Apparatus and method for producing wall elements and building walls

Abstract

Apparatus (400) for producing a wall (200) or roof, the wall (200) or roof being produced as an aggregate of a plurality of elongated wall elements (100), the apparatus (400) comprising a wall element holding device (410), arranged to receive and hold a next wall element (210) oriented, in an initial orientation, so that its longitudinal direction (L) is horizontal, the wall element holding device (410) being pivotable so as to pivot the next wall element (210) to a raised orientation in which the longitudinal direction (L) of the next wall element (210) is instead vertical and the next wall element (210) is parallel to and abuts an adjacent wall element (220) to which the next wall element (210) is to be joined; and a wall element fastening device (420), arranged to fasten the raised next wall element (210) to the adjacent wall element (220).

Description

[0001] Apparatus and method for producing wall elements and building walls

[0002] The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for producing a building wall for a building, the building wall comprising several joined-together such wall elements.

[0003] Described is also an apparatus and a method for producing wall elements for buildings, in particular wooden wall elements being constructed from wooden panel elements and sheet material together forming an elongated box-shaped structure. SE17508904A discloses a modular building system comprising wall elements with an elongated outer support part in an exterior wall part, an elongated inner support part in an interior wall part and a distance part arranged between the support parts and providing a hollow internal space between the support parts for insulation. This type of wall elements, and other wall elements of this general type, can be manufactured from wooden material, and provides an efficient and flexible way to plan and construct a building using such building walls.

[0004] The present invention provides an efficient and reliable way to produce such wall elements and building walls comprising several such wall elements.

[0005] The present invention allows for a fully or partly automatic production of wall elements and walls. Hence, described herein is an apparatus for producing an elongated wall element, the wall element being associated with a longitudinal direction, a width direction and a depth direction, the apparatus for producing a wall element comprising at least two beam holding fingers, each arranged to hold a first beam and a second beam in a mounting orientation of the first beam in relation to the second beam, so that the first beam in the mounting orientation extends in parallel to the second beam along the longitudinal direction, and so that the first beam and the second bean are oriented in the mounting orientation to constitute an exterior and an interior wall part of the wall element, respectively; a first end shoulder, arranged to hold a first longitudinal end of the first beam and a first longitudinal end of the second beam when the first beam and the second beam are oriented in the mounting orientation; and a second end shoulder, arranged to hold a second longitudinal end of the first beam and a second longitudinal end of the second beam when the first beam and the second beam are oriented in the mounting orientation. Each of the first end shoulder and the second end shoulder comprises a beam holding means arranged to engage with and fix a longitudinal end of the first beam in relation to a corresponding longitudinal end of the second beam; each of the holding fingers comprises, in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction when the holding fingers engage with the first and / or second beam, a first vertical edge arranged to abut against an outside surface of the first beam so as to prevent the first beam to bend outwards in the depth direction, and a second vertical edge, facing the first vertical edge and arranged to abut against an outside surface of the second beam so as to prevent the second beam to bend outwards in the depth direction; each of the holding fingers comprises, in said cross-section, a first socket, partly de- fined by the first vertical edge and arranged to receive the first beam and to prevent the first beam to bend inwards in the depth direction, and a second socket, partly defined by the second vertical edge and arranged to receive the second beam and to prevent the second beam to bend inwards in the depth direction; each of the holding fingers comprises, in said cross-section, a lower shoulder edge, arranged to protrude upwards between the first beam and the second beam when the first beam and the second beam are in the mounting orientation; the apparatus for producing a wall element is arranged to, in a first stage, receive the first beam and the second beam into the mounting orientation, the first beam being received in the first socket of each holding finger, the second beam being received in the sec- ond socket of each holding finger and the lower shoulder edge of each holding finger protruding between the first beam and the second beam, so that a first piece of sheet material can be fastened from above to a respective longitudinal edge of the first beam and the second beam, to thereby interconnect the first beam and the second beam; and the apparatus for producing a wall element is arranged to, in a second stage, receive the interconnected first beam and second beam with the first piece of sheet material down- wards, the first piece of sheet material abutting against the lower shoulder edge of each holding finger, so that a second piece of sheet material can be fastened from above to a respective longitudinal edge of the first beam and the second beam, and to thereby interconnect the first beam and the second beam and to, in said cross-section, define a space by the first beam, the second beam, the first piece of sheet material and the second piece of sheet material.

[0006] In some embodiments, the apparatus for producing a wall element comprises at least three holding fingers, aligned with each other along the longitudinal direction when the holding fingers engage with the first and / or second beam.

[0007] In some embodiments, the second end shoulder is movable in the longitudinal direction when the holding fingers engage with the first and / or second beam.

[0008] In some embodiments, the apparatus for producing a wall element is arranged to clamp the first beam and the second beam in the mounting orientation using a longitudinal clamping force applied by pressing the second end shoulder towards the first end shoulder.

[0009] In some embodiments, the holding fingers are vertically movable. In some embodiments, the holding fingers are arranged vertically higher in the second phase as compared to in the first phase.

[0010] In some embodiments, for each holding finger, the lower shoulder edge is arranged vertically lower than a respective highest point of the first vertical edge and the second vertical edge. In some embodiments, the apparatus for producing a wall element further comprises a horizontal first sled, movable in the longitudinal direction when the holding fingers engage with the first and / or second beam, the first sled being arranged to apply adhesive to the longitudinal edges of the first beam and the second beam in the mounting orientation and / or arranged to apply fastening elements through the first and / or second piece of sheet material and into the first and second beams in the mounting orientation.

[0011] In some embodiments, the first sled is arranged to move along a longitudinal path in relation to the first and second beams in the mounting orientation, the path comprising a plurality of triggering elements arranged to cause the first sled to apply a fastening element when passing each triggering element.

[0012] In some embodiments, the apparatus for producing a wall element further comprises a pivoting device, arranged to pivot the interconnected first and second beams 180° about a longitudinal axis between the first phase and the second phase.

[0013] In some embodiments, the first beam and the second beam are massive wooden beams.

[0014] In some embodiments, the first piece of sheet material and the second piece of sheet ma- terial are sheets of pressed wooden material.

[0015] In some embodiments, the apparatus for producing a wall element further comprises a foil application device, arranged to apply a flexible foil material onto the first and / or second distance part of a wall element being longitudinally moved through the foil application de- vice.

[0016] In some embodiments, the foil application device comprises a first roll, of flexible foil material, arranged to unroll the flexible foil material as a result of the wall element moving through the foil application device. In some embodiments, the foil application device comprises a fastening element application means, arranged to apply fastening elements at regular intervals through the flexible foil material and into the first and / or second beam as a result of the wall element moving through the foil application device.

[0017] In some embodiments, the foil application device is further arranged to apply a wind barrier and / or a water barrier foil material onto the first and / or second beam of a wall element being longitudinally moved through the foil application device. In some embodiments, the foil application device comprises a respective second roll, of wind barrier and / or water barrier flexible foil material, arranged to unroll the flexible foil material in question as a result of the wall element moving through the foil application device. Moreover, described herein is a method for producing an elongated wall element, the wall element being associated with a longitudinal direction, a width direction and a depth direction, the method comprising the steps providing an apparatus for producing a wall element of said type; providing a first beam and a second beam, the first beam and the second beam each engaging with the first end shoulder of the apparatus for producing a wall element, the second end shoulder of the apparatus for producing a wall element and each of the first vertical edges, the second vertical edges and the sockets of the holding fingers of the apparatus for producing a wall element, whereby the first beam and the second beam are arranged in a mounting orientation of the first beam in relation to the second beam, so that the first beam in the mounting orientation extends in parallel to the second beam along the longitudinal direction, and so that the first beam and the second beam are oriented in the mounting orientation to constitute an exterior and an interior wall part of the wall element, respectively; fastening a first piece of sheet material from above to a respective longitudinal edge of the first beam and the second beam, to thereby interconnect the first beam and the second beam; rotate the interconnected first beam and second beam about a longitudinal axis so that the first beam and the second beam each engages with the first end shoulder of the apparatus for producing a wall element, the second end shoulder of the apparatus for producing a wall element and each of the first vertical edges and the second vertical edges of the holding fingers of the apparatus for producing a wall element, whereas the first piece of sheet material abuts against the lower shoulder edge of each holding finger; and fasten a second piece of sheet material from above to a respective longitudinal edge of the first beam and the second beam, to thereby interconnect the first beam and the second beam.

[0018] Moreover, the invention relates to an apparatus for producing a wall or roof, the wall or roof being produced as an aggregate of a plurality of elongated wall elements of said type, each wall element being associated with a longitudinal direction, a width direction and a depth direction, the wall elements forming the wall or roof being joined together with their width-direction sides facing each other, the apparatus for producing a wall or roof comprising a wall element holding device, arranged to receive and hold a next wall element oriented, in an initial orientation, so that its longitudinal direction is horizontal and its width direction is vertical, the wall element holding device being pivotable so as to pivot the next wall element to a raised orientation in which the longitudinal direction of the next wall element is instead vertical and the next wall element is parallel to and abuts, along a widthdirection side wall of the next wall element, an adjacent wall element to which the next wall element is to be joined; and a wall element fastening device, arranged to fasten the raised next wall element to the adjacent wall element.

[0019] In some embodiments, the wall element fastening device comprises a vertical second sled, arranged to move along a longitudinal path in relation to the next and adjacent wall elements, the path comprising a plurality of triggering elements arranged to cause the second sled to apply a fastening element when passing each triggering element. In some embodiments, the wall or roof comprises a connecting beam protruding in the width direction from at least one of the next wall element and the adjacent wall element and being fastened to both the next wall element and the adjacent wall element. In some embodiments, the wall element fastening device is arranged to fasten the connecting beam to at least one of the next wall element and the adjacent wall element so as to join them together via the connecting beam.

[0020] In some embodiments, the second sled is arranged to apply each fastening element through the connecting beam and into the next or adjacent wall element.

[0021] In some embodiments, the wall element holding device comprises a connecting beam holding device, arranged to receive, accommodate and hold the connecting beam in relation to the next wall element, in a way so that the connecting beam is raised together with the next wall element in the raised orientation.

[0022] In some embodiments, the apparatus for producing a wall or roof further comprises a horizontal third sled, arranged to be fastened to a vertically arranged first wall element and to move the first wall element away from the wall element fastening device to make room for the next wall element.

[0023] In some embodiments, the third sled comprises an adjustment means, arranged to adjust an angular orientation of the first wall element in relation to the wall element holding device.

[0024] In some embodiments, the wall element holding device comprises an end shoulder means, arranged to define a stop for the next wall element being inserted into the wall element holding device and slid in a longitudinal forward direction. In some embodiments, the end shoulder means is arranged to automatically disengage from the next wall element as a result of the wall element holding device pivoting the next wall element to the raised orientation. In some embodiments, a pivot point of the wall element holding device is arranged so that the next wall element falls by gravity the last part of its trajectory to the raised orientation.

[0025] In some embodiments, the apparatus for producing a wall or roof is arranged with a dampening device arranged to dampen said fall by gravity to the raised orientation.

[0026] In some embodiments, the apparatus for producing a wall or roof further comprises a roller track down onto which the next wall element is brought as a result of the pivoting of the next wall element to the raised orientation. In some embodiments, the roller track has an upper rolling surface which is slanted upwards, towards the wall element fastening device, for instance by up to 3°, in relation to the horizontal.

[0027] The invention also relates to a method for producing a wall or roof, the wall or roof being produced as an aggregate of a plurality of elongated wall elements, each wall element being associated with a longitudinal direction, a width direction and a depth direction, the wall elements forming the wall or roof being joined together with their width-direction sides facing each other, the method comprising the steps providing an apparatus for producing a wall or roof of said type; placing a next wall element in the wall element holding device of the apparatus for producing a wall or roof in an initial orientation of the next wall element, so that its longitudinal direction is horizontal and its width direction is vertical; causing the wall element holding device to pivot the next wall element to a raised orientation in which the longitudinal direction of the next wall element is instead vertical and the next wall element is parallel to and abuts, along a width-direction side wall of the next wall element, an adjacent wall element to which the next wall element is to be joined; and causing the wall element fastening device to fasten the raised next wall element to the adjacent wall element.

[0028] In the following, the invention will be described in detail, with reference to exemplifying embodiments of the invention and to the enclosed drawings, wherein:

[0029] Figures la-lc are respective perspective views of three different wall elements; Figures 2a-2c show respective auxiliary wall elements for use with the wall elements illustrated in Figures la-lc in a building wall;

[0030] Figures 3a show respective cross-sectional views, both from the side and from the top, of the wall elements shown in Figures la-lc;

[0031] Figures 3b-3c correspond to Figure 3a, but illustrate cross-sectional views, both from the side and from the top, of two different auxiliary wall elements;

[0032] Figure 4 is an overview side view of a building wall, including cross-sectional horizontal top views taken at two different heights;

[0033] Figure 5 is a simplified top view of a wall element;

[0034] Figure 6 is a perspective view of a wall, constructed from a plurality of wall elements; Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of the wall shown in Figure 6;

[0035] Figure 8 is a perspective view of a wall element;

[0036] Figures 9 and 10 are perspective views of an apparatus for producing a wall element;

[0037] Figure 11 is a detail perspective view a first sled of the apparatus shown in Figure 9;

[0038] Figure 12 is a detail perspective view of a first end shoulder of the apparatus shown in Figure 9;

[0039] Figure 13 is a detail perspective view of a second end shoulder of the apparatus shown in Figure 9;

[0040] Figures 14-17 are respective perspective views showing subsequent processing steps in the production of a wall element by the apparatus shown in Figure 9; Figure 18 is a perspective view of an apparatus for applying foil material to a wall element; Figure 19 is a detail perspective view of a foil application device of the apparatus shown in Figure 18;

[0041] Figure 20 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in Figure 18 as seen from the opposite side; s Figure 21 is a detail perspective view of a feeding mechanism of the apparatus shown in Figure 18;

[0042] Figure 22 is a flow chart showing the method steps of a method for producing a wall element;

[0043] Figures 23-25 are respective perspective views of an apparatus for producing a wall or roof; w Figure 26 is a detail perspective view of a wall element holding device of the apparatus shown in Figure 23, in a non-raised orientation;

[0044] Figure T1 is a detail perspective view of the wall element holding device of the apparatus shown in Figure 23, in a raised orientation;

[0045] Figures 28-30 are respective detail perspective views of the wall element holding device of is the apparatus shown in Figure 23;

[0046] Figures 31-33 are respective detail perspective views of a wall element fastening device of the apparatus shown in Figure 23;

[0047] Figure 34-36 are respective detail perspective views of a first wall fastening device and a third sled of the apparatus shown in Figure 23; 0 Figure 37 is a flow chart showing the method steps of a method for producing a wall or roof; and

[0048] Figure 38 is a simplified side view of an apparatus for producing a wall or roof.

[0049] All figures share the same reference numerals for same or corresponding parts. Postscripts5 ', " and of the reference numerals of different wall elements denote wall elements with different C-C (Centre-to-Centre) widths. Each building wall of the types described herein can be constructed from wall elements having the same or different C-C widths.

[0050] Figure la illustrates a wall element 100'. The wall element 100' can be for a building wall0 200 of the below described type, in the sense that it is specifically arranged, in terms of its dimensions and structure, to form a part of such a building wall. The wall element 100' is associated with a longitudinal direction L, a width direction W and a depth direction D. These directions in general apply to all wall elements described herein, and also to the building walls described below.

[0051] 5 The finished building wall 200, including any inner wall covering and any outer wall covering applied, can be at least 20 cm thick, such as at least 30 cm thick, and in some embodiments at the most 50 cm thick.

[0052] The wall element 100' has a substantially elongated overall shape, preferably roughly a cu- w boid shape, and generally extending in said longitudinal direction L.

[0053] In particular, the wall element 100' is arranged to be mounted between two other wall elements of the present type, in a mounted state (shown, for instance, in Figure 4), so as to form a connected, self-supporting building wall 200 extending in the width direction W with is substantially no play between the wall elements 100', 100'', 100''' in the width direction W.

[0054] Turning again to Figure la, the wall element 100' comprises an elongated outer support part in the form of a first beam 110, extending in said longitudinal direction L and arranged to be mounted in an exterior part 201 of the building wall 200 of which the wall element0 100' forms a part. In this context, "exterior" means being arranged in the part of the wall

[0055] 200 facing to the exterior, such as outdoor. The first beam 110 has a first longitudinal end 113; an opposite, second longitudinal end 114; and an outside surface 115.

[0056] The wall element 100' further comprises an elongated inner support part in the form of a5 second beam 120, also extending in said longitudinal direction L and being arranged to be mounted in an interior part 102 of the said building wall 200. Here, "interior" means being arranged in the part of the wall 200 facing to the interior, such as indoor. The second beam 120 has a first longitudinal end 123; an opposite, second longitudinal end 124; and an outside surface 125. Furthermore, the wall element 100' comprises a distance part in the form of a first piece of sheet material 130 and a second piece of sheet material 131, each arranged between the first beam 110 and the second beam 120, separating beams 110, 120 while keeping them fixed in relation to each other. The distance part 130, 131 is hence arranged to provide a s distance in said depth direction D. It is also arranged to define a hollow internal space 140, between the first beam 110 and the second beam 120. In this context, "internal" refers to the geometry of the wall element 100', in other words the hollow space 140 forms an element-internal, open or closed, space. w Figure 4 illustrates the mounted state of a wall element 100', together with other types of wall elements forming preferred parts of the building wall construction system according to the invention. This will be described in more detail further below.

[0057] The first beam 110 of said wall element 100' can be connected to an outer longitudinally is extending connecting beam 111, which can be arranged to be fastened to the first beam 110 of a corresponding adjacent wall element in said mounted state so that at least one longitudinally extending hollow external space 150 is formed along the first beam 110 between each pair of said connected wall elements. Here, "external" refers to the wall element geometry, the hollow space 150 is hence an open or closed space which is external in0 relation to the rest of the wall element 100'.

[0058] Furthermore, the second beam 120 can be connected to an inner longitudinally extending connecting beam 121, arranged to be fastened to the second beam of an adjacent wall element in said mounted state. 5

[0059] Moreover, the total depth B of the wall element, including the depth of any inner wall covering material to be mounted on the second beam, is an even multiple of the C-C width Al between two adjacently arranged connected wall elements 100' in said mounted state. 0 The inner wall covering may be any suitable wall covering, such as wood panels; a layer of wall-covering plaster; or sheet material. The wall element 100' is preferably specifically prepared for being provided with a wall covering of specified thickness, such as 13 mm plaster or 13 mm wood board plus 13 mm plaster.

[0060] It is realized that the said C-C distance Al refers to a C-C distance between identical wall s elements 100', in other words a horizontal distance between the respective horizontal centre point of two identical, adjacently and abuttingly arranged wall elements 100'.

[0061] However, Figures lb and lc illustrate, respectively, two additional variants 100'' and 100''' of wall elements. The wall elements 100', 100'', 100''' are identical, apart from their first w 110 and second 120 beams being of different width, such that their respective C-C distances A2, A4 are different from the C-C distance Al of wall element 100'. Specifically, in the illustrated example, the distance A4 is twice the distance A2, which in turn is twice the distance Al. The total depth B is equal to the distance A4, such that the total depth B, which can be the same for all wall elements 100', 100'', 100''', is a respective even multiple of each one is of the said three different C-C distances Al, A2 and A4 - it is one time A4; two times A2; and four times Al.

[0062] In some embodiments, the total depth B of the wall element, comprising any inner wall covering material, is 1, 2, 3 or 4 times said C-C width Al, A2, A4. A building wall construction0 system of the type described herein can comprise wall elements 100', 100'', 100''' the total depth B of which, comprising any inner wall covering material, are 1, 2 and 4 times, respectively, the said C-C width A4, A2, Al.

[0063] In some embodiments, all wall elements used to form one and the same building wall 2005 have the same total depth B.

[0064] A wall element 100', 100'', 100''' according to the above provides numerous advantages, as is explained in SE17508904A. In general, the design with first beams 110 and second beams 120, connecting beams 111, 121 and distance part 130, 131, in combination with the above-0 described specific geometric dimensioning of the wall element in question, achieves a wall element which is easy to mount, as well as provides a sturdy construction which is simple for an architect to use in the design process when drawing a building.

[0065] Namely, the said even multiple measurements provide the advantage that walls being con- 5 structed from the wall elements 100', 100”, 100'” will form a square horizontal "pixel" grid, with a square pixel size BxB, with the possibility of sub-pixels the size AlxAl, making the layout plan of the building very easy to plan and then to translate into a finished building, while making sure that any canalization for electricity and the like ends up in a predetermined connected layout. This is true both for individual building walls 200 but also for com- w plex buildings comprising several wall element aggregates 240, 241, 242 running in parallel and perpendicularly to each other. In this context, the term "pixel" is used to denote a smallest plannable two-dimensional horizontal geometric unit in terms of the floor plan of a building. is In the wall element 100', it is the first beam 110 and the second beam 120 that carry the vertical load of the finished building wall 200, while the connecting beams 111, 121 are primarily used to permanently join individual wall elements together. The distance part 130, 131 is primarily used to provide the hollow space 140, which is arranged to be filled with insulation as described below. 0

[0066] In some embodiments, illustrated in the simplified (and not to scale) top view of the wall element 100' shown in Figure 5, the second beam 120 is provided with a vapour barrier 122 extending across the width W and length L of the wall element 100'. The vapour barrier 122 is arranged to abut the vapour barrier of an adjacent wall element in the mounted state, so5 as to form a connected vapour barrier across the interior part 202 of the building wall 200.

[0067] Similarly, the first beam 110 can be provided with a wind barrier 112, extending across the width W and length L of the wall element 100' and arranged to abut the wind barrier of an adjacent wall element in said mounted state, so as to form a connected wind barrier across0 the exterior part 201 of the building wall 200. In particular, it is preferred that at least one of said vapour barrier 122 and said wind barrier 112, preferably both, covers a respective side face of the wall element 100' facing in the width direction W, and preferably also a side face facing in the length direction L, which width direction-facing W side face is arranged to be pressed against a corresponding oppo- site side face of an adjacent connected wall element in said mounted state. In Figure 5, this is exemplified by the vapour barrier 122 running across the whole interior width W of the second beam 120, from a longitudinal fastening line near the first piece of sheet material 130 to another longitudinal fastening line near the second piece of sheet material 131 on the other width-direction W side of the second beam 120.

[0068] The first piece of sheet material 130 can be covered by a first piece of foam material 132, and / or the second piece of sheet material 131 can be covered by a second piece of foam material 133. It is understood that, in some embodiments, only one of the pieces of sheet material 130, 131 is covered with foam material 132, 133, even if both are shown to in Figure 5.

[0069] The respective foam material 132, 133 can overlap the respective wind barrier 112 and / or the vapour barrier 122, with either layer being on top, so as to create a sealing effect between the wind barrier 112 and / or the vapour barrier 122 as two wall elements 100” are joined together so as to compress the foam material between them.

[0070] This way, the mounted wall 600 will be provided with a connected, proper vapour and / or wind barrier as a direct result of the mounting of the said wall elements one to the next. Each of the wind barrier 112 and the vapour barrier 122 can be a per se conventional plastic foil.

[0071] The wind barrier 112 and / or the vapour barrier 122 can furthermore be attached, such as with a respective resilient strip or nails, along a longitudinal L upper or lower end of the wall element in question, in addition to on its side. This provides for improved barrier functionality when using a combination of both vertically and horizontally oriented wall elements in one and the same wall 200, since longitudinal ends of certain wall elements will then abut width-direction W facing side edges of certain other wall elements.

[0072] As is illustrated in for instance Figures la-lc, the outer 111 and inner 121 connecting beams 5 can protrude in the width direction W from the remainder of the first 110 and second 120 beams, respectively, so as to cover part of the first and second beams, respectively, of respective adjacent wall elements in said mounted state. In some embodiments, the outer 111 and inner 121 connecting beams protrude in opposite width directions W. Hence, when the wall element is viewed along the depth direction D, the connecting beams 111, 121 then w protrude from the distance part 130 in opposite width directions.

[0073] Specifically, in this case the outer 111 and / or inner 121 connecting beams, such as both, can be arranged to be connected to an adjacent wall element, to form said mounted state, using a fastening means which is driven through the connecting beam 111, 121 in question is and into the said adjacent wall element substantially in the depth direction D. The fastening means in question can fasten to the corresponding first 110 or second 120 beam of the adjacent wall element, however preferably not directly to a corresponding connecting beam 111, 121 of said adjacent wall element. 0 In some embodiments, the wall elements are not arranged to be fastened together using any other fastening mechanism than using the connecting beams 111, 121, apart from any inner 204 or outer 205 wall covering. Namely, a wall of the presently described type, using connecting beams 111, 121 for connecting wall elements to each other, can be made sturdy enough to be self-supporting and meeting applicable load resistance requirements, even5 for multi-storage buildings.

[0074] The fastening means used may be any suitable fastening means, such as conventional screws or nails driven into the wooden or metal materials of the first 110 and 120 beams in question. 0 As mentioned above, the internal space 140 can be filled with insulating material 141, such as mineral wool sheet or loose material. In particular, the insulating material 141 can be held in place, or arranged to be held in place, by said distance part 130, 131. s The pieces of sheet material 130, 131 can be less than 5 mm thick, and can be made from pressed wood fibrous material, such as a Masonite® board.

[0075] In a particular example, the first beam 110 and the second beam 120 are both made from 34 mm x 195 mm wooden beams, while the connecting beams 111, 121 are made from 34 w mm x 95 mm wooden beams.

[0076] With respect to the said external space 150 formed by adjacent outer connecting beams 111, it is preferred that the external space 150 extends, along the length direction L, along substantially the whole length of the wall element 100', 100”, 100'”. Hence, the corre- 15 sponding connecting beams 111 preferably also run along substantially the whole length of the wall element in question. This provides both a sturdy construction of the building wall 200, while at the same time providing adequate ventilation of the wall construction 200 since the external space 150 forms a vertical channel for air to flow through. This is in particular true in case an outer wall covering 205 is used, which is fastened to the outside of0 the outer connecting parts and covering the space 150 forming such a vertical channel, which may preferably be open in both a lower and an upper end.

[0077] Moreover, it is preferred that the second beam 120 is arranged to be fastened to the corresponding inner support beam of an adjacent wall element in said mounted state, so that5 at least one additional longitudinally extending hollow external space 160 is formed along the second beam 120 between each pair of said connected wall elements. This additional hollow external space 160 is similar to the space 150, but is arranged on the inside of the mounted building wall 200. In particular, it is preferred that it is the inner connecting beams 121 of adjacent wall elements that between them form the additional space 160, preferably0 forming a vertical channel beneath an inner wall covering 204. The additional, inner hollow space 160 ("inner" in terms of the side of the wall; "external" in relation to the wall structure itself) is useful for accommodating installations, such as electrical installations and / or pipe works.

[0078] 5 As indicated above, in a building wall 200 according to the invention, adjacently connected wall elements can be arranged to be connected only using said first 111 and second 121 connecting beams so as to form said building wall 200. In particular, the first 111 and / or 121 second connecting parts are preferably the only fastening means arranged to connect one first beam 110 and / or second beam 120 to a corresponding first and / or second support w part of an adjacent connected wall element in said mounted state. This provides a very efficient installation, while still guaranteeing a strong final wall construction.

[0079] As shown in the figures with respect to the exemplifying wall elements 100', 100”, 100'”, the first beam 110 and the second beam 120 can both be respective wooden beams with is rectangular cross-section, and the first 111 and / or second 121 connecting beam, preferably both, can be respective wooden beams with rectangular cross-section, fastened to the respective first / second beam and protruding out from the first / second beam in question in the width direction W. 0 The wind barrier 112 and / or the vapour barrier 122 can be clamped between the first / second beam 110, 120 in question and the corresponding connecting beam 111 / 12.

[0080] As discussed above, the first 111 and / or second 121 connecting beam can be arranged to, together with the corresponding first 111 and / or second 121 connecting beam of an adja-5 cent wall element, define a respective external hollow space or vertical channel. In particular in this case, the first 111 and / or second 121 connecting beam in question can run along substantially the whole longitudinal L length of the corresponding first 110 or second 120 beam, except for along a stretch near one or both longitudinal ends of the beam 110, 120 in question of between 5 and 30 cm from the end in question. For the first connecting beam0 121, this is in particular useful for installations, such as installing electric cables in the mounted wall 200, without jeopardizing stability or strength. In addition to the total wall element 100' depth B being a multiple of the C-C distance A, it is preferred that a total length, in the longitudinal direction L, of the wall element 100', 100'', 100''' is an even multiple of said C-C width A, preferably also an even multiple of the s total depth B. This way, the same wall elements 100', 100'', 100''' that can be arranged one next to the other in a wall 200 with their longitudinal direction L vertically aligned can also be used, in the same or a different wall 200, one next to the other with their longitudinal direction L horizontally aligned, while still respecting and using the above described design grid of the building. Preferably, the length of the wall element in question refers to the w effective length of the first 110 and second 120 beams, or a C-C distance between two identical wall elements arranged, without play, one afterthe other in their longitudinal direction L.

[0081] In some embodiments, the C-C width A is, for each of the wall elements 100', 100'', 100''' is described herein, is between 8 cm and 30 cm, such as between 10 and 20 cm. Similarly, preferred total depths B can comprise various even multiples of such C-C widths A, in some embodiments at least 20 cm and at the most 100 cm.

[0082] The total length of at least one of the wall elements 100', 100'', 100'' used in a building0 construction system of the present type is, in some embodiments, at least 220 cm.

[0083] In all configurations described herein, each wall element can be designed to have a total weight of the wall element in question is at the most 25 kg. 5 Said C-C width A can comprise a tolerance distance, such that the wall elements are mounted with a certain play in the width direction W. In this case, the play can be absorbed by the piece of foam 132 and / or the second piece of foam 133, mounted along the length of the wall element in question, being pressed against an adjacent wall element and arranged to fully absorb a width-direction play of at least said tolerance distance. In some0 embodiments, such a tolerance distance is 10 mm or less, such as between 3 mm and 8 mm, in some cases about 5 mm, and can in the mounted state be arranged to exist between adjacent first 110 or second 120 beams not counting the connecting beams 111, 121.

[0084] Figure 4 also shows a wall element aggregate 240, comprising at least two wall elements s 100', 100”, 100'” of the above described type. Such a wall element aggregate is illustrated together with two additional wall element aggregates 241, 242 to form a complete building wall 200.

[0085] In particular, such a wall element aggregate 240 is arranged to be mounted between two w additional wall element aggregates 241, 242 of the same type, to form a mounted state. In this mounted state, which is similar to the above described mounted state in relation to the individual wall elements, a connected, self-supporting building wall 200 is formed, extending in the width direction W of vertically arranged wall elements and with substantially no play (not counting the above mentioned tolerance) between the first 240 and other 241, is 242 wall element aggregates in the said width direction W. It is understood that the wall element aggregate 240, as well as the building wall 200, is associated with a width direction corresponding to the wall element width direction W for vertically arranged (longitudinal direction plumb) wall elements. Preferably, the individual wall element aggregates 240, 241, 242 can be joined together by corresponding outermost wall elements of adjacent wall0 element aggregates being joined together in the way described above.

[0086] Such wall element aggregates 240, 241, 242 are suitable for preproduction, in addition to individual wall elements. For instance, in Figure 4, aggregate 241 is a plan wall section of predetermined width, height and depth; aggregate 240 is a corresponding window module;5 and aggregate 242 is a corresponding door module.

[0087] A building wall construction system can comprise at least two wall elements and / or wall element aggregates of the above described types. Such a building wall construction system may can comprise special wall elements such as start and end elements, as described below,0 and can be used to construct building walls as shown in, for instance, Figure 4. For instance, Figure 2a illustrates a special element "FA1", that can be used to frame a window opening 207 (see Figure 7). The element FA1 is similar to wall element 100', but does not include the connecting beams 111, 121. The connection is then made using connecting corresponding connecting beams 111, 121 of adjacent wall elements 100”.

[0088] Similarly, Figure 2b illustrates a start element ST2, which is used at the start of a wall 200, and is similar to wall element 100” apart from the fact that ST2 does not have the second connecting beam 121. Figure 2c shows a corresponding end element SL2, lacking the first connecting beam 121. In some embodiments, said building wall construction system com- prises at least one such start element ST2 and / or at least one such end element SL2, arranged without one of said first 111 and second 121 connecting beams.

[0089] Figures 3a-3c show more detailed versions of wall elements 100', 100”, 100'”, as well as corresponding views of wall elements STI, ST2, ST4, SL1, SL2 and SL4 elements.

[0090] One of the advantages of the present invention is that the wall elements described herein can in general be mounted either vertically or horizontally to form a building wall 200. This has been explained above, and is illustrated in Figure 4. In Figure 4, 207 is an opening for a window, while 206 is an opening for a door. FB and FA may both be elements similar to FA1 (Figure 2a). In some embodiments, the building wall construction system comprises at least one wall element and / or wall element aggregate which is arranged to be mounted optionally either vertically or horizontally, in the sense that the dimensions (A, B and the length) of such a wall element or aggregate is adapted to fit with the horizontal dimensions A, B or vertically arranged elements and / or aggregates in both mounting orientations. Again, this has been described above.

[0091] Specifically, the system can be adapted for constructing a building wall 200 comprising a through hole for a window 207 or a door 206. In particular, horizontally mounted wall elements SL2, ST2, 100', 100” can then be arranged, for instance as illustrated in Figure 4, for forming the part of the building wall 200 located above and / or below said window 207 or door 206, such as immediately above and / or below said window 207 or door 206. Such combination of horizontally mounted wall elements and window / door holes, in addition to vertically mounted framing wall elements FA, FB, 100”, may form or be comprised in a respective prefabricated wall element aggregate 240, 242 for direct mounting as a part of a finished building wall 200.

[0092] The building wall 600 can be constructed using a building wall construction system as described herein by connecting wall elements and / or wall element aggregates one adjacent to the next, in said mounted state, so as to form said wall 200. As will be understood from the below, once the individual wall elements 100 are manufactured, walls 200 and wall aggregates 240, 241, 242 can be manufactured by concatenating such wall elements 100 one to the next. In this concatenation process, elements such as window and door modules, and similar, can be added, and are then treated just like wall elements 100 in the process.

[0093] The building wall 200 can further comprise the above-discussed inner wall covering 204, such as wall covering plaster, which is attached to the respective second beams 120 of the wall elements comprised in the said system, while the building wall 200 can further comprise an outer wall covering 205, such as wooden panel or plaster, which is attached to the respective first beam 110 of the wall elements comprised in the said system.

[0094] In particular, it is preferred that the outer wall covering 205 is attached to the respective first connecting beams 110 of the said wall elements so that a ventilating channel is formed behind the said outer wall covering 205 by the said hollow external space 150.

[0095] Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a wall 200 made from wall elements 100 (such as 100', 100” and / or 100”') of the above-described type. The wall 200 can also be a wall element aggregate 240, 241, 242 of the above type. In the following, apparatuses and methods for producing such elements 100 and such walls 200 are described. It is understood that the apparatuses 400 and methods for producing a wall described herein can equally well be used to produce a roof or roof cassette, in other words a loadcarrying part of a roof structure, comprising wall elements 100 in the corresponding manner 5 as the walls 200 described herein. In the following, the description will focus on the construction of a wall and not of a roof or roof cassette, for reasons of simplicity. Normally, a roof or roof cassette can be identical to the wall 200 illustrated in the drawings, but possibly having connecting beams 111, 121 only on one side of the roof or roof cassette. w In the particular exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figures 6 and forwards, the wall elements 100 have a respective width W of either 100 mm or 200 mm, and a respective length of between 500 and 4500 mm. Each first beam 110 and second beam 120 are made from 34 mm wooden beams, for instance pinewood beams, and can be massive. In order to receive the pieces of sheet material 130, 131, for instance such that the sheet material 130, is 131 is aligned flush with an exposed width-direction W part of the longitudinal end 116, 126 of the beam 110, 120 in question, the beams 110, 120 are fitted with grooves 117, 127, that can be 5 mm deep (in the width direction W) (see Figure 8).

[0096] Furthermore, in the example shown in Figures 6 and forwards, all wall elements 100 are 3190 mm deep, in the depth direction D.

[0097] Figures 9 and 10 shows an apparatus 300 for producing the wall element 100.

[0098] The apparatus 300 comprises at least two, such as at least three, beam holding fingers 310,5 each arranged to hold the first beam 110 and the second beam 120 in a mounting orientation of the first beam 110 in relation to the second beam 120, so that the first beam 110 in the mounting orientation extends in parallel to the second beam 120 along the longitudinal direction L, and so that the first beam 110 and the second bean are oriented in the mounting orientation to constitute an exterior and an interior wall part of the wall element 100, re-0 spectively. In other words, in the mounting orientation of the beams 110, 120 they are geometrically oriented one in relation to the other in the same way as when they form part of the mounted wall element 100.

[0099] The apparatus 100 can comprise at least two, or at least three, or at least four, beam holding 5 fingers 310, that can be aligned with each other along the longitudinal direction L when the holding fingers 310 engage with the first 110 and / or second 120 beam.

[0100] Furthermore, the apparatus 300 comprises a first end shoulder 320, arranged to hold the first longitudinal end 113 of the first beam 110 and the first longitudinal end 123 of the w second beam 120 when the first beam 110 and the second beam 120 are oriented in the mounting orientation.

[0101] The apparatus 300 also comprises a second end shoulder 330, arranged at an opposite longitudinal L end of the beams 110, 120. The second end shoulder 330 is in turn arranged to is hold the second longitudinal end 114 of the first beam 110 and the second longitudinal end 124 of the second beam 120 when the first beam 110 and the second beam 120 are oriented in the mounting orientation.

[0102] At least the second end shoulder 330 can be a movable end shoulder, movable in the longi-0 tudinal direction L when the holding fingers 310 engage with the first 110 and / or second 120 beam. Then, the first beam 110 and the second beam 120 can be clamped in the mounting orientation using a longitudinal L clamping force applied by pressing the second end shoulder 330 towards the first end shoulder 320. 5 The apparatus 300 can be designed to produce wall elements 100 that are either 100 mm or 200 mm wide.

[0103] With reference now to Figures 10-13, the first end shoulder 320 comprises a beam holding means 321, and the second end shoulder 330 also comprises a beam holding means 331. 0 The respective beam holding means 321, 331 are arranged to engage with and fix a respective longitudinal end 113, 114 of the first beam 110 in relation to a corresponding longitudinal end 123, 124 of the second beam 120 so as to achieve said mounting orientation of the beams 110, 120 in relation to each other.

[0104] In the examples shown in the Figures, the first beam end shoulder 320 is fixed, whereas the s second end shoulder 330 is movable in the longitudinal direction L. However, it is realised that in other embodiments both end shoulders 320, 330 can be movable, or only the first end shoulder 320 can be movable.

[0105] The beams 110, 120 are inserted with their respective first longitudinal ends 113, 123 into w engagement with the first end shoulder 320 beam holding means 321, for instance inserted from above. The beam holding means 321 are arranged to force the beams 110, 120 to be straight in relation to each other at a desired distance, such as 319 mm, between them. To achieve this, the beam holding means 321 can comprise fingers engaging on either depthwise D side of each of the beams 110, 120, as is shown in the Figures.

[0106] 15

[0107] Once in place in relation to the first end shoulder 320, the second end shoulder 330 can be pushed into place, in the longitudinal direction L, and as a result into engagement with the respective second longitudinal end 114, 124 of each of the beams 110, 120. In Figure 13, the second end shoulder 330 is shown in a position where it has not yet been pushed into0 such engagement. The engagement of the second end shoulder 330 can correspond to that of the first end shoulder 320, the second end shoulder 330 comprising beam holding means 331 in turn arranged to force the respective second longitudinal end 114, 124 into a parallel orientation on in relation to the other, at a desired distance, which may be the same distance as for the first longitudinal ends 113, 123. 5

[0108] The movement of the second end shoulder 330, as is the case for any of the movement steps of the apparatuses 300, 400 described herein, can be imparted automatically, semi- automatically or manually, using a per se conventional pneumatic, hydraulic or manual drive. The second end shoulder 330 can be arranged to be lockable at any of a number of0 possible desired wall element 100 lengths, such as at even 150 mm longitudinal L distances. For instance, a series of through holes in a longitudinal L metal bar can be used to lock the second end shoulder 330 at a desired such longitudinal L location using a sprint or similar.

[0109] When both the first end shoulder 320 and the second end shoulder 330 are in engagement with both beams 110, 120, the apparatus 300 can be arranged to apply said longitudinal L clamping force, such by one or more air cylinders applying a longitudinal L pneumatic pressure force onto the second end shoulder 330 pressing it towards the first end shoulder 320, thereby longitudinally L compressing and fixing the beams 110, 120 in the mounting orientation.

[0110] The first end shoulder 320 and the second end shoulder 330 can both be arranged to be adjustable in the width direction W, so as to allow for the production of wall elements 110 with different widths W. Figure 14 illustrates a beam holding finger 310 showing its general shape in a cross-section being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L when the holding fingers 310 engage with the first 110 and / or second 120 beam. Each holding finger 310, or at least two of the holding fingers 310, can comprise, in this cross-section, a respective first vertical edge 311 arranged to abut against the outside surface 115 of the first beam 110 so as to prevent the first beam 110 to bend outwards in the depth direction D. Correspondingly, each holding finger 310, or at least two of the holding fingers 310, can comprise a respective second vertical edge 312, facing the first vertical edge 311 and being arranged to abut against the outside surface 125 of the second beam 120 so as to prevent the second beam 120 to bend outwards in the depth direction D.

[0111] The vertical edges 311, 312 can be inside surfaces of respective holding finger means of the beam holding finger 310, the holding finger means then possibly being sheet metal shapes arranged to be positioned externally to the wall element 100 being manufactured. The vertical edges 311, 312 are generally arranged to apply an depth-wise D inwards-directed pressure onto the beams 110, 120, pressing them together. As is shown in, for instance, Figures 13 and 14, the apparatus can comprise beam holding fingers 310 having different width-direction W dimensions, so as to be able to hold beams of different width W. As will be described below, the beam holding fingers 310 can be vertically adjustable, individually or group-wise. Then, a set of beam holding fingers of a first s width-direction dimension can be arranged in one individually adjustable group whereas another set of beam holding fingers of a second width-direction dimension can be arranged in another individually adjustable group, and either group can be used depending on what type of wall element 100 that is to be manufactured. w Moreover, each of the holding fingers 310, or at least two of the holding fingers 310, comprises, in said cross-section, a first socket 313 and a second socket 314.

[0112] The socket 313 is partly defined by the first vertical edge 311 and is arranged to receive the first beam 110 and to prevent the first beam 110 to bend inwards (towards the second beam is 120) in the depth direction D as a result of the first beam 110 being crooked and / or as a result of the depth-directed D inwards force applied by the first vertical edge 311.

[0113] Correspondingly, the second socket 314 is partly defined by the second vertical edge 312, arranged to receive the second beam 120 and to prevent the second beam 120 to bend0 inwards (towards the first beam 110) in the depth direction D.

[0114] Hence, the first beam 110 is inserted down into the socket 313, so that its outside surface 115 is in direct contact with the first vertical edge 312 and so that the first beam 110 is received and accommodated in the first socket 313, for instance so that is in direct contact5 with a bottom of the first socket 313. The second beam 120 is also inserted down into the socket 314, so that its outside surface 125 is in direct contact with the second vertical edge 312 and so that the second beam 120 is received and accommodated in the second socket 314, for instance so that is in direct contact with a bottom of the second socket 314. 0 This way, the both the first beam 110 and the second beam 120 are held firmly in place in their mounting orientation, both parallel to each other at a predetermined intra-beam distance and being held straight. Similarly, an inner wall of the beam holding means 321, 331 may be slightly inclined depth-wise D outwards, in the longitudinal direction L towards the beams 110, 120, so as to force the beam 110, 120 in question depth-wise D outwards, and as a result pressed against an outer wall of the beam holding means 321, 331 in ques- tion.

[0115] The respective inner vertical walls of the sockets 313, 314 can be slightly slanting outwards, so as to press the beam 110, 120 in question depth-side d outwards, and as a result pressed against the vertical edge 311, 312 in question.

[0116] As is shown in Figure 14, each of the holding fingers 310 can also comprise, in said crosssection, a lower shoulder edge 315, arranged to protrude upwards between the first beam 110 and the second beam 120 when the first beam 110 and the second beam 120 are in the mounting orientation. The lower shoulder edge 315 can be partly defined by respective in- ner walls of the sockets 313, 314, for instance together with a horizontal upper edge running between said inner walls.

[0117] The apparatus 300 furthermore comprises a first sled 340, being horizontally movable, automatically using a pneumatic force or similar, and / or manually, in the longitudinal direction L when the holding fingers 310 engage with the first 110 and / or second 120 beam.

[0118] The first sled 340 can be arranged to apply an adhesive to the longitudinal edges 116, 126 of the first beam 110 and the second beam 120 in the mounting orientation, the longitudinal edges 116, 126 then being exposed vertically upwards. Alternatively, or in addition, the first sled 340 can be arranged to apply fastening elements, such as nails or screws, through the first 130 and / or second 131 piece of sheet material and further into the first 110 and second 120 beams in the mounting orientation. In the latter case, the piece of sheet material 130, 131 in question is placed on top of the longitudinal edges 116, 126 in question. To achieve this, the first sled 340 can be arranged to move along a longitudinal L path in relation to the first 110 and second 120 beams when these beams 110, 120 are in the mounting orientation. The path can comprise a plurality of triggering elements 341 arranged to cause the first sled 340 to automatically apply a fastening element when passing each triggering element 341. The triggering elements can, for instance, be provided at regular intervals, such as 100 mm from each other.

[0119] For instance, in Figure 13 the triggering elements 341 exemplified as a cam control comprising bumps in a metal list that the first sled 340 moves along in its longitudinal L motion along said path. When the first sled 340 passes such a bump, a mechanical sensing device of the first sled 340 is actuated so as to trigger the delivery of a nail or similar into the beams 110, 120. The first sled 340 can comprise a roll arranged to roll, and push from above, against the first piece of sheet material 130 and to thereby press the sheet material 130 to the longitudinal edges 116, 126.

[0120] The first sled 340 can also be arranged with a blower, arranged to blow away any dust from the longitudinal edges 116, 126 before the adhesive is applied and / or before the sheet material 130, 131 is applied.

[0121] After the beams 110, 120 have been fixed in the mounting orientation, the first sled 340 can hence be caused, manually or automatically, to run along the longitudinal L direction from end to end of the beams 110, 120 and in the process apply adhesive along the longitudinal edges 116, 126.

[0122] The first piece of sheet material 130 can be applied onto the longitudinal edges 116, 126, such as into the grooves 117, 127, after the application of the adhesive using the first sled 340, or without adhesive, and can then be fastened, again using the first sled 340 and using fastening elements of said type. Either of the end shoulders 320, 330 can comprise a longitudinal stop used to align the first piece of sheet material 130 in the longitudinal L direction by pushing the first piece of sheet material 130 along the longitudinal edges 116, 126 in the longitudinal direction L. Hence, the beams 110, 120 are fixed using the beam holding fingers 310 and the end shoulders 320, 330 so that the first piece of sheet material 130 can be fastened from above to a respective longitudinal edge 116, 126 of the first beam 110 and the second beam 120. The fastening, that can be by adhesive and / or fastening elements as described above, results in s that the the first beam 110 and the second beam 120 are interconnected.

[0123] Figure 14 shows the state before the first piece of sheet material 130 is applied, and Figure 15 shows the state after the first piece of sheet material 130 has been applied. w The apparatus can furthermore comprise a pivoting device 150, arranged to cause and / or allow the aggregate formed by the beams 110, 120 and the first piece of sheet material 130 to rotate 180° about its longitudinal L axis. In other words, the aggregate is rotated so that the first piece of sheet material 130 faces downwards. It is noted that the beam holding fingers 310 do not rotate together with the aggregate. To the contrary, the first end shoul- 15 der 320 and the second end shoulder 330 can be arranged to hold the aggregate at either longitudinal L end 113, 114, 123, 124 during the rotation, and in other words to rotate with the wall element aggregate. As is perhaps best viewed in Figure 13, the pivoting device 360 can be arranged at the second end shoulder 330, so that the pivoting device 360 is arranged to cause the beam holding means 331 to rotate. As all other movement described herein,0 this rotation can be automatic, such as driven pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically, or be manually driven initiated and / or driven.

[0124] During the rotation, the beam holding fingers 310 can be pushed down in order to not be in the way. After the rotation, the beam holding fingers 310 can be pushed up again, but in5 some embodiments not to their original height. Instead, the beam holding fingers 310 can be pushed upwards so that the first piece of sheet material 130 abuts and rests upon the lower shoulder edge 315 of each, or at least two, of the fingers 310. On other words, the height of the beam holding fingers 310 after being again pushed up is lower than during the first phase when the first piece of sheet material 130 was fastened to the beams 110, 120. It is noted that the first piece of sheet material 130, which is not fastened to the beams 110, 120, togetherwith the engagement by the end shoulders 320, 330 with the beams 110, 120, keeps the beams sufficiently straight and parallel during the rotation; and that the beam holding fingers 310 will achieve sufficient straightness and parallelity of the beams 110, 120 s once the first piece of material 130 rests on the lower shoulder edge 315. The latter can be achieved by the vertical edges 311, 312 engaging with the outside surfaces 115, 125 of the beams 110, 120 also in this position in order to keep them pressed inwards. This, in turn, can be achieved by the lower shoulder edge 315 of each holding finger 310 being arranged vertically lower than a respective highest point of the first vertical edge 311 and the second w vertical edge 312 of the holding finger 30 in question.

[0125] It is also noted that the holding fingers 310 can be vertically movable, and that the holding fingers 310 can be arranged vertically higher after the rotation as compared to before the rotation.

[0126] 15

[0127] Figure 16 shows the state after this rotation.

[0128] In this position, in which the interconnected first beam 110 and second beam 120 is oriented with the first piece of sheet material 130 downwards and abutting against the lower0 shoulder edge 315 of each holding finger 310, the second piece of sheet material 131 can be fastened from above to the respective longitudinal edge 116, 126 of the first beam 110 and the second beam 120, and to thereby interconnect the first beam 110 and the second beam 120 and to, in the above-discussed cross-section, define the space 140 by the first beam 110, the second beam 120, the first piece of sheet material 130 and the second piece5 of sheet material 131.

[0129] The second piece of sheet material 131 can be fastened in the corresponding manner as the first piece of sheet material 130, as described above. Figure 17 shows the state after this fastening of the second piece of sheet material 131. 0 Before the second piece of sheet material 131 is fastened, insulation 141 can be added to the space 140, as required.

[0130] Since both the pieces of sheet material 130, 131 now interconnects the beams 110, 120 at s different width-wise W sides of the beams 110, 120, the aggregate now constitutes a self- supporting wall element 100 that will stay straight even without any externally applied straightening forces.

[0131] It is realised that, in case adhesive is used, such as glue, adequate drying times may be re- w quired between steps. However, in case adhesive is combined with nail fastening or similar, such drying may not be necessary in between steps.

[0132] The wall element 110 can thereafter be brought to the next processing station, such as on a conveyor belt, roller track or manually. Such next processing station can be a part of the is apparatus or a different apparatus.

[0133] In some embodiments, illustrated in Figures 18-21, the apparatus 300 furthermore comprises a foil application device 360. The foil application device 360 may be arranged along an automatic production line, interconnected with the wall element 100 assembly machin-0 ery described above by a roller track or similar; or may be co-located with said machinery in one and the same production facility for wall elements 100 and manually fed with wall elements 100 assembled in the above-described manner.

[0134] The foil application device 360 can be arranged to apply a flexible foil material 132, 133 (the5 foil material explained above in connection to Figure 5, that can be a foam material) onto the first 131 and / or second 132 flexible material distance part of the wall element 100, the wall element 100 being longitudinally L moved through a tunnel 364 through the foil application device 360. The wall element 100 can be manually pushed though the device 360, as a result propelling driving belts 365; or be automatically driven by the driving belts 365 that0 are then in turn propelled by a suitable motor, such as an electric motor. The foil application device 360 can comprise a first roll 361, of the flexible foil material 132 or 133, arranged to unroll the flexible foil material 132 or 133 as a result of the wall element 100 moving through the foil application device 360 so that the flexible foil material 132 or 133 is applied onto the surface of the first 130 or second 131 piece of sheet material. In the Figures, only one roll 361 is shown, as the normal case is that only one of the pieces of sheet material 130, 131 is covered with foam. However, it is realised that the device 350 in some embodiments can comprise two different rolls 361 of foam material 132, 133 that are then applied on opposite width-wise W edges of the wall element 100 as it is moved through the tunnel 364.

[0135] Similarly, the foil application device 360 can further comprise one or two second rolls 363, for the above-described wind barrier 112 and / or water barrier 122. Then, the foil application device 360 is arranged to apply the wind barrier 112 and / or the water barrier 122 foil material onto depth-wise D sides of the first 110 and / or second 120 beam of a wall element 100 being longitudinally L moved through the foil application device 360, to achieve the arrangement shown in Figure 5. The respective second roll 363 can be arranged to unroll the flexible foil material 112, 122 in question as a result of the wall element 100 moving through the foil application device 360. Moreover, the foil application device 360 can comprise a fastening element application means 362 (see Figure 21), such as a nail applicator, arranged to drive fastening elements at regular intervals through the flexible foil material and into the first 110 and / or second 120 beam as a result of the wall element 100 moving through the foil application device 360.

[0136] In connection to when, or before, the wall element 100 is inserted into the tunnel 364, the various foil materials 112, 122, 132 and / or 133 to be applied to the different side parts 110, 120, 130, 131 of the wall element 100 can be fastened, such as using nails or similar, to the first longitudinal end 113 and / or 123 of the beams 110, 120. Then, as the wall element 100 passes through the tunnel, folding guides 367 continuously fold the foil material over corresponding longitudinal edges 116, 126 of the wall element 100, to achieve the end result illustrated in Figure 5 (before the application of the connecting beam(s) 111, 121), including at least one foil material 112, 122, 132, 133 folding over a different one.

[0137] As the wall element 100 passes through the tunnel, the driving belts 365 can be arranged s to activate the fastening elements activation means 362. For instance, the fastening activation means 362 can be activated by trigger elements arranged on or in connection to the driving belts, so that each passage of such trigger element past the fastening activation means 362 results in the automatic application of a nail to the beam(s) 110, 120. The fastening elements can be applied at even distances, such as at 100 mm distances from each w other along the longitudinal direction L.

[0138] Figure 22 illustrates a method for, using the apparatus 300 described above, to produce a wall element 100 of the above-described type. is In a first step, the method starts.

[0139] In a subsequent step, the apparatus 300 is provided.

[0140] In a subsequent step, the first beam 110 and the second beam 120 are provided, the first0 beam 110 and the second beam 120 each engaging with the first end shoulder 320, the second end shoulder 330 and each of the first vertical edges 311, the second vertical edges 312 and the sockets 313, 314, as described above. Thereby, the first beam 110 and the second beam 120 are arranged in the above-explained mounting orientation relation to each other. 5

[0141] In a subsequent step, the first piece of sheet material 130 is fastened from above to the respective longitudinal edge 116, 126 as described above, to thereby interconnect the first beam 110 and the second beam 120. 0 In a subsequent step, the interconnected first beam 110 and second beam 120 are rotated about the longitudinal L axis so that the first beam 110 and the second beam 120 each engages with the first end shoulder 320, the second end shoulder 330 and each of the first vertical edges 311 and the second vertical edges 312, whereas the first piece of sheet material 130 abuts against the lower shoulder edge 315 of each holding finger 310, also as described above.

[0142] In a subsequent step, the second piece of sheet material 131 is fastened from above to the respective longitudinal edge 116, 126 of the first beam 110 and the second beam 120, to thereby interconnect the first beam 110 and the second beam 120. In a subsequent step, the method ends. However, it is realised that all that has been said above in relation to the apparatus 300 is equally applicable to this method. Hence, the method can also comprise fastening adhesive and / or fastening elements using the first sled 340; the application of foil material 112, 122, 132 and / or 133 using the foil application device 360, and so forth.

[0143] Moreover, this method for producing the wall element 100 can be a part of a larger method, also comprising the below-described method for producing a wall 200 from several such produced wall elements 100. Figures 23-36 illustrate an apparatus 400 for producing the wall 200 from a plurality of wall elements 100. The apparatus 400 can be a part of the apparatus 300 described above, or the apparatuses 300, 400 can be used independently or form component parts of a larger apparatus for producing both wall elements 100 and walls 200. In Figures 23-26, the coordinate system L, W, D is depicted in relation to the first 230 and adjacent 220 wall elements, see below.

[0144] As described above, the wall 200 is produced as an aggregate of a plurality of the wall elements 100, and the apparatus 400 is hence arranged for such production. The apparatus 400 comprises a wall element holding device 410, arranged to receive and hold a next wall element 210 oriented, in an initial orientation (illustrated in Figure 26), so that its longitudinal direction L is horizontal and its width direction W is vertical. s The wall element holding device 410 is pivotable so as to pivot the next wall element 210 from to a raised orientation (shown in Figure 27), in which the longitudinal direction L of the next wall element 210 is instead vertical and the width direction W is horizontal.

[0145] It is understood that the longitudinal direction of next wall element 210 in its initial orien- w tation does not have to be exactly horizontal, but that is suffices if the wall element 210 is approximately horizontal, such as horizontal ±10°, or even horizontal ±45°. In particular, the next wall element 210 will be in a horizontal orientation when being finally produced in apparatus 300, and any transport to apparatus 400 may entail the orientation of the next wall element 210 changing. At any rate, the wall element holding device 410 is arranged to is change the longitudinal-direction L orientation of the next wall element 210 from an initial orientation which is not longitudinally L vertical to the raised orientation.

[0146] In this raised orientation, the next wall element 210 is parallel to an adjacent wall element 220 to which the next wall element 210 is to be joined to form part of said wall 200, see0 Figure 24.

[0147] In Figure 1 , a raised orientation is shown in which the next wall element 210 is at a distance from the adjacent wall element 220. From this position, the next wall element 210 can be manually or automatically rolled, on rolling track 450, into abutment with the adjacent wall5 element 220 before fastening the two together. In other embodiments, the wall element holding device 410 can be arranged to deliver the next wall element 210 directly into a raised orientation of the wall element 210 in which it abuts, along a width-direction W side wall of the next wall element 210, against a corresponding opposing width-direction W side of the adjacent wall element 220. Such abutted orientation is otherwise achieved by first0 raising the next wall element 210 and then automatically or manually sliding / rol li ng it into such abutment. The rolling track 450 can also be any suitable horizontal transport mechanism, such as a belt, and / or be split up in several different sub-tracks, as the case may be.

[0148] 5 The apparatus 400 further comprises a wall element fastening device 420, arranged to fasten the raised next and abutted wall element 210 to the adjacent wall element 220.

[0149] The apparatus 400 can comprise a horizontal third sled 430, see Figures 34-36. The third sled 430 is arranged to be horizontally translated along the roller track 450, away from the w wall element holding device 410 and the wall element fastening device 420.

[0150] The third sled 430 can also be arranged to attach to a vertically arranged first wall element 230, that will form an end wall element 100 in the produced wall 200. To achieve this, the third sled 430 is arranged to move the attached first wall element 230 away from the wall is element fastening device 420 to make room for the next wall element 210, and so on for each next wall element 210 to form part of the wall 200.

[0151] Whereas the wall elements 210, 220, 230 can be transported on the roller track 450, their longitudinal ends 114, 124 being in direct physical contact with an upper rolling surface 4510 of the roller track 450 (or correspondingly for other transport mechanisms), the third sled 430 can move on s separate guide, such as a wheeled guide, running in parallel to and along the roller track 450. Alternatively, the third sled 430 can move also on the upper rolling surface 451, but then being guided in its horizontal translatory movement by a suitable guide means. 5

[0152] In other words, the production process starts by attaching the first wall element 230 to the third sled 430, in a longitudinally L vertical orientation of the first wall element 230 at the wall element fastening device 420. Thereafter, the next wall element 210 is raised and attached to the first wall element 230. Then, the third sled moves away from the wall element0 holding device 410 a distance corresponding to the total width W of the next wall element 210. Then, a subsequent next wall element 210 is raised and attached to the previous next wall element, and so on until the wall 200 is completed. It is realised that the raised next wall element 210 can push the entire wall 200 away as a part of it being put in position to be fastened to the adjacent wall element 220. s The third sled 430 can comprise an adjustment means 431, arranged to adjust an angular (and possibly also translational) orientation of the first wall element 230 in relation to the wall element holding device 410 and / or in relation to the wall element fastening device 420. The adjustment means 431 can be arranged to provide such adjustment along at least three, or a full six, orthogonal rotary and / or translatory dimensions, so as to make sure that the w first wall element 230 is straight in relation to the next element 210, hence resulting in a straight produced wall 200.

[0153] The exemplifying adjustment means 431 shown in Figures 35 and 36 include through holes through which the first wall element 230 can be fastened to the adjustment means 431 is using nails or similar, before adjustment takes place. The adjustment itself can take place via adjustment screws or in any other suitable way. It is realised that, in practise, the adjustment can be in relation to the roller track 450 and as a result indirectly in relation to the wall element holding device 410 and / or the wall element fastening device 420 (the latter two then being fixedly mounted in relation to the roller track 450). 0

[0154] The wall element holding device 410 can comprise an end shoulder means 412, arranged to define a stop for the next wall element 210 being inserted into the wall element holding device 410 and slid in a longitudinal L forward direction, towards the wall element fastening device 420. This guarantees that the next wall element 210 is in the correct orientation and5 position before being raised. In Figure 30, such end shoulder means 412 are provided to independently of each other both define the position of and support in the longitudinal direction L of the second beam 120 and the connecting beam 121 of the next wall element 210. The corresponding can apply for the first beam 110 and the connecting beam 111. Such end shoulder means 412 can be applied individually or in combination. The one or several end shoulder means 412 can be arranged to automatically disengage from the next wall element 210 as a result of the wall element holding device 410 pivoting the next wall element 210 to the raised orientation. Such disengagement can be, for instance, by the end shoulder means 412 being mechanically connected to a beam raising mechanism of the wall element holding device 410, arranged so that, as an automatic result of the next wall element 210 being raised to its raised orientation, the end shoulder means 412 is pivoted or folded away from the end surface of the next wall element 210 being supported, respectively, so that the longitudinal L support in question as a result is discontinued.

[0155] With specific reference to Figures 26 and 1 , a pivot point 413 of the wall element holding device 410 can be arranged so that the next wall element 210 falls by gravity the last part of its trajectory to its raised orientation. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the Figures, this is achieved by a combined centre of gravity of the next wall element 210 and the pivoting part of the wall element holding device 410 being arranged so that it horizontally passes the pivot point 413 before the next wall element 210 reaches its raised orientation. This will guarantee that the next wall element 210 rests firmly on the upper rolling surface 451 down onto which it is pivoted once raised. Then, the apparatus 400 can be arranged with a dampening device 440 arranged to dampen this fall by gravity to the raised orientation, such as one or several gas springs arranged to be pushed in by the falling pivoting part and / or the falling next wall element 210. The dampening device 440 can also help to push the wall element holding device 410 back into the non-raised orientation to receive a subsequent next wall element 210.

[0156] As mentioned, the wall element holding device 410 can be arranged to raise the next wall element 210 such that it as a result is brought down onto the roller track 450 or corresponding horizontal translation device. In some embodiments, the roller track 450 has an upper rolling surface 451 which is slanted upwards, towards the wall element fastening device 420, for instance by an angle 452 being up to 3° in relation to the horizontal. This increases the chances of full contact between the next beam 210 and the roller track 450, and as a consequence adequate contact between the next wall element 210 and the adjacent wall element 220 in a desired vertical orientation with their respective lower ends perfectly aligned with each other. Namely, the wall s element holding device 410 is arranged to pivot the next wall element 210 to its raised orientation as described herein, and it can further be arranged to thereafter push the next wall element 210 horizontally towards a position at the wall element fastening device 420. Then, the next wall element 210 will be pushed against the upwards-sloping rolling surface 451 as a result of the next wall element 210 being horizontally pushed, particularly in case the next w wall element 210 does not have direct contact with the rolling surface 451 immediately when it assumes the vertical raised orientation. The horizontal pushing can be achieved by the wall element holding device 410 being arranged on its own horizontal guide, such as by the wall element holding device 410 being supported via wheels 454 on a horizontal rolling surface 453, and / or by the wall element holding device 410 being arranged with horizontal is pushers, such as pneumatic telescopic pushing arms, arranged to push the raised next wall element 210 horizontally towards the wall element fastening device 420.

[0157] See Figure 38, where it is also illustrated how the rolling surface 451 can be non-slanting (horizontal) from the wall element fastening device 420 and onwards. It is understood that0 the slanting angle in Figure 38 is exaggerated for clarity.

[0158] In some embodiments, the next wall element 210 is pushed vertically upwards slightly as a result of its horizontal translation and the slanting angle 452 of the rolling surface 451. Such vertical upwards movement can then be absorbed by elastic deformation and / or suitably5 arranged spring means in the wall element holding device 410.

[0159] As is illustrated in Figures 26-28, the wall element holding device 410 can comprise a connecting beam holding device 411, arranged to receive, accommodate and hold the (or both) connecting beam 111, 121 in relation to the next wall element 210. The connecting beam0 holding device 411 can be arranged to hold the connecting beam 111, 121 in question by squeezing it to the corresponding beam 110, 120 in question with or without applying any additional fastening means apart from friction due to said squeezing. In some embodiments, an adhesive can be applied to the connecting beam 111, 121 and / or the beam 110, 120 before arranging the connecting beam 111, 121 in direct contact with the beam 110, 120 in question.

[0160] For instance, the connecting beam holding device 411 can comprise one or several air bellows, arranged to apply the squeezing pressure.

[0161] The holding, by the connecting beam holding device 411, of the connecting beam 111, 121 in relation to the rest of the next wall element 210 can be arranged so that the connecting beam 111, 121 is raised together with the next wall element 210 in the raised orientation, in other words such that the holding is continued and persisted during the raising movement. This way, the connecting beam 111, 121 can be secured in relation to the corresponding beam 110, 120 in question in a desired final relative orientation, which is maintained as the next wall element 210 is raised and put into its raised orientation for fastening to the adjacent wall element 220.

[0162] The connecting beam holding device 411 can be arranged to allow the connecting beam(s) 111, 121 to be put in position next to the corresponding beam 110, 120 in question after the next wall element 210 has been put into the wall element holding device 410 but after the raising thereof. Then, the connecting beam holding device 411, such as the end shoulder means 412, can be arranged to unambiguously define a relative orientation between the connecting beam 111, 121 and the rest of the next wall element 210 before the connecting beam holding device 411 is activated to fasten (such as by squeezing) the connecting beam 111, 121 to the corresponding beam 110, 120 in question.

[0163] In some embodiments, the connecting beam holding device 411 is arranged with squeezing means, such as the squeezing tongues shown in the Figures, in turn arranged to apply a squeezing force outwardly-inwards in the depth direction D. These squeezing means can then be arranged to define a space for the connecting beam 111, 121 to be inserted into, such as from above, before applying said squeezing force. In some embodiments, the squeezing force in question can be focussed to a lower part of the connecting beam 111, 121 in question once it is in the inserted position (in the nonraised orientation), resulting in that the connecting beam bends outwards slightly upwards, 5 in relation to the corresponding beam 110, 120 in question. This simplifies the engagement between the adjacent wall element 220 and the next wall element 210, in particular in case two connecting beams 111, 121 are used, arranged on either depth-wise D side of the next wall element 210. w Turning to Figures 31-33, the wall element fastening device 420 can comprise a vertical second sled 421 that can be similar to the first sled 340 (above) and that is arranged to move along a longitudinal L path in relation to a wall element 100, in this case the next 210 and adjacent 220 wall elements, and to apply fastening means. is Namely, said path can comprise a plurality of triggering elements 422 (see Figure 33), arranged to cause the second sled 421 to apply a respective fastening element when passing each triggering element 422. The triggering elements 422 can be cam elements past and over which the second sled 421 is arranged to move along said path. The fastening elements can be nails or screws being applied through one or both connecting beams 111, 121 and0 further into the material of the adjacent beam 220, such as into the material of the first 110 and / or second 120 beam of the adjacent beam 220. The second sled 421 can also be arranged to apply fastening elements of said type through one or both connecting beams 111, 121 and into the material of the next wall element 210, such as int the material of the first 110 and / or second 120 beam of the next wall element 210. The second sled 412 can be5 arranged to, in addition or instead of said nails or screws, apply adhesive between the connecting beam 111, 121 and the adjacent wall element 220 so as to fasten the next wall element 210 to the adjacent wall element 220.

[0164] In some embodiments, the connecting beam(s) 111 and / or 121 are not fastened to the next0 wall element 210 in any way, apart from the above-described squeezing force, before being fastened using nails or screws by the wall element fastening device 420. In the particular example shown in Figure 33, there are three different rows of triggering elements 422. In general, each such row of triggering elements can be triggering of one of the following actions: a) fastening element application with respect to the next wall element 5 210 and / or the adjacent wall element 220; b) width-wise W movement of the second sled into position for inserting fastening element with respect to the next wall element 210 or the adjacent wall element 220; or c) fastening element hold (no application of the fastening element). w In general, two lines of fastening elements can be applied on each depth-side D side of the next wall element 210; one between the next wall element 210 and the connection beam 111, 121 in question; and one between the adjacent wall element 220 and the connecting beam 111, 121 in question. Using said triggering elements 422, these two lines of fastening elements can be applied by one single longitudinal L sweep by the second sled 421.

[0165] 15

[0166] In some embodiments, the wall elements 100 constituting the wall 200 are only fastened one to the next via the connecting beams 111, 121 of the respective wall elements 100. Such fastening can be only between each connecting beam 111, 121 in question and two respective adjacent wall elements 100, by nails, screws and / or adhesive as has been de-0 scribed above. In other words, the wall 200 can be constructed without any two adjacent wall elements 100 being connected directly to each other, apart from via said connecting beams 111, 121.

[0167] In general, the wall 200 can comprise a connecting beam 111, 121 protruding in the width5 direction W from at least one of the next wall element 210 and the adjacent wall element

[0168] 220 and being fastened to both the next wall element 210 and the adjacent wall element 220.

[0169] In the wall 200, the respective first piece of sheet material 130 of each next wall element0 210 can be separated from the respective second piece of sheet material 131 of each adjacent wall element 220 by the first 132 and / or second 133 piece of foam, as described above. Also as described above, the wind barrier 112 and / or vapour barrier 122 of each wall element 100 can together form a connected wind barrier and / or vapour barrier 122 across the whole wall. The connections via said foam material 132, 133 can serve both to seal the wind barrier 112 and / or vapour barrier 122 between adjacent wall elements 100, and to also s absorb any tolerances between adjacent wall elements 100.

[0170] Figure 37 illustrates a method for operating the apparatus 400 to produce the wall 200. It is realized that the method illustrated in figure 37 can be a continuation of the method shown in Figure 22, the methods then both forming constituent parts of one single method w for producing wall elements 100 as well as the wall 200. The methods of Figures 22 and 37 can be performed consecutively, partly overlapping or completely overlapping (in parallel). What is important is that each wall element 100 forming part of the wall 200 is manufactured first, before being included into the wall 200. Already manufactured wall elements 100 can be stored in an intermediary storage or be moved directly to the apparatus 400 to is form part of the wall 200.

[0171] In a first step, the method starts.

[0172] In a subsequent step, the apparatus 400 is provided. 0

[0173] In a subsequent step, the next wall element 210 is provided (for instance directly from apparatus 3009 and placed in the wall element holding device 410 as described above, in the initial orientation of the next wall element 210 so that its longitudinal direction L is horizontal and its width direction W is vertical. 5

[0174] In a subsequent step, one or both connecting beams 111, 121 can be mounted and fastened to the rest of the next wall element 210.

[0175] In a subsequent step, the wall element holding device 410 is pivoted to its raised orientation0 in which the longitudinal direction L of the next wall element 210 is instead vertical. The next wall element 210 is arranged to be parallel with, and to abut along a width-direction W side wall of the next wall element 210, the adjacent wall element 220 to which the next wall element 210 is to be joined. As described above, any connecting beam(s) 111, 121 follow, together with the next element 210 as one rigid aggregate, in this pivoting. s In a subsequent step, the wall element fastening device 420 fastens the raised next wall element 210 to the adjacent wall element 220.

[0176] In a subsequent step, the now fastened next wall element 210 (together with the entire wall 200 thus far manufactured, comprising all wall elements 100 from the first wall element w 230 to the recently fastened next wall element 210) can be horizontally translated away from the wall element holding device 410 so as to make room for a subsequent next wall element 210. Thereby, the previous next wall element 210 becomes the subsequent adjacent wall element 220. is In a subsequent step, the method ends.

[0177] It is understood that the method can also comprise the providing, fastening and adjustment of the first wall element 230 in the manner described above. 0 In the first iteration of the method, the first wall element 230 will be the adjacent wall element 220.

[0178] The method may also comprise providing and fastening any desired end wall element, which is then processed in the corresponding way as any next wall element 210. 5

[0179] Above, preferred embodiments have been described. However, it is apparent to the skilled person that many modifications can be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the basic idea of the invention. 0 For instance, numerous other types of wall members may be used in the building construction system and a wall 200, apart from the exemplifying ones described herein. One example is to make the inner 120 and outer 110 support parts of different widths for a "FA" type wall element, making it possible to build angled window embrasures.

[0180] Unless otherwise stated, all processing steps described herein can be performed automati- cally, using per se conventional automation techniques and driven by suitable pneumatic, hydraulic and / or electric devices.

[0181] In general, all which is said regarding the wall elements, walls, apparatuses and methods herein can be combined freely.

[0182] Hence, the invention is not limited to the described embodiments, but can be varied within the scope of the enclosed claims.

[0183] C L A I M S

[0184] 1. Apparatus (400) for producing a wall (200) or roof, the wall (200) or roof being produced as an aggregate of a plurality of elongated wall elements (100), each wall element s (100) being associated with a longitudinal direction (L), a width direction (W) and a depth direction (D), the wall elements (100) formingthe wall (200) being joined together with their width-direction (W) sides facing each other, the apparatus (400) comprising a wall element holding device (410), arranged to receive and hold a next wall element (210) oriented, in an initial orientation, so that its longitudinal direction (L) is horizontal and w its width direction (W) is vertical, the wall element holding device (410) being pivotable so as to pivot the next wall element (210) to a raised orientation in which the longitudinal direction (L) of the next wall element (210) is instead vertical and the next wall element (210) is parallel to and abuts, along a width-direction (W) side wall of the next wall element (210), an adjacent wall element (220) to which the next wall element (210) is to be joined; is and a wall element fastening device (420), arranged to fasten the raised next wall element (210) to the adjacent wall element (220).

[0185] 2. Apparatus (400) according to claim 1, wherein 0 the wall element fastening device (420) comprises a vertical second sled (421), arranged to move along a longitudinal (L) path in relation to the next (210) and adjacent (220) wall elements, the path comprising a plurality of triggering elements (422) arranged to cause the second sled (421) to apply a fastening element when passing each triggering element (422). 5

[0186] 3. Apparatus (400) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wall (200) or roof comprises a connecting beam (111,121) protruding in the width direction (W) from at least one of the next wall element (210) and the adjacent wall element (220) and being fastened to both the next wall element (210) and the adjacent wall element0 (220); and wherein

Claims

the wall element fastening device (420) is arranged to fasten the connecting beam (111,121) to at least one of the next wall element (210) and the adjacent wall element (220) so as to join them together via the connecting beam (111,121). s 4. Apparatus (400) according to claim 2 and 3, wherein the second sled (421) is arranged to apply each fastening element through the connecting beam (111,121) and into the next (210) or adjacent (220) wall element.

5. Apparatus (400) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein w the wall element holding device (410) comprises a connecting beam holding device(411), arranged to receive, accommodate and hold the connecting beam (111,121) in relation to the next wall element (210), in a way so that the connecting beam (111,121) is raised together with the next wall element (210) in the raised orientation. is 6. Apparatus (400) according to any preceding claim, further comprising a horizontal third sled (430), arranged to be fastened to a vertically arranged first wall element (230) and to move the first wall element (230) away from the wall element fastening device to make room for the next wall element (210). 0 7. Apparatus (400) according to claim 6, wherein the third sled (430) comprises an adjustment means (431), arranged to adjust an angular orientation of the first wall element (230) in relation to the wall element holding device (410).

8. Apparatus (400) according to any preceding claim, wherein the wall element holding device (410) comprises an end shoulder means (412), arranged to define a stop for the next wall element (210) being inserted into the wall element holding device (410) and slid in a longitudinal (L) forward direction, and wherein the end shoulder means (412) is arranged to automatically disengage from the next0 wall element (210) as a result of the wall element holding device (410) pivoting the next wall element (210) to the raised orientation.

9. Apparatus (400) according to any preceding claim, wherein a pivot point (413) of the wall element holding device (410) is arranged so that the next wall element (210) falls by gravity the last part of its trajectory to the raised orientation.

10. Apparatus (400) according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus (400) is arranged with a dampening device (440) arranged to dampen said fall by gravity to the raised orientation.

11. Apparatus (400) according to any preceding claim, further comprising a roller track (450) down onto which the next wall element (210) is brought as a result of the pivoting of the next wall element (210) to the raised orientation, wherein the roller track (450) has an upper rolling surface which is slanted upwards, towards the wall element fastening device (420), for instance by up to 3°, in relation to the horizon- tai.

12. Method for producing a wall (200) or roof, the wall (200) or roof being produced as an aggregate of a plurality of elongated wall elements (100), each wall element (100) being associated with a longitudinal direction (L), a width direction (W) and a depth direction (D), the wall elements (100) forming the wall (200) being joined together with their width-direction (W) sides facing each other, the method comprising the steps providing an apparatus (400) according to any preceding claim; placing a next wall element (210) in the wall element holding device (410) of the apparatus (400) in an initial orientation of the next wall element (210), so that its longitudinal direction (L) is horizontal and its width direction (W) is vertical; causing the wall element holding device (410) to pivot the next wall element (210) to a raised orientation in which the longitudinal direction (L) of the next wall element (210) is instead vertical and the next wall element (210) is parallel to and abuts, along a width-direction (W) side wall of the next wall element (210), an adjacent wall element (220) to which the next wall element (210) is to be joined; andcausing the wall element fastening device (420) to fasten the raised next wall element (210) to the adjacent wall element (220).

Images