The present invention relates generally to material screening. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatuses for pre-screening.
Material screening includes the use of vibratory screening machines. Vibratory screening machines provide the capability to excite an installed screen such that materials placed upon the screen may be separated to a desired level. Oversized materials are separated from undersized materials. Over time, screens wear and require replacement. Wear is often attributable to damage caused by oversized materials.
In order to excite an installed screen, existing vibratory screening machines include vibratory motors. The vibratory motors are attached to a frame of the vibratory screening machine and are configured to vibrate the frame and ultimately the installed screens. Such vibratory motors consume significant amounts of power.
According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a vibratory screening machine provides for vibratory pre-screening of materials. Vibratory pre-screening reduces wear and damage to screens and provides for more effective screening. The vibratory screening machine includes a pre-screening assembly that is designed to be cost effective and can be easily installed on the vibratory screening machine. The pre-screening assembly includes screen assemblies that are configured to be quickly and easily replaced. The pre-screening assembly includes a pre-screening surface. The pre-screening surface may have a concave shape. The term concave as used herein is not limited to curved surfaces but includes any surface configured as a trough or other shape suitable for screening a material. The pre-screening assembly may be configured to be attached to a structural member of the vibratory screening machine such that vibrations of the machine are imparted to the pre-screening assembly. The pre-screening assembly may also be used independently of the vibratory screening machine. The pre-screening assembly may be configured with a pre-screen vibratory motor. The pre-screen vibratory motor may be directly or indirectly attached to the pre-screening assembly. The pre-screen motor may be configured to also provide vibrations to a primary screening surface/area of the vibratory screening machine. Such configurations may reduce the size of and/or eliminate the need for vibratory motors that are configured to vibrate a frame of the vibratory screening machine. The pre-screen vibratory motor may replace vibratory motors configured to vibrate the frame of the vibratory screening machine. The pre-screen vibratory motor may also substantially isolate vibrations to the pre-screening assembly and/or the primary screening surface.
According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a vibratory screening machine includes a central member, a primary screening area/surface and a pre-screening assembly. The pre-screening assembly includes a frame and screen assemblies. The frame includes a central spine and ribs. The screen assemblies are secured to the frame and form a concave pre-screening surface. The central spine of the pre-screening assembly is attached to the central member of the vibratory screening machine such that the concave pre-screening surface is above the primary screening surface.
According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a vibratory screen machine includes wall members, a support surface, a central member attached to the support surface, a primary screening surface, an acceleration arrangement and a pre-screening assembly. The pre-screening assembly includes a frame and screen assemblies. The frame includes a central spine and ribs. The screen assemblies are secured to the frame and form a concave pre-screening surface. The central spine of the pre-screening assembly is attached to the central member of the vibratory screening machine such that the concave pre-screening surface is above the primary screening surface. The acceleration arrangement is configured to impart an acceleration or vibrations to the primary screening area and the concave pre-screening surface. The pre-screening assembly may include its own pre-screen vibratory motor. The pre-screen vibratory motor may also be utilized to accelerate or vibrate the primary screening surface with or without the acceleration arrangement.
According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a vibratory screen machine includes a primary screening surface and a pre-screening assembly attached to the vibratory screening machine. The pre-screening assembly includes an elongated frame for supporting a concave screening surface. The concave screening surface is used for the pre-screening of materials before they contact the primary screening area.
The frame may include a central spine running down the length of the frame and supporting ribs. The supporting ribs may have substantially horizontal and vertical portions. The substantially horizontal portions may extend substantially perpendicularly from the central spine and be securely fastened to the central spine. The substantially vertical portions may be attached to and extend substantially perpendicular to the substantially horizontal portions. Longitudinal spacing pieces may be located at intersections of the horizontal and vertical portions and may securely fasten and connect separate intersections of the horizontal and vertical portions such that a space is maintained between the supporting ribs. Longitudinal spacing pieces may also be provided at the upper ends of the vertical supporting portions and may securely fasten and connect the separate upper ends of the vertical portions such that a space is maintained between the supporting ribs. The horizontal and vertical portions may be made from a single piece of material such as a metal, plastic, composite material, etc. Alternatively, the horizontal and vertical portions may be made from separate pieces of material. A central key piece may be provided on the spine to provide for a mating surface with a spine of another pre-screen assembly. An attachment arrangement may be configured to secure the frame to a pre-screen vibratory motor. A pre-screen vibratory motor may be provided that is securable to the attachment arrangement.
The pre-screening assembly may include a screen assembly attachment arrangement. The screen assembly attachment arrangement may be any arrangement suitable for securing screen assemblies to the frame. The screen assembly attachment arrangement may include a pre-tensioned spring clamp configured to clamp screen assemblies to the frame.
The screen assemblies may be molded, cast or welded and may be formed as a single unit. The screen assemblies may be provided with a coating such as a polyurethane or other suitable material for handling and wear resistance. The screen assemblies may also include screen frame members and screens. The screens may include mesh or multiple mesh layers. The screen frame members may be rigid or semi-rigid. Separate screen assemblies may be provided for horizontal portions and vertical portions. The screen assemblies may be configured to form the concave screening surface. The pre-tensioned spring clamp may be configured to press the horizontal portion screen assemblies and vertical portion screen assemblies together to form the concave screening surface.
The vibratory screening machine may include a feeder that is configured to divert material flow to or away from the pre-screening assembly. The feeder may also be configured to provide a flow of material to both the pre-screen assembly and the primary screening area/surface. The feeder may be configured to provide a flow of material to multiple pre-screening assemblies. The pre-screening assemblies may include a flange for attachment to the feeder.
According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a pre-screening assembly for a vibratory screening machine includes a frame and screen assemblies. The frame includes a central spine and ribs. The central spine of the pre-screening assembly is attached to the vibratory screening machine and the screen assemblies are secured to the frame and form a concave pre-screening surface.
According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a pre-screening assembly for a vibratory screening machine includes an elongated frame and screen assemblies. The frame includes a central spine and ribs. The central spine of the pre-screening assembly is attached to the vibratory screening machine and the screen assemblies are secured to the frame.
The ribs may form a concave shape and support the screen assemblies. The central spine may run down the length of the frame. The supporting ribs may have substantially horizontal and vertical portions. The substantially horizontal portions may extend substantially perpendicularly from the central spine and be securely fastened to the central spine. The substantially vertical portions may be attached to and extend substantially perpendicular to the substantially horizontal portions. Longitudinal spacing pieces may be located at intersections of the horizontal and vertical portions and may securely fasten and connect separate intersections of the horizontal and vertical portions such that a space is maintained between the supporting ribs. Longitudinal spacing pieces may also be provided at the upper ends of the vertical supporting portions and may securely fasten and connect the separate upper ends of the vertical portions such that a space is maintained between the supporting ribs. The horizontal and vertical portions may be made from a single piece of material such as a metal, plastic, composite material, etc. Alternatively, the horizontal and vertical portions may be made from separate pieces of material. A central key piece may be provided on the spine to provide for a mating surface with a spine of another pre-screen assembly. An attachment arrangement may be configured to secure the frame to a pre-screen vibratory motor. A pre-screen vibratory motor may be provided that is securable to the attachment arrangement. Another attachment arrangement may be configured to attach one frame to a similar frame positioned above the frame.
The pre-screening assembly may include a screen assembly attachment arrangement. The screen assembly attachment arrangement may be any arrangement suitable for securing screen assemblies to the frame. The screen assembly attachment arrangement may include a pre-tensioned spring clamp configured to clamp screen assemblies to the frame.
The screen assemblies may include screen frame members and screens. The screens may include mesh or multiple mesh layers. The screen frame members may be rigid or semi-rigid. Separate screen assemblies may be provided for horizontal portions and vertical portions. The screen assemblies may be configured to form the concave screening surface. The pre-tensioned spring clamp may be configured to press the horizontal portion screen assemblies and vertical portion screen assemblies together to form the concave screening surface.
According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a screen assembly for a pre-screen assembly in a vibratory screening machine includes a screen frame member and a screen supported by the screen frame member. The screen assembly may be configured to form a predetermined concave shape when placed in the pre-screen assembly. The screen assemblies may be configured as described above with respect to the vibratory screening machines and the pre-screening assemblies. The screen assembly may include a mating surface configured to interact with a surface of the frame described above.
According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a method for screening materials includes attaching a pre-screen assembly to a vibratory screen machine, the pre-screen assembly including an elongated spine and concave screening surface, pre-screening material on the concave screening surface and screening material on a primary screening area/surface. The method may also include vibrating the pre-screen assembly.
The pre-screening assemblies described above may be incorporated into the method and apparatuses set forth in the U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 11/726,589, entitled “Method and Apparatuses for Screening” filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Mar. 21, 2007 (bearing document number “NY01 1323920” and having inventors Keith Wojciechowski and Christian Newman), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. For example, the central spine of the pre-screening assemblies described herein may be attached to the central member of the apparatuses described in the above reference non-provisional application.
Like reference characters denote like parts in the drawings.
Vibratory screening machine 10 includes wall members 12, a central member 16 and an acceleration arrangement 18. Central member 16 divides vibratory screening machine 10 into two screening areas. Vibratory screening machine 10 may, however, have one or more concave screening areas.
The screen assemblies may also be molded, cast or welded and may be formed as a single unit. The screen assemblies may be provided with a coating such as a polyurethane or other suitable material for handling and wear resistance.
A method for screening materials includes attaching a pre-screen assembly to a vibratory screen machine, the pre-screen assembly including an elongated spine and concave screening surface, pre-screening material on the concave screening surface and screening material on a primary screening surface. The method may also include vibrating the pre-screen assembly, accelerating the screen assembly, returning the screen assembly to its original shape and replacing the screen assembly with another screen assembly.
In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereunto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense.
The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/860,116, filed Apr. 10, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/051,658, filed Mar. 19, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,439,203, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/919,417, filed Mar. 21, 2007, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference hereto.
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Parent | 13860116 | Apr 2013 | US |
Child | 16503331 | US | |
Parent | 12051658 | Mar 2008 | US |
Child | 13860116 | US |