US5437109A — Aerodynamic surfacing for improved air circulatio…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 185 words

A kiln system for drying green lumber to a predetermined moisture content, said kiln system comprising: a kiln chamber, lower portions of which define a generally rectangular solid space for enclosing a charge of lumber therein for drying, the charge of lumber comprising at least one rectangular solid stack of lumber; a fan in upper portions of said kiln chamber and above said generally rectangular solid space for circulating air through said chamber and through lumber in said chamber to thereby dry the lumber; and a first elongate fairing in the upper portions of said kiln chamber for overlying and partially surrounding an upper corner of a rectangular stack of lumber placed in said chamber for drying, said first fairing forming a continuous concave curve, in lateral cross-section, relative to the rectangular stack of lumber for smoothing the airflow in said upper portions of said chamber and around the upper corner of the stack of lumber to thereby increase the efficiency of the airflow about the upper corner of the rectangular stack of lumber and to thereby correspondingly increase the efficiency of the drying process.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 185 words

A kiln system for drying green lumber to a predetermined moisture content, said kiln system comprising: a kiln chamber, lower portions of which define a generally rectangular solid space for enclosing a charge of lumber therein for drying, the charge of lumber comprising at least one rectangular solid stack of lumber; a fan in upper portions of said kiln chamber and above said generally rectangular solid space for circulating air through said chamber and through lumber in said chamber to thereby dry the lumber; and a first elongate fairing in the upper portions of said kiln chamber for overlying and partially surrounding an upper corner of a rectangular stack of lumber placed in said chamber for drying, said first fairing forming a continuous concave curve, in lateral cross-section, relative to the rectangular stack of lumber for smoothing the airflow in said upper portions of said chamber and around the upper corner of the stack of lumber to thereby increase the efficiency of the airflow about the upper corner of the rectangular stack of lumber and to thereby correspondingly increase the efficiency of the drying process.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 73 words

A kiln system according to claim 1 wherein the rectangular stack of lumber has an upper surface, opposed first and second side surfaces, and an outer upper corner of the rectangular solid stack of lumber defined by the intersecting edges of the upper surface and the first side surface, and wherein said first elongate fairing extends both above the upper horizontal surface and then curves downwardly laterally adjacent to the first side surface.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 48 words

A kiln system according to claim 1 wherein said kiln chamber has a length sufficient to receive rectangular solid stacks of lumber having a predetermined maximum length and said first elongate fairing has a length substantially equal to the predetermined maximum length of the rectangular stacks of lumber.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 15 words

A kiln system according to claim 1 wherein the continuous concave curve is substantially semi-circular.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 85 words

A kiln system according to claim 1 wherein said kiln system further comprises a second elongate fairing in the upper portions of said kiln chamber, wherein both said first and second elongate fairings overlie and partially surround upper corners of the rectangular stack of lumber, whereby said first and second fairings help control the airflow from said fan in said upper portions of said chamber and with respect to the stack of lumber to thereby increase the efficiency of the airflow and the drying process.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 62 words

A kiln system according to claim 5 wherein said kiln chamber has a width sufficient to receive a plurality of laterally spaced, rectangular solid stacks of lumber therein for drying in side-by-side relationship, and wherein said first and second fairings overlie and partially surround an upper corner of the outermost stacks of the plurality of laterally spaced rectangular solid stacks of lumber.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 36 words

A kiln system according to claim 6 wherein said first and second fairings have a length sufficient to extend entirely along and to cover the outermost upper corners of the stack placed in the kiln chamber.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 197 words

The combination of a kiln system for drying green lumber to a predetermined moisture content and a portion of lumber to be dried therein, the combination comprising: a kiln chamber, lower portions of which define a generally rectangular solid space; a charge of lumber in said rectangular space in said kiln chamber for being dried therein, said charge comprising at least one rectangular solid stack of lumber; a fan in upper portions of said kiln chamber and above said generally rectangular solid space for circulating air through said chamber and through lumber in said chamber to thereby dry the lumber; and a first elongate fairing in the upper portions of said kiln chamber for overlying and partially surrounding an upper corner of a rectangular stack of lumber placed in said chamber for drying, said first fairing forming a continuous concave curve, in lateral cross-section, relative to the rectangular stack of lumber for smoothing the airflow in said upper portions of said chamber and around the stack of lumber to thereby increase the efficiency of the airflow about the upper corner of the rectangular stack of lumber and to thereby correspondingly increase the efficiency of the drying process.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 197 words

The combination of a kiln system for drying green lumber to a predetermined moisture content and a portion of lumber to be dried therein, the combination comprising: a kiln chamber, lower portions of which define a generally rectangular solid space; a charge of lumber in said rectangular space in said kiln chamber for being dried therein, said charge comprising at least one rectangular solid stack of lumber; a fan in upper portions of said kiln chamber and above said generally rectangular solid space for circulating air through said chamber and through lumber in said chamber to thereby dry the lumber; and a first elongate fairing in the upper portions of said kiln chamber for overlying and partially surrounding an upper corner of a rectangular stack of lumber placed in said chamber for drying, said first fairing forming a continuous concave curve, in lateral cross-section, relative to the rectangular stack of lumber for smoothing the airflow in said upper portions of said chamber and around the stack of lumber to thereby increase the efficiency of the airflow about the upper corner of the rectangular stack of lumber and to thereby correspondingly increase the efficiency of the drying process.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 78 words

The combination of a kiln system and lumber according to claim 8 wherein the rectangular stack of lumber has an upper surface, opposed first and second side surfaces, and an outer upper corner of the rectangular solid stack of lumber defined by the intersecting edges of the upper surface and the first side surface, and wherein said first elongate fairing extends both above the upper horizontal surface and then curves downwardly laterally adjacent to the first side surface.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 51 words

The combination of a kiln system and lumber according to claim 8 wherein said kiln chamber has a length sufficient to receive a charge of lumber having a predetermined maximum length and said first elongate fairing has a length substantially equal to the predetermined maximum length of the charge of lumber.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 20 words

The combination of a kiln system and lumber according to claim 8 wherein the continuous concave curve is substantially semi-circular.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 61 words

The combination of a kiln system and lumber according to claim 9 wherein said stack of lumber has an inner upper corner defined by the intersecting edges of the upper surface and the second side surface, and wherein said combination further comprises a second elongate fairing overlying and partially surrounding the inner upper corner for smoothly recirculating air to said fan.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 46 words

The combination of a kiln system and lumber according to claim 12 wherein the charge of lumber has a predetermined maximum length and both said first and second elongate fairings have lengths at least as long as the predetermined maximum length of the charge of lumber.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 161 words

The combination of a kiln system and lumber according to claim 8 wherein said charge of lumber comprises first and second laterally spaced rectangular solid stacks of lumber wherein each of the first and second stacks of lumber have an upper surface, opposed side surfaces, and an outer upper corner defined by the intersecting edges of the respective upper surfaces and the outermost side surfaces of the first and second rectangular solid stacks of lumber, and wherein the combination further comprises a second elongate fairing in the upper portions of the kiln chamber such that said first and second elongate fairings overlie and partially surround the outer upper corners of said first and second said rectangular solid stacks of lumber, respectively, whereby said first and second fairings help control the airflow from the fan in the upper portions of the chamber and with respect to the stack of lumber to thereby increase the efficiency of the airflow in the drying process.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 41 words

The combination of a kiln system and lumber according to claim 14 wherein said fan in upper portions of said kiln chamber overlie an air space defined by the lateral spacing of said first and second rectangular solid stacks of lumber.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 117 words

The combination of a kiln system and lumber according to claim 8 wherein said charge of lumber comprises a plurality of laterally spaced rectangular solid stacks of lumber, and wherein the combination further comprises a second elongate fairing in the upper portions of said kiln chamber wherein both said first and second elongate fairings overlie and partially surround the respective upper corners of the outermost stacks of said plurality of laterally spaced rectangular solid stacks of lumber whereby said first and second fairings help control the airflow from said fan in said upper portions of said chamber and with respect to the stack of lumber to thereby increase the efficiency of the airflow in the drying process.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 117 words

A method of increasing the efficiency of drying green lumber, comprising the steps of: circulating air through a charge of lumber in a sealed kiln chamber in which air can be controllably introduced into and exhausted from the kiln chamber to thereby draw moisture from the stack of lumber; and smoothing the flow of circulating air by directing at least a portion of the circulating air in a continuously curved airflow pattern adjacent an upper corner of the charge of lumber to smooth and control the flow of circulating air about the upper corner of the charge of lumber and thus provide a more efficient airflow within the chamber to thereby correspondingly dry the lumber more efficiently.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 117 words

A method of increasing the efficiency of drying green lumber, comprising the steps of: circulating air through a charge of lumber in a sealed kiln chamber in which air can be controllably introduced into and exhausted from the kiln chamber to thereby draw moisture from the stack of lumber; and smoothing the flow of circulating air by directing at least a portion of the circulating air in a continuously curved airflow pattern adjacent an upper corner of the charge of lumber to smooth and control the flow of circulating air about the upper corner of the charge of lumber and thus provide a more efficient airflow within the chamber to thereby correspondingly dry the lumber more efficiently.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 46 words

A method of drying lumber according to claim 17 wherein the step of directing the circulating air further comprises the step of recirculating at least a portion of the air through the charge of lumber in said kiln chamber to further dry the charge of lumber.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 57 words

A method of drying lumber according to claim 18 wherein the step of recirculating the air includes the steps of selectively exhausting a portion of the circulating air containing moisture drawn from the charge of lumber and introducing additional air into the kiln chamber wherein the additional air has a lower moisture content than the exhausted air.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 31 words

A method of drying lumber according to claim 17 further comprising the step of heating the air prior to its circulation to facilitate moisture removal from each the stack of lumber.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 59 words

A method of drying lumber according to claim 17 wherein the step of directing the airflow in a continuously curved airflow pattern comprises the step of directing the circulating air along an elongate fairing positioned adjacent an upper corner of the charge of lumber such that at least a portion of the air flows in a substantially continuous curve.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 74 words

A method of drying lumber according to claim 17 further comprising the steps of: introducing a charge of lumber comprised of at least one rectangular solid stack of lumber in the kiln chamber prior to the step of circulating air wherein the rectangular solid stack of lumber comprises a plurality of stacked rows of lumber; and spacing the stacked rows of lumber such that air may flow between the rows to remove moisture therefrom.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 33 words

A method of drying lumber according to claim 22 wherein the step of spacing the stacked rows includes the step of placing a plurality of spaced apart stickers between each row of lumber.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 67 words

A method of drying lumber according to claim 22 wherein the step of introducing a charge of lumber in the kiln chamber further includes the step of introducing a plurality of laterally spaced rectangular solid stacks of lumber into said kiln chamber, said plurality of stacks of lumber including first and second outermost stacks of lumber, each outermost stack of lumber having inner and outer upper corners.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 52 words

A method of drying lumber according to claim 21 wherein the step of directing the circulating air along a fairing includes the step of directing air about the outer upper corners of the first and second outermost stacks of lumber such that air flows smoothly about each of the outer upper corners.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 92 words

A method of drying lumber according to claim 25 wherein both the first and second outermost stacks of lumber are comprised of a longitudinal row of a plurality of individual piles of lumber, each pile of lumber having inner and outer upper corners, and wherein the step of directing a circulating air along the fairing includes the step of directing air about the outer upper corners of each pile of lumber of both the first and second outermost stacks of lumber such that said air flows smoothly about each outer upper corner.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 102 words

A method of increasing the efficiency of drying a rectangular solid stack of green lumber in a sealed kiln chamber in which air circulates to draw moisture from the stacks of lumber, the method comprising smoothing the flow of circulating air by directing at least a portion of the circulating air in a continuously curved airflow pattern adjacent an upper corner of the stack of lumber to smooth and control the flow of circulating air about the upper corner of the charge of lumber and thus provide a more efficient airflow within the chamber to thereby correspondingly dry the lumber more efficiently.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 102 words

A method of increasing the efficiency of drying a rectangular solid stack of green lumber in a sealed kiln chamber in which air circulates to draw moisture from the stacks of lumber, the method comprising smoothing the flow of circulating air by directing at least a portion of the circulating air in a continuously curved airflow pattern adjacent an upper corner of the stack of lumber to smooth and control the flow of circulating air about the upper corner of the charge of lumber and thus provide a more efficient airflow within the chamber to thereby correspondingly dry the lumber more efficiently.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 38 words

A method of drying lumber according to claim 27 further comprising the step of recirculating at least a portion of the air that has passed through the stack at least once to further dry the stack of lumber.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 42 words

A method of drying lumber according to claim 28 further comprising the step of controllably introducing air into the kiln chamber and controllably exhausting air from the kiln chamber, whereby the air introduced has a lower moisture content than the air exhausted.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 30 words

A method of drying lumber according to claim 27 further comprising the step of heating the air prior to its circulation to facilitate moisture removal from the stack of lumber.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 53 words

A method of drying lumber according to claim 26 wherein the rectangular solid stack of lumber is comprised of a plurality of stacked rows of lumber, and wherein the method further comprises the step of spacing the stacked rows of lumber such that air may flow between the rows to remove moisture therefrom.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 35 words

A method of drying lumber according to claim 31 wherein the step of spacing the stacked rows of lumber includes the step of placing a plurality of spaced apart stickers between each row of lumber.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 41 words

A method of drying lumber according to claim 27 wherein the step of smoothing the flow of circulating air comprises the step of directing the circulating air along an elongate fairing positioned adjacent an upper corner of the stack of lumber.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1998-07-31	1999-01-30	1999-08-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2002-07-31	2003-01-30	2003-08-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2006-07-31	2007-01-30	2007-08-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Aerodynamic surfacing for improved air circulation through a kiln for drying lumber

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