Method of removing excess impregnant from impregnated wood

Claim 1

THE METHOD OF REMOVING EXCESS IMPREGNANT FROM IMPREGNATED WOOD AND THEREBY MINIMIZING SUBSEQUENT BLEEDING OF THE IMPREGNANT ONTO THE SURFACE THEREOF, WHICH COMPRISES HEATING THE IMPREGNATED WOOD IN A CLOSED SPACE BY INTRODUCING INTO SAID CLOSED SPACE VAPORS OF AN ORGANIC SOLVENT FOR THE IMPREGNANT HAVING A BOILING POINT AT THE PRESSURE IN SAID CLOSED SPACE NOT HIGHER THAN ABOUT 320* F. SO THAT SAID HEATING IS CARRIED OUT AT A TEMPERATURE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE TEMPERATURE AT WHICH SAID WOOD WOULD BE DAMAGED BY HEATING, BUT SAID BOILING POINT BEING NOT LESS THAN 25* F. TO 50* F. HIGHER THAN THE INITIAL TEMPERATURE OF SAID IMPREGNATED WOOD WHEREBY SAID WOOD IS HEATED BY SAID VAPORS SO THAT EXCESS IMPREGNANT IN THE OUTER LAYERS OF THE WOOD IS EFFECTIVELY EXPANDED AND FORCED TO THE SURFACE OF SAID WOOD, CONTINUING INTRODUCTION OF SAID ORGANIC SOLVENT VAPORS UNTIL SAID EXCESS IMPREGNANT IS EXTRACTED TO A DESIRED EXTENT BY CONDENSATE OF SAID ORGANIC SOLVENT CONTINUOUSLY FORMED ON THE SURFACE OF SAID WOOD IN SAID CLOSED SPACE FOR SOLVENT ACTION AT FULL STRENGTH, AND DRAINING AND RECOVERING SAID CONDENSATE AND EXTRACTED EXCESS IMPREGNANT FROM SAID WOOD.