Laminated log and method

Abstract

A laminated log (100) has a longitudinal direction (40), a height direction (20) and a width direction (30). The log comprises a middle lamella (110) extending in the longitudinal direction of the log, a first lateral lamella (120a) extending in the longitudinal direction of the log and a second lateral lamella (120) extending in the longitudinal direction of the log. The middle lamella has a grain direction extending in the height direction of the log. The first and the second lateral lamella have a grain direction extending in the longitudinal direction of the log. The middle lamella is, in the width direction of the log, between the first and the second lateral lamella. The middle lamella is provided with two load-bearing support point lines extending in the longitudinal direction of the log for supporting the log comprising a first support point line and a second support point line, which are spaced from each other in the width direction of the log.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to log construction and specifically to construction using laminated logs.BACKGROUND

[0002] A laminated log is a solid log made of several lamellas, which is widely used in log construction. Assembling the laminated logs into a laminated log structure, such as a laminated log wall, requires typically the use of one or more support structures in order to achieve sufficient stability for the structure to support several laminated logs on top of each other.SUMMARY

[0003] The invention utilizes laminated logs having both vertical and horizontal grain direction lamellas. The laminated log may be a rectangular, i.e. a square laminated log. A horizontal grain direction lamella herein refers to a lamella, i.e. a wood plate, in which the wood grain extends substantially horizontally when the laminated log is in a horizontal plane. Specifically, the grain may extend in this case in a longitudinal direction of the laminated log, which is at the same time a longitudinal direction of the raw material timber. A vertical grain direction lamella correspondingly refers to a lamella in which the wood grain extends substantially vertically when the laminated log is in a horizontal plane, i.e. in a height direction of the laminated log. The vertical grain direction lamella may be provided by fastening several vertical grain direction pieces of timber side by side for example directly onto each other by gluing. This enables the vertical grain direction lamella to be equally long as the horizontal grain direction lamella, as the length of the raw material timber is significantly greater than the width. The structural parts of logs, and specifically laminated logs, have been defined, i.a., in standard SFS 5973. An advantage of the laminated log, for example compared to a solid planed log, is the possibility to obtain timber that is very dry and has uniform quality. This, in turn, reduces the moisture-induced deformation of the final structure, i.e. changes in the width and height of the structure. Additionally, cracking and settling of the structure may be reduced. By gluing, the structure may also be made substantially non-warping and non-twisting.

[0004] A laminated log according to the invention (which may also be referred to herein more concisely as a log) has a longitudinal direction, a height direction and a width direction. The log comprises a middle lamella extending in the longitudinal direction of the log, a first lateral lamella extending in the longitudinal direction of the log and a second lateral lamella extending in the longitudinal direction of the log, wherein the middle lamella has a grain direction extending in the height direction of the log and the first and the second lateral lamella have a grain direction extending in the longitudinal direction of the log. The middle lamella is, in the width direction of the log, between the first and the second lateral lamella. The middle lamella may now be provided with two load-bearing support point lines extending in the longitudinal direction of the log for supporting the log comprising a first support point line and a second support point line, which are spaced from each other in the width direction of the log. The support point lines may this way be formed of the wood material of the middle lamella, such that additional support structures are needed less or in some cases are not needed at all. The support point lines on which the middle lamella may be supported can provide greater capacity against buckling for structures using a laminated log, i.e. the bending strength of the structure in its height direction is improved, whereby the same buckling capacity / bending strength capacity may be provided for the structure with fewer additional support structures, such as couplings.

[0005] The support point lines are at a support surface of the middle lamella, which may be a lower surface or an upper surface of the middle lamella. The support point lines help, among other things, as the wood material of the middle lamella is drying. If the middle lamella did not have the two separate support point lines, but it was for example flat on its support surface, the drying of the wood material of the middle lamella could cause the middle lamella to be only partly load-bearing, which is not controlled. When several laminated logs are stacked on top of each other, no vertical load-bearing support line are thereby formed through the laminated logs. The middle lamella, and the entire laminated log, may be formed, by means of the support lines, as a double-supported structure. The middle lamella, and the entire laminated log, may thus be arranged to enable standing of the middle lamella / laminated log (itself or an overlying similar one) on these two support point lines. The first support point line the second support point line may therefore be arranged to receive the weight exerted on the support surface defined by the first support point line and the second support point line.

[0006] In one embodiment, a lower surface and / or an upper surface of the middle lamella has a recess extending in the longitudinal direction of the log for forming said first and / or second support point line adjacent to said recess. The first and / or the second support point line may thus be formed at a projection raised from an edge of the recess at the upper surface or the lower surface of the middle lamella. This way, the first and / or the second support point line may be efficiently produced by removing wood material from the middle lamella. In one embodiment, said recess is a planed groove that may be made quickly and with precision.

[0007] In one embodiment, said middle lamella is wider than either one of said first and second lateral lamella. This can increase stability of the log and the first support point line and the second support point line can be moved further away from each other in the width direction of the laminated log. Thereby the buckling resistance of structures using a laminated log can be improved and, if necessary, the number of additional support structures such as couplings in the structures in question reduced. In one embodiment, said middle lamella is wider than said first and second lateral lamella combined.

[0008] In one embodiment, the upper surface or the lower surface of the middle lamella is flat. This facilitates the formation of a vertical load-bearing line with a laminated log at an interface (lower surface with upper surface or upper surface with lower surface) of which there is a corresponding load-bearing support point line as in the laminated log according to the invention. Thus, two or more laminated logs according to the invention may be stacked on top of each other so that, at their interfaces, the support point line(s) of a first log at the upper surface of the middle lamella of the first log and a flat lower surface of a second log, or the support point line(s) of a first log at the lower surface of the middle lamella of the first log and a flat upper surface of a second log meet each other.

[0009] In one embodiment, said first support point line and said second support point line are located, in the width direction of the log, at opposite outer edges of the middle lamella. Thereby the support point lines in the middle lamella can be distanced from each other and this distance may be maximized.

[0010] In one embodiment, said middle lamella comprises, in the height direction of the log, two or more pieces of lamellas glued together.

[0011] In one embodiment, said middle lamella is at least partially formed of exactly one piece of lamella in the height direction of the log. The middle lamella may thus have one or more pieces of lamellas of the height of the middle lamella. The middle lamella may be formed of pieces of lamellas of the height of the middle lamella along its entire length and / or width.

[0012] In one embodiment, said middle lamella comprises, in the longitudinal direction of the log, two or more pieces of lamellas glued together.

[0013] In one embodiment, said middle lamella comprises pieces of lamellas of the width of the middle lamella located one after the other in the longitudinal direction of the log.

[0014] In one embodiment, said middle lamella comprises, in the width direction of the log, two or more pieces of lamellas glued together.

[0015] In one embodiment, said middle lamella is at least partially formed of exactly one piece of lamella in the width direction of the log. The middle lamella may thus have one or more pieces of lamellas of the width of the middle lamella. The middle lamella may be formed of pieces of lamellas of the width of the middle lamella along its entire length and / or height.

[0016] In one embodiment, the first lateral lamella and / or the second lateral lamella comprises, in the height direction of the log, two or more pieces of lamellas glued together.

[0017] In one embodiment, said first lateral lamella and / or second lateral lamella is at least partially formed of exactly one piece of lamella in the height direction of the log. The first lateral lamella and / or the second lateral lamella may thus have one or more pieces of lamellas of the height of these lamellas. Said lateral lamella (or lateral lamellas) may be formed of pieces of lamellas of the height of said lateral lamella along their entire width and / or length.

[0018] According to the invention, a method for making a laminated log may also be implemented. The laminated log may be any of the laminated logs described above and it has a longitudinal direction, a height direction and a width direction. In the method a middle lamella is fastened to extend along the longitudinal direction of said log between a first and a second lateral lamella in the width direction of the log such that the middle lamella has a grain direction extending in the height direction of the log and the first and the second lateral lamella have a grain direction extending in the longitudinal direction of the log. Two load-bearing support point lines extending in the longitudinal direction of the log are machined into the middle lamella for supporting the log. These support point lines comprise a first support point line and a second support point line, which are spaced from each other in the width direction of the log.

[0019] In one embodiment, a recess extending in the longitudinal direction of the log is machined into a lower surface and / or an upper surface of the middle lamella for forming said first and / or second support point line adjacent to said recess. Specifically, said recess may be machined by planing.

[0020] According to the invention, a laminated log structure, such as a laminated log wall or a laminated log house, comprising two or more laminated logs which may be laminated logs in accordance with any of the laminated logs described above may be implemented. Said two or more laminated logs are positioned in the laminated log structure on top of each other in the height direction such that first support point lines of the laminated logs on top of each other are aligned and second support point lines of the laminated logs on top of each other are aligned. In the laminated log structure, the pairs of support point lines on top of each other (in each one the first support point line and the second support point line) improve the bending strength of the laminated log structure in the height direction. This reduces the need for couplings for connecting the laminated logs on top of each other together, because due to the new structure and basic form of the log, the laminated log structure is initially more stable compared, for example, to a single-supported structure. The two support point lines of a single laminated log will be advantageous to the entire laminated log structure.

[0021] The above embodiments may be applied in any combination with the laminated log and / or the method according to the invention. Several embodiments may be combined to form a new embodiment. Specifically, the laminated log according to the invention, as such or combined with any embodiment, may be applied in the above method. Additionally, the stages related to forming the laminated log according to the invention may also be carried out in connection with the above method.LIST OF FIGURES

[0022] The invention will now be described in detail by way of examples of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1-3 illustrate some embodiments of a laminated log according to the invention as a cross-sectional view seen in a longitudinal direction of the laminated log, FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a laminated log according to the invention seen in a height direction of the laminated log, and FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a method according to the invention.

[0023] In the figures, similar reference numbers represent corresponding or at least functionally corresponding structural parts.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The following detailed description provided with reference to the accompanying figures is intended as a description of examples and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the examples may be carried out or used. The same or equivalent functions and structures may also be achieved with different examples.

[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates a laminated log 100 (also "log") on top of a second laminated log 10, wherein said second laminated log may be identical to or different from the laminated log 100 on top of it. The laminated log has a longitudinal direction (FIG 4: 40) which may also be referred to, for example, as "length direction", a height direction 20 which may also be referred to, for example, as "vertical direction" and a width direction 30 which may also be referred to, for example, as "lateral direction" or "transverse direction". The height direction and the width direction may be in a plane perpendicular to each other, whereby the longitudinal direction is perpendicular to that plane (the image plane herein).

[0026] The laminated log 100 may be delimited in the height direction by a lower surface 104 and an upper surface 102 that may be matching for example so that they are fit-adapted to each other, whereby similar laminated logs may be tightly stacked on top of each other. The laminated log may be delimited in the lateral direction by a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface that are opposite lateral surfaces (e.g. left side and right side). The first and the second lateral surface may be identical or different shaped, for example mirror images of each other. They may be flat surfaces, such as vertical surfaces, or curved surfaces. The laminated log may be more than 10cm wide in the lateral direction, for example 20cm or more. The width in the lateral direction may correspond to the strength of a wall, such as an exterior wall. The laminated log may be several meters long in the longitudinal direction, for example at least 2-4 meters or more. The laminated log may be a round log or a rectangular log. The laminated log may be a so-called non-settling laminated log.

[0027] According to the invention, several laminated logs 100 may be stacked into a laminated log structure which may be for example a laminated log wall. On the other hand, the laminated log structure, such as a laminated log house, may comprise one or more sets of laminated logs 100 on top of each other. In the laminated log structure, a part or all of the laminated logs may thereby be positioned on top of each the other in the height direction, specifically such that first support point lines of the laminated logs on top of each other are aligned and second support point lines of the laminated logs on top of each other are aligned. A first support point line of a lower laminated log may thus be in the same height direction, i.e. specifically vertical, plane as a first support point line of one or more upper laminated logs on top of it. Correspondingly, a second support point line of a lower laminated log may be in the same height direction, specifically vertical, plane as a second support point line of one or more upper laminated logs on top of it. The height of the laminated log structure may be more than 1 meter, for example room height, i.e. at least 2 meters or more specifically at least 2.5 meters. The height of the laminated log structure may also be at least floor height, i.e. 3 meters or more. Its height may thereby comprise not only the wall height, but also the height of the base floor and / or roof structures. The laminated logs may be pressed onto each other for example by hammering. The laminated log structure may comprise several laminated logs, for example ten or more, stacked on top of each other to form a vertical structure such as a wall.

[0028] In a solution according to the invention, the laminated log 100 comprises a middle lamella 110 extending in the longitudinal direction of the log, a first lateral lamella 120a extending in the longitudinal direction of the log and a second lateral lamella 120b extending in the longitudinal direction of the log (jointly also "lateral lamellas"), wherein the middle lamella has a grain direction extending in the height direction of the log (indicated by symbol 10 in the figures) and the first and the second lateral lamella have a grain direction extending in the longitudinal direction of the log. The middle lamella is, in the width direction of the log, between the first and the second lateral lamella. In general, the vertical grain direction lamellas may be symmetrically in relation to a vertical line dividing the laminated log 100 in the middle. Specifically, the middle lamella 110 may be on this midline of the laminated log 100. The first lateral lamella 120a and / or the second lateral lamella 120b may be immediately fastened to the middle lamella 110, for example by glue bonding. A risk of warping and / or cracking of the log may thus be reduced. The lateral lamellas may receive bending stresses exerted on the log. The lamellas 110, 120a, 120b may be substantially entirely wooden. The lateral surfaces of the lamellas may be substantially vertical, which may be provided for example by planing, however so that specifically the lamella located on an outer surface of the laminated log may be alternatively also curved on its outer lateral surface.

[0029] The laminated log structure may be formed by stacking laminated logs 100 comprising one or more vertical grain direction lamellas on top of each other. When the vertical lamellas are this way arranged on top of each other, they form a vertical load-bearing line, which may be substantially on the midline of the laminated logs. The structure may thus also be substantially non-shrinking compared for example to a structure having only horizontal grain direction logs, as the shrinkage occurring upon drying of the wood is significantly lesser in the vertical direction than in other directions. The laminated logs themselves may be installed in the structure horizontally, whereby their longitudinal direction is substantially in a horizontal plane. The laminated log 100 comprises at least two horizontal grain direction lamellas, one of which is located, in the width direction of the laminated log, on one side of the vertical grain direction lamella and the other one is located on its other side. One or both of the horizontal grain direction lamellas, such as the first lateral lamella 120a and / or the second lateral lamella 120b, may form a lateral outer surface of the laminated log, for example so that the heartwood of the horizontal grain direction lamella opens to the outside. This may improve the surface resistance of the structure.

[0030] The laminated log 100 may be formed by fastening exactly three, but alternatively also more, individual lamellas to each other in the width direction of the laminated log. Thus, a single laminated log has at least three layers of lamellas in the width direction. Each lamella may be formed of one or more pieces of lamellas that may be pieces of sawn timber. The pieces of lamellas may be glued together to form the lamella and may be glued together before fastening the lamellas to each other. In a specific embodiment, the first lateral lamella 120a and / or the second lateral lamella 120b is formed of exactly one piece of lamella. Independently of whether the first lateral lamella 120a and / or the second lateral lamella 120b is formed of one or more pieces of lamellas, the middle lamella 110 may be formed of more than one piece of lamella (and specifically of more pieces of lamellas than either one of the lateral lamellas).

[0031] In the height direction of the log 100, one or more of said lamellas 110, 120a, 120b may be formed of exactly one, but alternatively also of two or more pieces of lamellas. In the figures, this is illustrated by dashed line 20, at which the lamellas 110, 120a, 120b may either continue uninterrupted or at which there may be an interface between two pieces of lamellas on top of each other. All layer combinations are possible: the first lateral lamella 120a and / or the second lateral lamella 120b may be formed, in the height direction of the log 100, of exactly one piece of lamella when the middle lamella 110 is formed, in the height direction of the log, of exactly one piece of lamella or alternatively of exactly two or more pieces of lamellas, but the first lateral lamella 120a and / or the second lateral lamella 120b may also be formed, in the height direction of the log 100, of exactly two or more pieces of lamellas when the middle lamella 110 is formed, in the height direction of the log, of exactly one or alternatively of exactly two or more pieces of lamellas. By using, in any lamella 110, 120a, 120b, two or more pieces of lamellas in its height direction, that lamella can be made solid also in the height direction, even in case the size of the raw material is limited, for example to a height of less than 20 centimetres.

[0032] In all above-mentioned cases, the middle lamella 110 may be formed, in the longitudinal direction of the log, of two or more pieces of lamellas. On the other hand, the first lateral lamella 120a and / or the second lateral lamella 120b may be formed, in the longitudinal direction of the log, also of two or more pieces of lamellas, but specifically of exactly one piece of lamella. The lateral lamellas 120a, 120b and the middle lamella 110 may hereby be substantially equally long. They may also be substantially equally high, such that their upper and lower surfaces are positioned substantially flush with one another. The first lateral lamella 120a and the second lateral lamella 120b may be substantially equally wide, but as illustrated, specifically the middle lamella 100 may be made wider in the solution according to the invention than the first lateral lamella 120a and / or the second lateral lamella 120b or, above all, even equally wide as or wider than the first and the second lateral lamella combined. The width of the middle lamella may be more than 10cm, for example 20-30cm or more.

[0033] In all above-mentioned cases, the middle lamella 110 may be formed, in the width direction of the log, of exactly one, but alternatively also of two or more pieces of lamellas. By using, in the middle lamella 110, two or more pieces of lamellas in its width direction, that lamella can be made solid in the width direction, even in case the size of the raw material is limited, for example to a width of less than 10 centimetres. Specifically, the middle lamella may be formed, in the width direction of the log, of exactly one and, in the longitudinal direction of the log, of two or more pieces of lamellas. Alternatively, the middle lamella may be formed, both in the width direction of the log and in the longitudinal direction of the log, of two or more pieces of lamellas.

[0034] The lamellas 110, 120a, 120b may be fastened to each other by gluing, whereby warping and / or cracking of the logs may be reduced. When horizontal grain direction and vertical grain direction lamellas are glued together in the laminated log, a cross-laminated log is provided. The advantage of the structure is reduced settling or substantially no settling, which facilitates a desired outcome to be achieved. As a natural material, wood is shaped also after installation, and reduced settling in the vertical direction which is essential for the structure affects in many ways not only the design of the laminated log structure and special fasteners needed in the installation stage, but also the final structure obtained and its airtightness. The non-settling property of the laminated logs allows other materials to be attached directly to them without slide fastenings. Further, the non-settling property may be supported by arranging the seam between the middle lamellas 110 on top of each other so as to form two support point lines, the location of which is shown in the figures by arrows 130. The support point lines may be arranged along the longitudinal direction of the log and thus parallel to each other. The support point lines comprise a first support point line and a second supporting point line, which may together receive the weight exerted on the plane defined by the support point lines, which may include the weight of the laminated log and / or of the structures on top of it, such as one or more corresponding laminated logs.

[0035] The laminated logs 100 on top of each other may be fastened to each other by screws, such as by wood screws. Contrary to the laminated log structures used in the field for years, additional load-bearing support structures such as wood pegs, metal pipes or tightening bolts are thereby not needed. The vertical load-bearing lines of the laminated log may be created exclusively in the middle lamella, whereby the lateral lamellas may be made narrow. The vertical load-bearing lines of the log may also be formed exclusively of the support point lines, such as the first and the second support point line.

[0036] The laminated logs 100 may be tightened to each other by tightening screws, such as partial thread screws, that may be arranged at one or more vertical grain direction lamellas (specifically the middle lamella 110). The tightening screws may be arranged, in the laminated logs 100 on top of each other, in alignment so that they form a substantially vertical line that may extend substantially along the entire height of the laminated log structure. Apart from the tightening screws, no other couplings are required, and in the laminated log structure, the laminated logs on top of each other may be coupled to each other only by the tightening screws.

[0037] In general, the invention enables the laminated log structure to be formed more efficiently than before, with sufficient capacity against buckling and / or bending strength in the height direction, for example to exceed certain threshold values. It is also possible to form the laminated log structure quickly and efficiently, as there is no need to perform extensive drilling for erecting the structure, such as drilling for pipes to be introduced through the structure. All drilling to be performed in the laminated log structure and / or, specifically, the drilling to be performed in the vertical grain direction lamellas, such as the middle lamella, may thus have a diameter of less than 50 millimetres, for example a diameter of less than 40 millimetres plus / minus 0-5 millimetres or narrower. This specifically applies to drilling needed for erecting the laminated log structure, as naturally the structure may still be provided with various types of connection drilling such as drilling for electric cabling spaces, which may be relatively large-scale. The drilling necessary for the laminated log structure itself may only be pre-drilling facilitating the installation of screws, which only extends along a part of the height of the laminated logs, for example for less than 50% of the height. In practice, this may mean for example drilling for 11 plus / minus 0-5 centimetres in the height direction. As to any drilling that may be missing, it may also be performed afterwards at the worksite, which may reduce the need to return the laminated logs to the factory.

[0038] The laminated log 100 may be formed of pieces of solid wood coupled to each other, and may therefore be substantially solid, such that support structures extending in the height direction through the laminated log are not needed. Coupling screws extending through a boundary surface, i.e. the upper or lower surface, of the laminated log are for example sufficient. Specifically, the lateral lamellas, such as the first lateral lamella 120a and / or the second lateral lamella 120b, may thus have a single uninterrupted cross-sectional surface (in the plane defined by the width direction and the longitudinal direction). Their cross-sectional surface may therefore be hole-free or at least substantially hole-free, i.e. without vertical support structures. The laminated log may still be provided with coupling structures, such as pathways for electric cables or edge fastenings, without substantially weakening the load-bearing capacity of the log.

[0039] The laminated log 100, specifically the middle lamella 110, may, however, have one or more holes (also "the holes") for screws, also in the case described above. The holes may be pre-drilled and may correspond to the above-mentioned drilling and / or pre-drilling. They may extend halfway through the middle lamella or further in the height direction. The holes may have a diameter of for example 14 millimetres plus / minus 0-6 millimetres, but also larger. The holes may be drilled holes and thus relatively large, for example 40 millimetres plus / minus 0-5 millimetres in diameter. The size of the holes may also be adapted for passing not only the screw, but also a cable such as an electric cable into the laminated log 100. The depth of the holes may be less than 100% of the height of the laminated log, also when the laminated log 100 is formed of several layers of lamellas. For example, in a two-layered structure, the holes may be made in one or more upper pieces of lamellas, such that the holes may be for example 80% plus / minus 0-10% of the height of the upper piece of lamella. The holes may be located at different points in the laminated logs on top of each other, as they do not need to form a vertical line. The vertical support needed for supporting the laminated log structure may be provided with the support point lines, such as the first support point line and the second support point line.

[0040] The laminated logs 100 may be formed, in the width direction, of exactly three or alternatively also more lamellas 110, 120a, 120b, in which the outermost lamellas are horizontal grain direction lamellas (specifically the first lateral lamella 120a and the second lateral lamella 120b) and in the middle there is a vertical grain direction lamella (specifically the middle lamella 110). This enables an advantageous structure in which durable, uninterrupted horizontal grain direction lamellas are positioned on the outer surfaces of the laminated log and the vertical grain direction lamella forms load-bearing lines in the middle, specifically exactly two support point lines extending in the longitudinal direction of the laminated log, supporting the vertical grain direction lamella (specifically the middle lamella 110) in the vertical direction.

[0041] The middle lamella 110 has a lower surface that may form a portion of the lower surface 104 of the laminated log corresponding to the middle lamella, and an upper surface that may form a portion of the upper surface 101 of the laminated log corresponding to the middle lamella. The middle lamella 110 is provided with two load-bearing support point lines extending in the longitudinal direction of the log for supporting the log: a first support point line and a second support point line (locations indicated by arrows 130). The middle lamella may have exactly two support point lines, which enables precision in controlling the support point, but in some cases also a greater number. The first support point line and / or the second support point line may be divided, for example, in the width direction into sublines without significantly compromising precision. The support point lines are spaced from each other in the width direction of the log and they may be, in the middle lamella, as far apart as possible. The first support point line and the second support point line may be located, for example, in the width direction of the log in opposite quarters of the edge of the middle lamella, for example at the opposite outer edges of the middle lamella. The first support point line and / or the second support point line may be an uninterrupted line along the entire length of the middle lamella, or it may have one or more breaks.

[0042] The first support point line and the second support point line may be arranged at the lower surface 104 of the laminated log 100 to be supported onto a second laminated log located under the laminated log. The first support point line and the second support point line may, on the other hand, also be arranged at the upper surface 102 of the laminated log 100 to be supported onto a second laminated log located above the laminated log. Said support point lines may thus be at the upper surface and / or the lower surface of the middle lamella.

[0043] Specifically, a lower surface and / or an upper surface of the middle lamella 110 may have one or more recesses 140 extending in the longitudinal direction of the log 100. This enables the forming of the first and / or second support point line adjacent to said one or more recesses. The recess directs the weight of the middle lamella to the first and / or second support point line. The vertically opposite surface of the middle lamella (upper surface or lower surface) may be flat, such that the recess 140 of the laminated log 100 may be positioned against a flat surface when the laminated log is stacked with a second similar laminated log. The recess may be machined into the middle lamella by a selective technique. For example, the recess may be a planed groove which is planed into the middle lamella. By means of the recess, the laminated log 100 can be supported onto a second corresponding laminated log with a double-supported structure, such that the middle lamella 110 may be double-supported onto a corresponding middle lamella. This also provides stability when the wood is drying, specifically when compared to a single-supported or multiple-supported (more than two) structure.

[0044] The first support point line and / or the second support point line may be made narrow in the width direction of the log, for example up to 2-5cm wide. The middle lamella 110 may be arranged to be fastened to a second laminated log, specifically to its middle lamella, at the support point line for example with screws, such as the above-mentioned tightening screws. For this purpose, the middle lamella may have one or more countersinks, such as drilled sections, at the support point line. The solution according to the invention may be made inherently stable, which enables reduction of the number of necessary couplings and for example coupling with screws.

[0045] FIG. 2 illustrates a second example of the laminated log 100 (also "log") on top of a second laminated log 10. The example may otherwise be as any of the above-described examples, but the recess 140 is located at the upper surface of the middle lamella 110, in which case the lower surface of the middle lamella may be a flat surface. Correspondingly, when the recess is, as illustrated in FIG. 1, located at the lower surface of the middle lamella 110, the upper surface of the middle lamella may be a flat surface.

[0046] FIG. 2 also shows a gap 142 formed by the recess 140 when positioning two identical laminated logs 100 on top of each other (their middle lamellas 110 opposite each other). Naturally, a corresponding gap may also be formed in the example of FIG. 1. The gap 142 may be formed, in the cases according to the invention, between the first support point line and the second support point line and it extends in the width direction of the log 100. Correspondingly, the first support point line and the second support point line may be formed on the edges of the gap 142 along the width direction 30 of the log. The recess 140 and thereby also the gap 142 may extend over the midpoint of the middle lamella 110 in the width direction of the log, for example to either one or both of the edge quarters of the middle lamella along the width direction of the log. The width of the gap may be multiple times its height. The width of the gap 142 may be more than half of the width of the middle lamella 110.

[0047] FIG. 3 illustrates a third example of the laminated log 100 (also "log") on top of a second laminated log 10. The example may otherwise be as any of the above-described examples, but it has a first recess 140a at the upper surface of the middle lamella 110 and a second recess 140b at the lower surface of the middle lamella 110. The first and the second recess may be offset such that when positioning two identical laminated logs 100 on top of each other (their middle lamellas 110 opposite each other), the recesses become positioned either entirely or specifically partly on top of each other such that they together form a gap 142 extending in the width direction of the log 100 between the first support point line and the second support point line. What is stated above about the gap 142 applies also here. The first support point line and the second support point line may be formed on the edges of the gap 142 along the width direction 30 of the log. For this purpose, the first recess 140a may extend to the right side and the second recess to the left side of the midpoint of the middle lamella in the width direction of the log 100. The first recess and / or the second recess may extend over the midpoint of the middle lamella in the width direction of the log. The first recess and the second recess may be equally wide, but this is not obligatory, as one of the recesses may in principle be quite narrow while the other one is correspondingly wider.

[0048] In all examples, also an upper and / or a lower surface of the first lateral lamella 120a and / or the second lateral lamella 120b may have alignment and / or locking structures, such as interlock fittings, specifically tongues 150 and / or grooves 152. These structures may be formed to match each other at the upper surface and the lower surface of the lateral lamella 120a, 120b. The upper surface of the laminated log 100 at the first lateral lamella 120 and / or the second lateral lamella 120b may have for example one or more tongues 150 and correspondingly the lower surface may have one or more grooves 152 corresponding to the tongues 150. Said structures may be arranged to substantially prevent the relative movement of the laminated logs 100 on top of each other in the width direction of the laminated log 100. The interlock fitting 140, 142 may extend substantially along the entire length of the respective lateral lamella 120a or 120b, or the laminated log 100 itself. The first lateral lamella 120a and / or the second lateral lamella 120b may further be arranged at the outer surface of the laminated log 100, as in the solutions of FIG. 1-3. The interlock fittings 140, 142 may be, however, in the transverse direction of the laminated log 100, on the inner side from the outer surface, such that they are arranged to remain hidden between the laminated logs 100 on top of each other. The interlock fitting 140, 142 may further have a space for a seal, for example a groove arranged in the longitudinal direction of the laminated log. The seal space may extend substantially along the entire length of the laminated log 100.

[0049] FIG. 4 illustrates two examples of the laminated log 100 in the height direction 20 of the laminated log (perpendicular to the image plane). The examples show how the middle lamella 110 may consist, in the longitudinal direction 40 of the log, of several pieces of lamellas 410. Specifically, they show how the middle lamella 110 may consist, in the width direction 30 of the log, of exactly one piece of lamella (upper figure) or several pieces of lamellas (lower figure). The pieces of lamellas may be, in cross-section (in the plane of the width direction 30 and the longitudinal direction 40 of the log) rectangles, whereby the middle lamella may be linearly sealed, but also other shapes are possible. The middle lamella may be formed of pieces of lamellas of the same size and / or shape, but also of pieces of lamellas of different sizes and / or shapes. The same applies to the first lateral lamella and / or the second lateral lamella. The middle lamella may have a constant height, i.e. its height may be the same along the entire length and / or width of the middle lamella. Similarly, the middle lamella may have a constant width, i.e. its width may be the same along the entire length and / or height of the middle lamella. The first lateral lamella and / or the second lateral lamella may have a constant height, i.e. its height may be the same along the entire length and / or width of the respective lamella. Similarly, the first lateral lamella and / or the second lateral lamella may have a constant width, i.e. its width may be the same along the entire length and / or height of the respective lamella. The first lateral lamella and the second lateral lamella may be equally high and / or wide. The middle lamella may be equally high as the first lateral lamella and / or the second lateral lamella. The first lateral lamella and the second lateral lamella may be equally long. The middle lamella may be equally long as the first lateral lamella and / or the second lateral lamella.

[0050] In general, the middle lamella 110 may comprise, in the height direction 20 of the log, two or more pieces of lamellas 410 which may be glued together. Correspondingly, the first lateral lamella 120a and / or the second lateral lamella 120b may comprise, in the height direction 20 of the log 100, two or more pieces of lamellas 410 which may be glued together. The middle lamella may comprise, in the longitudinal direction 40 of the log, two or more pieces of lamellas which may be glued together. The middle lamella comprises pieces of lamellas of the width of the middle lamella located one after the other in the longitudinal direction of the log. The middle lamella may further comprise, in the width direction 30 of the log, two or more pieces of lamellas which may be glued together.

[0051] FIG. 5 illustrates a method 500 for making a laminated log. The laminated log may be any laminated log in accordance with the laminated log 100 as described. In the method a middle lamella is fastened 510 to extend along the longitudinal direction of said log between a first and a second lateral lamella in the width direction of the log such that the middle lamella has a grain direction extending in the height direction of the log and the first and the second lateral lamella have a grain direction extending in the longitudinal direction of the log.

[0052] In the method 500, two load-bearing support point lines extending in the longitudinal direction of the log are machined 520 into the middle lamella for supporting the log, specifically the middle lamella, comprising a first support point line and a second support point line, which are spaced from each other in the width direction of the log. This may be done by any manner presented in the description of the laminated log 100. Said support point lines may be machined before the middle lamella is fastened to the first lateral lamella and / or to the second lateral lamella or after that. Said support point lines may be formed at the same time with a single machining operation. Specifically, a recess extending in the longitudinal direction of the log may be machined into a lower surface and / or an upper surface of the middle lamella for forming said first and / or second support point line adjacent to said recess. This may be done specifically by planing.

[0053] The different operations discussed herein may be performed in a different order and / or simultaneously with each other. Similarly, all of said features may be used in conjunction with each other, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

[0054] The term 'comprise' is used herein to mean including the feature in question but not a comprehensive listing. Thus, also other features than those mentioned may be included in the same connection.

[0055] Numerals, such as 'first', 'second' and so on, are used in this text simply to differentiate between elements having otherwise similar names. The numerals should not be interpreted to indicate any particular order, such as the order of preference, manufacture or presence in any specific structure.

[0056] The invention is not limited exclusively to the above-described examples of embodiments, but many modifications are possible within the scope of the inventive idea defined by the claims.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0024]The following detailed description provided with reference to the accompanying figures is intended as a description of examples and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the examples may be carried out or used. The same or equivalent functions and structures may also be achieved with different examples.

[0025]FIG. 1 illustrates a laminated log 100 (also "log") on top of a second laminated log 10, wherein said second laminated log may be identical to or different from the laminated log 100 on top of it. The laminated log has a longitudinal direction (FIG 4: 40) which may also be referred to, for example, as "length direction", a height direction 20 which may also be referred to, for example, as "vertical direction" and a width direction 30 which may also be referred to, for example, as "lateral direction" or "transverse direction". The height direction and the width direction may be in a plane perpendicular to each other, whereby the longitudinal direction is perp...

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to log construction and specifically to construction using laminated logs.BACKGROUND

[0002] A laminated log is a solid log made of several lamellas, which is widely used in log construction. Assembling the laminated logs into a laminated log structure, such as a laminated log wall, requires typically the use of one or more support structures in order to achieve sufficient stability for the structure to support several laminated logs on top of each other.SUMMARY

[0003] The invention utilizes laminated logs having both vertical and horizontal grain direction lamellas. The laminated log may be a rectangular, i.e. a square laminated log. A horizontal grain direction lamella herein refers to a lamella, i.e. a wood plate, in which the wood grain extends substantially horizontally when the laminated log is in a horizontal plane. Specifically, the grain may extend in this case in a longitudinal direction of the laminated log, which is at the same time a longitudinal direction of the raw material timber. A vertical grain direction lamella correspondingly refers to a lamella in which the wood grain extends substantially vertically when the laminated log is in a horizontal plane, i.e. in a height direction of the laminated log. The vertical grain direction lamella may be provided by fastening several vertical grain direction pieces of timber side by side for example directly onto each other by gluing. This enables the vertical grain direction lamella to be equally long as the horizontal grain direction lamella, as the length of the raw material timber is significantly greater than the width. The structural parts of logs, and specifically laminated logs, have been defined, i.a., in standard SFS 5973. An advantage of the laminated log, for example compared to a solid planed log, is the possibility to obtain timber that is very dry and has uniform quality. This, in turn, reduces the moisture-induced deformation of the final structure, i.e. changes in the width and height of the structure. Additionally, cracking and settling of the structure may be reduced. By gluing, the structure may also be made substantially non-warping and non-twisting.

[0004] A laminated log according to the invention (which may also be referred to herein more concisely as a log) has a longitudinal direction, a height direction and a width direction. The log comprises a middle lamella extending in the longitudinal direction of the log, a first lateral lamella extending in the longitudinal direction of the log and a second lateral lamella extending in the longitudinal direction of the log, wherein the middle lamella has a grain direction extending in the height direction of the log and the first and the second lateral lamella have a grain direction extending in the longitudinal direction of the log. The middle lamella is, in the width direction of the log, between the first and the second lateral lamella. The middle lamella may now be provided with two load-bearing support point lines extending in the longitudinal direction of the log for supporting the log comprising a first support point line and a second support point line, which are spaced from each other in the width direction of the log. The support point lines may this way be formed of the wood material of the middle lamella, such that additional support structures are needed less or in some cases are not needed at all. The support point lines on which the middle lamella may be supported can provide greater capacity against buckling for structures using a laminated log, i.e. the bending strength of the structure in its height direction is improved, whereby the same buckling capacity / bending strength capacity may be provided for the structure with fewer additional support structures, such as couplings.

[0005] The support point lines are at a support surface of the middle lamella, which may be a lower surface or an upper surface of the middle lamella. The support point lines help, among other things, as the wood material of the middle lamella is drying. If the middle lamella did not have the two separate support point lines, but it was for example flat on its support surface, the drying of the wood material of the middle lamella could cause the middle lamella to be only partly load-bearing, which is not controlled. When several laminated logs are stacked on top of each other, no vertical load-bearing support line are thereby formed through the laminated logs. The middle lamella, and the entire laminated log, may be formed, by means of the support lines, as a double-supported structure. The middle lamella, and the entire laminated log, may thus be arranged to enable standing of the middle lamella / laminated log (itself or an overlying similar one) on these two support point lines. The first support point line the second support point line may therefore be arranged to receive the weight exerted on the support surface defined by the first support point line and the second support point line.

[0006] In one embodiment, a lower surface and / or an upper surface of the middle lamella has a recess extending in the longitudinal direction of the log for forming said first and / or second support point line adjacent to said recess. The first and / or the second support point line may thus be formed at a projection raised from an edge of the recess at the upper surface or the lower surface of the middle lamella. This way, the first and / or the second support point line may be efficiently produced by removing wood material from the middle lamella. In one embodiment, said recess is a planed groove that may be made quickly and with precision.

[0007] In one embodiment, said middle lamella is wider than either one of said first and second lateral lamella. This can increase stability of the log and the first support point line and the second support point line can be moved further away from each other in the width direction of the laminated log. Thereby the buckling resistance of structures using a laminated log can be improved and, if necessary, the number of additional support structures such as couplings in the structures in question reduced. In one embodiment, said middle lamella is wider than said first and second lateral lamella combined.

[0008] In one embodiment, the upper surface or the lower surface of the middle lamella is flat. This facilitates the formation of a vertical load-bearing line with a laminated log at an interface (lower surface with upper surface or upper surface with lower surface) of which there is a corresponding load-bearing support point line as in the laminated log according to the invention. Thus, two or more laminated logs according to the invention may be stacked on top of each other so that, at their interfaces, the support point line(s) of a first log at the upper surface of the middle lamella of the first log and a flat lower surface of a second log, or the support point line(s) of a first log at the lower surface of the middle lamella of the first log and a flat upper surface of a second log meet each other.

[0009] In one embodiment, said first support point line and said second support point line are located, in the width direction of the log, at opposite outer edges of the middle lamella. Thereby the support point lines in the middle lamella can be distanced from each other and this distance may be maximized.

[0010] In one embodiment, said middle lamella comprises, in the height direction of the log, two or more pieces of lamellas glued together.

[0011] In one embodiment, said middle lamella is at least partially formed of exactly one piece of lamella in the height direction of the log. The middle lamella may thus have one or more pieces of lamellas of the height of the middle lamella. The middle lamella may be formed of pieces of lamellas of the height of the middle lamella along its entire length and / or width.

[0012] In one embodiment, said middle lamella comprises, in the longitudinal direction of the log, two or more pieces of lamellas glued together.

[0013] In one embodiment, said middle lamella comprises pieces of lamellas of the width of the middle lamella located one after the other in the longitudinal direction of the log.

[0014] In one embodiment, said middle lamella comprises, in the width direction of the log, two or more pieces of lamellas glued together.

[0015] In one embodiment, said middle lamella is at least partially formed of exactly one piece of lamella in the width direction of the log. The middle lamella may thus have one or more pieces of lamellas of the width of the middle lamella. The middle lamella may be formed of pieces of lamellas of the width of the middle lamella along its entire length and / or height.

[0016] In one embodiment, the first lateral lamella and / or the second lateral lamella comprises, in the height direction of the log, two or more pieces of lamellas glued together.

[0017] In one embodiment, said first lateral lamella and / or second lateral lamella is at least partially formed of exactly one piece of lamella in the height direction of the log. The first lateral lamella and / or the second lateral lamella may thus have one or more pieces of lamellas of the height of these lamellas. Said lateral lamella (or lateral lamellas) may be formed of pieces of lamellas of the height of said lateral lamella along their entire width and / or length.

[0018] According to the invention, a method for making a laminated log may also be implemented. The laminated log may be any of the laminated logs described above and it has a longitudinal direction, a height direction and a width direction. In the method a middle lamella is fastened to extend along the longitudinal direction of said log between a first and a second lateral lamella in the width direction of the log such that the middle lamella has a grain direction extending in the height direction of the log and the first and the second lateral lamella have a grain direction extending in the longitudinal direction of the log. Two load-bearing support point lines extending in the longitudinal direction of the log are machined into the middle lamella for supporting the log. These support point lines comprise a first support point line and a second support point line, which are spaced from each other in the width direction of the log.

[0019] In one embodiment, a recess extending in the longitudinal direction of the log is machined into a lower surface and / or an upper surface of the middle lamella for forming said first and / or second support point line adjacent to said recess. Specifically, said recess may be machined by planing.

[0020] According to the invention, a laminated log structure, such as a laminated log wall or a laminated log house, comprising two or more laminated logs which may be laminated logs in accordance with any of the laminated logs described above may be implemented. Said two or more laminated logs are positioned in the laminated log structure on top of each other in the height direction such that first support point lines of the laminated logs on top of each other are aligned and second support point lines of the laminated logs on top of each other are aligned. In the laminated log structure, the pairs of support point lines on top of each other (in each one the first support point line and the second support point line) improve the bending strength of the laminated log structure in the height direction. This reduces the need for couplings for connecting the laminated logs on top of each other together, because due to the new structure and basic form of the log, the laminated log structure is initially more stable compared, for example, to a single-supported structure. The two support point lines of a single laminated log will be advantageous to the entire laminated log structure.

[0021] The above embodiments may be applied in any combination with the laminated log and / or the method according to the invention. Several embodiments may be combined to form a new embodiment. Specifically, the laminated log according to the invention, as such or combined with any embodiment, may be applied in the above method. Additionally, the stages related to forming the laminated log according to the invention may also be carried out in connection with the above method.LIST OF FIGURES

[0022] The invention will now be described in detail by way of examples of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1-3 illustrate some embodiments of a laminated log according to the invention as a cross-sectional view seen in a longitudinal direction of the laminated log, FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a laminated log according to the invention seen in a height direction of the laminated log, and FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a method according to the invention.

[0023] In the figures, similar reference numbers represent corresponding or at least functionally corresponding structural parts.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The following detailed description provided with reference to the accompanying figures is intended as a description of examples and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the examples may be carried out or used. The same or equivalent functions and structures may also be achieved with different examples.

[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates a laminated log 100 (also "log") on top of a second laminated log 10, wherein said second laminated log may be identical to or different from the laminated log 100 on top of it. The laminated log has a longitudinal direction (FIG 4: 40) which may also be referred to, for example, as "length direction", a height direction 20 which may also be referred to, for example, as "vertical direction" and a width direction 30 which may also be referred to, for example, as "lateral direction" or "transverse direction". The height direction and the width direction may be in a plane perpendicular to each other, whereby the longitudinal direction is perpendicular to that plane (the image plane herein).

[0026] The laminated log 100 may be delimited in the height direction by a lower surface 104 and an upper surface 102 that may be matching for example so that they are fit-adapted to each other, whereby similar laminated logs may be tightly stacked on top of each other. The laminated log may be delimited in the lateral direction by a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface that are opposite lateral surfaces (e.g. left side and right side). The first and the second lateral surface may be identical or different shaped, for example mirror images of each other. They may be flat surfaces, such as vertical surfaces, or curved surfaces. The laminated log may be more than 10cm wide in the lateral direction, for example 20cm or more. The width in the lateral direction may correspond to the strength of a wall, such as an exterior wall. The laminated log may be several meters long in the longitudinal direction, for example at least 2-4 meters or more. The laminated log may be a round log or a rectangular log. The laminated log may be a so-called non-settling laminated log.

[0027] According to the invention, several laminated logs 100 may be stacked into a laminated log structure which may be for example a laminated log wall. On the other hand, the laminated log structure, such as a laminated log house, may comprise one or more sets of laminated logs 100 on top of each other. In the laminated log structure, a part or all of the laminated logs may thereby be positioned on top of each the other in the height direction, specifically such that first support point lines of the laminated logs on top of each other are aligned and second support point lines of the laminated logs on top of each other are aligned. A first support point line of a lower laminated log may thus be in the same height direction, i.e. specifically vertical, plane as a first support point line of one or more upper laminated logs on top of it. Correspondingly, a second support point line of a lower laminated log may be in the same height direction, specifically vertical, plane as a second support point line of one or more upper laminated logs on top of it. The height of the laminated log structure may be more than 1 meter, for example room height, i.e. at least 2 meters or more specifically at least 2.5 meters. The height of the laminated log structure may also be at least floor height, i.e. 3 meters or more. Its height may thereby comprise not only the wall height, but also the height of the base floor and / or roof structures. The laminated logs may be pressed onto each other for example by hammering. The laminated log structure may comprise several laminated logs, for example ten or more, stacked on top of each other to form a vertical structure such as a wall.

[0028] In a solution according to the invention, the laminated log 100 comprises a middle lamella 110 extending in the longitudinal direction of the log, a first lateral lamella 120a extending in the longitudinal direction of the log and a second lateral lamella 120b extending in the longitudinal direction of the log (jointly also "lateral lamellas"), wherein the middle lamella has a grain direction extending in the height direction of the log (indicated by symbol 10 in the figures) and the first and the second lateral lamella have a grain direction extending in the longitudinal direction of the log. The middle lamella is, in the width direction of the log, between the first and the second lateral lamella. In general, the vertical grain direction lamellas may be symmetrically in relation to a vertical line dividing the laminated log 100 in the middle. Specifically, the middle lamella 110 may be on this midline of the laminated log 100. The first lateral lamella 120a and / or the second lateral lamella 120b may be immediately fastened to the middle lamella 110, for example by glue bonding. A risk of warping and / or cracking of the log may thus be reduced. The lateral lamellas may receive bending stresses exerted on the log. The lamellas 110, 120a, 120b may be substantially entirely wooden. The lateral surfaces of the lamellas may be substantially vertical, which may be provided for example by planing, however so that specifically the lamella located on an outer surface of the laminated log may be alternatively also curved on its outer lateral surface.

[0029] The laminated log structure may be formed by stacking laminated logs 100 comprising one or more vertical grain direction lamellas on top of each other. When the vertical lamellas are this way arranged on top of each other, they form a vertical load-bearing line, which may be substantially on the midline of the laminated logs. The structure may thus also be substantially non-shrinking compared for example to a structure having only horizontal grain direction logs, as the shrinkage occurring upon drying of the wood is significantly lesser in the vertical direction than in other directions. The laminated logs themselves may be installed in the structure horizontally, whereby their longitudinal direction is substantially in a horizontal plane. The laminated log 100 comprises at least two horizontal grain direction lamellas, one of which is located, in the width direction of the laminated log, on one side of the vertical grain direction lamella and the other one is located on its other side. One or both of the horizontal grain direction lamellas, such as the first lateral lamella 120a and / or the second lateral lamella 120b, may form a lateral outer surface of the laminated log, for example so that the heartwood of the horizontal grain direction lamella opens to the outside. This may improve the surface resistance of the structure.

[0030] The laminated log 100 may be formed by fastening exactly three, but alternatively also more, individual lamellas to each other in the width direction of the laminated log. Thus, a single laminated log has at least three layers of lamellas in the width direction. Each lamella may be formed of one or more pieces of lamellas that may be pieces of sawn timber. The pieces of lamellas may be glued together to form the lamella and may be glued together before fastening the lamellas to each other. In a specific embodiment, the first lateral lamella 120a and / or the second lateral lamella 120b is formed of exactly one piece of lamella. Independently of whether the first lateral lamella 120a and / or the second lateral lamella 120b is formed of one or more pieces of lamellas, the middle lamella 110 may be formed of more than one piece of lamella (and specifically of more pieces of lamellas than either one of the lateral lamellas).

[0031] In the height direction of the log 100, one or more of said lamellas 110, 120a, 120b may be formed of exactly one, but alternatively also of two or more pieces of lamellas. In the figures, this is illustrated by dashed line 20, at which the lamellas 110, 120a, 120b may either continue uninterrupted or at which there may be an interface between two pieces of lamellas on top of each other. All layer combinations are possible: the first lateral lamella 120a and / or the second lateral lamella 120b may be formed, in the height direction of the log 100, of exactly one piece of lamella when the middle lamella 110 is formed, in the height direction of the log, of exactly one piece of lamella or alternatively of exactly two or more pieces of lamellas, but the first lateral lamella 120a and / or the second lateral lamella 120b may also be formed, in the height direction of the log 100, of exactly two or more pieces of lamellas when the middle lamella 110 is formed, in the height direction of the log, of exactly one or alternatively of exactly two or more pieces of lamellas. By using, in any lamella 110, 120a, 120b, two or more pieces of lamellas in its height direction, that lamella can be made solid also in the height direction, even in case the size of the raw material is limited, for example to a height of less than 20 centimetres.

[0032] In all above-mentioned cases, the middle lamella 110 may be formed, in the longitudinal direction of the log, of two or more pieces of lamellas. On the other hand, the first lateral lamella 120a and / or the second lateral lamella 120b may be formed, in the longitudinal direction of the log, also of two or more pieces of lamellas, but specifically of exactly one piece of lamella. The lateral lamellas 120a, 120b and the middle lamella 110 may hereby be substantially equally long. They may also be substantially equally high, such that their upper and lower surfaces are positioned substantially flush with one another. The first lateral lamella 120a and the second lateral lamella 120b may be substantially equally wide, but as illustrated, specifically the middle lamella 100 may be made wider in the solution according to the invention than the first lateral lamella 120a and / or the second lateral lamella 120b or, above all, even equally wide as or wider than the first and the second lateral lamella combined. The width of the middle lamella may be more than 10cm, for example 20-30cm or more.

[0033] In all above-mentioned cases, the middle lamella 110 may be formed, in the width direction of the log, of exactly one, but alternatively also of two or more pieces of lamellas. By using, in the middle lamella 110, two or more pieces of lamellas in its width direction, that lamella can be made solid in the width direction, even in case the size of the raw material is limited, for example to a width of less than 10 centimetres. Specifically, the middle lamella may be formed, in the width direction of the log, of exactly one and, in the longitudinal direction of the log, of two or more pieces of lamellas. Alternatively, the middle lamella may be formed, both in the width direction of the log and in the longitudinal direction of the log, of two or more pieces of lamellas.

[0034] The lamellas 110, 120a, 120b may be fastened to each other by gluing, whereby warping and / or cracking of the logs may be reduced. When horizontal grain direction and vertical grain direction lamellas are glued together in the laminated log, a cross-laminated log is provided. The advantage of the structure is reduced settling or substantially no settling, which facilitates a desired outcome to be achieved. As a natural material, wood is shaped also after installation, and reduced settling in the vertical direction which is essential for the structure affects in many ways not only the design of the laminated log structure and special fasteners needed in the installation stage, but also the final structure obtained and its airtightness. The non-settling property of the laminated logs allows other materials to be attached directly to them without slide fastenings. Further, the non-settling property may be supported by arranging the seam between the middle lamellas 110 on top of each other so as to form two support point lines, the location of which is shown in the figures by arrows 130. The support point lines may be arranged along the longitudinal direction of the log and thus parallel to each other. The support point lines comprise a first support point line and a second supporting point line, which may together receive the weight exerted on the plane defined by the support point lines, which may include the weight of the laminated log and / or of the structures on top of it, such as one or more corresponding laminated logs.

[0035] The laminated logs 100 on top of each other may be fastened to each other by screws, such as by wood screws. Contrary to the laminated log structures used in the field for years, additional load-bearing support structures such as wood pegs, metal pipes or tightening bolts are thereby not needed. The vertical load-bearing lines of the laminated log may be created exclusively in the middle lamella, whereby the lateral lamellas may be made narrow. The vertical load-bearing lines of the log may also be formed exclusively of the support point lines, such as the first and the second support point line.

[0036] The laminated logs 100 may be tightened to each other by tightening screws, such as partial thread screws, that may be arranged at one or more vertical grain direction lamellas (specifically the middle lamella 110). The tightening screws may be arranged, in the laminated logs 100 on top of each other, in alignment so that they form a substantially vertical line that may extend substantially along the entire height of the laminated log structure. Apart from the tightening screws, no other couplings are required, and in the laminated log structure, the laminated logs on top of each other may be coupled to each other only by the tightening screws.

[0037] In general, the invention enables the laminated log structure to be formed more efficiently than before, with sufficient capacity against buckling and / or bending strength in the height direction, for example to exceed certain threshold values. It is also possible to form the laminated log structure quickly and efficiently, as there is no need to perform extensive drilling for erecting the structure, such as drilling for pipes to be introduced through the structure. All drilling to be performed in the laminated log structure and / or, specifically, the drilling to be performed in the vertical grain direction lamellas, such as the middle lamella, may thus have a diameter of less than 50 millimetres, for example a diameter of less than 40 millimetres plus / minus 0-5 millimetres or narrower. This specifically applies to drilling needed for erecting the laminated log structure, as naturally the structure may still be provided with various types of connection drilling such as drilling for electric cabling spaces, which may be relatively large-scale. The drilling necessary for the laminated log structure itself may only be pre-drilling facilitating the installation of screws, which only extends along a part of the height of the laminated logs, for example for less than 50% of the height. In practice, this may mean for example drilling for 11 plus / minus 0-5 centimetres in the height direction. As to any drilling that may be missing, it may also be performed afterwards at the worksite, which may reduce the need to return the laminated logs to the factory.

[0038] The laminated log 100 may be formed of pieces of solid wood coupled to each other, and may therefore be substantially solid, such that support structures extending in the height direction through the laminated log are not needed. Coupling screws extending through a boundary surface, i.e. the upper or lower surface, of the laminated log are for example sufficient. Specifically, the lateral lamellas, such as the first lateral lamella 120a and / or the second lateral lamella 120b, may thus have a single uninterrupted cross-sectional surface (in the plane defined by the width direction and the longitudinal direction). Their cross-sectional surface may therefore be hole-free or at least substantially hole-free, i.e. without vertical support structures. The laminated log may still be provided with coupling structures, such as pathways for electric cables or edge fastenings, without substantially weakening the load-bearing capacity of the log.

[0039] The laminated log 100, specifically the middle lamella 110, may, however, have one or more holes (also "the holes") for screws, also in the case described above. The holes may be pre-drilled and may correspond to the above-mentioned drilling and / or pre-drilling. They may extend halfway through the middle lamella or further in the height direction. The holes may have a diameter of for example 14 millimetres plus / minus 0-6 millimetres, but also larger. The holes may be drilled holes and thus relatively large, for example 40 millimetres plus / minus 0-5 millimetres in diameter. The size of the holes may also be adapted for passing not only the screw, but also a cable such as an electric cable into the laminated log 100. The depth of the holes may be less than 100% of the height of the laminated log, also when the laminated log 100 is formed of several layers of lamellas. For example, in a two-layered structure, the holes may be made in one or more upper pieces of lamellas, such that the holes may be for example 80% plus / minus 0-10% of the height of the upper piece of lamella. The holes may be located at different points in the laminated logs on top of each other, as they do not need to form a vertical line. The vertical support needed for supporting the laminated log structure may be provided with the support point lines, such as the first support point line and the second support point line.

[0040] The laminated logs 100 may be formed, in the width direction, of exactly three or alternatively also more lamellas 110, 120a, 120b, in which the outermost lamellas are horizontal grain direction lamellas (specifically the first lateral lamella 120a and the second lateral lamella 120b) and in the middle there is a vertical grain direction lamella (specifically the middle lamella 110). This enables an advantageous structure in which durable, uninterrupted horizontal grain direction lamellas are positioned on the outer surfaces of the laminated log and the vertical grain direction lamella forms load-bearing lines in the middle, specifically exactly two support point lines extending in the longitudinal direction of the laminated log, supporting the vertical grain direction lamella (specifically the middle lamella 110) in the vertical direction.

[0041] The middle lamella 110 has a lower surface that may form a portion of the lower surface 104 of the laminated log corresponding to the middle lamella, and an upper surface that may form a portion of the upper surface 101 of the laminated log corresponding to the middle lamella. The middle lamella 110 is provided with two load-bearing support point lines extending in the longitudinal direction of the log for supporting the log: a first support point line and a second support point line (locations indicated by arrows 130). The middle lamella may have exactly two support point lines, which enables precision in controlling the support point, but in some cases also a greater number. The first support point line and / or the second support point line may be divided, for example, in the width direction into sublines without significantly compromising precision. The support point lines are spaced from each other in the width direction of the log and they may be, in the middle lamella, as far apart as possible. The first support point line and the second support point line may be located, for example, in the width direction of the log in opposite quarters of the edge of the middle lamella, for example at the opposite outer edges of the middle lamella. The first support point line and / or the second support point line may be an uninterrupted line along the entire length of the middle lamella, or it may have one or more breaks.

[0042] The first support point line and the second support point line may be arranged at the lower surface 104 of the laminated log 100 to be supported onto a second laminated log located under the laminated log. The first support point line and the second support point line may, on the other hand, also be arranged at the upper surface 102 of the laminated log 100 to be supported onto a second laminated log located above the laminated log. Said support point lines may thus be at the upper surface and / or the lower surface of the middle lamella.

[0043] Specifically, a lower surface and / or an upper surface of the middle lamella 110 may have one or more recesses 140 extending in the longitudinal direction of the log 100. This enables the forming of the first and / or second support point line adjacent to said one or more recesses. The recess directs the weight of the middle lamella to the first and / or second support point line. The vertically opposite surface of the middle lamella (upper surface or lower surface) may be flat, such that the recess 140 of the laminated log 100 may be positioned against a flat surface when the laminated log is stacked with a second similar laminated log. The recess may be machined into the middle lamella by a selective technique. For example, the recess may be a planed groove which is planed into the middle lamella. By means of the recess, the laminated log 100 can be supported onto a second corresponding laminated log with a double-supported structure, such that the middle lamella 110 may be double-supported onto a corresponding middle lamella. This also provides stability when the wood is drying, specifically when compared to a single-supported or multiple-supported (more than two) structure.

[0044] The first support point line and / or the second support point line may be made narrow in the width direction of the log, for example up to 2-5cm wide. The middle lamella 110 may be arranged to be fastened to a second laminated log, specifically to its middle lamella, at the support point line for example with screws, such as the above-mentioned tightening screws. For this purpose, the middle lamella may have one or more countersinks, such as drilled sections, at the support point line. The solution according to the invention may be made inherently stable, which enables reduction of the number of necessary couplings and for example coupling with screws.

[0045] FIG. 2 illustrates a second example of the laminated log 100 (also "log") on top of a second laminated log 10. The example may otherwise be as any of the above-described examples, but the recess 140 is located at the upper surface of the middle lamella 110, in which case the lower surface of the middle lamella may be a flat surface. Correspondingly, when the recess is, as illustrated in FIG. 1, located at the lower surface of the middle lamella 110, the upper surface of the middle lamella may be a flat surface.

[0046] FIG. 2 also shows a gap 142 formed by the recess 140 when positioning two identical laminated logs 100 on top of each other (their middle lamellas 110 opposite each other). Naturally, a corresponding gap may also be formed in the example of FIG. 1. The gap 142 may be formed, in the cases according to the invention, between the first support point line and the second support point line and it extends in the width direction of the log 100. Correspondingly, the first support point line and the second support point line may be formed on the edges of the gap 142 along the width direction 30 of the log. The recess 140 and thereby also the gap 142 may extend over the midpoint of the middle lamella 110 in the width direction of the log, for example to either one or both of the edge quarters of the middle lamella along the width direction of the log. The width of the gap may be multiple times its height. The width of the gap 142 may be more than half of the width of the middle lamella 110.

[0047] FIG. 3 illustrates a third example of the laminated log 100 (also "log") on top of a second laminated log 10. The example may otherwise be as any of the above-described examples, but it has a first recess 140a at the upper surface of the middle lamella 110 and a second recess 140b at the lower surface of the middle lamella 110. The first and the second recess may be offset such that when positioning two identical laminated logs 100 on top of each other (their middle lamellas 110 opposite each other), the recesses become positioned either entirely or specifically partly on top of each other such that they together form a gap 142 extending in the width direction of the log 100 between the first support point line and the second support point line. What is stated above about the gap 142 applies also here. The first support point line and the second support point line may be formed on the edges of the gap 142 along the width direction 30 of the log. For this purpose, the first recess 140a may extend to the right side and the second recess to the left side of the midpoint of the middle lamella in the width direction of the log 100. The first recess and / or the second recess may extend over the midpoint of the middle lamella in the width direction of the log. The first recess and the second recess may be equally wide, but this is not obligatory, as one of the recesses may in principle be quite narrow while the other one is correspondingly wider.

[0048] In all examples, also an upper and / or a lower surface of the first lateral lamella 120a and / or the second lateral lamella 120b may have alignment and / or locking structures, such as interlock fittings, specifically tongues 150 and / or grooves 152. These structures may be formed to match each other at the upper surface and the lower surface of the lateral lamella 120a, 120b. The upper surface of the laminated log 100 at the first lateral lamella 120 and / or the second lateral lamella 120b may have for example one or more tongues 150 and correspondingly the lower surface may have one or more grooves 152 corresponding to the tongues 150. Said structures may be arranged to substantially prevent the relative movement of the laminated logs 100 on top of each other in the width direction of the laminated log 100. The interlock fitting 140, 142 may extend substantially along the entire length of the respective lateral lamella 120a or 120b, or the laminated log 100 itself. The first lateral lamella 120a and / or the second lateral lamella 120b may further be arranged at the outer surface of the laminated log 100, as in the solutions of FIG. 1-3. The interlock fittings 140, 142 may be, however, in the transverse direction of the laminated log 100, on the inner side from the outer surface, such that they are arranged to remain hidden between the laminated logs 100 on top of each other. The interlock fitting 140, 142 may further have a space for a seal, for example a groove arranged in the longitudinal direction of the laminated log. The seal space may extend substantially along the entire length of the laminated log 100.

[0049] FIG. 4 illustrates two examples of the laminated log 100 in the height direction 20 of the laminated log (perpendicular to the image plane). The examples show how the middle lamella 110 may consist, in the longitudinal direction 40 of the log, of several pieces of lamellas 410. Specifically, they show how the middle lamella 110 may consist, in the width direction 30 of the log, of exactly one piece of lamella (upper figure) or several pieces of lamellas (lower figure). The pieces of lamellas may be, in cross-section (in the plane of the width direction 30 and the longitudinal direction 40 of the log) rectangles, whereby the middle lamella may be linearly sealed, but also other shapes are possible. The middle lamella may be formed of pieces of lamellas of the same size and / or shape, but also of pieces of lamellas of different sizes and / or shapes. The same applies to the first lateral lamella and / or the second lateral lamella. The middle lamella may have a constant height, i.e. its height may be the same along the entire length and / or width of the middle lamella. Similarly, the middle lamella may have a constant width, i.e. its width may be the same along the entire length and / or height of the middle lamella. The first lateral lamella and / or the second lateral lamella may have a constant height, i.e. its height may be the same along the entire length and / or width of the respective lamella. Similarly, the first lateral lamella and / or the second lateral lamella may have a constant width, i.e. its width may be the same along the entire length and / or height of the respective lamella. The first lateral lamella and the second lateral lamella may be equally high and / or wide. The middle lamella may be equally high as the first lateral lamella and / or the second lateral lamella. The first lateral lamella and the second lateral lamella may be equally long. The middle lamella may be equally long as the first lateral lamella and / or the second lateral lamella.

[0050] In general, the middle lamella 110 may comprise, in the height direction 20 of the log, two or more pieces of lamellas 410 which may be glued together. Correspondingly, the first lateral lamella 120a and / or the second lateral lamella 120b may comprise, in the height direction 20 of the log 100, two or more pieces of lamellas 410 which may be glued together. The middle lamella may comprise, in the longitudinal direction 40 of the log, two or more pieces of lamellas which may be glued together. The middle lamella comprises pieces of lamellas of the width of the middle lamella located one after the other in the longitudinal direction of the log. The middle lamella may further comprise, in the width direction 30 of the log, two or more pieces of lamellas which may be glued together.

[0051] FIG. 5 illustrates a method 500 for making a laminated log. The laminated log may be any laminated log in accordance with the laminated log 100 as described. In the method a middle lamella is fastened 510 to extend along the longitudinal direction of said log between a first and a second lateral lamella in the width direction of the log such that the middle lamella has a grain direction extending in the height direction of the log and the first and the second lateral lamella have a grain direction extending in the longitudinal direction of the log.

[0052] In the method 500, two load-bearing support point lines extending in the longitudinal direction of the log are machined 520 into the middle lamella for supporting the log, specifically the middle lamella, comprising a first support point line and a second support point line, which are spaced from each other in the width direction of the log. This may be done by any manner presented in the description of the laminated log 100. Said support point lines may be machined before the middle lamella is fastened to the first lateral lamella and / or to the second lateral lamella or after that. Said support point lines may be formed at the same time with a single machining operation. Specifically, a recess extending in the longitudinal direction of the log may be machined into a lower surface and / or an upper surface of the middle lamella for forming said first and / or second support point line adjacent to said recess. This may be done specifically by planing.

[0053] The different operations discussed herein may be performed in a different order and / or simultaneously with each other. Similarly, all of said features may be used in conjunction with each other, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

[0054] The term 'comprise' is used herein to mean including the feature in question but not a comprehensive listing. Thus, also other features than those mentioned may be included in the same connection.

[0055] Numerals, such as 'first', 'second' and so on, are used in this text simply to differentiate between elements having otherwise similar names. The numerals should not be interpreted to indicate any particular order, such as the order of preference, manufacture or presence in any specific structure.

[0056] The invention is not limited exclusively to the above-described examples of embodiments, but many modifications are possible within the scope of the inventive idea defined by the claims.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0024]The following detailed description provided with reference to the accompanying figures is intended as a description of examples and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the examples may be carried out or used. The same or equivalent functions and structures may also be achieved with different examples.

[0025]FIG. 1 illustrates a laminated log 100 (also "log") on top of a second laminated log 10, wherein said second laminated log may be identical to or different from the laminated log 100 on top of it. The laminated log has a longitudinal direction (FIG 4: 40) which may also be referred to, for example, as "length direction", a height direction 20 which may also be referred to, for example, as "vertical direction" and a width direction 30 which may also be referred to, for example, as "lateral direction" or "transverse direction". The height direction and the width direction may be in a plane perpendicular to each other, whereby the longitudinal direction is perp...

Claims

1. A laminated log (100), having a longitudinal direction (40), a height direction (20) and a width direction (30), and which log comprises a middle lamella (110) extending in the longitudinal direction of the log, a first lateral lamella (120a) extending in the longitudinal direction of the log and a second lateral lamella (120) extending in the longitudinal direction of the log, wherein the middle lamella has a grain direction extending in the height direction of the log and the first and the second lateral lamella have a grain direction extending in the longitudinal direction of the log, and the middle lamella is, in the width direction of the log, between the first and the second lateral lamella; characterized in that the middle lamella is provided with two load-bearing support point lines extending in the longitudinal direction of the log for supporting the log comprising a first support point line and a second support point line, which are spaced from each other in the width direction of the log.

2. The laminated log according to claim 1, wherein a lower surface and / or an upper surface of the middle lamella has a recess (140) extending in the longitudinal direction of the log for forming said first and / or second support point line adjacent to said recess.

3. The laminated log according to claim 2, wherein said recess is a planed groove.

4. The laminated log according to any preceding claim, wherein said middle lamella is wider than either one of said first and second lateral lamella.

5. The laminated log according to claim 4, wherein said middle lamella is wider than said first and second lateral lamella combined.

6. The laminated log according to any preceding claim, wherein the upper surface or the lower surface of the middle lamella is flat.

7. The laminated log according to any preceding claim, wherein said first support point line and said second support point line are located, in the width direction of the log, at opposite outer edges of the middle lamella.

8. The laminated log according to any preceding claim, wherein said middle lamella comprises, in the height direction of the log, two or more pieces of lamellas (410) glued together.

9. The laminated log according to any preceding claim, wherein said middle lamella is at least partially formed of exactly one piece of lamella (410) in the height direction of the log.

10. The laminated log according to any preceding claim, wherein said middle lamella comprises, in the longitudinal direction of the log, two or more pieces of lamellas (410) glued together.

11. The laminated log according to any preceding claim, wherein said middle lamella comprises pieces of lamellas (410) of the width of the middle lamella located one after the other in the longitudinal direction of the log.

12. The laminated log according to any preceding claim, wherein said middle lamella comprises, in the width direction of the log, two or more pieces of lamellas (410) glued together.

13. The laminated log according to any preceding claim, wherein said first lateral lamella and / or second lateral lamella comprises, in the height direction of the log, two or more pieces of lamellas glued together.

14. The laminated log according to any preceding claim, wherein said first lateral lamella and / or second lateral lamella is at least partially formed of exactly one piece of lamella in the height direction of the log.

15. A method (500) for making a laminated log, which laminated log has a longitudinal direction, a height direction and a width direction, and in which method a middle lamella is fastened to extend along the longitudinal direction of said log between a first and a second lateral lamella in the width direction of the log such that the middle lamella has a grain direction extending in the height direction of the log and the first and the second lateral lamella have a grain direction extending in the longitudinal direction of the log; characterized in that two load-bearing support point lines extending in the longitudinal direction of the log are machined into the middle lamella for supporting the log comprising a first support point line and a second support point line, which are spaced from each other in the width direction of the log.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein a recess extending in the longitudinal direction of the log is machined into a lower surface and / or an upper surface of the middle lamella for forming said first and / or second support point line adjacent to said recess.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, wherein said recess is machined by planing.

18. A laminated log structure, comprising two or more laminated logs (100) according to any of claims 1-14 positioned on top of each other in the height direction such that first support point lines of the laminated logs on top of each other are aligned and second support point lines of the laminated logs on top of each other are aligned.

Images