Abstract: The invention relates to a metrology device for determining the quality of a hygroscopic material. The metrology device includes a frame, a support element, two tips that can move in translation with respect to the frame, means for measuring a penetration effort of each tip as a function of a force applied to each tip, means for measuring an electrical resistivity between the ends of the two tips, which means are able to measure an electrical resistivity of the hygroscopic material when the two tips are inserted into the hygroscopic material, and means for measuring a penetration effort of the support element as a function of a force applied to the support element in order to achieve a predetermined fixing position. The support element is adapted to penetrate into the hygroscopic material so as to fix the frame to the hygroscopic material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a metrology device for determining the quality of a hygroscopic material. The metrology device includes a frame, a support element, two tips that can move in translation with respect to the frame, means for measuring a penetration effort of each tip as a function of a force applied to each tip, means for measuring an electrical resistivity between the ends of the two tips, which means are able to measure an electrical resistivity of the hygroscopic material when the two tips are inserted into the hygroscopic material, and means for measuring a penetration effort of the support element as a function of a force applied to the support element in order to achieve a predetermined fixing position. The support element is adapted to penetrate into the hygroscopic material so as to fix the frame to the hygroscopic material.

Abstract: A method for determining the state of preservation of a wooden support and establishing a diagnosis in order to find out whether the wooden support is in a state which is suitable for use, in a state requiring a maintenance operation or in a state requiring its elimination includes measuring the hardness of the wooden support and the hygrometricity of the wooden support. The method further includes determining the species of the timber of the wooden support, determining the treatment previously applied to the wooden support, calculating the resulting safety residual stress, comparing the value of the calculated safety residual stress with an observed average safety residual stress and establishing a diagnosis depending on this comparison.

Abstract: The assembling element defining a plane comprises primary and secondary structures which are positioned substantially in parallel to the plane. The primary structure comprises at least two separate beams each of which is provided with boards having a rectangular cross-section, parallel with respect to each other and placed on an edge along the longitudinal axis thereof parallel to the plane of the building element. One or several boards are laterally offset in a perpendicular direction to the plane and at least two boards are not laterally offset. The secondary structure connects the separate beams to each other by the internal edges of at least two boards which are not laterally offset.

Abstract: A method for determining the state of preservation of a wooden support and establishing a diagnosis in order to find out whether the wooden support is in a state which is suitable for use, in a state requiring a maintenance operation or in a state requiring its elimination includes measuring the hardness of the wooden support and the hygrometricity of the wooden support. The method further includes determining the species of the timber of the wooden support, determining the treatment previously applied to the wooden support, calculating the resulting safety residual stress, comparing the value of the calculated safety residual stress with an observed average safety residual stress and establishing a diagnosis depending on this comparison.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wood-reinforced structure comprising several beams (2, 3, 4, 6, 7) which are constructed from at least three wood boards (16, 17, 18), two external boards (16, 17) and a central board (18, 19, 21, 22), said boards being assembled to one another. The aforementioned external boards (16, 17) are positioned on either side of the central board (18) and said central board is positioned at the junction zones which form an intersection (8, 9, 11, 12, 13) between at least two beams (2, 3, 4, 6, 7). The central wood board (18, 19, 21, 22) is inserted fully into the housing (23, 24, 26) which is disposed in each of the two external wood boards (16, 17).

Abstract: The invention concerns a safety barrier for highways or the like, including rails in abutted assembly and fixed on posts spaced apart and driven into the ground. At least one rail of the barrier is made of wood and has synthetic fibers fixed on at least a rear part of the rail, extending over substantially the entire length of the rail.

Abstract: The invention concerns a self-supporting wooden structural panel, useful for making walls as well as floors, ceilings or roofs, comprising a succession of boards (2a, 2b) rectangular in cross-section, assembled together forming a V-shaped structure. The invention is characterised in that the boards (2a, 2b) are mounted on two parallel racks (3) and are fixed via screws (4) on the crests of said racks which constitute rigid elements perpendicular to the axis of the boards (2a, 2b); two consecutive boards (2a, 2b) are assembled by screwing between the edge (6) of one board (2a) against the end of the flat side (5) of the consecutive board (2b); the two racks (3) perpendicular to the axis of the boards form a template for positioning them, preferably at 90° relative to each other.

Abstract: A building slab is disclosed which is mountable on a support structure and capable of supporting a fixed or mobile load. The slab includes a base structure having a plurality of parallel planks, rectangular in cross-section, and assembled together with nails or screws. The planks have their longitudinal axis parallel to a plane of the slab, and are alternately offset with respect to one another and perpendicularly to the plane of the slab. The base structure is covered, at least over the entire surface to receive the load, with a continuous panel which extends over its entire width and is fixed at least against a top surface of the planks so that the load exerted on the panel is distributed over several lateral planks adjacent to those against which the load is directly exerted. The distribution of the load is along an axis perpendicular to the planks and parallel to the direction in which the planks are nailed or screwed together.

Abstract: A wooden trussed structure includes beams which are constructed from at least three elementary planks, nailed together. The plank located in the central part is offset relatively to the ends of the lateral planks, so as to form thereat, tenons and/or mortises for inserting, at the junction forming a node, a panel-type reinforcement, positioned in the core, and wherein the shearing surfaces correspond to the lateral surfaces at each node. The panel includes a wooden structural element such as a micro-lath or plywood as a plate-type solid web.

Abstract: The invention concerns a dynamic game for children consisting of a cylinder (1) open at its ends and capable of rotating about its longitudinal central axis (X). The invention is characterized in that: the cylindrical body (1) consists of parallel slats (6); the slats (6) are maintained in place by two peripheral rings (8) fixed on their outer surface and supporting a continuous raceway (10); the diameter of the cylinder (1) is such that the user should be lying down; the pairs of support rollers (4) are positioned such that they form between them an angle of at least 120° relative to the cylinder center; the support frame (2) for the cylinder (1) consists of two fixed rings (12) supporting the guide rollers (4) pressed against the two raceways (10) provided at the cylinder periphery.

Abstract: A building slab is disclosed which is mountable on a support structure and capable of supporting a fixed or mobile load. The slab includes a base structure having a plurality of parallel planks, rectangular in cross-section, and assembled together with nails or screws. The planks have their longitudinal axis parallel to a plane of the slab, and are alternately offset with respect to one another and perpendicularly to the plane of the slab. The base structure is covered, at least over the entire surface to receive the load, with a continuous panel which extends over its entire width and is fixed at least against a top surface of the planks so that the load exerted on the panel is distributed over several lateral planks adjacent to those against which the load is directly exerted. The distribution of the load is along an axis perpendicular to the planks and parallel to the direction in which the planks are nailed or screwed together.

Abstract: Process for installing against a support (S), the ground in particular, a covering consisting of planks, laths, wooden panels (1) which consists in leveling the surface to be overlaid, then in fixing against the said surface (S), side-by-side planks (1), leaving a space between them and the ground. The process is characterized in that the spacing and the fixing of the planks (1) constituting the covering is obtained by means of pairs of elements (3, 4) distributed over the length of the said planks, which elements (3, 4) take the form of blocks, of which the one (3) is fixed transversely on the lower face of the plank and the second (4) over the ground, the opposite faces of the said blocks (3, 4) comprising interlockable complementary zones (7) ensuring the mutual securing of the said elements (3, 4).

Abstract: The strength of an upright wooden structure is diagnosed by drawing a pair of spaced apart electrodes into the structure to a predetermined depth. The force of penetration and the moisture content of the structure at the depth of penetration are measured and the measurement data processed to provide an instantaneous readout indicative of the strength of the structure.

Abstract: The apparatus of the invention has two heads each of which has three sensors for measuring the propagation speed of ultrasonic waves, the degree of moisture, and the temperature in a test material, in conjunction with a module having a microprocessor and memories. The microprocessor calculates the measured propagation speed of the ultrasonic waves. This speed is normed with respect to a set temperature (e.g., 20.degree. C.) and a set value (e.g., 15%) of the degree of moisture. From these measurements, the microprocessor searches for the class of standardized mechanical properties in which the material falls. The microprocessor finds the class in which the value of the normed propagation speed falls in a table of values contained in one of the memories. The apparatus thereby enables the determination of the class of the material automatically and non-destructively.