Unidirectional multi-path lumber kilns

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10203156-B2
Application number	US-201715652179-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2017
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Feb 12, 2019
Grant date	Feb 12, 2019

Abstract

Embodiments provide a unidirectional multi-path kiln with two or more chambers and generally parallel flow paths extending through the kiln, on opposite sides, from charge entry portals at a first end of the kiln to charge exit portals at a second end of the kiln. Moist heated air flowing from the second heated chamber is received in the first chamber and circulated around the lumber charges with one or more fans. The lumber charges proceed in the same direction on the flow paths through the heated second chamber, which may be an existing kiln. Charge exit portals at the distal end of the kiln and/or intermediate charge portals between the second chamber and a third chamber may be provided with insulating members configured to reduce airflow from the second chamber through the charge exit portals.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lumber drying system, comprising:
an elongated enclosure having a first end and an opposite second end, a charge entry with one or more first charge portals at the first end, a charge exit with one or more second charge portals at the second end, a longitudinal axis that extends through the charge entry and the charge exit, and one or more interior baffles or walls extending transverse to said longitudinal axis and defining at least a first and a second section of the elongated enclosure;
a heat source operatively coupled to the second section;
a transport system operable to advance a first and a second lumber charge along a first and a second flow path, respectively, in a first direction, wherein the first and second flow paths extend from the charge entry to the charge exit on opposite sides of and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis; and
one or more fans positioned to circulate heated air from the second section across at least the first flow path in the first section.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors disposed within the elongated enclosure and a computing system operatively coupled with the one or more sensors, wherein the computing system is configured to determine, based at least on data received from the one or more sensors, a current location or travel speed of the first lumber charge within the elongated enclosure.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the computer system is operatively coupled with the transport system and configured to control the transport system based at least on data from the one or more sensors.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more second charge portals includes a charge exit portal, the apparatus further including an insulating member operatively coupled with the charge exit portal and configured to reduce airflow from the second section through the charge exit portal, wherein the insulating member includes a door or a curtain.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the insulating member is selectively operable to open and close the charge exit portal.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising one or more sensors positioned to detect the first lumber charge within the elongated enclosure and a computing system configured to operate the insulating member to open and close the charge exit portal based at least in part on data from the one or more sensors.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more interior baffles or walls includes a plurality of interior baffles or walls, a first one of the interior baffles or walls is disposed between the first section and the second section, and a second one of the interior baffles or walls is disposed between the second section and a third section of the elongated enclosure, and wherein the third section is between the second section and the second end of the elongated enclosure.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the second one of the interior baffles or walls defines an intermediate charge portal.

9. The system of claim 8 , further including an insulating member operatively coupled with the intermediate charge portal and configured to reduce airflow from the second section through the intermediate charge portal, wherein the insulating member includes a door or a curtain.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the insulating member is selectively operable to open and close the intermediate charge portal.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising one or more sensors positioned to detect the first lumber charge within the elongated enclosure and a computing system configured to operate the insulating member to open and close the intermediate charge portal based at least in part on data from the one or more sensors.

12. The system of claim 1 , further including a first guide member and a second guide member extending through the elongated enclosure along the first and second flow paths, respectively.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein each of the guide members includes a corresponding rail, track, or endless loop.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the transport system includes a first transport device positioned to advance the first lumber charge along the first guide member in the first direction and a second transport device positioned to advance the second lumber charge along the second guide member in the first direction.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein each of the first and second guide members independently comprises one or more rails and each of the first and second transport devices is a pusher device configured to push a movable support, with a lumber charge disposed thereon, along the respective one or more rails.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the transport system includes a first transport device configured to advance the first and second lumber charges simultaneously along the first and second guide members, respectively, in the first direction.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein each of the first and second guide members independently comprises one or more rails, and the first transport device is a pusher device configured to push movable supports, with respective lumber charges disposed thereon, along both of the guide members simultaneously.

18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of sensors disposed along the first flow path, wherein the sensors are operable to detect one or more positions of the first lumber charge along the first flow path.

19. The system of claim 18 , further comprising a computing system operatively coupled with the sensors, wherein the computing system is configured to determine, based at least on data received from the sensors, a current location or travel speed of the first lumber charge within the elongated enclosure.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the computing system is operatively coupled with the one or more pusher devices and configured to control the one or more pusher devices based at least in part on the data received from the sensors.

21. The system of claim 16 , wherein each of the first and second guide members independently comprises one or more rails, and the transport system includes one or more pusher devices.

Assignees

• Usnr Llc

Inventors

• Blomquist Christopher W

Classifications

• F26B2210/16

  Wood, e.g. lumber, timber · CPC title

• F26B3/04

  the gas or vapour circulating over or surrounding the materials or objects to be dried (F26B3/14 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F26B25/08

  Parts thereof · CPC title

• Y10T29/49716

  Converting · CPC title

• F26B15/00

  Machines or apparatus for drying objects with progressive movement; Machines or apparatus with progressive movement for drying batches of material in compact form (F26B13/00, F26B17/00 take precedence; conveyors in general B65G) · CPC title