WO2005078207A1

WO2005078207A1 - Building element

Info

Publication number: WO2005078207A1
Application number: PCT/SE2005/000119
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stig Olofsson
Original assignee: Concrete Volymes Sweden Ab
Priority date: 2004-02-11
Filing date: 2005-02-02
Publication date: 2005-08-25
Also published as: SE0400287D0; SE0400287L; SE526660C8; SE526660C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a building element comprising two or more wood blocks (2; 2a, 2b) joined to each other edge to edge, a joint (4) extending between each pair of adjacently arranged and mutually joined wood blocks (2). At the respective joint (4), the building element (1) comprises one or several joining members (5; 5'), which are arranged to prevent mutual shearing movements between the two wood blocks (2; 2a, 2b) bordering the joint and at the same time allow a mutual displacement of the end sections (6a, 6b) facing the joint of the two wood blocks (2; 2a, 2b) bordering the joint in the direction towards each other when the wood blocks are swelling and in the direction away from each other when the wood blocks are shrinking. The building element (1) further comprises at least two fixing members (9a, 9b) arranged to extend along the building element at opposite ends thereof, the wood blocks (2; 2a, 2b) in a respective point (10a, 10b) being fixed relative to each other by means of the respective fixing member (9a, 9b) so that a mutual displacement between the wood blocks of these points (10a, 10b) is essentially prevented.

Description

Building element

FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

The present invention relates to a building element according to the preamble of claim 1 . The inventive building element constitutes a self-supporting building element of wood and is particularly intended to be used for the building-up of interior walls, exterior walls or floor structures.

In the construction of for instance walls of wooden buildings, building elements consisting of massive wood blocks mutually joined edge to edge are often used. These wood blocks will swell when the moisture ratio in the wood material increases and they will shrink when the moisture ratio in the wood material decreases. Particularly when the building element is included in an exterior wall, this swelling and shrinking of the wood blocks can be of such an extent that undesired deformations ensue in the building element. If the building element is mounted with free ends, relatively large displacements of the free ends may for instance occur in connection with the swelling or shrinking of the wood blocks. One way of preventing such displacements of the ends of the building element is to secure the ends of the building element. This may however result in large internal stresses in the building element when the wood blocks in the building element are swelling or shrinking, which stresses may cause cracking and other undesired deformations in the building element.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to achieve a building element of the type mentioned by way of introduction, in which the above-mentioned problems in connection with the swelling and shrinking of the wood blocks included in the building element are eliminated or at least essentially reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, said object is achieved by means of a building element having the features defined in the characterizing part of claim 1 .

According to the invention, the building element comprises one or several joining members at the respective joint between the individual wood blocks, which joining members are arranged to prevent mutual shearing movements between the two wood blocks bordering the joint and at the same time allow a mutual displacement of the end sections facing the joint of the two wood blocks bordering the joint in the direction towards each other when the wood blocks are swelling and in the direction away from each other when the wood blocks are shrinking. The building element further comprises at least two fixing members arranged to extend along the building element at opposite ends thereof, the wood blocks included in the building element being in a respective point fixed relative to each other by means of the respective fixing member so that a mutual displacement between the wood blocks of these points is essentially prevented. By means of the joining members, shearing forces between the wood blocks can be absorbed in the joints between the wood blocks at the same time as the joining members allow the wood blocks' end sections facing the joint to be displaced relative to each other perpendicularly to the joints so that deformations of the individual wood blocks of the building element caused by varying moisture ratio in the wood material can be absorbed in the joints between the wood blocks instead of causing a dis- placement of the ends of the building element and/or causing internal stresses in the building element. With the inventive solution, the individual wood blocks of the building element are consequently allowed to swell and shrink without causing any internal stresses in the building element and without causing any appreciable displacement of the ends of the building element. By means of the fixing members, the building element is capable of absorbing traction and pressure, whereby the building element can function as a stabilizing and shape-stable building part.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the respective joining member has the shape of a plug, preferably of wood, and is received in two mutually aligned recesses in two wood blocks bordering a joint. The function of the joining members desired according to the invention is hereby obtained in a simple manner at the same time as the joining members are easy to produce and mount.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the building element comprises at at least one of the joints between the wood blocks, preferably at all these joints, a list, preferably of wood, which is arranged to extend along the joint on a first side of the building element so as to cover the joint on this first side of the building element. This list is anchored in at least two plug-shaped joining members of the joint by means of fastening members, preferably in the form of screws, which between the joint and the plug-shaped joining members extend in the gap between the two wood blocks bordering the joint. Owing to the fact that the list is anchored in two or more of the plug-shaped joining members by means of fastening members extending in the gap between the two wood blocks bordering the joint, mutual displacement movements are allowed between the list and the wood blocks connected to the list when the wood blocks are swelling and shrinking.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, an essentially air-tight sealing strap is arranged between said list and the wood blocks bordering the joint. Thereby, the joint is sealed so that air is prevented from passing through the building element via the joint, whereby the joint is made convection-tight.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the respective fixing member consists of a lath, preferably of wood, which extends along the building element, said two or more mutually joined wood blocks being in a respective point secured to this lath by means of fastening members, preferably in the form of screws of plugs. Hereby, the fixation of the wood blocks relative to each other required for the stability of the building element is achieved in a simple manner.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the lath is received in a slot that is arranged in the building element, preferably in an edge surface of the building element. In order to give the building element a stability as good as possible, the slot and the lath are suitably so dimensioned that the lath is re- ceived in the slot with a relatively close fit.

Other preferred embodiments of the inventive building element will appear from the dependent claims and the subsequent description.

BRI EF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will in the following be more closely described by means of embodiment examples, with reference to the appended drawings. It is shown in: ig 1 a partly cut lateral view of a building element according to an embodiment of the present invention, ig 2a a cut according to II-II in Fig 1 , illustrating a joint with a joining member according to a first variant, with the end sections of the wood blocks bordering the joint in a first mutual position,

Fig 2b a cut corresponding to the cut according to Fig 2a, illustrating the joint with the end sections of the wood blocks bordering the joint in a second mutual position,

Fig 3 a cut according to III-III in Fig 1 ,

Fig 4 a cut according to IV-IV in Fig 1 , and

Fig 5 a cut corresponding to the one according to Fig 2a through a building element according to an alterna- tive embodiment of the invention, illustrating joining members according to a second variant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Fig 1 illustrated a building element 1 according to the present invention as seen in a lateral view from one of the lateral surfaces of the building element. In this case, the building element comprises five wood blocks 2 joined to each other edge to edge, but the number of individual wood blocks may of course be larger as well as smaller than here illustrated. The individual wood blocks 2 are mutually jointed so as to form an essentially shape-stable building element. The respective wood block 2 can for instance consist of finger-jointed laminas of a desired sort of wood, such as for instance spruce wood or pine wood, which are glued together into a massive wood block. The wood blocks 2 have the fibre direction essentially perpendicular to the longitu- dinal direction of the building element, i.e. in the direction indicated with the arrow P1 . In case of a change of the moisture ratio in the wood block, the wood block will shrink or swell essentially across the fibre direction, i.e. in this case in the longi- tudinal direction of the building element. The longitudinal direction of the building element is indicated with the arrow P2.

A joint 4 extends between each pair of adjacently arranged and mutually joined wood blocks 2. These joints 4 are in Fig 1 indi- cated with broken lines. The respective joint extends essentially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the building element. At the respective joint 4, the building element 1 comprises one or several joining members 5, which are arranged to prevent mutual shearing movements between the two wood blocks 2 bordering the joint 4 and at the same time allow a mutual displacement of the end sections 6a, 6b facing the joint of the two wood blocks bordering the joint in the direction towards each other when the wood blocks are swelling and in the direction away from each other when the wood blocks are shrinking. The joining members 5 prevent the wood blocks from being displaced relative to each other in the longitudinal direction and cross-direction of the joints, i.e. in the directions indicated with the arrows P1 and P3, but allow the end sections 6a, 6b of the wood blocks to be displaced relative to each other in the longi- tudinal direction of the building element perpendicularly to the joints 4, i.e. in the directions indicated with the arrow P2.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs 1 -4, the respective joining member 5 has the shape of a plug, preferably of wood, which is arranged in two opposite edge surfaces 7a, 7b facing a joint 4 of the two wood blocks 2 bordering the joint. The plug 5 is received in two mutually aligned recesses 8a, 8b in the two wood blocks bordering the joint 4. The respective plug 5 is suitably cylindri- cally shaped with circular cylindrical cross-sectional shape, but could also have another cross-sectional shape if so desired. The recesses 8a, 8b have a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the plug 5, and the plug is suitably designed to be received in the recesses 8a, 8b with relatively close fit so that the plug in an efficient manner is able to prevent mutual shearing movements between the two wood blocks bordering the joint 4. The recesses 8a, 8b suitably have a joint length exceeding the length of the plug 5. At the respective joint 4, several plugs 5 are suitably arranged at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the joint, for instance four plugs as illustrated in Fig 1 .

The inventive building element 1 further comprises at least two fixing members 9a, 9b arranged to extend along the building element at opposite ends thereof. These fixing members 9a, 9b are indicated with broken lines in Fig 1 . The mutually joined wood blocks 2 of the building element are in a respective point 10a and 10b, respectively, fixed relative to each other by means of the respective fixing member 9a, 9b so that a mutual displacement between the wood blocks of these points are essentially prevented. Each wood block 2 is consequently fixed to one 9a of the fixing members at a first point 10a of the wood block and to the other fixing member 9b at a second point 10b of the wood block, said first and second points 10a, 10b being arranged at a distance from each other as seen in a direction in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the joints. Said first points 10a of the wood blocks are fixed relative to each other by means of the first fixing member 9a and said second points 10b of the wood blocks are fixed relative to each other by means of the second fixing member 9b. The first fixing member 9a consequently prevents the first points 10a of the wood blocks from being displaced relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the building element, and the second fixing member 9b prevents the second points 10b of the wood blocks from being displaced relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the building element. In the sections between the respective fixing point 10a, 10b and the adjacent joints 4, the wood blocks are free for displacement along the fixing members 9a, 9b so that the end sections 6a, 6b facing joints 4 of an individual wood block can be displaced relative to the fixing points 10a, 10b of the wood block in the longitudinal direction P2 of the building element when the building element is shrinking or swelling.

The respective fixing member 9a, 9b suitably consists of a lath, which extends along the building element 1 , the mutually joined wood blocks 2 being in a respective point 10a and 10b, respectively, fixed to this lath by means of fastening members 1 1 , preferably in the form of screws or plugs. The lath 9a, 9b is preferably of wood and has its fibre direction essentially in parallel with the longitudinal direction P2 of the building element. The respective lath 9a, 9b is received in a slot 13a, 13b, which is arranged in the building element, preferably in an edge sur- face 14a, 14b of the building element, as illustrated in Figs 3 and 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the building element comprises two fixing members 9a, 9b which extend along the respective one of two opposite edge surfaces 14a, 14b of the building element. Two building elements 1 could be joined to each other by means of an extra wide lath 9a, 9b received in two mutually aligned slots 1 3a, 13b of the two building elements.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs 1 -4, the building element 1 comprises at the respective joint 4 a first list 15a, which is ar- ranged to extend along the joint on a first side of the building element so as to cover the joint on this first side of the building element, and a second list 15b, which is arranged to extend along the joint on the opposite second side of the building element so as to cover the joint on this second side of the building element. The respective list 15a, 15b is suitably of wood and is anchored in at least two plug-shaped joining members 5 of the joint by means of fastening members 16, preferably in the form of screws, which between the list and the plug-shaped joining members extend in the gap between the two wood blocks 2 bordering the joint. An essentially air-tight sealing strap 17a, 17b is suitably arranged between the respective list 15a, 15b and the wood blocks bordering the joint 4. In the here illustrated embodiment, the two opposite lists 15a, 15b are anchored in common plug-shaped joining members 5 by means of common fastening members 16, which via the respective joining member 5 extend between the lists. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs 1 -4, one 15a of the lists is arranged on the outside of the wood blocks 2 and is consequently protruding from the lateral surface of the building element, whereas the other list 15b is arranged in recesses 18a, 18b in the wood blocks 2, which recesses extend along the respective joint. In this case, the second list 15b is consequently immersed in the lateral surface of the building element so that this lateral surface of the building element will be essentially flat.

Figs 2a and 2b each shows a cut according to II-II in Fig 1 , with end sections 6a, 6b of the two wood blocks 2 bordering the illustrated joint 4 shown in two different mutual positions. To be more precise, Fig 2b illustrates how said end sections 6a, 6b have been displaced in the direction away from each other from the position illustrated in Fig 2a when the wood blocks have been subjected to shrinking. It is realized that the gap between the wood blocks will increase when the wood blocks are shrinking and will decrease when the wood blocks are swelling.

An alternative design of a joining member 5' of a building element according to the present invention is illustrated in Fig 5. In this case, each joint 4 has a first joining member 5' arranged on a first side of the building element 1 and a second joining member 5' arranged on the opposite second side of the building ele- ment. The respective joining member 5' is here arranged to extend across the joint 4 and is fixed to one 2b of the wood blocks bordering the joint by means of suitable fastening members 19, for instance in the form of screws or plugs. The joining member 5' is secured to the other 2a of the wood blocks bordering the joint by means of at least one fastening member 20, preferably in the form of a screw, which is anchored in the second wood block 2a and which extends through a hole 21 in the joining member 5'. Said hole 21 has such an elongated cross-sectional shape that the joining member 5' and the fastening member 20 extending through the hole are mutually displaceable in such di- rections that a mutual displacement is allowed of the end section 6a, 6b facing the joint of the two wood blocks 2a, 2b bordering the joint in the direction towards each other when the wood blocks are swelling and in the direction away from each other when the wood blocks are shrinking, i.e. in the longitudinal direction P2 of the building element, at the same time as the joining member 5' and the fastening member 20 extending through the hole 21 are prevented from being displaced relative to each other in the longitudinal direction P1 of the joint. The respective joining member extends with advantage along the entire joint 4, and is suitably secured to the wood block 2a by means of several fastening members 20 and associated holes 21 arranged at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the joint. An essentially air-tight sealing strap 17a', 17b' is suitably arranged between the respective joining member 5' and the wood blocks 2a, 2b bordering the joint 4. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig 5, one of the joining members 5' is arranged on the outside of the wood blocks 2a, 2b and is consequently protruding from the lateral surface of the building element, whereas the other joining member 5' is arranged in re- cesses 18a', 18b' of the wood blocks 2a, 2b, which recesses are arranged along the respective joint. In this case, the second joining member is consequently immersed in the lateral surface of the building element so that this lateral surface of the building element will be essentially flat.

The inventive building element constitutes for instance a wall element for an interior wall or an exterior wall or a floor structure element.

The invention is of course not in any way limited to the preferred embodiments described above; on the contrary, several possi- bilities to modifications thereof will be apparent to a person skilled in the art without departing from the basic idea of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1 . A building element comprising two or more wood blocks (2; 2a, 2b) joined to each other edge to edge, a joint (4) extending between each pair of adjacently arranged and mutually joined wood blocks (2), characterized in that the building element (1 ) at the respective joint (4) comprises one or several joining members (5; 5') arranged to prevent mutual shearing movements between the two wood blocks (2; 2a, 2b) bordering the joint and at the same time allow a mutual displacement of the end sections (6a, 6b) facing the joint of the two wood blocks (2; 2a, 2b) bordering the joint in the direction towards each other when the wood blocks are swelling and in the direction away from each other when the wood blocks are shrinking, and that the building element (1 ) further comprises at least two fixing members (9a, 9b) arranged to extend along the building element at opposite ends thereof, said two or more mutually joined wood blocks (2; 2a, 2b) being in a respective point (10a, 10b) fixed relative to each other by means of the respective fixing member (9a, 9b) so that a mutual displacement between the wood blocks of these points (10a, 10b) is essentially prevented.

2. A building element according to claim 1 , characterized in that the respective joining member (5) has the shape of a plug, pref- erably of wood, and is received in two mutually aligned recesses (8a, 8b) in two wood blocks (2) bordering a joint (4).

3. A building element according to claim 2, characterized in that said recesses (8a, 8b) are arranged in two opposite edge sur- faces (7a, 7b) facing the joint (4) of the two wood blocks bordering the joint.

4. A building element according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the building element (1 ) at at least one of said joints (4) comprises a first list (15a), preferably of wood, which is arranged to extend along the joint (4) on a first side of the building element so as to cover the joint on this first side of the building element, this list (15a) being anchored in at least two plug- shaped joining members (5) of the joint by means of fastening members (16), preferably in the form of screws, which between the list and the plug-shaped joining members extend in the gap between the two wood blocks bordering the joint.

5. A building element according to claim 4, characterized in that an essentially air-tight sealing strap (17a) is arranged between the first list (15a) and the wood blocks bordering the joint.

6. A building element according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the building element (1 ) at the last-mentioned joint (4) comprises a second list (15b), preferably of wood, which is ar- ranged to extend along the joint on a second side of the building element so as to cover the joint on this second side of the building element, this second list (15b) being anchored in at least two plug-shaped joining members (5) of the joint by means of fastening members (16), preferably in the form of screws, which between the second list and the plug-shaped joining members extend in the gap between the two wood blocks bordering the joint.

7. A building element according to claim 6, characterized in that an essentially air-tight sealing strap (17b) is arranged between the second list (15b) and the two wood blocks bordering the joint.

8. A building element according to claim 1 , characterized in that the respective joining member (5') is arranged to extend across a joint (4) and is fixed to one (2b) of the wood blocks bordering the joint, the joining member being secured to the other (2a) of the wood blocks bordering the joint by means of at least one fastening member (20), preferably in the form of a screw, which is anchored in this other wood block (2a) and which extends through a hole (21 ) in the joining member (5'), said hole (21 ) having such an elongated cross-sectional shape that the joining member (5') and the fastening member (20) extending through the hole are mutually displaceable in such directions that a mutual displacement of the end sections (6a, 6b) facing the joint of the two wood blocks (2a, 2b) bordering the joint in the direction towards each other when the wood blocks are swelling and in the direction away from each other when the wood blocks are shrinking is allowed at the same time as the joining member (5') and the fastening member (20) extending through the hole are prevented from being displaced in relation to each other perpendicularly to these directions.

9. A building element according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective fixing member (9a, 9b) consists of a lath, preferably of wood, which extends along the building element (1 ), said two or more mutually joined wood blocks (2; 2a, 2b) being secured in a respective point (10a, 10b) to this lath (9a, 9b) by means of fastening members (1 1 ), preferably in the form of screws or plugs.

10. A building element according to claim 9, characterized in that the lath (9a, 9b) is received in a slot (13a, 13b) which is arranged in the building element, preferably in an edge surface (14a, 14b) of the building element.

1 1 . A building element according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the building element (1 ) comprises two fixing members (9a, 9b) extending along a respective one of two opposite edge surfaces (14a, 14b) of the building element.