Patent US3971139A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3971139A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process and apparatus for decreasing moisture content in wood
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-02-10
•
Granted: 1976-07-27
•
Expires: 1995-02-10
Abstract
Abstract A process and an apparatus for decreasing the moisture content in wood which comprises the step of maintaining the wood in a vapor atmosphere made essentialy from sap until the center of the wood has substantially reached the temperature of the vapor, then gradually raising the temperature of the vapor atmosphere to a degree and during a time sufficient to bake the resinous substances inside the wood and reduce the moisture content to a predetermined percentage and subsequently reducing gradually the temperature of the housing to the temperature of the vapor, wherein the vapor is maintained during the process at a pressure slightly above the atmospheric pressure. The wood boards are disposed vertically to form vertical channels and the source of heat is located to obtain a vertical circulation of the vapor through the boards.
Inventors
- 👤 Marcel A. Rochon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:45
CPC Classifications
F; F26; F26B; F26B3/00; F26B3/02; F26B3/04; F26B2210/00; F26B2210/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A process for decreasing the moisture content in wood which comprises the following consecutive steps: a. placing the wood in an enclosure and introducing vapor made essentially of sap in said enclosure until the center of the wood has substantially reached the temperature of the vapor, b. gradually raising the temperature of the vapor atmosphere to a temperature substantially above the boiling temperature and during a time sufficient to bake the resinous substances inside the wood and to reduce the moisture content to a predetermined percentage, and c. subsequently reducing gradually the temperature of the vapor down to the boiling temperature by the introduction of a vapor of sap, wherein the inside of the enclosure is maintained during the steps of the process at a pressure slightly above the atmospheric pressure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
A process for decreasing the moisture content in wood which comprises the following consecutive steps: a. placing the wood in an enclosure and introducing vapor made essentially of sap in said enclosure until the center of the wood has substantially reached the temperature of the vapor, b. gradually raising the temperature of the vapor atmosphere to a temperature substantially above the boiling temperature and during a time sufficient to bake the resinous substances inside the wood and to reduce the moisture content to a predetermined percentage, and c. subsequently reducing gradually the temperature of the vapor down to the boiling temperature by the introduction of a vapor of sap, wherein the inside of the enclosure is maintained during the steps of the process at a pressure slightly above the atmospheric pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
161 words
A process for decreasing the moisture content in wood which comprises the following consecutive steps: a. placing the wood in an enclosure and introducing vapor made essentially of sap in said enclosure at a temperature slightly above 212°F and at a pressure slightly above the atmospheric pressure during a period sufficient to raise the center of the wood at the temperature of the vapor, b. gradually increasing the temperature of the vapor to about 300°F while increasing the quantity of vapor to maintain the same pressure, c. supplying dry heat to gradually increase the temperature inside the housing until the humidity is eliminated to a desired percentage inside the wood while maintaining approximately the same surrounding pressure, d. introducing vapor of sap at a temperature of 212°F for maintaining the pressure until the temperature inside the housing has substantially reached the temperature of the vapor introduced, and e. subsequently rendering the wood at the room temperature and at the atmospheric pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
161 words
A process for decreasing the moisture content in wood which comprises the following consecutive steps: a. placing the wood in an enclosure and introducing vapor made essentially of sap in said enclosure at a temperature slightly above 212°F and at a pressure slightly above the atmospheric pressure during a period sufficient to raise the center of the wood at the temperature of the vapor, b. gradually increasing the temperature of the vapor to about 300°F while increasing the quantity of vapor to maintain the same pressure, c. supplying dry heat to gradually increase the temperature inside the housing until the humidity is eliminated to a desired percentage inside the wood while maintaining approximately the same surrounding pressure, d. introducing vapor of sap at a temperature of 212°F for maintaining the pressure until the temperature inside the housing has substantially reached the temperature of the vapor introduced, and e. subsequently rendering the wood at the room temperature and at the atmospheric pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as recited in claim 2, in which the vapor is made out of saturated sap.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 3, wherein the original vapor produced in the housing comprises sap corresponding to the treated wood.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 2, wherein the pressure is substantially 1/4 pound per square inch above atmospheric pressure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 2, wherein the temperature of the (c) step is raised to about 500°F.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as recited in claim 2, wherein the heat in the housing is produced by electrical heating elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 7 in which the electrical elements are mounted on the walls of the housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A process as recited in claim 2, wherein the wood is essentially constituted of elongated boards, the said process comprises, disposing the wood boards in a vertical position, the said boards being laterally spaced apart to form vertical chimney-like channels for the vertical movement of the vapor of sap therethrough.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process as recited in claim 9, wherein the boards are disposed in vertical stacks with spacers between the boards, the said stacks being resiliently strapped to prevent bending of the boards while adapting to small expansion and contracting dimensional changes of the wood boards.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process as recited in claim 10, wherein the wood boards have a rectangular cross-section, the said boards being disposed side by side to abut on their short sides, wherein essentially only their long sides are exposed to vapor of sap.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as recited in claim 9, wherein dry heat is supplied as stated in paragraph (a) of claim 2, so as to create a vertical circulation of vapor of sap.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process as recited in claim 12, wherein heating elements are located below the wood stacks to create an ascending movement of the vapor of sap in the said channels.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-07-27 | 1980-01-26 | 1980-07-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-07-27 | 1984-01-26 | 1984-07-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-07-27 | 1988-01-26 | 1988-07-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |