Segmented Wooden Barrel Stave Assembly Reducing Material Waste

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for producing wooden barrels result in significant waste of raw materials, as staves are typically formed from single pieces that are bent into shape, leading to inefficiencies in material usage and increased production costs.

Innovation Solution

The method involves assembling staves from individual segments connected at end faces using form-fit connections, such as dovetail or click profiles, which can be joined with adhesive for enhanced seal-tightness, allowing for efficient and cost-effective production of wooden barrels by utilizing shorter, high-quality wood pieces and minimizing material waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If staves are formed from single pieces of wood that are bent into shape, then the staves have continuous grain structure and natural strength, but significant raw material waste occurs and production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveraw material wasteVSAvoidstave strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The stave is divided into multiple individual segments that are joined together to form the complete stave. These segments can be produced from shorter wood pieces or remnants, significantly reducing raw material waste while maintaining structural integrity through the joining connection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stave is constructed as a composite structure made from multiple wood segments joined together. The joining connection creates a composite material system that combines multiple pieces to achieve the required strength and structural properties, equivalent to or exceeding single-piece construction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If staves are formed from single pieces of wood, then the production process is simple, but labor-intensive barrel shaping is required and production efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The individual segments are pre-formed and prepared before assembly into the complete stave. This preliminary preparation allows for more efficient production, as segments can be manufactured independently and then quickly assembled, reducing overall production time and labor requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11833709B2Stave, wooden barrel with staves, and method for producing staves

Publication Date: 2023.12.05 MICHAEL WEINIG AG

AI summary

The staves for producing wooden barrels are assembled of individual segments which are fixedly connected to each other at end faces. The individual segments are shorter wood pieces that are assembled such that the stave has the required length. The wooden barrel is produced of such staves which are placed against each other seal-tightly with their narrow sides. The individual segments are machined at their end faces such that individual segments resting against each other after assembly are positioned at an angle relative to each other and form a raw stave that is curved across the length.