Patent Publication Number: US-2005115177-A1

Title: Cast log structure

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 09/953,678, filed Sep. 15, 2001. The disclosure of this application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, including all figures, tables, and drawings. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention relates generally to structures composed of log elements. Specifically, the invention relates to structures composed of cast log elements that provide enhanced appearance, structural integrity, insulative properties, and ease of assembly.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Log structures have been instrumental in the history of many cultures. As a result, such structures have become symbolic in many places, going beyond mere shelter and into the realm of cultural icon. Log structures, specifically log homes, have therefore become desirable due not only to their natural beauty, but because of their historical and cultural feel as well.  
      Unfortunately, log construction is not particularly well adapted to modern building standards. Log structures are often dark and closed-in by modern standards, and have a tendency to “settle” as the logs age. Furthermore, log construction fails to provide the insulation values available in standard modem construction methods.  
      It can thus be expected that the improvement of log structures, and the emulation of certain aspects of log structures using alternative materials, has been the subject of inventive activity. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,648 to Mahaffey is directed to a lightweight composite building module capable of being readily attached to other correspondingly shaped modules for providing a wall of a building. The module includes a pair of spaced elongated wooden side boards joined by a wooden top board. The side boards have right angle cutouts removed from the inside corners thereof producing upper and lower horizontally extending ledges. Polyurethane foam is provided in the cavity defined by the side boards and top boards with said foam extending below the lower horizontally extending ledges. Elongated wooden bolts extend between the top boards of adjacent stacked modules drawing said modules tightly together under compression so that the top board of the next lower module compresses the foam extending below the lower horizontally extending ledges of the module carried directly therebelow producing a rigid sealed joint therebetween.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,259 to Hunsaker et al. discusses a modular building component made of solid wood, capable of being fitted onto other correspondingly shaped modules to provide a wall of a building. The module includes a core made of horizontally laminated wood with a lengthwise groove cut along the top and vertically at one end for utility purposes, to which side boards are attached in a manner which allows each module to lock into adjoining modules both vertically and horizontally. The upper edges of side boards are attached a short space from the top of the core, the lower edges extending past the bottom of the core, creating both a male and female fitting for adjoining modules. In the same manner side boards are offset a short space from one end of the core and extend past the core at the opposite end to allow the ends of modules to lock as well. The side boards are attached at the factory with adhesive bonding material and secured with fasteners. To form walls, the modules are stacked a row at a time and locked together using adhesive and metal fasteners for which holes have been pre-drilled in the laminated cores.  
      In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,433,519 to Jenkins shows a hollow cylindrical prefabricated modular construction element formed by generally circular supports and a sheath. These hollow cylinders are connected, using simple carpentry tools, at a building site to create walls, having a simulated log appearance.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 4,288,954 to O&#39;Donnell is directed to simulated log siding in which wire metal lath is shaped to the generally semicircular configuration associated with a length of log used in a log wall structure. Several layers of cement-plaster are applied to the metal lath to waterproof it, and to lend texture and color to it. The effect of the layered and colored cement-plaster is to render the appearance of an actual log with its bark in place. A simulated log wall siding is made up of multiple lengths of such cement-plaster coated, simulated logs.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 3,552,079 to Mortensen discusses a building element including a panel-shaped insulating material extending between two timber half-beams, the whole element being formed as a beam with one or more tongues and grooves and with the insulating material extending in the full height of the beam from the bottom of a groove or surface between two tongues to the opposite edge of the beam, and an angle joint between two walls made of building elements having notches round a neck section for mutual connection of the elements.  
      While each of these patents show some advantages, it can be seen from the foregoing that the need exists for a simple, inexpensive construction system that provides the aesthetic advantages of log structures without sacrificing the functional advantages of modern building practices and materials.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      A structural system includes a plurality of structural elements. Each of the elements includes an interior layer and an exterior layer cast of cementitious material, and an insulating layer between the interior layer and the exterior layer. The structural elements are stacked adjacent to one another to form a wall. A respective cushion is placed between adjacent structural elements. The cushions create airspaces such that there is no direct surface contact between adjacent structural elements. The exterior layers of the structural elements can be fabricated from cast concrete material, and can be provided with simulative exterior surfaces, for example, with exterior surfaces simulating the appearance of structural logs. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a structure in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a detailed elevational view of the structure shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken generally along lines III-III in  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken generally along lines IV-IV in  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 5  is a detailed elevational view of a structural element in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      A structure  10  in accordance with the principles of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . The structure  10  includes a plurality of walls  12  having the external appearance of a traditional wooden log home.  
      Each wall  12  of the structure  10  is made up of a plurality of structural elements, joined together as are structural elements  14 ,  16 , and  18  shown in  FIG. 2 . The structural elements  14 ,  16 , and  18  are assembled in such a way as to simulate the appearance of structural logs, with their visible faces and ends molded to resemble log surfaces. The structural elements provide this appearance while providing insulative and structural properties unattainable with traditional log construction. This is accomplished by the construction details of each structural element.  
      As seen in  FIG. 3 , the structural element  18  includes an interior layer  20 , and exterior layer  22 , and an insulating layer  24  between the interior layer  20  and the exterior layer  22 . The interior layer  20  and the exterior layer  22  can be fabricated by being cast from a cementitious material, such as concrete, and can be held together in a conventional manner, such as by connector rods  26 . One example of a suitable connection arrangement is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,973 to Keith, the specification of which is incorporated by reference herein. The insulating layer  24  can be fabricated from any known, suitable insulation material used in concrete paneling systems, such as Dow Chemical&#39;s Thermomass System, Owens-Corning&#39;s Pink Core Panel System, FabCor&#39;s Panel tie system, etc.  
      The structural elements  14  includes an interior layer  28 , and exterior layer  30 , and an insulating layer  32  between the interior layer  28  and the exterior layer  30 . The interior layer  28  and the exterior layer  30  can be fabricated by being cast from a cementitious material, such as concrete, and can be held together in a conventional manner, such as by connector rods as described previously. The insulating layer  32  can be fabricated from any known, suitable insulation material as previously mentioned.  
      A cushion or shim  34  is located between the first structural element  14  and the second structural element  18 . The cushion  34  creates an airspace  36  such that there is no direct surface contact between the adjacent structural elements  14 ,  18 . The cushion  34  includes first and second elongated, resilient cushion elements,  38 ,  40  extending along a length of the structural elements  14 ,  18 . The first cushion element  38  is secured between the exterior layer  30  of the first structural element  14  and the exterior layer  22  of the second structural element  18 . The second cushion element  40  is secured between the interior layer  28  of the first structural element  14  and the interior layer  20  of the second structural element  18 .  
      Flexible synthetic chinking material  42  can be applied between the exterior layer  30  of the first structural element  14  and the exterior layer  22  of the second structural element  18  at a position outside of the first cushion element  38 . Fill material  44 , which can be identical to the chinking material  42 , can be applied between the interior layer  28  of the first structural element  14  and the interior layer  20  of the second structural element  18 .  
      As seen in  FIG. 4 , the insulating layers of the structural elements can be provided with angled portions to provide a substantially continuous layer of insulation between the interior and the exterior of the structure. Here, the insulating layer  32  of the structural element  14  is provided with an angled  46 , which aligns with an insulating layer  48  of the structural element  16 .  
      The structural elements are secured together at bearing points, here illustrated as grout sleeves  50 ,  52  extending through the corner joints of the structural elements ( FIG. 4  and  5 ). One skilled in the art would be aware however of the necessary placement of these bearing points along the wall of a composite structure. The grout sleeves  50 ,  52  extend vertically through the structural elements. Vertical reinforcing steel bars  66  are placed into the aligned grout sleeves and extend to the foundation of the structure, after which high-strength grout  68  is poured into the sleeves to encase the rebar and permanently tie the structural elements together into walls.  
      The interior and exterior layers of the structural elements can be fabricated from cast concrete material, and can be provided with simulative exposed surfaces. In the illustrated embodiment, the exterior surfaces of the structural elements simulate the appearance of hand-hewn structural logs, including end surfaces  54  ( FIG. 1 ). It is also anticipated that the exterior surfaces could be fabricated to simulate round logs, or any other desired horizontal structural element, and that the simulated log surfaces can be textured and stained to simulate stripped logs or logs with the bark left on. Similarly, the interior surfaces of the structural elements can be fabricated to simulate log surfaces, wood paneling, stone, sheetrock, or any desired texture, and can te stained or painted to any suitable interior finish. The structural elements can be fabricated using rubber molds made from actual timbers, logs, paneling, stones, etc. using rubber molds in a generally known manner. Companies from which such molds are available in other configurations include Symons, Burk, Scofield, and Scott. Electrical and heating conduits  56 ,  58  can be cast in the wall during fabrication to avoid surface mounting.  
      Walls assembled in accordance with the principles of the present invention are nearly 100% insulated. It is contemplated that their energy efficiency will far surpass that of “real” log structures and other conventional building systems, due to their provision of an interior heat sink. The structural elements can be assembled on site using standard construction equipment in a manner similar to that used in traditional log construction.  
      Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, those of skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.