Dual path kiln and method of operating a dual path kiln to continuously dry lumber
First Claim
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1. A continuous kiln comprising:
- a first end chamber having a first kiln opening;
a second end chamber having a second kiln opening;
a central heating chamber connecting the first end chamber to the second end chamber;
a first lumber conveyor configured to continuously convey a first green lumber in a first lumber direction into the first kiln opening, the first end chamber, the central heating chamber, the second end chamber, and convey a first dried lumber out the second end chamber;
a second lumber conveyor configured to continuously convey a second green lumber in a second lumber direction opposite the first lumber direction and into the second kiln opening, the second end chamber, the central heating chamber, the first end chamber and convey a second dried lumber out the first end chamber;
a first at least one unidirectional fan configured to form a first air flow through lumber travelling on the first and second lumber conveyors in the first end chamber during operation of the kiln, the first unidirectional fan is external to the kiln;
a second at least one unidirectional fan configured to form a second air flow through lumber travelling on the first and second lumber conveyors in the second end chamber during operation of the kiln, the second unidirectional fan is external to the kiln; and
a third at least one unidirectional fan configured to form a first central air flow through lumber travelling on the first and second lumber conveyors in the central heating chamber during operation of the kiln, wherein the third unidirectional fan is external to the kiln.
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Abstract
A dual path kiln is provided that includes a kiln having at least three chambers including first and second end chambers separated by a central heating chamber. At least two lumber conveyors convey lumber through the kiln in opposite directions. External unidirectional fans are utilized to provide circular directional flows through the lumber. Also provided is a method utilizing the kiln to continuously dry green lumber.
339 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A continuous kiln comprising:
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a first end chamber having a first kiln opening; a second end chamber having a second kiln opening; a central heating chamber connecting the first end chamber to the second end chamber; a first lumber conveyor configured to continuously convey a first green lumber in a first lumber direction into the first kiln opening, the first end chamber, the central heating chamber, the second end chamber, and convey a first dried lumber out the second end chamber; a second lumber conveyor configured to continuously convey a second green lumber in a second lumber direction opposite the first lumber direction and into the second kiln opening, the second end chamber, the central heating chamber, the first end chamber and convey a second dried lumber out the first end chamber; a first at least one unidirectional fan configured to form a first air flow through lumber travelling on the first and second lumber conveyors in the first end chamber during operation of the kiln, the first unidirectional fan is external to the kiln; a second at least one unidirectional fan configured to form a second air flow through lumber travelling on the first and second lumber conveyors in the second end chamber during operation of the kiln, the second unidirectional fan is external to the kiln; and a third at least one unidirectional fan configured to form a first central air flow through lumber travelling on the first and second lumber conveyors in the central heating chamber during operation of the kiln, wherein the third unidirectional fan is external to the kiln. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of continuously drying lumber in a kiln comprising:
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conveying a first green lumber on a first lumber conveyor in a first direction into a first end chamber, a central heating chamber and a second end chamber of a kiln to form a first dry lumber exiting the central heating chamber into the second end chamber; conveying a second green lumber on a second lumber conveyor in a direction opposite the first direction into the second end chamber, the central heating chamber, and the first end chamber to form a second dry lumber exiting the central heating chamber; providing in the first end chamber a first circular air flow through the first green lumber and second dry lumber in a direction of the second dry lumber to the first green lumber by a first at least one unidirectional fan external from the kiln to transfer heat from the second dry lumber to the first green lumber; providing in a second end chamber a second circular air flow through the second green lumber and first dry lumber in a direction of the first dry lumber to the second green lumber by a second at least one unidirectional fan external from the kiln to transfer heat from the first dry lumber to the second green lumber; providing in a first portion of the central heating chamber a first center circular air flow through the first green lumber and the second green lumber in a direction of the first green lumber to the second green lumber by a third at least one unidirectional fan external from the kiln; and providing in a second portion of the central heating chamber a second center circular air flow through the first green lumber and the second green lumber in a direction of the second green lumber to the first green lumber by another third at least one unidirectional fan external from the kiln. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A continuous kiln comprising:
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a first end chamber having a first kiln opening; a second end chamber having a second kiln opening; a central heating chamber connecting the first end chamber to the second end chamber, the central heating chamber having a divider dividing the central heating chamber into a first central chamber and a second central chamber; at least one lumber conveyor configured to continuously convey a green lumber in a lumber direction into the first kiln opening, first end chamber, the first central chamber, the second central chamber to form a dry lumber, convey the dry lumber through the second end chamber, and convey the dried lumber out the second kiln opening during operation of the kiln; a first at least one unidirectional fan configured to form a first air flow through the green lumber travelling on the at least one lumber conveyor in the first end chamber during operation of the kiln, the first unidirectional fan is external to the kiln; a second at least one unidirectional fan configured to form a second air flow through the dry lumber travelling on the at least one lumber conveyor in the second end chamber during operation of the kiln, the second unidirectional fan is external to the kiln; a third at least one unidirectional fan configured to form a first central air flow through the green lumber travelling on the at least one lumber conveyor in the first central chamber during operation of the kiln; and a fourth at least one unidirectional fan configured to form a second central air flow through the green lumber travelling on the at least one lumber conveyor in the second central chamber during operation of the kiln, wherein the first at least one unidirectional fan and the second at least one unidirectional fan are configured to provide a circular air flow between the green lumber in the first end chamber and the dry lumber in the second end chamber during operation of the kiln, and wherein the third at least one unidirectional fan and the fourth at least one unidirectional fan are configured to provide a circular air flow between the green lumber in the first central chamber and the second central chamber during operation of the kiln. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method of continuously drying lumber in a kiln comprising:
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conveying a green lumber on at least one lumber conveyor into a first kiln opening, a first end chamber, a first central chamber, a second central chamber, a second end chamber, and out of a second kiln opening, to form a second dry lumber exiting the second central chamber and entering the second end chamber; providing heat to the first central chamber and the second central chamber; providing a first circular air flow through the green lumber in the first end chamber and dry lumber in the second end chamber using at least one unidirectional fan external to the kiln to transfer heat from the dry lumber to the green lumber; and providing a second circular air flow through the green lumber in the first central chamber and the green lumber in the second central chamber to dry the green lumber and form the dry lumber exiting the second central chamber. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification