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US 5,276,980 AGranted
Reversible conditioned air flow system
OwnerJohn L. Carter, Michael M. Spragueinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A direct-fired kiln for drying lumber having a reversible powered air-mover mechanism for producing air circulation within the interior of the kiln in either of opposite directions. Selectively controlled air withdrawal conduits returning air to a fuel burner outside the kiln are adjusted so that air is always withdrawn from the side of a load within the kiln where circulated air is exiting from the load.
Claims10
Apparatus for processing a load of product with circulated conditioned air, the apparatus comprising:
- housing structure and a chamber within the housing for holding the load during processing,
- a reversible powered air-mover mechanism for circulating air in the chamber either in one direction from one side of the chamber through the load and then around the load to return to said one chamber side or in the opposite direction from the opposite side of the chamber through the load and thence around the load to return to said opposite chamber side,
- one air withdrawal intake on said one side of the chamber and another air withdrawal intake on said opposite side of the chamber,
- conditioning mechanism for conditioning air and the conditioning mechanism having an intake and a discharge,
- return ductwork connecting with said one and said other withdrawal intakes and connecting said withdrawal intakes with the intake of the conditioning mechanism, and
- air outlet structure opening to said chamber, and supply ductwork connecting the discharge of the conditioning mechanism and said air outlet structure,
- the return ductwork including valving for selectively controlling air withdrawal through said withdrawal intakes by closing the withdrawal intake on said one side of the chamber and opening the withdrawal intake on the opposite side or opening the withdrawal intake on said one side of the chamber and closing of the withdrawal intake on the opposite chamber side.
4 more elements
A direct-fired air dryer comprising:
- a kiln having an interior where drying of product is performed,
- a reversible power-driven air-mover mechanism for circulating air within the interior of the kiln,
- the kiln having a load-holding station defined within the interior of the kiln inwardly from the kiln's sides and an air circulating passage extending around the load-holding station to one side of the station, the air-mover mechanism circulating air either from one to the opposite side of the load-holding station and thence through said circulating passage or in the opposite direction from said other to the one side of the load-holding station and thence through said circulating passage,
- a direct-fired air burner assembly disposed outside the kiln including a burner chamber and a fuel burner within said burner chamber,
- an air withdrawal intake within the kiln on one side of the load-holding station and an air withdrawal intake within the kiln on the opposite side of the load-holding station,
- the burner chamber having an intake and a discharge,
- a return ductwork connecting the withdrawal intakes to the intake of the burner chamber, outlet structure opening to the interior of the kiln and a supply ductwork connecting the discharge of the burner chamber to said outlet structure, and
- valving for closing the withdrawal intake on one side of the load-holding station with opening of the withdrawal intake on the opposite side and for opening the withdrawal intake on said one side with closing of the withdrawal intake on the opposite side of the load-holding station.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.