Timber Prefabrication Device with Adjustable Batten Stop Jig

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing prefabrication devices for timber construction are limited to the prefabrication of roof elements and lack the capability to efficiently produce facade elements, particularly ventilated facades, which are typically constructed on-site with substructures and battens.

Innovation Solution

A prefabrication device with two parallel longitudinal beams supporting rafter shoes and a stop jig with adjustable stops is used to prefabricate facade elements, allowing for precise positioning and alignment of battens, enabling the production of facade elements off-site.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If facade elements are constructed on-site using conventional methods, then flexibility in installation is maintained, but manufacturing precision and construction time are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precision of battensVSAvoidcomplexity of prefabrication device
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The prefabrication device is designed to serve multiple functions: it can prefabricate both roof elements (using rafter shoes for beams) and facade elements (using stop jigs for battens). This multi-functionality allows the same basic structure to achieve high precision for different types of timber construction components, resolving the contradiction by enabling precision prefabrication without requiring entirely separate specialized devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The device is segmented into modular components: longitudinal beams, rafter shoes for beam support, and stop jigs with adjustable stops for batten positioning. This segmentation allows the device to be configured for different prefabrication tasks while maintaining precision, and reduces overall complexity by allowing individual modules to be added or removed based on specific project needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If facade elements are constructed on-site, then adaptability to different facade designs is maintained, but construction time and labor intensity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstruction speedVSAvoidadaptability to different facade designs
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The stop jig incorporates adjustable stops that can be repositioned along the longitudinal beams to accommodate different batten spacing requirements. The stops can be moved, added, or removed based on the specific facade design, providing dynamic adaptability. This allows high-speed prefabrication while maintaining versatility for different facade configurations, resolving the contradiction between productivity and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Battens are pre-positioned and pre-assembled into facade elements with precise alignment before being transported to the construction site. This preliminary action of prefabrication with pre-assembled components significantly accelerates on-site installation while the adjustable stop jig ensures adaptability to different designs, thus resolving the contradiction between construction speed and design flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If a large number of stops are provided on the stop jig for large-scale facade elements, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity and setup time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment accuracy of battensVSAvoidnumber of stops and positioning mechanisms
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of providing individual stops for every possible batten position along the entire length of a large facade element, the stop jig uses longitudinal rails or grooves that allow stops to be continuously positioned at any location. This dimensional approach (allowing continuous positioning along a line rather than discrete fixed positions) maintains high alignment accuracy while significantly reducing the number of physical stops needed, thus resolving the contradiction between precision and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4585382A1Prefabrication device for prefabrication of finished wooden construction parts
Publication Date: 2025.07.16 BAUER HOLZBAU GMBH
  • EP4585382A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4585382A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4585382A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A prefabrication device (10) for prefabricating prefabricated components (80) in timber construction has two longitudinal beams (18) spaced parallel to one another, wherein the longitudinal beams (18) each support at least one rafter shoe (30), and the rafter shoes (30) serve to receive beams and/or battens (88) that span the distance between the longitudinal beams (18). In order to be able to prefabricate a facade element, the prefabrication device (10) has a stop jig (50) on which a plurality of stops (58) are arranged and which runs from one of the two longitudinal beams (18) to the other of the two longitudinal beams (18).