US 11,740,020 C1 (13,102nd)
Unidirectional multi-path lumber kilns
Christopher W. Blomquist, Ridgefield, WA (US)
Filed by USNR, LLC, Woodland, WA (US)
Assigned to USNR, LLC
Reexamination Request No. 90/019,864, Feb. 25, 2025.
Reexamination Certificate for Patent 11,740,020, issued Aug. 29, 2023, Appl. No. 17/222,865, Apr. 5, 2021.
Application 90/019,864 is a continuation of application No. 16/234,479, filed on Dec. 27, 2018, granted, now 10,969,172.
Application 16/234,479 is a continuation of application No. 15/652,179, filed on Jul. 17, 2017, granted, now 10,203,156.
Application 15/652,179 is a continuation of application No. 15/284,404, filed on Oct. 3, 2016, granted, now 9,709,328.
Application 15/284,404 is a continuation of application No. 14/509,888, filed on Oct. 8, 2014, granted, now 9,482,465.
Application 14/509,888 is a continuation of application No. 14/201,722, filed on Mar. 7, 2014, granted, now 8,875,414.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/802,196, filed on Mar. 15, 2013.
Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate issued on Nov. 26, 2025.
Int. Cl. F26B 15/14 (2006.01); F26B 3/04 (2006.01); F26B 15/00 (2006.01); F26B 15/10 (2006.01); F26B 25/06 (2006.01); F26B 25/08 (2006.01)
CPC F26B 15/14 (2013.01) [F26B 3/04 (2013.01); F26B 15/00 (2013.01); F26B 15/10 (2013.01); F26B 25/06 (2013.01); F26B 25/08 (2013.01); F26B 2210/16 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49716 (2015.01)]
OG exemplary drawing
AS A RESULT OF REEXAMINATION, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT:
The patentability of claims 1-8 is confirmed.
Claims 9 and 13 are determined to be patentable as amended.
Claims 10-12 and 14-15, dependent on an amended claim, are determined to be patentable.
New claims 23-34 are added and determined to be patentable.
Claims 16-22 were not reexamined.
1. A method of drying lumber in a lumber kiln, wherein the lumber kiln includes an elongated enclosure with a first end, an opposite second end, an interior with at least a first section and a second section adjoining the first section, a charge entry with one or more first charge portals at the first end, a charge exit with one or more second charge portals at the second end, a longitudinal axis that extends through the first and second sections and the first and second ends, a first guide member and a second guide member that define a first flow path and a second flow path, respectively, that are on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis and extend through the charge entry, the first and second sections, and the charge exit, a heat source operable to heat the second section, and one or more fans positioned to circulate heated air received from the second section across the first and second flow paths in the first section, the method comprising:
advancing a plurality of first lumber charges along the first flow path, and a plurality of second lumber charges along the second flow path, in a first direction of travel such that a first one of the first lumber charges and a first one of the second lumber charges are positioned within the second section while a second one of the first lumber charges and a second one of the second lumber charges are positioned within the first section; and
operating the one or more fans to circulate the heated air received from the second section across the first and second flow paths in the first section to thereby move the heated air through the first and second lumber charges in the first section.
9. A system for drying lumber, comprising:
an elongated enclosure having a first end and an opposite second end, an interior with at least a first section and a second section adjoining the first section, a charge entry with one or more first charge portals at the first end, a charge exit with one or more second charge portals at the second end, a longitudinal axis that extends through the first and second sections and the first and second ends, a first guide member and a second guide member disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis and defining respective first and second flow paths that extend through the first and second sections and the first [ and ] second ends, a heat source operable to heat the second section, and one or more first fans operable to circulate heated air from the second section across the first and second flow paths within the first section; and
a transport system selectively operable to advance a first lumber charge and a second lumber charge in a first direction along the first flow path and the second flow path, respectively.
13. The system of claim 9 [ 12] , wherein the first and second transport devices are pusher devices.
[ 23. The method of claim 1, wherein the elongated enclosure further includes a third section adjoining the second section, the second section is between the first section and the third section, and the longitudinal axis extends along a longitudinal centerline of the elongated enclosure, wherein the lumber charges include respective stacks of lumber supported on respective movable supports, and wherein advancing the plurality of first lumber charges along the first flow path includes operating a transport system to push the first lumber charges in an end-to-end arrangement along the first flow path.]
[ 24. The method of claim 23, wherein operating the transport system to push the first lumber charges in an end-to-end arrangement along the first flow path includes operating the transport system to push the first lumber charges on the movable supports continuously along the first flow path.]
[ 25. The method of claim 23, wherein operating the transport system to push the first lumber charges in an end-to-end arrangement along the first flow path includes operating the transport system to push the first lumber charges discontinuously along the first flow path by moving the first lumber charges on the movable supports a desired distance, pausing for an interval of time, and moving the first lumber charges on the movable supports again said desired distance.]
[ 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the desired distance is 1-5 feet or 3-6 feet.]
[ 27. The method of claim 23, wherein the one or more first charge portals is a first charge entry portal and a second charge entry portal, the one or more second charge portals is a first charge exit portal and a second charge exit portal, the first guide member extends from the first charge entry portal to the first charge exit portal, and the second guide member extends from the second charge entry portal to the second charge exit portal.]
[ 28. The method of claim 23, wherein the elongated enclosure has one or more additional flow paths that extend through the elongated enclosure, and the transport system is operable to advance additional lumber charges along the one or more additional flow paths in the first direction.]
[ 29. The system of claim 9, wherein the elongated enclosure further includes a third section adjoining the second section, the second section is between the first section and the third section, and the longitudinal axis extends along a longitudinal centerline of the elongated enclosure, wherein the lumber charges include respective stacks of lumber supported on respective movable supports, and wherein the transport system is operable to push the first lumber charges in an end-to-end arrangement along the first flow path.]
[ 30. The system of claim 29, wherein the transport system is operable to push the first lumber charges on the movable supports continuously along the first flow path.]
[ 31. The system of claim 29, wherein the transport system is operable to push the first lumber charges discontinuously along the first flow path by moving the first lumber charges on the movable supports a desired distance, pausing for an interval of time, and moving the first lumber charges on the movable supports again said desired distance.]
[ 32. The system of claim 31, wherein the desired distance is 1-5 feet or 3-6 feet.]
[ 33. The system of claim 29, wherein the one or more first charge portals is a first charge entry portal and a second charge entry portal, the one or more second charge portals is a first charge exit portal and a second charge exit portal, the first guide member extends from the first charge entry portal to the first charge exit portal, and the second guide member extends from the second charge entry portal to the second charge exit portal.]
[ 34. The system of claim 33, wherein the elongated enclosure has one or more additional flow paths that extend through the elongated enclosure, and the transport system is operable to advance additional lumber charges along the one or more additional flow paths in the first direction.]