Other

Devine Lighting, Inc.

Robert T Nagel

George R Culp

John C Holbert

George W Culp

Fans circulate heated air which is introduced from nozzles defining discharge axes that are respectively directed generally parallel to, yet slightly toward, the rotational axes of the fans. The fans operate in first and second modes to respectively force flow in opposite first and second directions. Heated air is introduced from the nozzles at the high-pressure sides of the fans.

Kiln and kiln-related structures, and associated methods

A duct system includes an upper duct that supplies heated air to an upper plenum and a lower duct that supplies heated air to a lower plenum, and the upper and lower plenums provide the heated air to a kiln chamber. An intermediate plenum is between the upper and lower plenums and has outlets through which heated air supplied to the upper and lower plenums is discharged. A plurality of circulation passages extend generally laterally through the intermediate plenum. Fans positioned in the circulation passages circulate heated air that is external to the plenums. The outlets are nozzles defining discharge axes that are respectively directed generally parallel to, yet slightly toward, the rotational axes of the fans. Tips of the fans' blades extend into boundary layers adjacent the interior surfaces of the circulation passages. The fans operate in first and second modes to respectively force flow in opposite first and second directions. Heated air is supplied from the intermediate plenum to the high-pressure sides of the fans. The plenums together generally define an I-like shape in an in an end elevation view thereof. Constrictions are defined proximate the low-pressure sides of the fans and an expansions are defined proximate the high-pressure sides of the fans. A flange-equipped lower wall of the lower plenum extends beyond the edges of a charge of lumber positioned thereunder for drying. The intermediate and lower plenums are telescopically movable with respect to one another. The lower plenum is lowered onto walls that extend upward from a slab, and enclosing structures are mounted to the upper plenum.

Drying kiln

A kiln chamber has an air moving device for circulating air in the chamber interior space along a flow path, and pipe banks positioned in the chamber interior space. Each pipe bank includes finned pipes for having a heated medium flow interiorly therethrough, and each pipe bank is positioned in the flow path so that air circulated by the air moving device flows exteriorly across the finned pipes. Each finned pipe has an elongate portion having opposite ends and extending in a longitudinal direction between the opposite ends, with the longitudinal direction being at least generally perpendicular to the portion of the flow path that is proximate the finned pipe. The pipe banks are spaced apart from one another and arranged side by side with respect to one another so that a portion of the flow path extends between adjacent ones of the pipe banks. The minimum distance defined between the adjacent pipe banks is substantially greater than the minimum distance defined between adjacent finned pipes in the same pipe bank in an end elevation view of the elongate portions of the finned pipes. For each pipe bank, its finned pipes are arranged at least generally in a line in the end elevation view, and the pipe bank is arranged and any minimum distance defined between adjacent finned pipes of the pipe bank is relatively small in the end elevation view so that the adjacent pipe banks function as guide vanes for turning the flow path.

Forced convection heat exchangers capable of being used in kilns

A kiln system includes a kiln chamber defining a chamber interior space, a furnace capable of providing heated air, one or more air moving devices capable of circulating air in the chamber interior space along a recirculating flow path, and a plenum positioned in the kiln chamber and generally separating the chamber interior space into an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion of the chamber interior space that is positioned above the plenum, and the lower portion of the chamber interior space is positioned below the plenum and is capable of receiving the charge of lumber for drying. The plenum defines a plenum cavity that is in communication with and capable of receiving the heated air from the furnace. The kiln system further includes one or more upright passageways. Each upright passageway is mounted to the plenum and in communication with the plenum cavity so that the upright passageway is capable of receiving heated air from the plenum cavity. Each upright passageway extends into the upper portion of the chamber interior space and includes at least one outlet positioned proximate the recirculating flow path in the upper portion of the chamber interior space. As a result, each upright passageway is capable of providing heated air from the plenum to the recirculating flow path in the upper portion of the chamber interior space via its outlet.

Structure and methods for introducing heated ari into a kiln chamber

A stack of lumber that can be efficiently dried includes a plurality of layers of lumber that are arranged one above the other and extend longitudinally and laterally. Each layer of lumber includes a first edge that extends in the longitudinal direction and at least partially defines a side of the stack of lumber. Many of the first edges of adjacent layers of lumber are laterally spaced apart by at least a predetermined separation distance so that the first edges define a staggered arrangement. Also, the layers of lumber that are adjacent are vertically spaced apart from one another so that each of the adjacent layers of lumber define a laterally extending passage therebetween. Each of the passages includes an inlet and an opposed outlet defined between two of the adjacent first edges that are vertically and laterally spaced apart from one another. The flow of air through the stack of lumber is distributed through the passages such that within each passage oppositely oriented boundary layers are formed. Each of those boundary layers includes a generally planar portion, which is proximate to the outlet of the respective passage, and a protruding portion, which is proximate to an inlet of the respective passage. For each passage, a peak of one of the protruding portions is downstream from a peak of the other of the protruding portions by at least the predetermined separation distance so as to reduce the restriction to airflow therethrough and thereby increase the size of the effective opening through which air can enter the passage.

Stack of lumber having low resistance to airflow therethrough and associated method

Elliptically shaped reheater conduits extend downward into a portion of a flow path that extends through a lower chamber interior space of a kiln chamber. Each of the reheater conduits has opposite ends, defines a length that extends between the opposite ends and is perpendicular to the portion of the flow path that extends through the lower chamber interior space, defines a first cross-dimension that is perpendicular to the length and parallel to the portion of the flow path, and defines a second cross-dimension that is perpendicular to both the length and the portion of the flow path. The second cross-dimension is less than the first cross-dimension. Each of the reheater conduits defines outlets positioned along the length of the reheater conduit. Each reheater conduit defines a pair of vertices between which its second cross-dimension is defined, and the outlets are proximate the vertices. The outlets of adjacent conduits are arranged so that jet-like flows from the outlets cooperate to produce whirling masses of air that travel downstream along the flow path to advantageously provide turbulence that interacts with a downstream stack of lumber. The jet-like flows from the outlets of the reheater conduits reach adjacent reheater conduits and advantageously interact with the boundary layers that extend around the adjacent reheater conduits. Movable dampers are respectively proximate the upper ends of the reheater conduits and are capable of being moved to adjust the amount of heated air supplied to the reheater conduits. Each reheater conduit advantageously includes an internal converging/diverging section proximate its upper end.

Reheaters for kilns, reheater-like structures, and associated methods

The kiln system for drying green lumber to a predetermined moisture content according to the present invention includes a kiln chamber for enclosing a charge of lumber, a fan in upper portions of the kiln chamber above the stacks of lumber to circulate air through the kiln chamber and through the lumber in the kiln chamber and an elongate splitter plate extending laterally from a leading edge in upper portions of the kiln chamber downwardly toward a sidewall of the kiln chamber to a trailing edge. The splitter plate includes a curved portion between the leading edge and the trailing edge for directing the circulating air along the splitter plate and then downward about a rectangular stack of lumber in the kiln chamber. The splitter plate further includes a number of projections extending outwardly from the leading edge for creating vortices in the air circulated by the fan. The increased vorticity of the air helps the circulating air to more closely follow the surface of the splitter plate downwardly about the lumber.

Method and apparatus for decreasing separation about a splitter plate in

A luminaire includes a lenticular lens. Each lentical comprises a convex lens having a highly polished aspheric curved surface. The aspheric surface is divided into a plurality of coaxial zones, each designed to accept a specific quantity of parallel light flux from a parabolic reflector positioned within the luminaire and then refract that quantity of flux into a specific solid angle of the projected beam. The convergence of light rays by each lens element produces a real image of the light source in front of the lenticular lens. Each lentical produces a separate image and all images were substantially identical.

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Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Robert T Nagel