Log wall element for a log building and the log building

Abstract

The application relates to a log wall element (108) for a log building (100) according to an embodiment. The log wall element comprises logs (104, 204a, 204v, 204y) and log fasteners (226, 228). The log wall element is formed of the logs horizontally (H) stacked on top of each other. The fasteners are installed so that the logs stacked on top of each other and fastened to each other form the log wall element, with at least one intermediate log (204v) between a lowermost bottom log (204a) and an uppermost top log (204y) in the log wall element. At least one vertical locking groove (250) has been formed at least at one end (222) of the log wall element formed by ends (246) of the logs for each vertically (V) installed vertical locking means (348), which is adapted to be installed in the log wall element and in a vertical locking groove (250) of a second log wall element (108) to be attached to it in order to prevent lateral movement (8) of log wall elements (108) attached to each other.

Description

[0001] LOG WALL ELEMENT FOR A LOG BUILDING AND THE LOG BUILDING

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The application relates generally to a log wall element for a log building and the log building.

[0004] Background

[0005] Traditionally, a frame of a solid-wood log building is erected by stacking logs, which have been prepared in advance, horizontally on top of each other, one log and one log layer at a time, at a construction site. Where necessary, thermal insulation tape is installed between the log layers to improve the insulation of the log structure, and the log layers are fastened together with long screws or wooden dowels.

[0006] The problems associated with the erection of the frame of a traditional horizontal log building include its slowness, high labour costs resulting from the slow erection process, an exposure of the structures to the weather, and damage to the logs during erection. Another problem is the settling of the logs in the finished building once it has been erected.

[0007] As a solution to the problems associated with the erection of a traditional horizontal log building, log wall elements made of vertical logs have been developed with the elements being manufactured in factory halls protected from the weather. A log wall element is assembled by installing insulation tape between adjacent logs and fastening the logs to each other. The prefabricated log wall elements can be transported to the construction site, where the building frame can be quickly erected by connecting the log wall elements to each other. Furthermore, once erected, a vertical log building does not experience the settling that is typical of a horizontal log building.

[0008] Summary

[0009] One of objectives of the invention is to solve problems associated with the prior art and to provide a log wall element for a horizontal log building that can be manufactured at a manufacturing site protected from the weather. The log wall element also enables a frame of the log building to be erected quickly onsite and reduces problems caused by the settling of logs in the finished building.

[0010] One of the objectives of the invention is achieved by the log wall element and the log building according to the independent claims.

[0011] Embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the claims.

[0012] In an embodiment of the invention, a log wall element for a log building comprises logs and log fasteners. The log wall element is formed of the logs horizontally stacked on top of each other. The fasteners are installed so that the logs stacked on top of each other and fastened to each other form the log wall element, with at least one intermediate log between a lowermost bottom log and an uppermost top log in the log wall element. At least one vertical locking groove has been formed at least at one end of the log wall element formed by ends of the logs for each vertically installed vertical locking means, which is adapted to be installed in the log wall element and in a vertical locking groove of a second log wall element to be attached to it in order to prevent lateral movement of log wall elements attached (fastened) to each other.

[0013] In an embodiment of the invention, a log building comprises log wall elements according to the previous embodiment, each of which comprises logs and log fasteners. Each log wall element is formed of the logs horizontally stacked on top of each other. The fasteners are installed so that the logs stacked on top of each other and fastened to each other form the log wall element, with at least one intermediate log between a lowermost bottom log and an uppermost top log in the log wall element. At least one vertical locking groove has been formed at least at one end of the log wall element formed by ends of the logs for each vertically installed vertical locking means, which is adapted to be installed in the log wall element and in a vertical locking groove of a second log wall element to be attached to it in order to prevent lateral movement of log wall elements attached to each other.

[0014] Brief description of the figures

[0015] In the detailed description of the figures, embodiments are described, by way of example, in more detail with reference to the following figures:

[0016] fig. 1 presents a horizontal log building built using wall elementsfig. 2 presents an end of a log wall element equipped with a vertical locking groove and fastening of logs to each other using horizontal fasteners and vertical stiffeners

[0017] fig. 3a-3e present various fastening solutions for the log wall elements, viewed from above, using vertically-oriented vertical locking means installed in vertical locking grooves

[0018] Detailed explanation of the figures

[0019] Fig. 1 presents a horizontal log building (log building) 100, e.g., a log house, log cabin, log sauna, log bam, or a log hunting blind used for hunting or photography.

[0020] The log building 100 comprises at least a log frame (frame) 106 constructed from logs 104 and built on a foundation 102 and formed from at least one log wall element 108 functioning as a wall structure (wall), e.g., from one, two, three, four or more log wall elements 108, and a roof structure (roof) 110 built on top of the frame 106. A log wall element 108 may comprise at least one door opening 112, e.g., one, two, three, four or more door openings 112; at least one window opening 114, e.g., one, two, three, four or more window openings 114; at least one door and window opening 112, 114; or it may be a uniform log wall element 108 without door or window openings 112, 114.

[0021] The log building 100 may also comprise at least one door structure 116 to be installed in at least one of its door openings 112, e.g., in one, two, three, more than three or all door openings 112; at least one window or hatch structure 118 installed in at least one of its window openings 114, e.g., in one, two, three, more than three or all window openings 114; a floor structure not visible in the figures; a stair structure 120; a terrace structure; and corner structures (corner boards) 124 covering ends 222 of the log wall elements 108.

[0022] Fig. 2 presents how each log wall element 108 intended for the log building 100 is formed in a horizontal direction H from the logs 104 stacked on top of each other in a vertical direction V and fastened to each other with fasteners (fastening structures) 226, 228 so that at least one intermediate log 204v, e.g., one, two, three, four or, as presented, more intermediate logs 204v, is installed between a lowermost bottom log 204a and an uppermost top log 204y.The fasteners 226, 228 comprise elongated horizontal locking means (horizontal locking parts) 226, e.g., strips made of plywood, wood, metal, or plastic, and elongated stiffeners (stiffening mechanisms) 228, e.g., metal stiffening pipes or threaded rods.

[0023] At least one horizontal locking groove 234, e.g., one, two, three, four, or more horizontal locking grooves 234, intended for the horizontal locking means 226 of the intermediate log 204v has been milled on lower and upper surfaces 230, 232 of each intermediate log 204v, substantially in a longitudinal direction P of the intermediate log 204v whereby the intermediate log 204v can be attached, by means of horizontal locking means 226 installed in horizontal locking grooves 234, to the bottom or intermediate log 204a, 204v installed below it and to the intermediate or top log 204v, 204y installed above it in the vertical direction V, depending on the position of the intermediate log 204v in the log wall element 108. There may be, e.g., two horizontal locking grooves 234 on the lower surface 230 of the intermediate logs 204v and two on the upper surface 232, as presented in the figure.

[0024] At least one horizontal locking groove 234 intended for the horizontal locking means 226 of the bottom log 204a has been milled on the upper surface 232 of the bottom log 204a, substantially in the longitudinal direction P of the bottom log 204a, whereby the bottom log 204a can be attached, by means of horizontal locking means 226 installed in horizontal locking grooves 234, to the intermediate log 204v installed above it in the vertical direction V. There may be, e.g., two horizontal locking grooves 234 on the upper surface 232 of the bottom log 204a, as presented in the figure.

[0025] At least one horizontal locking groove 234 intended for the horizontal locking means 226 of the top log 204y has been milled on the lower surface 230 of the top log 204y, substantially in the longitudinal direction P of the top log 204y, whereby the top log 204y can be attached, by means of horizontal locking means 226 installed in horizontal locking grooves 234, to the intermediate log 204v installed below it in the vertical direction V. There may be, e.g., two horizontal locking grooves 234 on the lower surface 230 of the top log 204y, as presented in the figure.

[0026] The horizontal locking means 226 installed in the horizontal locking grooves 234 on the lower and upper surfaces 230, 232 of the intermediate logs 204vengage with the corresponding horizontal locking grooves 234 on the logs 104, 204a, 204v, 204y below and above the intermediate log 204v, facing the lower and upper surfaces 230, 232 of the intermediate log 204v, thereby fastening the logs 104, 204a, 204v, 204y to each other by means of the horizontal locking means 226 to form the log wall element 108.

[0027] The at least one horizontal locking groove 234 formed on the lower surface 230 of the intermediate and top logs 204v, 204y has been milled shallower, in the vertical direction V, than the horizontal locking groove 234 formed on the upper surface 232 of the bottom and intermediate logs 204a, 204v, whereby the horizontal locking means 226 installed in the aligned horizontal locking grooves 234 of the lower and upper surfaces 230, 232 reduces settling, in the vertical direction V, of the intermediate and top logs 204v, 204y resulting from the drying of the logs 104, 204a, 204v, 204y.

[0028] In addition to the horizontal locking means 226, insulation 236, e.g., insulation tape made of flax (flax tow), eco-wool, or wood fibre, is installed between the lower and upper surfaces 230, 232 of the logs 104, 204a, 204v, 204y of the log wall element 108 in order to insulate the spaces between the logs 104, 204a, 204v, 204y in the frame 106.

[0029] In addition to the horizontal locking grooves 234, at least one hole, e.g., one, two, three, four, or more holes, has been formed by drilling, in the vertical direction V, into each of the logs 104, 204a, 204v, 204y of the log wall element 108. The holes drilled in the logs 104, 204a, 204v, 204y of the log wall element 108 assembled using the horizontal locking means 226 form a corresponding number of stiffening holes 238 in the log wall element 108, i.e., at least one stiffening hole 238 in the vertical direction V intended for a stiffener 228, e.g., one, two, three, four or more stiffening holes 238.

[0030] A stiffener 228 installed in each stiffening hole 238 in the vertical direction V, which is tightened at its lower and upper ends 240, 242 by a tightening mechanism, is used to tighten the logs 104, 204a, 204v, 204y of the log wall element 108 against each other, thereby structurally stiffening the log wall element 108. At the upper part 242 of the stiffener 228, there is a lifting structure 244, e.g., a lifting lug or hook for a lifting sling, with the aid of which the pre-assembled and stiffened log wall element 108 can be lifted into a vertical P position for transport and installation at the construction site.In addition, at least one vertical V groove, e.g., one, two, three, four or more grooves, has been formed by milling on at least one end 246, e.g.. only one or both ends 246, of each log 104, 204a, 204v, 204y in the log wall element 108. The grooves milled on the ends 246 of the logs 104, 204a, 204v, 204y of the log wall element 108 assembled with the horizontal locking means 226 and stiffeners 228 form, at the end 222 of the log wall element 108, a corresponding number of vertical V locking grooves, i.e. , at least one vertical locking groove 250 intended for a vertical locking means (vertical end locking portion) 348, e.g., one, two, three, four, or more vertical locking grooves 250. Fig. 3a-3e present different fastening solutions for log wall elements 108, e.g., rectangular, partition wall, and non-rectangular fastening solutions for log wall elements 108, using vertically V positioned and elongated vertical locking means 348, e.g., flat metal bars, e.g., flat iron or steel bars; or nylon rods, installed in the vertical locking grooves 250.

[0031] A vertical locking means 348 is installed, as presented, from above in each of the vertical locking grooves 250 of the opposite ends 222 of the log wall element 108 and a second log wall element 108 fastened (locked) to it when erecting the frame 106 of the log building 100 at the construction site, in a vertical direction V to prevent lateral movement S of the log wall elements 108 fastened to each other, used as exterior and interior walls, and to stiffen the frame 106.

[0032] A narrowing 352 may be formed by milling or sawing on at least one end 222 of the log wall element 108 to reduce a surface area of an end surface A of the logs 104, in order to fit and fasten the log wall elements 108 to each other. At the narrowed end 222, in addition to the end surface A, there are narrowing surfaces K at the end 246 of each narrowed log 104.

[0033] In the log wall element 108, the narrowings 352 are made so that one of the narrowing surfaces K is substantially parallel to the end surface A and one of the narrowing surfaces K is substantially perpendicular to the end surface A for a second log wall element 108 to be fastened to the log wall element 108. The vertical locking grooves 250 at the end 222 of the log wall element 108 may be formed on the end surface A, the narrowing surface K, or both.

[0034] The fastenings between the ends 222 of the log wall elements 108 in the frame 106 are covered and protected by elongated and vertical V angle structures124, corner structures (corner strips) 354, and cover structures (cover strips) 356.

[0035] The invention has been described above using exemplary embodiments and its principle can naturally be modified within the scope of protection defined by the claims, e.g., with regard to implementation details and fields of application.

Claims

Claims1. A log wall element (108) for a log building (100), comprisinglogs (104, 204a, 204v, 204y) andlog fasteners (226, 228),which log wall element is formed of the logs horizontally (H) stacked on top of each other andwhich fasteners are installed so that the logs stacked on top of each other and fastened to each other form the log wall element, with at least one intermediate log (204v) between a lowermost bottom log (204a) and an uppermost top log (204y) in the log wall element,characterised in that at least one vertical locking groove (250) has been formed at least at one end (222) of the log wall element formed by ends (246) of the logs for each vertically (V) installed vertical locking means (348), which is adapted to be installed in the log wall element and in a vertical locking groove (250) of a second log wall element (108) to be attached to it in order to prevent lateral movement (S) of log wall elements (108) attached to each other.

2. The log wall element (108) according to the previous claim, wherein the at least one end (222) of the log wall element has a narrowing (352) that reduces a surface area of an end surface (A) of the logs for fastening the log wall elements to each other, such that in addition to the end surface, the end has narrowing surfaces (K) at an end (246) of each log.

3. The log wall element (108) according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the end surface (A) and narrowing surfaces (K) comprises the vertical locking groove (250) for the vertical locking means (348), when one of the narrowing surfaces (K) of the narrowing is substantially parallel to the end surface and one of the narrowing surfaces (K) is substantially perpendicular to the end surface for the second log wall element to be fastened to the log wall element.

4. The log wall element (108) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the vertical locking means (348) comprises an elongated flat metal bar (348) installed in the vertical locking groove (250).

5. The log wall element (108) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein at least one horizontal locking groove (234) intended for a horizontal locking means (226) belonging to the log fasteners and extending substantiallyin a longitudinal direction (P) of the intermediate log is formed in lower and upper surfaces (230, 232) of each intermediate log (204v) such that the horizontal locking means (226) installed in the horizontal locking grooves (234) on the lower and upper surfaces of the intermediate log engage with corresponding horizontal locking grooves (234) on the logs (104, 204a, 204v, 204y) above and below said log and are positioned against the lower and upper surfaces of the intermediate log for fastening the logs to each other.

6. The log wall element (108) according to claim 5, wherein the horizontal locking means (226) comprises an elongated wooden strip (226) to be installed in a horizontal locking groove (234).

7. The log wall element (108) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the log fasteners (226, 228) comprise at least one vertical stiffening hole (238) for a stiffener (228) to be installed vertically in each stiffening hole (238) for tightening the logs against each other and structurally stiffening the log wall element.

8. A log building (100) characterised in that the log building comprises log wall elements (108) according to any one of the previous claims.

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