Self-Supporting Wood Panel System with Dovetail Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of large wooden structures in buildings is hindered by the need for extensive metal fasteners and connections, which are environmentally detrimental and costly, and pose challenges in constructing multi-story buildings due to the weight and material handling requirements.
Innovation Solution
A self-supporting wood panel system utilizing dovetail joints and dowels made of cross-laminated timber, where transverse panels are connected to wall panels via dovetail joints and dowels, allowing for assembly without additional fastening means, and using tapered and super-dried dowels to enhance stability and ease of assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal fasteners and mechanical connections are used to assemble wooden structures, then the structural strength and stability are improved, but the environmental harm and material cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates metal fasteners from the wooden structure assembly system, replacing them with dovetail joints made entirely of wood. This removes the harmful metal components while maintaining structural integrity through the interlocking geometry of the dovetail connections between panels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies homogeneity by using wood material throughout the entire structure, including the connection joints. The dovetail joints are formed from the same wood material as the panels they connect, creating a homogeneous wooden structure without metal heterogeneity, thus eliminating environmental harm from metal fasteners.
2Strength
If metal fasteners and mechanical connections are used to assemble wooden structures, then the structural strength and stability are improved, but the material cost and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fastening function and the structural panel into a single integrated wood panel component. The dovetail joints are formed as integral parts of the panels themselves, eliminating the need for separate metal fasteners and reducing assembly complexity by combining multiple components into one homogeneous wooden element.
Solution Approach 2:
The dovetail joints are designed to self-align and self-lock through their geometric shape during assembly. The tapered geometry of the dovetail connections allows panels to be joined by simply fitting them together, with the joints automatically securing themselves without requiring additional fastening operations or complex assembly procedures.
3Stability of the object's composition
If traditional wooden structures are assembled with metal connections, then multi-story buildings can be constructed, but the weight and handling requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs cross-laminated timber (CLT) as a composite wood material, which combines multiple layers of wood veneers glued at right angles to each other. This composite structure provides high strength-to-weight ratio, enabling multi-story building stability while keeping individual panel weights manageable for handling and assembly.
4Strength
If additional fastening means are used to connect wall panels and transverse panels, then the connection strength is improved, but the material usage and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes additional fastening means from the connection system, relying solely on the dovetail joints formed by the panel geometries themselves. This eliminates the need for extra screws, bolts, or metal connectors, reducing material usage while maintaining connection strength through the interlocking dovetail design.
Solution Approach 2:
The dovetail joints serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide mechanical connection strength, enable self-alignment during assembly, and create a flush surface finish. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate fastening components, reducing overall material usage while achieving strong connections.
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
Enables efficient, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective assembly of large wooden structures by distributing loads and reinforcing connections, reducing material usage, and allowing for modular expansion of floors and roofs without compressive stress on transverse panels.
Implementation Method 1
the gravity force additionally tightens the connection of the dove tail joints, by pressing the joints in a tighter grip
Implementation Method 2
the engineered wood is a cross-laminated timber (CLT). One exemplary effect of using CLT in the self-supporting panels is that they become a high strength material, whereby a rigid and durable structure and with relative low weight
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
A self-supporting wood panel system for a building comprising a plurality of self-supporting wall panels (10) of engineered wood and adapted to support the building and, at least one self-supporting transverse panel (30) of engineered wood, and a method of assembling a wood building of a wood panel system. The panel system comprises a plurality of wall panels (10) and the at least one transverse panel (30) adapted to rest upon at least two wall panels (10) forming a roof and/or floor of the building. The plurality of wall panels (10) are connectable at their side surfaces (12) to the at least one transverse panel (30) by a plurality of dovetail joints (20).