US3867765A

US3867765A - Pole kiln and method for drying logs

Info

Publication number: US3867765A
Application number: US459011A
Authority: US
Inventors: Anthony Foster
Original assignee: Koppers Co Inc
Current assignee: Koppers Inc
Priority date: 1974-04-08
Filing date: 1974-04-08
Publication date: 1975-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-25

Abstract

A kiln of the type used for drying green poles includes a shed covering a carrier of such poles with end closures and means within the shed for introducing and circulating heat that is directed lengthwise of the carrier and into lengthwise contact with the poles to effect drying thereof.

Description

United States Patent [191 Foster Feb. 25, 1975 POLE KILN AND METHOD FOR DRYING LOGS [75] Inventor: Anthony Foster, Paradise, Calif. [73] Assignee: Koppers Company, Inc., Pittsburgh,

22 Filed: Apr. 8, 1974 [2]] Appl. No.1 459,011

[52] U.S. Cl. 34/13.8, 34/l6.5 [51] Int. Cl. F26b 7/00 [58] Field of Search 34/9.5, 13.8, 16.5, 216

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Muydermannu, 34/216 X 3,159,468 12/1964 Hofmeister, Jr. et a]. 34/216 X 3,422,545 1/1969 Wilson ..'34/l6.5 3,434,222

3/1969 Malmquist 34/16.5

Primary ExaminerJohn J. Camby Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Sherman H. Barber; Olin E. Williams; Oscar B. Brumback [5 7] ABSTRACT A kiln of the type used for drying green poles includes a shed covering a carrier of such poles with end closures and means within the shed for introducing and circulating heat that is directed lengthwise of the carrier and into lengthwise contact with the poles to effect drying thereof.

16 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures POLE KILN AND METHOD FOR DRYING LOGS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to kilns and more particularly to a kiln and method for drying freshly peeled poles.

At the kiln facility, the poles are unloaded from carrier trucks or railroad cars and are loaded onto special tram cars that are then moved into the kiln. After the poles are dried in the kiln, the tram cars are pushed out ofv the kiln, and the poles are loaded again onto carrier trucks or-railroad cars. Thereafter, the dried poles are shipped to a location at which they are unloaded again for either storage or further treatment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A pole kiln and the method for operating the same includes a shed having end closures that covers a railroad track onto which carrier railroad cars loaded with green poles arepushed. Within the shed there is a heating duct that emits hot air over the top of the poles. Baffles prevent the heat from passing under the cars, and other baffles prevent the hot air from passing upwardly between the cars. Movable side baffles prevent the hot air from passing through the space between adjacent cars loaded with poles and they direct the hot air lengthwise of the poles and in contact therewith to effect drying of such poles. One or more fans provide circulation of the hot air in the shed.

For a further understanding of the invention and for features and advantages thereof, reference may be made to the following description and the drawings which illustratea preferred embodiment of equipment in accordance with the invention which is suitable for practicing the method of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

.FIG. 1 is a view along line I-I of FIG. 3;

FIG. 2 is a view along line II-II of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a pole kiln in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 3, a pole kiln 11 in accordance with the present invention comprises an clongate sheet metal shed 13 having a conventional side frame structure 15, with aluminum sandwiched insulated panels 17, and ordinary structural truss frames 18, over which there is a roof 19 of conventional type and construction. The shed 13 covers, and is secured typically to, a foundation 21 of concrete set on the ground 23. A conventional track comprising railroad rails 25 is fixed to the foundation 21. The ends of the shed 13 are closed by pairs of hinged

doors

27, 29 in a conventional manner.

In FIG. 3, one of a plurality of conventional carrier vehicles, such as a gondola or flat railroad car 31, is shown within the shed 13. From FIG. 1, it is seen that the shed 13 can accommodate a plurality of such cars 31 at one time on the rails 25. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, each car 31 carries a load of peeled poles 33 that are to be dried in the kiln 11.

Within the shed 13 there are two vertical

parallel walls

35, 37 disposed lengthwise of the shed 13, and they are spaced apart from the side walls 17 of the shed 13, about as and where shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. These abutting relation, that are pivotable into and out of en gagement with the sides of the car 31, as shown in FIG. 3.

Above the top of each load of poles 33, there is a heating duct 43 that is generally rectangular in crosssection. The particular heating duct shown in FIG. 3 has corrugated top and bottom asbestos-cement surfaces and vertical flat side walls, through other types of heating ducts may be used if preferred. The heating duct 43 is supported in position by being secured in a suitable manner to the bottom chord 45 of the roof truss structure 18.

Above the heating duct 43 there is alongitudinally extending vertical fan wall 47 connected to the heating duct 43 andto a T-bar 49, or other suitable structure, at the ridge of the roof truss 18.

The heating duct 43 has a plurality of openings 51 in the vertical side walls to allow heat to enter the shed 13. The ends of the duct 43 are closed appropriately and there is, in the center of the duct 43, a transverse divider baffle wall 52 that subdivides the duct 43 into two portions.

Two

transition heating ducts

53, 55 connect to the heating duct 43, and to conduits 57, 59 extending out side the shed 13. The

conduits

57, 59 carry heated air into the heating duct 43 from fan and

heater units

61, 63, located near ground level 23 outside the shed 13, by means of suitable conduit 65, 67.

Two

elongate baffle plates

69, 71, that may be articu lated and arranged in end to end abutting relation, are hingedly connected as at 73, to the bottom surface of the heating duct 43. The free edges of the

baffles

69, 71 carry an

eye

77, 79 that is an anchor for ropes or

chains

81, 83 passing over a

pulley

85, 87 fixed to the roof structure, the free ends of the ropes or

chains

81, 83 terminate at the shed side, as shown in FIG. 3.

The fan wall 47 carries a plurality of electric motor The bottom chord 45 of .the roof truss structure 18 carries, at two locations shown in FIG. 3,

elongate rods

89, 91 that serve as supports for sliding

vertical wall baffles

93, 95. Each

such wall baffle

93 and 95 has hooks that slip over the

rods

89, 91 so that the baffles can be moved lengthwise along the rods for a purpose that will be described hereinafter. Each sliding wall baf- He 93, 95 extends downward from the

rods

89, 91 to a location just below the top edge of the

hinged baffle plates

39, 41, as shown in FIG. 3.

The

sliding wall baffles

93, 95 are disposed on opposite sides of the railraod cars 31, and each baffle is somewhat longer than the distance between adjacent connected-together carrier railroad cars. The

sliding wall baffles

93, 95 are staggered in arrangement on the opposite sides of the railroad cars 31, as shown in FIG. 1; baffles 93 being on one side of the cars 31 and baffles 95 being on the other side of the cars.

While not shown in the drawings, suitable humidity detecting equipment would be provided normally in the shed 13. Also, suitable humidity control equipment would be associated with such control equipment and the

burner fan units

61, 63, as well as with the fans 89.

The novel structure described herein is used in the following manner in carrying into practice the method of the present invention.

After opening the

doors

27 or 29 at one end of the shed 13, a string of railroad cars 31, each loaded with poles 33,-are moved by locomotive or other apparatus on the rails 25. into the shed 13. The cars are disconnected from the locomotive, and then the doors are closed. The'h inged

baffle plates

39, 41 and the

baffles

69, 71, are disposed in a convenient stowed position as the cars are moved into the shed. After the cars are spotted in the shed, the

pivotable baffles

69, 71 and 39, 41 are then moved into the positions shown in FIG. 3.

The

sliding wall baffles

93, 95 are maneuvered by hand to avoid contact with the cars as they move into the shed, but thereafter, the

hinged baffles

39, 41 are pivoted into the positions shown in FIG. 3, covering the spaces between adjacent cars on alternate sides. The

sliding wall baffles

93, 95, being movable lengthwise along the

rods

89, 91, can be readily positioned to cover the space between adjacent railroad cars, in the staggered arrangement shown in FIG. 1. The

baffles

93, 95 are made to be positionable along the

rods

89, 91 since the position of the railroad cars cannot be certain each time they are spotted in the shed 13.

In order to protect the conventional brake cylinder mechanism '97 of each railroad car, a brake cooling shroud 99 of suitable construction is placed around each brake cylinder mechanism 97, as shown in FIG. 3. A flexible hose 101 is connected at one end to the shroud 99 and at the other end to a fan 103 located outside the shed 13, about as suggested in FIG. 3. Thus, cool air is forced into the shroud 99 to effect cooling the brake cylinder mechanism.

The shroud 99 carries a suitable, conventional temperature detecting device 105 having an electrical wire 107 that is connected to a temperature recorder (not shown) conveniently located at a remote control station.

With burner and

fan units

61, 63 activated, hot air passes through conduits 65, 67 into the

conduits

57, 59 and theninto the heating duct 43. The heat emerges from the duct 43 through the several openings 51 in the side walls thereof. The several fans 89 are actuated and the hot air emerging from the duct 43 circulates in the direction of the arrows A in FIG. 3.

The

baffles

69,71 prevent the hot air from passing downward to the poles 33 directly, and the hot air is also prevented from passing under the railroad cars through the space betweeen the sides of the cars and the

walls

35 and 37 by the pivotable baffles 39, 41. Instead, the hot air enters the spaces between adjacent cars, flowing in the direction of the arrows B, as shown in FIG. 1. Because of the location of the

baffles

93, 95, the hot air flowing in the direction of arrows B cannot escape to the other side of the shed, but it flows longitudinally through the cars and lengthwise of and around the poles therein. The hot air then emerges from the cars, and because of the presence of the baffles 95, flows into the space on the other side of the shed, in the direction of arrows C. Thereafter, the air flows upwardly andpasses through the fans 89.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that due to the t flow of 'aircaused by the rotation of the fans 89, there is a slight positive air pressure on the right hand side of the shed, as viewed in FIG. 3, and there is a slight negative air pressure on the, left hand side.

When and as needed, a plurality of roof ventilators 109, located as shown in the roof structure, may be opened or adjusted as desired to control humidity within the kiln.

' Suitable heat detecting equipment anda temperature alarm system may be used if desired inside the shed to prevent overheating of the railroad cars and other equipment so that damage to such cars and equipment is avoided.

As soon as the poles are dried sufficiently, the fans may be shut off; the baffles raised and/or moved to their stowed positions; the brake cooling shrouds removed; the doors of the shed opened, and the cars moved thence. Thereafter, other cars similarly loaded with poles are pushed into the kiln and the process is repeated.

From the foregoing description of one embodiment of the invention, those skilled in the art should recognize many important features and advantages of it, among which the following are particularly significant:

That conventional trams onto which green poles are usually loaded for use in an ordinary kiln are eliminated since, in accordance with my invention, conventional railroad cars that carry the poles to the kiln facility are the drying cars;

That there is a significant saving in time, labor and equipment in carrying into practice the method of the present invention, since there is no loading of drying trams and no lifting equipment is required to handle the poles at the kiln facility.

Although the invention has been described herein with a certain degree of particularlity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only as an example and that the scope of the invention is defined by what is hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

I. A drying kiln comprising:

a. a shed covering one or more carriers of articles to be dried;

b. end closures on said shed;

c. means for introducing heat into said shed at a location above said articles;

(I. baffles that coact with said oneor more carriers and prevent said heat from flowing beneath said carriers; and

e. means for circulating said heat within said shed.

2. The invention of claim 1 including:

a. baffles above said one or more carriers that prevent heat from passing upwardly from said articles therein.

3. The invention of claim 1 including:

a. baffles disposed alternately on opposite sides of said carriers whereby said heat cannot pass through the space between adjacent carriers.

4. A drying kiln comprising:

a. a shed covering one or more railroad cars fitted with braking equipment;

b. end closures on said shed;

c. means for introducing and circulating heat within said shed;

d. baffles that coact with said one or more cars and that prevent said heat from flowing beneath said cars;

e. baffles above said one or more cars that prevent said heat from passing upwardly from said cars;

f. baffles disposed alternately on opposite sides of said cars so that heat cannot pass through the space between adjacent cars;

g. means applicable to said braking equipment for cooling such equipment and preventing said heat from contacting the same; and

h. means for detecting overheating of said braking equipment.

5. The invention of claim 1 including:

a. means for pivoting said baffles.

6. The invention of claim 2 including:

a. means for pivoting said baffles.

7. The invention of claim 3 including:

a. means for adjusting said baffles; and

b. means for pivoting said baffles.

-8. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

a. said means for introducing heat includes a burner and a fan.

' 9. A drying kiln comprising:

a. a shed having pivotable enclosures covering one or more carriers of articles to be dried;

b. a burner and a fan in conduit means carrying heated air to a heating duct in said shed above said one or more carriers, said duct having openings through which heat flows into said shed;

c. pivotable baffles above said one or more carriers that prevent heat from passing upwardly therefrom;

d. pivotable baffles that coa'ct with the sides of said one or more carriers and prevent heat from passing therebeneath;

e. pivotable'and adjustable baffles disposed alternately on opposite sides of one or more carriers whereby heat cannot pass through the space at the ends of one carrier or between adjacent carriers and is directed lengthwise thereof; and

f. one or more fans within said shed that circulate said heat therewithin.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein:

a. said one or more carriers is or are railroad cars having braking mechanism; and including b. means applicable to said braking equipment for cooling and preventing heat from contacting the same; and

c. means for detecting over heating of said braking equipment.

11. The invention of claim 9 wherein:

a. said baffles are sectionalized.

12. The method of kiln drying green poles comprising the steps:

a. moving one or more railroad cars carrying said poles through access openings into an enclosure;

b. closing the access openings of said enclosure;

0. flowing heated air into said enclosure over said one or more cars;

d. directing said heated air into the space at the end of one or into the space between adjacent cars and thence lengthwise of one or both cars and lengthwise of said poles;

e. preventing the heated air from flowing under said one or more cars; and

f. circulating said air within said enclosure.-

13. The invention of claim 12 including the step of:

a. maintaining the flow of heated air lengthwise of said poles in each one of said railroad cars.

14. The invention of claim 12 including the step of:

a. cooling a braking mechanism of said one or more railroad cars.

15. The method of claim 12 including the steps of:

a. arranging baffles that prevent said heated air from flowing under said one or more cars;

b. arranging baffles that prevent said heated air from flowing upwardly from said poles; and

c. arranging baffles that guide said heated air lengthwise of one such railroad car and that prevent said heated air from passing through the space between adjacent railroad cars without having first passed longitudinally of said adjacent cars.

16. The invention of claim 4 including:

a. means for adjusting and b. means for pivoting said baffles that are disposed alternately.

Claims

1. A drying kiln comprising: a. a shed covering one or more carriers of articles to be dried; b. end closures on said shed; c. means for introducing heat into said shed at a location above said articles; d. baffles that coact with said one or more carriers and prevent said heat from flowing beneath said carriers; and e. means for circulating said heat within said shed.

2. The invention of claim 1 including: a. baffles above said one or more carriers that prevent heat from passing upwardly from said articles therein.

3. The invention of claim 1 including: a. baffles disposed alternately on opposite sides of said carriers whereby said heat cannot pass through the space between adjacent carriers.

4. A drying kiln comprising: a. a shed covering one or more railroad cars fitted with braking equipment; b. end closures on said shed; c. means for introducing and circulating heat within said shed; d. baffles that coact with said one or more cars and that prevent said heat from flowing beneath said cars; e. baffles above said one or more cars that prevent said heat from passing upwardly from said cars; f. baffles disposed alternately on opposite sides of said cars so that heat cannot pass through the space between adjacent cars; g. means applicable to said braking equipment for cooling such equipment and preventing said heat from contacting the same; and h. means for detecting overheating of said braking equipment.

5. The invention of claim 1 including: a. means for pivoting said baffles.

6. The invention of claim 2 including: a. means for pivoting said baffles.

7. The invention of claim 3 including: a. means for adjusting said baffles; and b. means for pivoting said baffles.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein: a. said means for introducing heat includes a burner and a fan.

9. A drying kiln comprising: a. a shed having pivotable enclosures covering one or more carriers of articles to be dried; b. a burner and a fan in conduit means carrying heated air to a heating duct in said shed above said one or more carriers, said duct having openings through which heat flows into said shed; c. pivotable baffles above said one or more carriers that prevent heat from passing upwardly therefrom; d. pivotable baffles that coact with the sides of said one or more carriers and prevent heat from passing therebeneath; e. pivotable and adjustable baffles disposed alternately on opposite sides of one or more carriers whereby heat cannot pass through the space at the ends of one carrier or between adjacent carriers and is directed lengthwise thereof; and f. one or more fans within said shed that circulate said heat therewithin.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein: a. said one or more carriers is or are railroad cars having braking mechanism; and including b. means applicable to said braking equipment for cooling and preventing heat from contacting the same; and c. means for detecting over heating of said braking equipment.

11. The invention of claim 9 wherein: a. said baffles are sectionalized.

12. The method of kiln drying green poles comprising the steps: a. moving one or more railroad cars carrying said poles through access openings into an enclosure; b. closing the access openings of said enclosure; c. flowing heated air into said enclosure over said one or more cars; d. directing said heated air into the space at the end of one or into the space between adjacent cars and thence lengthwise of one or both cars and lengthwise of said poles; e. preventing the heated air from flowing under said one or more cars; and f. circulating said air within said enclosure.

13. The invention of claim 12 including the step of: a. maintaining the flow of heated air lengthwise of said poles in each one of said railroad cars.

14. The invention of claim 12 including the step of: a. cooling a braking mechanism of said one or more railroad cars.

15. The method of claim 12 including the steps of: a. arranging baffles that prevent said heated air from flowing under said one or more cars; b. arranging baffles that prevent said heated air from flowing upwardly from said poles; and c. arranging baffles that guide said heated air lengthwise of one such railroad car and that prevent said heated air from passing through the space between adjacent railroad cars without having first passed longitudinally of said adjacent cars.

16. The invention of claim 4 including: a. means for adjusting and b. means for pivoting said baffles that are disposed alternately.