US3744144A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automated controls for lumber drying kiln
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-04-23
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Granted: 1973-07-10
•
Expires: 1991-04-23
Abstract
Abstract A kiln for drying lumber having at least a single fan for circulating air within the kiln whereby a pair of probes is placed on the surface of each of two boards at different locations in the kiln and the fans reversed whenever the difference in moisture content between the two boards exceeds a predetermined amount. According to a further aspect of the invention, a pair of probes are imbedded in another board in the kiln to detect the moisture content of the interior of the board and a suitable signal generated and applied to a control mechanism which also receives a coded information carrier having a schedule of wet and dry bulb temperatures for each of a plurality of interior moisture contents. The wet and dry bult temperatures are automatically varied by the control mechanism in accordance with the schedule and the detected interior moisture content.
Inventors
- 👤 H Weis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 08:42
CPC Classifications
F; F26; F26B; F26B25/00; F26B25/22; F26B21/00; F26B21/20; F26B21/202; F26B21/206; F26B21/30; F26B9/00; F26B9/06; F26B2210/00; F26B2210/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
In a kiln for drying lumber having at least a single fan for circulating air within said kiln the improvement comprising: first means for sensing the moisture content of a board at a first location in said kiln, second means for sensing the moisture content of another board at another location in said kiln, and means connected to said first and second means for reversing said fan when the moisture content sensed by one of said sensing means exceeds the moisture content sensed by the other of said sensing means by a predetermined amount.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
In a kiln for drying lumber having at least a single fan for circulating air within said kiln the improvement comprising: first means for sensing the moisture content of a board at a first location in said kiln, second means for sensing the moisture content of another board at another location in said kiln, and means connected to said first and second means for reversing said fan when the moisture content sensed by one of said sensing means exceeds the moisture content sensed by the other of said sensing means by a predetermined amount.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
In a kiln as in claim 1 the further improvement wherein said predetermined amount is 1 percent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
101 words
In a kiln as in claim 1 wherein each said sensing means includes a AC voltage source and first and second electrical probes each attached to a board surface and wherein said reversing means includes relay means having a first coil connected in series with the probes of said second sensing means so that said relay means has a first condition when the current through said first coil exceeds the current through said second coil by a given amount has a second condition when the current through said second coil exceeds the current through said first coil by said given amount.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of drying lumber in a kiln having at least a single fan for circulating air within the kiln comprising the steps of: sensing the moisture content of a board at a first location in the kiln, sensing the moisture content of a board at a second location in the kiln, reversing the fan whenever the moisture content of the board at the first location exceeds the moisture content of the board at the second location by more than a predetermined amount and reversing the fan whenever the moisture content of the board at the second location exceeds the moisture content of the board at the first location by more than said predetermined amount.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of drying lumber in a kiln having at least a single fan for circulating air within the kiln comprising the steps of: sensing the moisture content of a board at a first location in the kiln, sensing the moisture content of a board at a second location in the kiln, reversing the fan whenever the moisture content of the board at the first location exceeds the moisture content of the board at the second location by more than a predetermined amount and reversing the fan whenever the moisture content of the board at the second location exceeds the moisture content of the board at the first location by more than said predetermined amount.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for controlling the wet and dry bulb temperature of the interior of a kiln for drying lumber comprising: means for sensing the moisture content of the interior of a board in said kiln, and means connected to said sensing means for receiving a coded information carrier having indicia indicating dry and wet bulb temperatures for each of a plurality of moisture contents of the interior of a board and for changing said wet and dry bulb temperatures in accordance with the sensed moisture content and said indica.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for controlling the wet and dry bulb temperature of the interior of a kiln for drying lumber comprising: means for sensing the moisture content of the interior of a board in said kiln, and means connected to said sensing means for receiving a coded information carrier having indicia indicating dry and wet bulb temperatures for each of a plurality of moisture contents of the interior of a board and for changing said wet and dry bulb temperatures in accordance with the sensed moisture content and said indica.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said sensing means includes first and second electrical probes imbedded in the middle of said board.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said carrier is a punched card.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
125 words
Apparatus for controlling conditions in the interior of a kiln for drying lumber having at least a single fan comprising: first means for sensing the moisture content of a board at a first location in said kiln, second means for sensing the moisture content of another board at another location in said kiln, and further means for sensing the moisture content of the interior of a board in said kiln and means connected to said further sensing means for receiving a coded information carrier having indicia indicating dry and wet bulb temperatures for each of a plurality of moisture contents of the interior of a board and for changing said wet and dry bulb temperatures in accordance with the sensed moisture content and said indicia.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
125 words
Apparatus for controlling conditions in the interior of a kiln for drying lumber having at least a single fan comprising: first means for sensing the moisture content of a board at a first location in said kiln, second means for sensing the moisture content of another board at another location in said kiln, and further means for sensing the moisture content of the interior of a board in said kiln and means connected to said further sensing means for receiving a coded information carrier having indicia indicating dry and wet bulb temperatures for each of a plurality of moisture contents of the interior of a board and for changing said wet and dry bulb temperatures in accordance with the sensed moisture content and said indicia.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-09 | 1977-01-08 | 1977-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-09 | 1981-01-08 | 1981-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-09 | 1985-01-08 | 1985-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |