US 11,940,212 B2
Heat energy distribution in a continuous dry kiln
Kenneth Murray Nichols, Goodyear, AZ (US); Gregory Keith Ralston, Pineville, NC (US); Luiz C. Oliveira, Vancouver (CA); and Philip John Latos, Sturgeon County (CA)
Assigned to Weyerhaeuser NR Company, Seattle, WA (US)
Filed by Weyerhaeuser NR Company, Seattle, WA (US)
Filed on Sep. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/465,742.
Application 17/465,742 is a continuation of application No. 16/952,649, filed on Nov. 19, 2020, granted, now 11,150,018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0155012 A1, May 19, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F26B 15/18 (2006.01); F26B 21/00 (2006.01); F26B 25/22 (2006.01)
CPC F26B 15/18 (2013.01) [F26B 21/004 (2013.01); F26B 25/22 (2013.01); F26B 2210/16 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A kiln for drying and processing lumber packages, the kiln comprising:
a drying chamber;
a first end chamber at an end of the drying chamber;
a second end chamber at an opposing end of the drying chamber;
a first lumber conveying line configured to transport lumber packages in a first direction through the first end chamber, the drying chamber and the second end chamber;
a second lumber conveying line configured to transport lumber packages in a second direction through the first end chamber, the drying chamber and the second end chamber; and
a heat distributor system having (a) a drying chamber distribution duct in the drying chamber configured to receive heat from a heater, (b) a first end chamber distribution duct in the first end chamber configured to receive heat from the drying chamber distribution duct and transfer the received heat to the first end chamber, and (c) a second end chamber distribution duct in the second end chamber configured to receive heat from the drying chamber distribution duct and transfer the received heat to the second end chamber.