Pre-finished log wall panel system

Abstract

A log wall panel is placed into a drying kiln in an upright orientation, with the log wall panel extending along an upright direction when in the upright orientation. The log wall panel is compressed by at least applying a downward force to the log wall panel along the upright direction while the log wall panel is in the drying kiln. The log wall panel is dried while the log wall panel is being compressed by the downward force.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A method of fabricating a log wall panel at an assembly site to be installed at a different destination site, comprising:
 placing a log wall panel into a drying kiln in an upright orientation, the log wall panel extending along an upright direction when in the upright orientation;   compressing the log wall panel by at least applying a downward force to the log wall panel along the upright direction while the log wall panel is in the drying kiln; and   drying the log wall panel while the log wall panel is being compressed by the downward force.   
     
     
         31 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 30 , further comprising creating an electrical component cutout in the log wall panel at the assembly site. 
     
     
         32 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 drilling one or more additional apertures into one or more of logs of the log wall panel; and   inserting one or more probes into the one or more additional apertures.   
     
     
         33 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 32 , wherein drying the log wall panel further includes determining that drying is complete based at least in part on at least one measurement from the one or more probes indicating that a moisture content within the one or more logs has reached a preselected moisture value. 
     
     
         34 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 32 , wherein drying the log wall panel further includes determining, based at least in part on at least one measurement from the one or more probes, that a temperature within the one or more logs has reached a temperature value relative to a temperature threshold. 
     
     
         35 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 30 , further comprising, after drying the log wall panel in the drying kiln is complete, loading the log wall panel onto a delivery vehicle for shipment to the different destination site. 
     
     
         36 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 30 , further comprising, after drying the log wall panel in the drying kiln is complete, attaching at least one eye bolt to an upper end of the log wall panel, the at least one eye bolt being usable for raising the log wall panel via a hoist. 
     
     
         37 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 30 , wherein drying further comprises:
 heating the drying kiln to a first temperature for a first amount of time, the first amount of time being dependent on a measured moisture content of at least one log in the log wall panel; and   heating the drying kiln to a second temperature for a second amount of time sufficient to case-harden an outside surface of the log wall panel.   
     
     
         38 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 30 , further comprising chinking infill material between logs of the log wall panel prior to shipment of the log wall panel to the different destination site. 
     
     
         39 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 30 , further comprising, prior to placing the log wall panel into the drying kiln:
 cutting fully through the log wall panel in at least two spaced-apart locations; and   removing a portion of the log wall panel between the two spaced-apart locations.   
     
     
         40 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 39 , further comprising, at the assembly site after drying the log wall panel, installing a window into the portion. 
     
     
         41 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 39 , wherein the portion of the log wall panel removed is exclusive of a lower log of the log wall panel. 
     
     
         42 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 30 , wherein:
 the log wall panel includes:
 a plurality of logs that include a plurality of apertures; and 
 a plurality of connector assemblies; and 
   the method further comprises connecting the plurality of logs together in the log wall panel by at least extending the plurality of connector assemblies one each through the plurality of apertures.   
     
     
         43 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 42 , wherein the plurality of apertures are aligned when the plurality of logs are arranged in a stack. 
     
     
         44 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 30 , wherein:
 the drying kiln is configured to:
 receive a weight on an upper surface of the drying kiln; and 
 direct the downward force from the weight to one or more log panels along the upright direction within the drying kiln; and 
   applying the downward force includes providing the weight on the upper surface of the drying such that the downward force caused by the weight is applied to the log wall panel in the upright direction.   
     
     
         45 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 44 , wherein the weight is in excess of a sum of a live weight and a dead weight the log wall panel is expected to be subjected to after being assembled into a structure. 
     
     
         46 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 42 , further comprising creating a plurality of apertures in the plurality of logs such that the plurality of apertures are aligned as a result of the plurality of logs being arranged in a stack. 
     
     
         47 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 46 , further comprising assembling the log wall panel by at least:
 arranging the plurality of logs in the stack such that the plurality of apertures are aligned; and   connecting the plurality of logs together in the stack by at least extending a plurality of connector assemblies one each through the plurality of apertures of the plurality of logs arranged in the stack.   
     
     
         48 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 47 , further comprising, for an individual log of the plurality of logs, creating a plurality of notches for attaching the stack to an additional stack by at least:
 creating a first notch at a first end portion of the individual log; and   creating a second notch at a second end portion of the individual log, wherein the second end portion is opposite the first end portion.   
     
     
         49 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 47 , wherein:
 the plurality of connector assemblies includes a plurality of elongated connector members that correspond to a plurality of lower securement members; and   the method further comprises, prior to extending the plurality of connector assemblies through the plurality of apertures, attaching the plurality of lower securements members to the lower ends of the plurality of elongated connector members.   
     
     
         50 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 47 , wherein the plurality of connector assemblies includes a plurality of elongated connector members that correspond to a plurality of upper securement members that attach to upper ends of the plurality of elongated connector members. 
     
     
         51 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 50 , further comprising, after drying the log wall panel in the drying kiln is complete and while the downward force is still being applied to the log wall panel, attaching the plurality of upper securement members, at an upper portion of an upper end log of the log wall panel, one each to the upper ends of the plurality of upper securement members, the plurality of upper securement members being. 
     
     
         52 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 30 , further comprising adjusting humidity in the drying kiln in accordance with a selected humidity while drying the log wall panel. 
     
     
         53 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 52 , further comprising:
 detecting the humidity in the drying kiln while drying; and   selecting the selected humidity based at least in part on the different destination site.   
     
     
         54 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 52 , further comprising selecting the selected humidity based at least in part on the different destination site. 
     
     
         55 . A method of fabricating a log wall panel at an assembly site to be installed at a different destination site, comprising:
 placing a log wall panel into a drying kiln, the log wall panel including a plurality of logs arranged along a plane, the plurality of logs including a first end log and a second end log;   drying the log wall panel while the log wall panel is being compressed by a force;   applying the force to the first end log in a coplanar direction to the plane toward the second end log while the log wall panel is drying in the drying kiln; and   adjusting humidity in the drying kiln in accordance with a selected humidity while drying the log wall panel.   
     
     
         56 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 55 , further comprising:
 shipping the log wall panel to the different destination site; and   installing the log wall panel as a wall of a building structure at the different destination site.   
     
     
         57 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 55 , further comprising, prior to placing the log wall panel into the drying kiln:
 cutting fully through the log wall panel in at least two spaced-apart locations; and   removing a portion of the log wall panel between the two spaced apart locations.   
     
     
         58 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 57 , further comprising, at the assembly site after drying the log wall panel, installing a window into the portion. 
     
     
         59 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 55 , wherein each of the plurality of logs include a plurality of apertures arranged in a coaxial alignment to the plane to form a plurality of coaxially aligned apertures in the log wall panel. 
     
     
         60 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 59 , further comprising securing the plurality of logs together in the log wall panel by at least extending a plurality of connector assemblies one each through the plurality of coaxially aligned apertures. 
     
     
         61 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 60 , further comprising attaching a plurality of upper securement members to an upper end of the plurality of connector assemblies. 
     
     
         62 . The method of fabricating the log wall panel of  claim 61 , wherein attaching the plurality of upper securement members is performed as a result of determining that drying the log wall panel is complete. 
     
     
         63 - 85 . (canceled)