A DEVICE AT A LOG BUILDING CORNER

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to buildings erected from corner joined logs and it refers to a device intended for improving the insulation at such buildings, and in particular the insulation against draught between the logs.

[0002] At conventional building methods of this type, the corner connections are made in that the log ends, or the like, arranged in crisscross relation to each other are provided with recessed grooves, which at mounting are fitted within each other in such a manner that two parallel or near parallel side surfaces facing each other on two adjacent logs, are closely engaging each other along their entire extension outside said recessed grooves.

[0003] At such log joining the size of the slots in the corners at the different notches or recessed grooves, will vary in dependency of the swelling or shrinking of the wood due to its degree of drying and to the weather conditions, as the wood of course is a living material. This brings about problems in getting the joints tight enough and therefore the result is often an annoying draught through the log joined wall.

[0004] Earlier it has been tried to meet this problem by clamping insulation material between the logs, and thereby particularly at the very corners, in old days in form of moss and in later years in form of special rubber seals. However these insulation materials will loose their function of completely filling and sealing off the joints in quite short time, as the strings of moss compressed between the joint elements lack flexibility and will sink down in a rather short time and thereby gradually will "open" new slots, which will give rise to draught, or respectively, that the rubber seals, which are subjected to constant pressure will age and become brittle and therefore loose their draught-reducing function.

[0005] US 3,189,950 and US 3,381,428 disclose log joining systems with recessed portions provided with grooves for insertion of elongated pegs or stripes projecting through aligned grooves in a plurality of logs stacked upon each other and having an interconnecting locking function which is also improving the sealing between the logs. These systems lack features for maintaining the sealing effect when the material of the logs shrinks or becomes warped following ageing and weather and temperature influence.

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is therefore to provide a device, by means of which such draught through the recesses forming the corner connections in the logs is eliminated in an efficient and long-term manner, and this has been achieved in that the invention has been given the features defined in claim 1.

[0007] Hereinafter the invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 shows in perspective the end portions of three logs, arranged in crisscross relation to each other, during the mounting of a log joint together with the device according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows in a planar view a first embodiment of the device according to the invention.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the device according to Fig. 2,

Figs. 4 and 5 show the device according to Fig. 2 in perspective obliquely from below and obliquely from above, respectively.

Fig. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention in a planar view, and

Fig. 7 shows a side view of the device according to Fig. 6.

[0008] Fig. 1 shows in perspective the ends of three logs 1, 2, 3 or battens, which in the embodiment illustrated are each provided with a longitudinal tongue 4 or groove 5, respectively, along their opposed side edges, whereby the tongue 4 in an under-laying log or batten 1 in mounted position is inserted in the groove 5 in the over-laying, third log 3 which is parallel to the first log 1. Hereby is reduced the tendency of draught between the logs 1, 3, etcetera, laying alongside each other.

[0009] At the end portions each log or batten 1 - 3, has second and first notches or recesses 6, 7, which together leave a recessed portion 8, with opposed sides, which are substantially parallel, and which recessed portion 8 in the embodiment shown has a substantially square cross section. For the sake of clarity these details in the second log 2 in the drawing figures have been given a prefix prim (') and for the log 3 a prefix bis ("). The figure shows how the second log 2 is mounted perpendicularly to the first log 1, whereby the lower planar side of the recessed portion 8' of the second log 2 is located thus, that it rests on the upper planar side of the recessed portion 8 of the first log 1. Thereby this recessed portion 8' in the second log 2 is inserted with half its height in the first recess 7 in the first log 1. In accordance with the dash lines the third log 3 at mounting thereby will reach with its recessed portion 8" so far into the first recess 7 in the second log 2, that the tongue 4 in the first log 1 will bottom in the groove 5" in the third log 3. Thus is obtained an efficient joint, which forms a rather tight and draught-free connection along the two opposed surfaces of the two parallel logs 1 and 3.

[0010] So far the structure corresponds mainly to conventional solutions, whereby however the problems, mentioned in the introduction regarding draught in connection with drying and agening problems in the corner joints themselves, remain.

[0011] In order to sustain draught in a long-termed manner at the very corner joints, it now is suggested that the walls of the first recess 7 and the upper and lower surface of the recessed portion 8 is provided with a first slot 9, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the log and at the same time its opposite side surfaces of the recessed portion 8 in the second recess 6, is provided with a second slot 10, which extends in parallel with the walls of the second recess 6 and is positioned centrally between these side surfaces of the second recess 6.

[0012] In each one of these first slots 9 is insertable a substantially U-shaped insulation element 11, which can be manufactured e.g. from stamped out fibre boards or from plastic material, rubber, metal or similar material. As can be better seen from Figs. 2-5, each one of these U-shaped insulation elements 11 has a base portion 12, in the embodiments shown with rounded lower side, and two shanks 13 of such a width, that they do not reach the bottom of the opposed first slots 9 in the first recesses 7 but project out of these. The protruding portions of the shanks at the same time correspond substantially to the depth of the second slots 10 in the second recess 6 in the different cross joints. Hereby, each insulating element 11 together with the first slots 9 in e.g. the first log and the second slots 10 in the second log 2, which latter is arranged perpendicular to the first log 1, will form a recessed labyrinth seal, which is furthermore not influenced by the movement of the wood material following changes in the weather and ageing of the wood material, as each insulation element 11 is movable in the direction of each first and second slot 9, 10, respectively and therefore will not risk giving rise to crevices at movement of the wood.

[0013] Fig. 2 shows the very insulating element 11 in a planar view, whereas Figs. 3-5 are side views and perspective views through the same, obliquely from below and obliquely from above, respectively. The rounded base portion 12 of the insulation element 11 is of course adapted to the extension of the bottom of the first slot 9, and may therefore have other arbitrary shapes, adapted to the bottom shape of the first slot.

[0014] In Figs. 6 and 7 is shown in planar view and in side view, respectively, an alternative embodiment of the insulation element 11a, which in this case at its shanks is equipped with hook formed sides 14 for hampering the movements of the element in the first and second slots 9, 10, but without making such movement quite impossible, thus that the insulating elements 11, 11a will not be subjected to deformation or destroying stresses at movement of the cooperating parts of the corner joint.

[0015] The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings and described in connection thereto, but modifications and variants are possible within the scope of the following claims. Thus the first recesses 7 have been shown in the figures and been described in connection thereto as having a planar bottom, and side walls arranged at right angles thereto, but these first recesses can also be provided with a bottom portion curved in the same manner as the base portion 12 of the insulating element. Although the slots in the logs have been shown in the tongue-provided sides of the logs, it is of course also possible that slots are provided in a corresponding manner in the groove-provided sides.

Claims

1. A device for improving the insulation at log joined buildings, and particularly the insulation against draught, between surfaces of first recesses (7, 7', 7") provided in two opposed sides of logs (1,2,3), which in a cross joint cooperatingly engage each other,
chacterized in
that the device further incorporates second recesses (6, 6', 6"), provided in surfaces perpendicular to the said first recesses (7, 7', 7"), whereby in the first recesses (7, 7', 7") are provided first slots (9), which are located in the base wall and both side walls of said first recess, and whereby in said second recesses (6, 6', 6") are provided second slots (10) located in the base wall of the second recess, and wherein such a second recess (6) is present in both opposing longitudinal sides of the log, whereby said first and second slots (9, 10) are positioned substantially perpendicular to each other, thus that the slots (9, 10) in two logs positioned in crisscross relation to each other, will be situated aligned with each other and located just in front of each other, and that the device furthermore incorporates substantially U-shaped insulation elements (11, 11a), each having a base portion (12) and shanks (13 projecting from said base portion, the insulation element (11, 11a) being arranged to be inserted with its base portion and its shanks (13) in the slots (9) in the opposing side walls of the said first recesses in one of the logs, and to protrude out of these slots (9), and to project with its protruding portions into the slots (10) of the adjacent log, thus that it together with said slots forms a labyrinth seal, which is arranged to permit mutual motion between the logs with maintained sealing function.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1,
characterized in
that the insulation element (11, 11a) is constituted by a thin-walled member.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2,
characterized in
that the base portion (12) of the insulating element (11,11a) has an extension, which follows the shape of the bottom of the slot (9) in one of the first recesses (7) of the log.

4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,
characterized in
that the shanks of the insulating element (11a) are provided with formations (14) reducing the ability of the element to move in the different slots (9, 10).

Ansprüche

1. Vorrichtung zum Verbessern der Isolierung von Blockhäusern und insbesondere der Isolierung gegen Zug zwischen Flächen von ersten Ausnehmungen (7, 7', 7"), die an gegenüberliegenden Seiten von Bohlen (1, 2, 3) vorgesehen sind, die in einer Kreuzverbindung zusammenwirkend ineinander eingreifen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Vorrichtung weiterhin zweite Ausnehmungen (6, 6', 6'') umfaßt, die an Flächen senkrecht zu den ersten Ausnehmungen (7, 7', 7") vorgesehen sind, wobei in den ersten Ausnehmungen (7, 7', 7'') erste Schlitze (9) vorgesehen sind, die in der Bodenwandung und beiden Seitenwandungen der ersten Ausnehmung angeordnet sind, in den zweiten Ausnehmungen (6, 6', 6'') zweite Schlitze (10) vorgesehen sind, die in der Bodenwandung der zweiten Ausnehmung angeordnet sind, und eine solche zweite Ausnehmung (6) auf beiden gegenüberliegenden Längsseiten der Bohle vorhanden ist, wobei die ersten und zweiten Schlitze (9, 10) im wesentlichen senkrecht zueinander angeordnet sind, so daß die Schlitze (9, 10) in zwei kreuzweise zueinander angeordneten Bohlen in Flucht zueinander und genau einer vor dem anderen liegen, und daß die Vorrichtung weiterhin im wesentlichen U-förmige Isolierungselemente (11, 11a) aufweist, die jeweils einen Grundbereich (12) und Schenkel (13) haben, die von dem Grundbereich wegragen, wobei das Isolierungselement (11, 11a) mit seinem Grundbereich und seinen Schenkeln (13) in die Schlitze (9) in den gegenüberliegenden Seitenwandungen der ersten Ausnehmungen in einer der Bohlen einführbar ist und aus diesen Schlitzen (9) hervorsteht sowie mit seinen überstehenden Bereichen in die Schlitze (10) der benachbarten Bohle ragt, so daß es zusammen mit den Schlitzen eine Labyrinthdichtung bildet, die derart beschaffen ist, daß sie eine gegenseitige Bewegung zwischen den Balken mit aufrechterhaltener Dichtfunktion erlaubt.

2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Isolierungselement (11, 11a) durch ein dünnwandiges Element ausgebildet ist.

3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Grundbereich (12) des Isolierungselements (11, 11a) eine Erstreckung besitzt, die der Form des Grundes des Schlitzes (9) in einer der ersten Ausnehmungen (7) der Bohle folgt.

4. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Schenkel des Isolierungselements (11a) mit Ausbildungen (14) versehen ist, die die Fähigkeit des Elements reduzieren, sich in den verschiedenen Schlitzen (9, 10) zu bewegen.

Revendications

1. Un dispositif pour améliorer l'isolation sur des bâtiments à poutres assemblées, et en particulier l'isolation contre les courants d'air, entre les surfaces de premiers évidements (7, 7', 7") réalisés dans deux côtés opposés des poutres (1, 2, 3) qui s'emboîtent conjointement l'un dans l'autre dans un joint en croix,
caractérisé
par le fait que le dispositif comporte en outre des seconds évidements (6, 6', 6") réalisés dans les surfaces perpendiculaires auxdits premiers évidements (7, 7', 7"), dans les premiers évidements (7, 7', 7") étant réalisées des premières fentes (9) situées dans la paroi de base et dans les deux parois latérales dudit premier évidement, et dans lesdits seconds évidements (6, 6', 6") étant réalisées des secondes fentes (10) situées dans la paroi de base du second évidemment, et par le fait qu'un tel second évidement (6) est présent dans les deux côtés longitudinaux opposés de la poutre, lesdites premières et secondes fentes (9, 10) étant positionnées sensiblement perpendiculairement l'une à l'autre, de telle sorte que les fentes (9, 10) de deux poutres disposées en croix l'une par rapport à l'autre soient situées dans l'alignement l'une de l'autre et placées juste en face l'une de l'autre, et par le fait que le dispositif comporte en outre des éléments d'isolation (11, 11a) sensiblement en forme de U, chacun ayant une partie de base (12) et des pattes (13) dépassant de ladite partie de base, l'élément d'isolation (11, 11a) étant agencé pour être introduit avec sa partie de base et ses pattes (13) dans les fentes (9) des parois latérales opposées desdits premiers évidements de l'une des poutres et pour dépasser de ces fentes (9) et pour faire saillie avec ses parties qui dépassent à l'intérieur des fentes (10) de la poutre voisine, de telle sorte qu'en conjonction avec lesdites fentes il forme un joint labyrinthe qui est agencé pour permettre un mouvement réciproque entre les poutres en maintenant la fonction d'étanchéité.

2. Un dispositif selon la revendication 1,
caractérisé par le fait que l'élément d'isolation (11, 11a) est constitué par une pièce à paroi mince.

3. Un dispositif selon la revendication 1 ou 2,
caractérisé par le fait que la partie de base (12) de l'élément d'isolation (11, 11a) a un prolongement qui suit la forme du fond de la fente (9) dans l'un des premiers évidements (7) de la poutre.

4. Un dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
caractérisé par le fait que les pattes de l'élément d'isolation (11a) sont dotées de formations (14) diminuant l'aptitude de l'élément à bouger dans les différentes fentes (9, 10).

Drawing