Lignocellulosic Nails for Composite Wall Panels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing composite components for prefabricated houses, particularly those made of wood, face challenges with environmentally unfriendly nails made of aluminum, brass, or plastic, which are energetically expensive to produce and difficult to dispose of, and require pre-drilling for connection, increasing processing effort and tool wear.

Innovation Solution

The use of nails made from predominantly lignocellulosic materials, such as wood or wood-like materials with synthetic resin bonding, which are biodegradable, energy-efficient to produce, and can be shot into place without pre-drilling, utilizing friction welding and swelling for enhanced adhesion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If nails made of aluminum, brass, or plastic are used to connect composite component elements, then the mechanical strength and durability of the connection is improved, but the environmental friendliness deteriorates due to energy-intensive production and difficulty of disposal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidenvironmental impact
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameters of the nails from synthetic materials (aluminum, brass, plastic) to natural lignocellulosic materials. This parameter change maintains sufficient connection strength through the natural properties of wood while dramatically reducing environmental impact, as lignocellulosic materials are biodegradable and require less energy for production.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies homogeneity by using nails made of the same lignocellulosic material as the composite component elements themselves. This creates material consistency throughout the structure, eliminating the need to separate different material types during disposal and enhancing the environmental friendliness of the entire assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

2Reliability

If nails made of aluminum, brass, or plastic are used, then the connection reliability is improved, but the ease of disposal deteriorates due to separation requirements and cost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidease of disposal
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

By using nails made of lignocellulosic material that matches the composite component elements, the patent creates a homogeneous material composition throughout the structure. This homogeneity allows the entire assembly to be disposed of or recycled as a single material type, eliminating the need for separation processes and significantly improving ease of disposal while maintaining connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs disposable-like principles by using biodegradable lignocellulosic nails that can be easily discarded with the wooden structure itself. These nails are designed to decompose naturally, eliminating long-term disposal issues associated with metal and plastic fasteners while maintaining sufficient reliability during the building's service life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Manufacturing precision

If pre-drilling is performed before inserting connecting elements, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the productivity deteriorates due to increased processing time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsertion precisionVSAvoidassembly speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the pre-drilling step from the connection process by using nails specifically designed for direct insertion without pre-drilling. The nail geometry and material properties are optimized to allow direct hammering or driving into the composite component elements, eliminating the time-consuming pre-drilling operation while maintaining adequate insertion precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-shaping the nails with optimized geometry and surface properties during manufacturing. The nails are pre-conditioned to facilitate direct insertion into the composite material, eliminating the need for pre-drilling on-site and significantly improving assembly speed while maintaining connection quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Object-affected harmful factors

If wooden dowels or screws are used to connect boards, then the environmental friendliness is improved by using wood material, but the productivity deteriorates due to the requirement of pre-drilling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental impactVSAvoidassembly speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the pre-drilling requirement from traditional wooden connection methods by designing specialized nails made of lignocellulosic material that can be directly inserted without pre-drilling. This extraction of the time-consuming pre-drilling step maintains the environmental benefits of using wood-based materials while dramatically improving assembly speed and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses disposable-style lignocellulosic nails that eliminate the need for complex traditional wooden joint systems. These nails are designed for simple direct insertion and biodegrade naturally, combining the environmental advantages of wood with the installation simplicity of modern fasteners, thereby improving both environmental friendliness and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution results in an environmentally friendly, easily reworkable, and cost-effective composite component with improved pull-out strength and aesthetic appeal, as the nails are biodegradable and can be recycled, reducing the need for additional processing steps and tool maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing friction welding and swelling for enhanced adhesion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSwelling: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

utilizing friction welding and swelling for enhanced adhesion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction welding: Friction Welding

Data Source

PatentEP3428361B1Composite component
Publication Date: 2019.05.15 RAIMUND BECK NAGELTECHNIK GMBH
  • EP3428361B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3428361B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3428361B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a composite component (1), in particular designed as a wall, ceiling or roof element for house construction and especially for prefabricated houses, comprising several, in particular elongated, composite component elements 2, which are arranged side by side in superimposed layers 3a, 3b, 3c, wherein the composite component elements 2 of a layer 3a, 3b, 3c overlap with the composite component elements 2 of at least one adjacent layer 3a, 3b, 3c, in particular composite component elements 2 of a layer 3a, 3b, 3c each overlap with at least two composite component elements 2 of an adjacent layer 3a, 3b, 3c, and the composite component elements 2 are connected to each other in their overlapping areas by means of nails 4, wherein the nails (4) are driven into the composite component elements (2) without pre-drilling and wherein the nails 4 consist of a predominantly lignocellulosic material.