Patent Application
20160354806
Screening machines are used to process unconsolidated material that contains a variety of differently sizes particulates into separate consolidated material comprising separate grades. In some instances, rotary screening trommels that use a substantially cylindrical shaped screening apparatus are used. These rotary screening trommels include a feed end for receiving material and a discharge end for discharging material. Rotary screening trommels operate by receiving unconsolidated material at the inlet, rotating as the material travels length-wise through the cylindrical shaped screening apparatus, and separating smaller material from larger material by allowing the smaller material to fall through the screening trommel during rotation. Larger material is then discharged from the discharge end of the screening trommel. Conveyors are used to move the separated consolidated material away from the screening machine and into separate piles. Additionally, hoppers are also used to collect the separated material.
The present disclosure relates generally to a screening machine. In one possible configuration, and by non-limiting example, the screening machine includes a rotary trommel screen configured to process two or three separate grades of material.
In a first aspect of the present disclosure, a screening machine is disclosed. The screening machine includes a rotary trommel screen having an overall length. The rotary trommel screen has an inlet and an outlet end. The screening machine includes a first collection area proximate to the inlet end and under the rotary trommel screen. The first collection area corresponds to at least 65 percent of the overall length of the trommel screen. The screening machine includes a second collection area proximate to the outlet end and under the rotary trommel screen. The second collection area corresponds to the remainder of the overall length of the trommel screen not corresponding to the first collection area. The first and second collection areas are configured to separate a first and second product respectively. Sections of the trommel screen corresponding to the first and second collection areas are configured such that a size of the first product is different than a size of the second product.
In a second aspect of the present disclosure, a screening machine is disclosed. The screening machine includes a rotary trommel screen that has an overall length. The rotary trommel screen further has an inlet end and an outlet end. The screening machine also includes a first collection area proximate to the inlet end and under the rotary trommel screen. The screening machine also includes a second collection area proximate to the outlet end and under the rotary trommel screen. The first and second collection areas are configured to separate a first and second product respectively. Sections of the trommel screen corresponding to the first and second collection areas are configured such that a size of the first product is different than a size of the second product. The screening machine also includes a first conveyor positioned longitudinally with the trommel screen. The first conveyor is selectively reversible and configured to move in a direction toward the inlet end of the trommel screen or in a direction toward the outlet end of the trommel screen.
A variety of additional aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The aspects can relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein are based.
The following drawings are illustrative of particular embodiments of the present disclosure and therefore do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. The drawings are not to scale and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description. Embodiments of the present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like numerals denote like elements.
Various embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the appended claims.
The portable screening machine of the present disclosure includes a single rotary trommel screen with a plurality of screening sections. The screening machine is configured to separate an unconsolidated material into two or three separate consolidated products, each separated product having a separate grade.
The trailer support 102 of the screening machine 100 is configured to support the screening machine 100 during transport and operation. The trailer support 102 includes a plurality of wheels and axles 103, the specific number being dependent on the overall size and weight of the screening machine 100. The trailer support 102 also includes a hitching end 105 configured to be attached to a towing vehicle. In some embodiments, the trailer support 102 includes stabilizing elements (not shown) configured to stabilize the screening machine 100 during stationary operation. Also, in some embodiments, the trailer support 102 is configured to be transported on public roadways by a towing vehicle.
The power system 104 provides power to the screening machine 100 during operation. The power system 104 includes an engine. In some embodiments, the engine is a diesel engine. In addition, the power system 104 includes a hydraulic system. In some embodiments, the power system 104 can be mounted to a pivotable frame to allow for ease of access during maintenance. In some embodiments, the power system 104 and the screening machine 100, in their entirety, are operable remotely or by a control panel that is in communication with the power system 104.
The rotary trommel screen 106 is configured to receive and filter unconsolidated material. The rotary trommel screen 106 includes an inlet 116, an outlet 118, a plurality of removable screen portions 120, a first screen section 122, and a second screen section 124. In some embodiments, the rotary trommel screen 106 is generally cylindrical in shape. Additionally, the diameter of the rotary trommel screen 106 is about two meters, in some embodiments. The rotary trommel screen 106 has an overall length measured from the inlet 116 to the outlet 118. In general, the rotary trommel screen 106 is configured to separate smaller material, proximate to the inlet, 116 from larger material, which is removed proximate to, or from, the outlet 118. During operation, the rotary trommel screen 106 rotates about a longitudinal axis, which causes material contained with the rotary trommel screen 106 to be stirred. In some embodiments, the rotary trommel screen 106 can include longitudinally mounted lifting bars (not shown) that are mounted to the inside of the rotary trommel screen 106. Additionally, in some embodiments, the rotary trommel screen 106 is mounted so that the rotary trommel screen 106 slopes downward from the inlet 116 to the outlet 118. Such a slope encourages material to travel from the inlet 116 to the outlet 118 during operation.
The inlet 116 of the rotary trommel screen 106 is configured to receive (shown as arrow A) an unconsolidated material. In some embodiments, the unconsolidated material may be fed to the inlet 116 of the rotary trommel screen 106 by the inlet conveyor 108. In other embodiments, material may be fed to the inlet 116 by way of a material hopper. Alternatively, the outlet 118 of rotary trommel screen 106 is configured to provide an opening for material that is not removed from the rotary trommel screen 106 by way of passing through the screen portions 120. Arrow B represents material being removed from the outlet 118
The removable screen portions 120 are configured to be removably attached to the rotary trommel screen 106. The screen portions 120 each include a plurality of screen apertures configured to allow the passage of material through the screen portions 120. During operation, material that is sized similarly to, or smaller than, the size of the screen apertures passes from inside the rotary trommel screen 106 to outside out the rotary trommel screen 106, through the screen portions 120. Screen portions 120 having screen apertures of different sizes can also be used, the size of which is dependent on the particular application and the size of material that is desired to be screened. In the depicted embodiment, the rotary trommel screen 106 includes four screen portions 120a, 120b, 120c, and 120d.
In the depicted embodiment, the first screen section 122 includes three similarly sized screen portions 120a, 120b, and 120c. In the depicted embodiment, the screen portions 120a, 120b, and 120c in the first screen section 122 include screen apertures that are substantially similar in size. The first screen section 122 is configured to separate a first product from material that is inserted at inlet 116. The first product passes through the first screen section 122 and into a first collection area 126. The first collection area 126 is the space below the first screen section 122. In some embodiments, the first collection area 126 deposits the first material into a holding container for the first product, known as a hopper. In other embodiments, the first collection area 126 deposits the first material into an external holding container for the first product. In the depicted embodiment, the first collection area 126 deposits the first material onto the collecting conveyor 112, which may be configured for delivering the first material to the front fines conveyor 113. In some embodiments, the first collection area 126 includes removable guides or funnels 127 that help to guide the first product into the first collection area 126.
In the depicted embodiment, the second screen section 124 includes a screen portion 120d. The screen portion 120d includes screen apertures that are differently sized than the screen apertures of the screen portions 120a, 120b and 120c of the first screen section 122. In some embodiments, the screen apertures of the screen portion 120d are larger than the screen apertures of screen portions 120a, 120b, and 120c. In some embodiments, the screen portion 120d is configured to filter a second product from material that is inserted at inlet 116 of the rotary trommel screen 106. In some embodiments, the second product is larger in size when compared to the first product. Similar to the first product, the second product passes through the second screen section 124 and into a second collection area 128, shown by arrow D. The second collection area 128 is the space below the second screen section 124. In some embodiments, the second collection area 128 deposits the second material into a hopper. In other embodiments, the second collection area 128 deposits the second material into an external holding container for the second product. In the depicted embodiment, the second collection area 128 deposits the second material onto the rear fines conveyor 114. In some embodiments, the second collection area 128 includes removable guides or funnels 129 that help to guide the second product into the second collection area.
In the depicted embodiment, the first collection area 126 corresponds to at least 75 percent of the overall length of the trommel screen 106, while the second collection area 128 corresponds to the remainder of the overall length of the trommel screen 106 not corresponding to the first collection area 126. In some embodiments, the overall effective screening length of the rotary trommel screen 106 is about 20 feet. In such an embodiment, the first collection area 126 occupies about the first 15 feet of the overall length, starting at the inlet 116, and the second collection area 128 occupies about the final 5 feet of the overall length, proximate to the outlet 118. In some embodiments, different numbers of screen portions 120 can be used. This can affect the size of the first and second collection areas 126, 128 and the size of the first and second screen sections 122, 124. In some embodiments, the first collection area 126 corresponds to at least 65 percent of the overall length of the trommel screen 106, while the second collection area 128 corresponds to the remainder of the overall length of the trommel screen 106 not corresponding to the first collection area 126.
This configuration of screen sections 122, 124 and first and second collection areas 126, 128 has proven to provide surprising results. When the screening machine 100 is operated to sort material into three product sizes, the distribution of the amount of material in each product size has been surprising. With the rotary trommel screen 106 configured to have a the first collection area 126 and corresponding first screen section 122 that corresponds to at least 65 percent of the overall length of the trommel screen 106, while the second collection area 128 and corresponding first screen section 124 corresponds to the remainder of the overall length of the trommel screen 106 not corresponding to the first collection area 126 the resulting material split has been surprising.
It has been found that while the material is in the first screen section 118 of the rotary trommel screen 106, where the smallest materials are being separated from the middle sized and over-sized materials, the separation efficiency is the lowest. By the time that the smallest materials (first product) have been sorted out through the first screen section 118, and the left-over material enters the second screen section 124, the middle-sized materials (second product) are sorted from the over-sized materials (third product) and the separation efficiency is higher. The net effect has been that even though the separation of the first product has at least 65 percent of the length of the rotary trommel screen 106, and the second product, the separation of the middle-sized material from the oversized material, has only the remaining, smaller, length of the rotary trommel screen 106, the distribution of resulting second and third products has been acceptably, and surprisingly, equal.
In some embodiments, the first screen section 122 has a uniform screen aperture size across the first screen section 122, regardless of the number of screen portions 120 that make up the first screen section 122. In other embodiments, the screen aperture sizes vary across the first screen section 122. In some embodiments, the first screen section 122 includes a first screen portion 120a that has oblong or rectangular apertures. Such oblong or rectangular apertures are greater in size than apertures of the remaining first screen section 122 screen portions 120b, 120c but less than the aperture size of the screen portions 120d of the second screen section 124. In some embodiments, the screen apertures of the first screen section 122 are about half the size of the screen apertures in the second screen section 124. In some embodiments, the screen apertures of the first screen section 122 are less than half the size of the screen apertures in the second screen section 124.
With continued reference to
The collecting conveyor 112 is configured to move the first product from the first collection area 126 away from underneath the rotary trommel screen 106. The movement of the conveyor 112 is represented by arrow C in
The front fines conveyor 113 is configured to move the first product to a discharge location away from the screening machine 100. In some embodiments, the front fines conveyor 113 is positioned transversely with respect to the rotary trommel screen 106. In other embodiments, the front fines conveyor 113 is positioned longitudinally with respect to the rotary trommel screen 106. In some embodiments, the front fines conveyer 113 is a belt conveyor.
The rear fines conveyor 114 is configured to move the second product to a discharge location away from the screening machine 100. In some embodiments, the rear fines conveyor 114 is positioned transversely with respect to the rotary trommel screen 106. In other embodiments, the rear fines conveyor 114 is positioned longitudinally with respect to the rotary trommel screen 106. In some embodiments, the rear fines conveyer 114 is a belt conveyor.
In some embodiments, the front fines conveyor 113 is positioned in front of the wheels and axles 103 of the screening machine 100 (i.e. closer to the hitching end 105 of the trailer support 102), and the rear fines conveyor 114 is positioned behind the wheels and axles 103 of the trailer support 102. This positioning allows the screening machine 100 to retain adequate ground clearance while minimizing the height of the inlet conveyor 108 and inlet hopper 109.
In the depicted embodiment, the trailer support 202, power system 204, inlet conveyor 208, outlet conveyor 210, front fines conveyor 213, and rear fines conveyor 214 operate in a substantially similar fashion to the corresponding like-named elements in the screening machine 100 of
In some embodiments, the rotary trommel screen 206 can be substantially similar to the rotary trommel screen 106 as shown in
The collecting conveyor 212 is configured to be reversible and is movable in a direction toward a trommel inlet 216 (as shown in
In
In
The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the claims attached hereto. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the following claims.
The present patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/120,272, filed Feb. 24, 2015, which patent application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62120272 | Feb 2015 | US |
