Information
-
Patent Grant
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6698593
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Patent Number
6,698,593
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Date Filed
Friday, May 3, 200222 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, March 2, 200420 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Walsh; Donald P.
- Rodriguez; Joseph C.
Agents
- Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 209 372
- 209 404
- 209 408
- 209 413
- 209 363
- 209 370
- 209 373
- 209 399
- 209 403
- 209 405
- 209 409
- 209 412
- 209 319
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International Classifications
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Abstract
A vibratory screen separator using screens includes a base and a housing resiliently mounted to the base and divided into two wall portions held together by a clamp band. Brackets are located high on the housing and lifts are diametrically positioned to either side of the housing. The lifts are pivotally mounted to the base through feet to move from a first position engaging the brackets to a second position displaced from the housing. Each lift includes a fluid cylinder and shaft mounted to an arm. A head associated with the shaft of the fluid cylinder and shaft engages a slot on the associated bracket and can operate to lift a portion of the housing with the clamp band removed. In this lifted state, access is provided to screens clamped within the housing between housing portions.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The field of the present invention is separators for screening materials using vibratory motion for enhanced screening.
Vibratory separators have long been used for the separation of materials, both wet and dry. It is common to use rectangular screen separators and circular screen separators. An example of a rectangular screen separator is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,597, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. A circular separator is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,546, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The above-mentioned vibratory separators are provided with an inflatable and deflatable seal running around the edges of the screen frame to avoid material bypassing the screen with the inflatable seal in the inflated condition and to securely locate the screen with the separator housing.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,546, the inflatable seal assists in the facile removal and replacement of screens from a circular separator without disassembly of the entire separator. Screens are subject to wear and, under certain adverse conditions, to rupture. Further, in certain applications, different mesh sizes may be required for the same machine. The quick-change aspect of this device, therefore, provides substantial operational advantage. However, not all applications are best suited for use of an inflatable mechanism or seal.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,365, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, a vibratory screen separator using a resiliently mounted housing has a first wall portion having an upper edge and a second wall portion above the first wall portion having a lower edge. The upper and lower edges may be mutually aligned to define a seat therebetween to receive a screen. The upper and lower edges further include flanges which extend radially outwardly of the housing to receive a clamp band for securely assembling the wall portions. Mounts coupled to the first and second wall portions have a first position with the upper and lower edges of the housing gripping the screen and a second position with the upper and lower edges of the housing mutually displaced from the screen. In the latter position, the screen is released and can be easily accessed for removal and replacement.
The device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,365 includes the mounts on the wall portions of the housing. Thus, they are vibrated with the equipment. The equipment is subject to substantial lateral displacement when passing through natural resonance to or from working speeds. Even though these mounts must be driven with the separator housing, increasing the weight thereof, they don't experience the problem of being stationary equipment adjacent to the separator when the separator housing is passing through natural resonance. Further, they don't increase the footprint of the system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a vibratory separator using screens. The separator includes a base and a housing resiliently mounted to the base. The housing is divided into wall portions which fit together with the screens positionable within the housing between the wall portions. A clamp assembly fixes the portions together. A lift system pivotally mounted relative to the base cooperates with one or more brackets on the upper portion of the separator to allow a raising of one portion of the housing relative to another to provide access therebetween for the insertion and removal of screens. A lift of the system includes an arm, an extension device mounted on the arm and a head mounted on the fluid cylinder and shaft. The head is engageable with a bracket when the arm is pivoted into a first, engaging position.
In the foregoing combination, the housing portions may be conventionally formed with outwardly extending flanges defining seating for the screen therebetween. The assembly of the wall portions may then be conventionally secured by the clamp assembly such as a clamp band.
The foregoing combination may employ two such lifts diametrically positioned of the housing. Each lift may further include a foot fixed relative to the base of the vibratory separator to pivotally mount the arm.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved vibratory screen separator and system for facilely accessing screen mounting areas between housing portions. Other and further objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a side view of a vibratory screen separator with two housing portions.
FIG. 2
is a bottom view of the vibratory screen separator illustrated in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 3
is a partial side view of the vibratory screen separator of
FIG. 1
with a lift illustrated in a displaced position.
FIG. 4
is a partial side view of the vibratory screen separator of
FIG. 1
with a lift illustrated in a engaged position.
FIG. 5
is a partial side view of the vibratory screen separator of
FIG. 1
with a lift illustrated in a engaged position with the upper housing portion displaced from the lower housing portion.
FIG. 6
is a cross-sectional detail of a bracket fixed to a clamp band.
FIG. 7
is a cross-sectional detail of a bracket fixed to a cover for the housing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Turning in detail to the Figures, the illustrated preferred embodiment employs a circular vibratory screen separator. This separator includes a housing, generally designated
10
, which is an assembly of cylindrical components. By means of resilient members, e.g., springs, which are not shown in the drawings, the separator housing
10
is mounted to a base
12
in a conventional manner. A vibratory generator, also of conventional design and not illustrated, is securely mounted within the lower table
14
of the housing
10
.
A lower cylindrical wall portion
16
of the housing
10
is mounted to the table
14
. Conventionally, the table
14
includes an outwardly extending flange. The lower wall portion
16
also includes an outwardly extending flange on its lower edge. These flanges are brought together and securely clamped by a conventional clamp band
18
as illustrated in
FIG. 1. A
dome
19
is typically welded in place within the lower housing
16
with a discharge port
20
located through the sidewall of the portion
16
to receive screened material from the upper surface of the dome. A second such discharge port
20
is shown in the bottom view of
FIG. 2
to be located diametrically around the lower wall portion
16
from the first discharge port
20
.
An upper cylindrical wall portion
22
is aligned with the lower cylindrical wall portion
16
. The lower portion
16
includes an upper edge defining an outwardly extending flange
24
. The upper wall portion
22
includes a lower edge defining an outwardly extending flange
26
. These flanges
24
and
26
are mutually aligned and define a seat therebetween for holding a screen
28
. Such screens
28
are typically comprised of a screen frame across which a screen cloth is drawn taut. A gasket
29
may be conventionally placed around the frame to enhance the seal against the flanges
24
and
26
. Reference is again made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,365. A clamp band
30
defines a clamp assembly between the upper portion
22
and the lower portion
24
. A discharge port
32
is positioned through the wall of the upper wall portion
22
to receive the material unable to pass through the screen
28
from the top of the screen positioned within the housing between the upper wall portion
22
and the lower wall portion
24
.
The housing
10
may include further upper cylindrical wall portions
22
stacked one on top of another in the same manner with associated clamp assemblies
30
. These additional upper cylindrical wall portions
22
would support additional screens
28
at their intersections. Additionally, the housing may include a top (not shown). A top would typically not include a screen mounting position but would include a flange to cooperate with the upper most upper cylindrical wall portion
22
to receive a clamp band
30
.
A lift system in the preferred embodiment is illustrated to include two lifts, generally designated
34
which are illustrated as being diametrically positioned about the housing
10
. Each lift includes a foot
36
extending radially outwardly from the base
12
and may be attached or attachable to the base
12
. Each foot
36
includes a pivot mount
38
near its distal end. An arm
40
extends upwardly from each foot
36
and is pivotally mounted at the mount
38
. Pivoting of the arm
40
is limited as can be seen in
FIG. 3
to avoid becoming a nuisance and extending into other work space. At the same time, the arms
40
fall within the same shipping footprint as the separator with the arms
40
pivoted inwardly. The arms
40
are to pivot outwardly such that contact with the housing is avoided even under the substantial lateral displacement experienced when the separator housing
10
is passing through natural resonance.
An extension device is associated with the upper, free end of the arm
40
. The extension device may be a fluid cylinder and shaft, either hydraulic or pneumatic, a mechanical jackscrew having an upwardly extending shaft, or the like. The shaft of the extension device extends upwardly from the cylinder to mount a head
44
. In the preferred embodiment, the cylinder and shaft
42
is hydraulic.
FIGS. 3 and 4
illustrate the two extreme working positions of the arm
40
of the lift
34
. In
FIG. 4
, the arm
40
is in an engaged position while in
FIG. 3
, the arm
40
is in a displaced position with the lift
34
displaced away from the housing.
FIGS. 3 and 4
also illustrate a first state of the fluid cylinder and shaft
42
with the head
44
in a retracted position.
FIG. 5
illustrates a second state of the fluid cylinder and shaft
42
with the head
44
extended away from the arm
40
.
Two brackets
46
are located above the lower flange
26
and more specifically are located on the side of the upper wall portion
22
. The brackets
46
each include a slot
48
into which the head
44
can seat. The slot is defined by an upper mount
50
and a lower fork
52
. The fork
52
provides access for the shaft of the cylinder and shaft mechanism
42
. The head
44
is of significant size and is closely received within the slot
48
to stabilize the lifted components from pivoting about an axis extending through the two heads
44
.
Alternatively to mounting the brackets
46
to the uppermost cylindrical wall portion
22
, the bracket
46
may be mounted to one of the clamp bands
30
as illustrated in FIG.
6
through welding or other means or to a cover
54
as illustrated in FIG.
7
. It may be noted that the screen frame
56
used at the cover is often a dummy without a screen cloth attached such that all components of the housing are flexible in their assembly.
In operation, the vibratory screen separator is used with the arms
40
of the lifts
34
canted outwardly as seen in FIG.
3
. When a screen
28
is to be replaced, the arms
40
are manually pivoted inwardly to engage the heads
44
within the slots
48
. This orientation is illustrated in FIG.
4
. The clamp band
30
is then removed to release the upper cylindrical wall portion
22
from the lower cylindrical wall portion
16
. Once released, the fluid cylinder and shaft
42
can be actuated through the use of hydraulic pressure to raise the heads
44
and in turn the upper cylindrical wall portion
22
. With the upper cylindrical wall portion
22
and the lower cylindrical wall portion
16
mutually displaced, access is provided to the screen
28
for its facile removal and replacement. Once replaced, the hydraulic pressure is removed and the upper wall portion
22
is again lowered into place. The clamp band
30
is replaced and tightened. The arms
40
are then canted outwardly again and the system is ready for further operation.
The embodiment and operation illustrated shows servicing of one screen deck. Devices having multiple screens may employ the same system by simply selecting which clamp band is removed if the brackets
46
are on the uppermost component of the housing
10
. In the present embodiment, the lower clamp band
18
may be removed to raise the entire cylindrical wall assembly of the housing
10
from the table
14
. The entire housing could also be lifted to service the springs, the motor or other components. Where appropriate, the brackets
46
may be associated with a top rather than with a sidewall. In that circumstance, a clamp band could be employed between the cylindrical housing wall and the top. Again, a choice can be made as to the components accessed by selecting the appropriate clamp band to be removed.
Thus, an improved vibratory screening system has been disclosed. While embodiments and applications of this invention have been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The invention, therefore is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A vibratory screen separator using screens, comprisinga base; a housing resiliently mounted to the base and including a first wall portion having an upper edge and at least a second wall portion positionable above said first wall portion and having a lower edge, the upper and lower edges being mutually alignable with one of the screens positioned within the housing between the first wall portion and the second wall portion; a clamp assembly extendable between the first wall portion and second wall portion to fix together the first and second wall portions; at least one bracket on one of the housing and the clamp assembly; a lift system including an arm pivotally mounted relative to the base, an extension device mounted on the arm, a head mounted on the extension device to extend toward and away from the arm with actuation of the extension device, a first position with the head engaging one of the at least one brackets and a second position with the arm displaced away from the housing and the said bracket, the extension device with the arm in the first position having a range of extension from a first state with the upper and lower edges together to a second state with the upper and lower edges mutually displaced to provide access therebetween to insert one of the screens into the housing between the first wall portion and the second wall portion.
- 2. The vibratory screen separator of claim 1, the upper and lower edges defining a seat therebetween to receive a screen frame.
- 3. The vibratory screen separator of claim 2, the first and second wall portions being circular and the upper and lower edges, respectively, having outwardly extending flanges, the clamp assembly being a clamp band positionable over the outwardly extending flanges.
- 4. The vibratory screen separator of claim 1, the said bracket including a slot into which the head can seat.
- 5. The vibratory screen separator of claim 1, the extension device being a fluid cylinder and shaft.
- 6. The vibratory screen separator of claim 5, the fluid cylinder and shaft being hydraulic.
- 7. The vibratory screen separator of claim 1, the at least one bracket being mounted to the upper most second wall portion.
- 8. The vibratory screen separator of claim 1, there being two said arms, extension devices and heads with each set being diametrically positioned of the housing, and two said brackets receiving the sets, respectively.
- 9. The vibratory screen separator of claim 8, each set further including a foot fixed to the base and extending radially outwardly from the base with the arm being pivotally mounted to the foot.
- 10. The vibratory screen separator of claim 1, the bracket being mounted to the clamp assembly.
- 11. The vibratory screen separator of claim 1, the housing further including a cover, the bracket being mounted to the cover.
- 12. A vibratory screen separator using screens, comprisinga base; a housing resiliently mounted to the base and including a first wall portion having an upper edge and a second wall portion positionable above said first wall portion and having a lower edge, the upper and lower edges being mutually alignable with one of the screens positioned within the housing between the first wall portion and the second wall portion; a clamp assembly extendable between the first wall portion and second wall portion to fix together the first and second wall portions; brackets on the housing above the lower edge; lifts, each lift including an arm pivotally mounted relative to the base, a fluid cylinder and shaft mounted on the arm, a head mounted on the fluid cylinder and shaft to extend toward and away from the arm with actuation of the fluid cylinder and shaft, a first position with the head engaging one of the brackets and a second position with the lift displaced away from the housing and the said bracket, the fluid cylinder and shaft with the lift in the first position having a range of extension from a first state with the upper and lower edges together to a second state with the upper and lower edges mutually displaced to provide access therebetween to insert one of the screens into the housing between the first wall portion and the second wall portion.
- 13. The vibratory screen separator of claim 12, the upper and lower edges defining a seat therebetween to receive a screen frame.
- 14. The vibratory screen separator of claim 13, the first and second wall portions being circular and the upper and lower edges, respectively, having outwardly extending flanges, the clamp assembly being a clamp band positionable over the outwardly extending flanges.
- 15. The vibratory screen separator of claim 12, the brackets including slots into which the heads can seat.
- 16. The vibratory screen separator of claim 12, the fluid cylinder and shaft being hydraulic.
- 17. The vibratory screen separator of claim 12, the brackets being mounted to the second wall portion.
- 18. The vibratory screen separator of claim 12, there being two said lifts diametrically positioned of the housing.
- 19. The vibratory screen separator of claim 12, each of the lifts further including a foot fixed to the base and extending radially outwardly from the base, the arm being pivotally mounted to the foot.
- 20. A vibratory screen separator using screens, comprisinga base; a housing resiliently mounted to the base and including a first circular wall portion having an upper edge and a second circular wall portion positionable above said first wall portion and having a lower edge, the upper and lower edges being mutually alignable with one of the screens positioned within the housing between the first wall portion and the second wall portion, the upper and lower edges having outwardly extending flanges defining a seat therebetween to receive a screen frame; a clamp band extendable between the first wall portion and second wall portion over the outwardly extending flanges to fix together the first and second wall portions; brackets on the housing above the lower edge; two lifts diametrically positioned of the housing, each lift including a foot fixed to the base and extending radially outwardly from the base, an arm pivotally mounted to the foot, a fluid cylinder and shaft mounted on the arm, a head mounted on the fluid cylinder and shaft to extend toward and away from the arm with actuation of the fluid cylinder and shaft, a first position with the head engaging one of the brackets and a second position with the lift displaced away from the housing and the said bracket, the fluid cylinder and shaft with the lift in the first position having a range of extension from a first state with the upper and lower edges together to a second state with the upper and lower edges mutually displaced to provide access therebetween to insert one of the screens into the housing between the first wall portion and the second wall portion.
US Referenced Citations (15)