Patent ID: 8201501

Claim:
A load mover for an elongated kiln structure having at least three chambers arranged serially from one end of the structure to the opposite end with said ends being open to allow the passage of said load mover and a load of lumber, said kiln structure having a floor and a pair of parallel rails mounted on said floor and extending along a path that extends from outside said structure through said chambers and through said ends of said structure, said load mover including a housing having a wall with which at least a portion of a load is engageable for transport sequentially through said chambers of the kiln structure, said housing having wheels that, in use, engage and ride on said rails, said kiln structure having a track extending parallel to said rails and through said kiln structure, said track being mounted on said floor, said load mover having mounted thereon a variable speed electric motor and gearing constructed for transferring the output of said motor to a transport gear which is rotatably mounted on said housing of said load mover and which engages said track so that rotation of said transport gear will effect movement of said load mover on said rails, and said wall having a substantially vertical portion to engage a load supported on a separate carriage which rides on said rails where said vertical portion is positioned to be moved against a load to enhance the stability of the load during transport along said rails.