Patent ID: 7963048

Claim:
A method of heat treating lumber using an elongated kiln chamber comprising a first end and a second end and having at least two zones including a heating zone and a heat transfer zone with said zones being adjacent and each including a first path of travel and a second path of travel for separate lumber charges, comprising the steps of feeding one charge of lumber through the heating zone at a selected speed while feeding another charge of lumber through the heat transfer zone, selecting the speed of movement of each charge so that, in the heat transfer zone, at least a portion of the heat carried by said one charge of lumber will be transferred to said another charge before said another charge enters the heating zone wherein said first oath includes a first inlet being located at said first end and a first outlet being located at said second end and said second path includes a second inlet being located at said second end and a second outlet being located at said first end and wherein said first inlet is disposed adjacent said second outlet.