Controlled upper row airflow method and apparatus

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 the generally rectangular solid space for circulating air through said chamber and through lumber in said chamber to thereby dry the lumber;
• a relatively thin covering for overlying and substantially blanketing the uppermost row of the rectangular solid stack of lumber for limiting direct contact of the circulating air with the uppermost row of lumber, wherein the thickness of said covering is less than the thickness of a row of lumber so that the space required by said covering in said kiln chamber is less than the space required by a row of lumber to thereby maximize the amount of lumber that can be dried in said kiln chamber without waste;
• and
• a plurality of spaced apart stickers disposed between said covering and the uppermost row of lumber in a stack for allowing a limited amount of circulating air to pass between the uppermost row of lumber and said covering.

A combination of a kiln system for drying green lumber to a predetermined moisture content and a charge of lumber, the combination comprising:

• a kiln chamber, lower portions of which define a generally rectangular solid space;
• a charge of lumber comprising at least one stack of lumber in the solid space for being dried;
• a fan in upper portions of said kiln chamber and above the generally rectangular solid space for circulating air through said chamber and through lumber in said chamber to thereby dry the lumber;
• and
• a relatively thin covering for overlying and substantially blanketing the upper row of the rectangular solid stack of lumber for limiting direct contact of the circulating air with the uppermost row of lumber, said covering being positioned upon the rectangular solid stack of lumber and in contact with the uppermost row of the stack of lumber,
• the thickness of said covering being less than the thickness of a row of lumber so that the space required by said covering in said kiln chamber is less than the space required by a row of lumber to thereby maximize the amount of lumber that can be dried in said kiln chamber without waste.

A combination of a kiln system for drying green lumber to a predetermined moisture content and a charge of lumber, the combination comprising:

• a kiln chamber, lower portions of which define a generally rectangular solid space;
• a charge of lumber comprising at least one stack of lumber in the solid space for being dried;
• a fan in upper portions of said kiln chamber and above the generally rectangular solid space for circulating air through said chamber and through lumber in said chamber to thereby dry the lumber;
• a relatively thin covering for overlying and substantially blanketing the upper row of the rectangular solid stack of lumber for limiting direct contact of the circulating air with the uppermost row of lumber, wherein the thickness of said covering is less than the thickness of a row of lumber so that the space required by said covering in said kiln chamber is less than the space required by a row of lumber to thereby maximize the amount of lumber that can be dried in said kiln chamber without waste;
• and
• a plurality of spaced apart stickers disposed between said covering and said upper row of lumber for allowing a limited amount of circulating air to pass over said upper row of lumber.

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 the generally rectangular solid space for circulating air through said chamber and through lumber in said chamber to thereby dry the lumber;
• and
• a relatively thin covering for overlying and substantially blanketing the uppermost row of the rectangular solid stack of lumber for limiting direct contact of the circulating air with the uppermost row of lumber,
• wherein the thickness of said relatively thin covering is less than about 1 inch such that the thickness of said covering is less than the thickness of a row of lumber so that the space required by said covering in said kiln chamber is less than the space required by a row of lumber to thereby maximize the amount of lumber that can be dried in said kiln chamber without waste.

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 the generally rectangular solid space for circulating air through said chamber and through lumber in said chamber to thereby dry the lumber;
• and
• a relatively thin covering for overlying and substantially blanketing the uppermost row of the rectangular solid stack of lumber for limiting direct contact of the circulating air with the uppermost row of lumber, wherein said covering includes a plurality of handles mounted upon an upper surface of said covering, and
• wherein the thickness of said covering being less than the thickness of a row of lumber so that the space required by said covering in said kiln chamber is less than the space required by a row of lumber to thereby maximize the amount of lumber that can be dried in said kiln chamber without waste.