Patents by Inventor Fred M. Lamb

Fred M. Lamb has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method and apparatus for vacuum drying wood in a collapsible container in a heated bath
    Patent number: 6634118
    Abstract: Wood is disposed in a container having at least one flexible wall, and vacuum is applied to the container. The flexible wall presses against a surface of the wood. The container and wood are them immersed in a heated bath (e.g. comprising water, air, or other fluids). The wood is heated by conduction through the flexible wall, and maintained at accurate temperature by the bath. The wood is thereby rapidly dried by heat and vacuum. The present invention is energy efficient, and provides rapid, uniform drying of the wood without checking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhangjing Chen, Fred M. Lamb
  • Method and apparatus for vacuum drying wood in a collapsible container in a heated bath
    Publication number: 20030005597
    Abstract: Wood is disposed in a container having at least one flexible wall, and vacuum is applied to the container. The flexible wall presses against a surface of the wood. The container and wood are them immersed in a heated bath (e.g. comprising water, air, or other fluids). The wood is heated by conduction through the flexible wall, and maintained at accurate temperature by the bath. The wood is thereby rapidly dried by heat and vacuum. The present invention is energy efficient, and provides rapid, uniform drying of the wood without checking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Zhangjing Chen, Fred M. Lamb