Dual path kiln improvement

• US 8,201,501 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2009
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Douglas M. Tinsley, Levi A. Pollard, Terry R. Freeman, William S. Smoke
• Original Assignee: Douglas M. Tinsley, Levi A. Pollard, Terry R. Freeman, William S. Smoke
• Inventors: Tinsley, Douglas M., Freeman, Terry R., Smoke, William S., Pollard, Levi A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Jason C
• Application Number:
  US12/554,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20110056087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 342/01, 343/96, 104/172.3, 104/173.1
• US Class Current: 104/172.3
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 15/16 the objects or batches of materials being carried by wheeled trucks
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 2210/16 Wood, e.g. lumber, timber

Abstract

A dual path kiln is provided that includes a kiln having one or more chambers and at least two lumber charge paths adapted to convey lumber through the kiln in opposite directions by means of a track having two rails in which a pusher device pushes the lumber through the kiln and comprises a variable output electric motor to effect a high degree of accurate control of the movement speed of the pusher device and the lumber it'"'"'s pushing and wherein the pusher device includes a faceplate having two side walls extending from said faceplate to engage the side of the lumber in order to greatly enhance stability of the lumber while it is being transported and minimize the risk of spillage.

Claims

1. A load mover for an elongated kiln structure having at least three chambers arranged serially from one end of the structure to the opposite end with said ends being open to allow the passage of said load mover and a load of lumber, said kiln structure having a floor and a pair of parallel rails mounted on said floor and extending along a path that extends from outside said structure through said chambers and through said ends of said structure,

said load mover including a housing having a wall with which at least a portion of a load is engageable for transport sequentially through said chambers of the kiln structure, said housing having wheels that, in use, engage and ride on said rails,

said kiln structure having a track extending parallel to said rails and through said kiln structure, said track being mounted on said floor,

said load mover having mounted thereon a variable speed electric motor and gearing constructed for transferring the output of said motor to a transport gear which is rotatably mounted on said housing of said load mover and which engages said track so that rotation of said transport gear will effect movement of said load mover on said rails, and

said wall having a substantially vertical portion to engage a load supported on a separate carriage which rides on said rails where said vertical portion is positioned to be moved against a load to enhance the stability of the load during transport along said rails.

2. The load mover according to claim 1 wherein said track is a chain having links each of which provides an opening and said transport gear includes a periphery from which teeth extend radially and which are sized to each fit in said opening in said links of said chain.

3. The load mover according to claim 2 wherein said housing rotatably supports another transport gear spaced from said first mentioned transport gear with both of said spaced apart gears being driven by said motor and gearing.

4. The load mover according to claim 3 wherein said spaced apart gears both engage said chain at spaced apart positions.

5. The load mover according to claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a front side and a rear side with said motor being mounted adjacent said rear side and said load engaging portion of the wall being located adjacent said front side.

6. The load mover according to claim 5 further comprising a flexible conduit having one end connectable to said motor and an opposite end connectable to a source of current to supply electrical power to said motor, a portion of said conduit being carried on a spindle that is resiliently urged to maintain tension on said conduit.

7. A load mover for an elongated kiln structure having at least three chambers arranged serially from one end of the structure to the opposite end with said ends being open to allow the passage of said load mover and a load of lumber, said kiln structure having a floor and a pair of parallel rails mounted on said floor and extending along a path that extends from outside said structure through said chambers and through said ends of said structure,

said load mover including a housing having a wall with which at least a portion of a load is engageable for transport sequentially through said chambers of the kiln structure, said housing having wheels that, in use, engage and ride on said rails,

said kiln structure having a track extending parallel to said rails and through said kiln structure, said track being mounted on said floor,

said load mover having mounted thereon a variable output electric motor and gearing constructed for transferring the output of said motor to a transport gear which is rotatably mounted on said housing of said load mover and which engages said track so that rotation of said transport gear will effect movement of said load mover on said rails, and

said wall having a substantially vertical portion to engage a load supported on a separate carriage which rides on said rails where said vertical portion is positioned to be moved against a load to enhance the stability of the load during transport along said rails,

said wall having a first end and a second end wherein a first and a second sidewall each extends horizontally from said wall'"'"'s first and second ends respectively.

8. A load mover according to claim 7 wherein said first and second sidewalls are perforated to allow free circulation of air and even curing of the load.

9. A load mover according to claim 7 wherein said first and second sidewalls are configured to engage the full height of the load.