U.S. patent application number 10/574757 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-14 for wood wall construction made of wooden beams.
This patent application is currently assigned to SFS Intec Holding AG. Invention is credited to Dominik Sieber.
Application Number | 20070130852 10/574757 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34530338 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070130852 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sieber; Dominik |
June 14, 2007 |
Wood wall construction made of wooden beams
Abstract
A wood wall construction made of wooden beams is provided
wherein the wooden beams (1) are superposed or possibly juxtaposed
and assembled by means of screws (2). The wooden beams (1) are
assembled to each other using the screws (2) provided at the end
sections thereof with threaded sections (3,4) that are inserted
without drilling from the top or bottom surface of the wooden beams
to assemble a mutual attachment area (5) of the two wooden beams.
The screws extend for only a part (A) of a height or thickness of
the beam (1) and are engaged only adjacent to the mutual attachment
area (5) in the two wooden beams.
Inventors: |
Sieber; Dominik; (Widnau,
CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VOLPE AND KOENIG, P.C.
UNITED PLAZA, SUITE 1600
30 SOUTH 17TH STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
|
Assignee: |
SFS Intec Holding AG
Nefenstrasse 30
Heerbrugg
CH
CH-9435
|
Family ID: |
34530338 |
Appl. No.: |
10/574757 |
Filed: |
December 6, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
December 6, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP04/53277 |
371 Date: |
April 5, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/233 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B 2/702 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/233 |
International
Class: |
E04B 1/10 20060101
E04B001/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 19, 2003 |
DE |
10359995.9 |
Claims
1. A wood wall construction made from wooden beams, comprising the
wooden beams are superposed or juxtaposed and assembled using
screws, which are screwed from an upper or a lower side of two
wooden beams into a mutual attachment area bridging the two wooden
beams and which extend only over a part of a height or thickness of
each of the wooden beams, the wooden beams (1) are connected to one
another by the screws (2) which are provided with threaded sections
(3, 4) at least at both end sections thereof, with the screws being
screwed-in without pre-drilling and which engage only immediately
adjacent to a mutual attachment area (5) of the two wooden beams
(1), with a length (C) of the screws (2) being smaller than a
height (B) of one of the wooden beams (1).
2. A wood wall construction according to claim 1, wherein the
screws (2) extend approximately equally far into the adjacent
contacting wooden beams (1) on both sides of the mutual attachment
area (5).
3. A wood wall construction according to claim 1, wherein at least
two screws (2) are screwed into the mutual attachment area (5) of
the two wooden beams (1) which are spaced apart from one another
and aligned generally parallel to one another.
4. A wood wall construction according to claim 1, wherein the
screws (2) are provided with a thread over an entire length of a
shaft thereof.
5. A wood wall construction according to claim 1, wherein the
screws (2) are provided with an interior tool grip (6) at one end
thereof, with a diameter of a section of the screws (2) surrounding
the interior tool grip (6) being approximately equal in size or
slightly larger than an outside diameter of the thread.
6. A wood wall construction according to claim 1, wherein the
screws (2) are located at edge regions of a strip-shaped sealing
material arranged or inserted between the wooden beams (1) in the
mutual attachment area (5).
7. A wood wall construction according to claim 1, wherein the
screws (2) are screwed-in perpendicularly in reference to a
longitudinal extension of the wooden beams (1).
8. A wood wall construction according to claim 1, wherein the
screws (2) are screwed-in at an acute angle in reference to a
longitudinal extension of the wooden beams (1).
9. A wood wall construction according to claim 1, wherein the
screws (2) are screwed-in both perpendicular as well as at an acute
angle in reference to a longitudinal extension of the wooden beams
(1).
10. A wood wall construction according to claim 9, wherein the
screws are screwed in subsequently alternating positions.
11. A wood wall construction according to claim 1, wherein the
screws (2) are each screwed-in in pairs that cross one another at
an acute angle in reference to one another and perpendicular to a
longitudinal extension of the wooden beams (1).
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The invention relates to a wood wall construction made of
wooden beams, wherein said wooden beams are superposed and possibly
juxtaposed and assembled with screws, which are screwed into the
mutual attachment area of two wooden beams in a bridging manner
from the top or the bottom of the two wooden beams and which extend
only over a part of the height or the thickness of each wooden
beam.
[0002] When building such a wood wall construction made from wooden
beams, the wooden beams stacked on top of one another are connected
to each other, with the problem of course being the fact that the
screws do not ensure a positive durable connection due to the
volume changes caused by shrinkage and swelling. The publication of
the utility patent DE 299 20 853 U1, from which a wood wall
construction of the type mentioned at the outset is known, provides
for the elimination of the above-mentioned problem in that each
screw is provided with a spring below the head, which is to create
a permanent pressure by the thread of the screw being screwed-in
and counter sunken and thus provides for an absolute firmness of
the wall made from beams. At least due to this spring, each screw
hole must be pre-drilled for accepting said spring in this known
wood wall construction.
[0003] Another known embodiment (EP-0787866B1) provides for machine
screws to be inserted into pre-drilled holes adjusted to a stack of
wooden beams each, with the screws being in a positive connection
to one another by the head of the screws being provided with
threaded holes, into which the end of the shaft of the subsequent
screw, provided with a thread, can be screwed-in. In this manner, a
type of a continuous fastening rod is formed, with the head of each
individual screw being supported at the upper side of a wooden beam
respectively.
[0004] From DE 198 28 275 A1 a wooden beam for building wooden
houses is known. When two such wooden beams are positioned on top
of one another and connected by screws, a hole is predrilled for
each screw, which extends entirely through the upper beam in the
form of a penetrating hole so that the thread of the screw engages
the lower beam only.
[0005] A carrier made from wood is known from DE 100 13 810 A1,
having sections subject to lateral stress. Such sections
particularly act in the area of cut-outs or penetrations of the
carrier. In order to compensate the lateral stress, rod-shaped
elements are provided which are formed by screws, which are
inserted, and extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction
of the carrier. These screws are screwed-in from the top or from
the bottom of the carrier and each run over a part of the height of
the carrier only and thus they are immediately allocated to the
lateral tension of the loaded zone. This state of prior art is
therefore relevant for a single wooden beam only, however not with
regard to its connection to other wooden beams.
[0006] From the publication of the German utility patent DE 93 07
029 U1 it is known to connect exterior wall beams by way of
cross-nailing.
SUMMARY
[0007] The present invention is to attain the objective of
providing a wood wall construction with the use of screws, which
can be produced fast and simple and in which an optimum assembly of
the wooden beams stacked on top of one another can occur.
[0008] According to the invention this is achieved in that the
wooden beams are connected to one another by screws provided with
threaded sections at least at their two end sections, which are
screwed-in without pre-drilling and which extend only over a part
of the height or the thickness of the wooden beam and therefore
only engage the immediate attachment area of the two wooden beams,
with the length of the screws being provided shorter than the
height of the wooden beam.
[0009] According to the invention, the screws engage only the
immediate attachment areas of the two wooden beams and are
screwed-in without pre-drilling. Much shorter screws are necessary
only, which can also be counter sunken particularly deep. Due to
the considerably shorter screws to be inserted a particular saving
in material and expenses can be achieved. Additionally, by the
considerably shorter shaft having a thread, the screwing-in torque
can be considerably reduced in reference to a long screw. Due to
the considerably shorter dimensions of the screws inserted
according to the invention a much faster and shorter assembly time
is achieved as well. The production of a wood wall construction is
therefore considerably easier and faster by the measures according
to the invention. In particular, it is ensured in this manner that
the connection maintains its effectiveness even during the changes
in volume occurring due to shrinkage and swelling of the wood parts
to be attached. The connection remains stiff even after repeated
shrinkages and swellings of the wooden beam.
[0010] In this context it is advantageous for the screws to extend
approximately to the same extent into the wooden beams contacting
one another at both sides of the mutual contact area. Therefore,
sufficient mutual fastening of two wooden beams positioned on top
of one another is ensured at all times. The screws are anchored in
the same manner in both wooden beams.
[0011] The easiest way of a mutual connection of wooden beams
comprises that two screws each are screwed into two wooden beams,
with the screws being aligned approximately parallel to one another
and spaced apart from each other.
[0012] A construction variant provides for the screws to be
provided with threads over the entire length of its shaft. This can
be advantageous for production-technological reasons. The transfer
of tensile forces can be improved by a longer engagement of the
threads as well.
[0013] Further, it is provided that the screws are provided with an
interior tool grip at one end, with the diameter of the section of
the screws surrounding said interior tool grip being approximately
equal in size or only slightly larger than the outside diameter of
the thread. This way it has been possible without any particular
increase of the screwing-in torque to insert the screws without any
pre-drilling into a hole to such a depth, that the screws engage
only the immediate mutual contacting area of the two wooden
beams.
[0014] The type of mutual connection of wooden beams according to
the invention for building a wood wall construction additionally
allows the simple sealing of the mutual attachment area between two
wooden beams. For this reason it is also provided that the screws
are inserted between sealing material strips arranged or inserted
between the edge regions of the mutual contact areas of the wooden
beams.
[0015] One embodiment provides that the screws are screwed-in
perpendicularly to the longitudinal extension of the wooden beams.
This also defines the shortest screwing-in length.
[0016] Another possibility is provided when the screws are
screwed-in at an acute angle in reference to the longitudinal
extension of the wooden beams. This way, even higher tensile or
pressure forces can be compensated at the mutual attachment. The
shearing forces to be compensated, i.e. the forces acting in the
horizontal direction, can be sized considerably higher.
[0017] In this context it can be advantageous for the screws to be
screwed-in both perpendicular as well as at an acute angle in
reference to the longitudinal extension of the wooden beams,
perhaps subsequently alternating. Thus, depending on the required
compensation of forces an optimum solution can be chosen.
[0018] Here, an additional possibility is provided in the screws
each being screwed-in in pairs, crossing one another at an acute
angle in reference to the longitudinal extension of the wooden beam
or perpendicular thereto. Here, it is certainly possible that the
screws that are screwed-in crossing one another are positioned at
an acute angle in reference to the vertical central plane of the
vertical planes of the wall construction made from wooden
beams.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] In the following, exemplary embodiments according to the
invention are explained in greater detail using the drawing. Shown
are:
[0020] FIG. 1 through FIG. 3 Vertical cross-sections through wooden
beams stacked on top of one another having various cross-sectional
forms, which are attached to one another via screws;
[0021] FIG. 4 through FIG. 6 Side views of a wood wall construction
formed by wooden beams, in which the screws are screwed-in by
different manners.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] In the wood wall construction made from wooden beams shown,
wooden beams 1 are stacked on top of one another and the subsequent
following wooden beams 1 are connected to one another by screws 2.
Here, the wooden beams 1 are connected to one another by screws 2
provided at least at their end regions with threaded sections 3 and
4. These screws 2 are screwed in from the top or the bottom side of
the wooden beam 1, without pre-drilling, bridging the mutual
attachment area of two wooden beams 1, and extend over a part A of
the height or thickness B of the wooden beam 1. Therefore, the
screws 2 are only allocated to the immediate mutual attachment area
5 of two wooden beams 1.
[0023] The screws are screwed-in without any pre-drilling, so that
a considerable shortening of the assembly time results. The screws
2 can be provided with a threaded section 3 and 4 in the area of
their two ends only. However, it is also possible to provide a
continuous thread over the entire length of the shaft. Within the
scope of the invention, various thread forms, various thread leads,
and various ratios between the diameter of the root of the thread
and the outside thread diameter are possible. The construction and
function of the drilling and/or insertion tip to be provided at one
free end can be carried out in different manners. The form of a
screw head is variable, too, however, it must be provided such that
it can easily be mounted within the wooden beam into a deeply
counter sunk position. It is also possible that two threaded
sections are provided with different thread leads. Although the
screwing-in torque is considerably increased thereby when screwing
into the first wooden beam 1, during the engagement of the screw 2
into the two stacked wooden beams 1 this allows the beams to be
pulled against each other, in order to increase the mutual
pressure. Of course, a surface coating of the screws used here is
also advantageous. In particular, a coating is suitable, which
lowers the screwing torque of the screws 2. Such coating can be
applied in addition to corrosion protective coating or the
corrosion protective coating can simultaneously cause an effect
reducing the installation torque.
[0024] The screws 2 extend almost equally far into the mutually
contacting wooden beams 1 on both sides of the mutual attachment
area 5. The length C of the screws 2 is provided smaller than the
height B of the wooden beams 1.
[0025] In the mutual attachment area 5 of two wooden beams 1, two
or more than two screws 2 are each screwed-in spaced apart from one
another, and aligned almost parallel to one another.
[0026] Here, there is the possibility to perpendicularly screw-in
the screws 2 in reference to the longitudinal extension of the
wooden beams 1 or at an acute angel in reference to the
longitudinal extension of the wooden beams 1 (see FIGS. 5 and 6).
Depending on the requirements of the mutual extension of the wooden
beams 1, the most beneficial type of connection can be selected.
Therefore, it is also possible to screw-in the screws 2 either
perpendicular or at an acute angle in reference to the longitudinal
extension of the wooden beams 1, perhaps subsequently alternating.
Further, a variant provides for the screws 2 to be screwed-in in
pairs with each being at an acute angle in reference to the
longitudinal extension of the wooden beams 1.
[0027] The screws 2 are provided with an interior tool grip 6 at
one of their ends, with the diameter of the section of the screws 2
surrounding the interior tool grip 6 being provided with an
approximately equal or slightly larger size than an outside
diameter of the thread.
[0028] The screws 2 can be screwed-in with a screw driver bit, with
its shaft adjacent to the engaging section for contacting the screw
2 or a virtual cylindrical shell of the shaft having a diameter
equal or slightly smaller than the diameter of the section of the
screw 2 surrounding the interior tool grip 6. Further, this shaft
has a length for covering the distance of the height B of the
wooden beam 1 from the interior tool grip 6 of the screw 2 to the
upper or lower limit and further to the screw insert. This way, an
orderly drive of the screws to a final position can be achieved,
without any additional torque enhancement being caused by the
screwing tool.
[0029] When strip-shaped sealing material 7 is used, the screws 2
are arranged between the edge regions of the mutual attachment
areas 5 of the sealing material 7 inserted between the wooden beams
1.
[0030] The cross-sectional shape of the wooden beams during the use
of the measures according to the invention can be designed in
multiple ways. For example, wood wall constructions can also be
made from wood beams in the shapes naturally formed. Wooden beams 1
sawed into different cross-sectional shapes can also be used with
or without mutual tongue-and groove formations.
[0031] In FIG. 1, three bores 8 are discernible, which have been
made by screwing-in the screws 2. Similar bores 8 are discernible
in FIGS. 2 and 3. According to the representation in FIGS. 2 and 3,
the bores 8 would appear to be arranged over top of one another;
however, the bores 8 of one beam are actually offset in reference
to the bores 8 of the subsequent beam by a certain distance, as
discernible from FIGS. 4-6.
* * * * *