (6), adapted to cap one of the front ends (41, 42) of the trunk (Tr), provided on its inner diameter of a seal (7) ring, pneumatic.

The plant according to claim 5, wherein said effluent recycling means as a component of said treatment solution further comprises a vessel (15) for water fed by the mains water and / or by a well.

11. Use of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or the installation according to any one of claims 4 to 10 for the treatment in the mass of beech logs, or other gasoline.