Method and apparatus for drying timber
AssigneeMicrowave Drying Limited
InventorsPhilip Gerrish, Francis Wakefield, Ralph Shute
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Timber drying apparatus comprises a housing defining a microwave cavity (4) for containing a quantity of timber, a microwave generator (1) coupled to the housing for introducing microwave energy into the cavity, temperature sensing means (13) arranged to sense the temperature of timber within the cavity and/or weight sensing means (8) for sensing the weight of timber within the cavity and control means for varying the power output of the microwave generator in response to the sense temperature and/or weight. The humidity and/or air temperature may also be sensed in the cavity. The timber may be oscillated within the cavity.
Claims17
A timber drying apparatus for containing a quantity of timber to be dried, said timber drying apparatus comprising:
- a housing defining at least one interior cavity and said housing having at least one aperture for providing access to the at least one interior cavity of the housing;
- temperature sensing means located within the housing for sensing a temperature of the timber to be dried when located within the at least one interior cavity of the housing;
- means for heating the timber contained within the housing;
- and
- control means for varying the means for heating the timber in response to the sensed temperature of the timber to be dried;
- wherein the means for heating is a microwave generator (1);
- the microwave generator (1) is coupled to the at least one interior cavity (4) of the housing by at least two ducts (2) for supplying microwave energy from the microwave generator (1) to the at least one interior cavity (4) of the housing;
- the temperature sensing means is arranged for measuring a surface temperature of the timber to be dried when located within the at least one interior cavity (4) of the housing;
- weight sensing means (8) for sensing a weight of the timber to be dried when located within the at least one interior cavity (4) of the housing;
- and
- the control means regulates the microwave energy in response to the sensed temperature and the sensed weight.
A timber drying apparatus for containing a quantity of timber to be dried, said timber drying apparatus comprising:
- a housing defining at least one interior cavity and said housing having at least one aperture for providing access to the at least one interior cavity of the housing;
- a temperature sensing mechanism located within the housing for sensing a temperature of the timber to be dried when located within the at least one interior cavity of the housing;
- a mechanism for heating the timber contained within the housing;
- and
- a control mechanism for varying the mechanism for heating the timber in response to the sensed temperature of the timber to be dried;
- wherein the mechanism for heating is a microwave generator (1);
- the microwave generator (1) is coupled to the at least one interior cavity (4) of the housing by at least two ducts (2) for supplying microwave energy from the microwave generator (1) to the at least one interior cavity (4) of the housing;
- the temperature sensing mechanism is arranged for measuring a surface temperature of the timber to be dried when located within the at least one interior cavity (4) of the housing;
- weight sensing mechanism (8) for sensing a weight of the timber to be dried when located within the at least one interior cavity (4) of the housing;
- and
- the control mechanism regulates the microwave energy in response to the sensed temperature and the sensed weight.
A method of drying timber within a housing containing a quantity of timber to be dried, temperature sensing means being arranged to sense a temperature of the timber to be dried within the housing, means for heating timber contained within the housing along with control means for varying the means for heating the timber to be dried in response to a sensed temperature, said method comprising the steps of:
- forming the housing as to serve as a microwave cavity (4), measuring the temperature of the timber to be dried by sensing a surface temperature of the timber to be dried;
- supplying microwave energy, via a microwave generator (1), into the at least one interior cavity (4) of the housing at the timber to be dried;
- repeatedly sensing a weight and a temperature of the timber to be dried and located within the at least one interior cavity (4) of the housing;
- and
- controlling power of the microwave energy, supplied by the microwave generator (1) to the at least one interior cavity (4) of the housing, in response to a sensed weight and a sensed temperature of timber to be dried in the cavity (4).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.