Classifying and screening apparatus

Claim 2

Screening and classifying apparatus including means defining a flow surface characterized by laterally and longitudinally spaced openings which are laterally extended across the line of flow and of non-uniform dimension, the lateral extent thereof, in the sense of flow, said means defining said flow surface including surface portions of a series of longitudinally spaced transversely oriented screen bars having underlying support means which together with said screen bars define said openings, said surface portions of said bars varying in thickness between adjacent of said underlying support means to produce the said non-uniform dimension of said openings.

Claim 3

Screening and classifying apparatus including means defining a flow surface characterized by laterally and longitudinally spaced openings which are laterally extended across the line of flow and of non-uniform dimension, the lateral extent thereof, in the sense of flow, the means defining said flow surface including surface portions of a series of longitudinally spaced transversely oriented screen bars having underlying support means which together with said screen bars define said openings, at least a portion of said bars between adjacent of said support meaNs having an arcuate form the apex portion of which is projected in the sense of flow to produce an arcuate edge portion defining limits of adjacent openings, said apex portions of said screen bars being thinned relative adjacent portions to provide a non-uniform dimension of said openings.

Claim 4

Screening and classifying apparatus including means defining a flow surface characterized by laterally and longitudinally spaced openings which are laterally extended across the line of flow and of non-uniform dimension, the lateral extent thereof, in the sense of flow, the means defining said flow surface including surface portions of a series of longitudinally spaced transversely oriented screen bars having underlying support means which together with said screen bars define said openings, at least a portion of said bars between adjacent of said support meaNs having an arcuate form the apex portion of which is projected in the sense of flow to produce an arcuate edge portion defining limits of adjacent openings, said apex portions of said screen bars being thinned relative adjacent portions to provide a non-uniform dimension of said openings.

Claim 5

In a screen type separator in which bar-like elements form a flow surface comprised of longitudinally spaced apart laterally elongated flow openings, said elements being formed to produce openings curving in the sense of flow; the improvement which consists in using bar-like elements having curved portions which are relatively thinned in curved portions thereof to produce curved openings which at apex portions are relatively elongated in the sense of flow.

Claim 6

In a screen type separator in which bar-like elements form a flow surface comprised of longitudinally spaced apart laterally elongated flow openings, said elements being formed to produce openings curving in the sense of flow; the improvement which consists in using bar-like elements having curved portions which are relatively thinned in curved portions thereof to produce curved openings which at apex portions are relatively elongated in the sense of flow.

Claim 7

A screen type separator according to claim 3 in which said bar-like elements are progressively thinned in their curved portions to achieve a minimum thickness at apex portions thereof producing openings gradually expanding in the sense of flow toward said apex portions.

Claim 8

In a screen type separator presenting a screen surface inclined to the horizontal and over which a fluent material is caused to flow from a raised to a lower end with portions of the fluent material separating by escape through the screen surface, transversely disposing screen bars forming said screen surface and longitudinally spaced apart to define lateral open screen area therebetween, said bars including portions curving downwardly in the sense of flow and being relatively thinned in said curved portions to form an open screen area between adjacent bars which includes a portion curved in the sense of flow and in which the spacing between said bars is non-uniform.

Claim 9

In a screen type separator presenting a screen surface inclined to the horizontal and over which a fluent material is caused to flow from a raised to a lower end with portions of the fluent material separating by escape through the screen surface, transversely disposing screen bars forming said screen surface and longitudinally spaced apart to define lateral open screen area therebetween, said bars including portions curving downwardly in the sense of flow and being relatively thinned in said curved portions to form an open screen area between adjacent bars which includes a portion curved in the sense of flow and in which the spacing between said bars is non-uniform.

Claim 10

A screen type separator according to claim 5, wherein the open screen area at said curved portion gradually expands in the sense of flow to a maximum dimension at the lowest part of the defined curve.

Claim 11

A screen type separator according to claim 5, wherein the screen surface is comprised of a plurality of said bars and a plurality of laterally spaced apart longitudinally extending tie members interconnecting said bars in a unitary assembly, each bar between each adjacent pair of tie members being projected to an arc-like configuration forming a curved portion and being gradually thinned from base portions to an apex portion, adjacent bars nesting said curved portions and defining therebetween a lateral open area which gradually expands from said base portions to said apex portion.

Claim 12

In a screen type separator presenting a screen surface inclined to the horizontal and over which a fluent material is caused to flow from a raised to a lower end with fluid portions of the fluent material separating by escape through the screen surface, transversely disposing screen bars forming said screen surface and longitudinally spaced apart to define lateral open screen area therebetween, said screen bars including portions curving downwardly in the sense of flow, and tie rods of longitudinal extent laterally spaced apart and interconnecting said screen bars to define the longitudinal spacing thereof, said screen bars having a continuous non-uniform curvature of at least portions of following edge portions thereof between adjacent tie rods to provide between adjacent tie rods and between adjacent screen bars an open screen area which gradually widens toward a longitudinal center plane intermediate said tie rods to achieve a side-to-center flow of fluent material reducing wedging of solids in the open area of said separator as fluid is withdrawn by induced wall attachment from the bar surfaces.

Claim 13

In a screen type separator presenting a screen surface inclined to the horizontal and over which a fluent material is caused to flow from a raised to a lower end with fluid portions of the fluent material separating by escape through the screen surface, transversely disposing screen bars forming said screen surface and longitudinally spaced apart to define lateral open screen area therebetween, said screen bars including portions curving downwardly in the sense of flow, and tie rods of longitudinal extent laterally spaced apart and interconnecting said screen bars to define the longitudinal spacing thereof, said screen bars having a continuous non-uniform curvature of at least portions of following edge portions thereof between adjacent tie rods to provide between adjacent tie rods and between adjacent screen bars an open screen area which gradually widens toward a longitudinal center plane intermediate said tie rods to achieve a side-to-center flow of fluent material reducing wedging of solids in the open area of said separator as fluid is withdrawn by induced wall attachment from the bar surfaces.

Claim 14

A screen type separator according to claim 8, wherein there is at least a pair of said laterally spaced apart longitudinally extending tie rods interconnecting said screen bars, each screen bar between adjacent tie rods being continuously projected to an arc-like configuration forming a curved portion terminating in an apex portion positioning centrally of said tie rods, adjacent scrEen bars positioning to nest curved portions thereof and to define therebetween a lateral open area which gradually expands from said tie rods to said apex portions.

Claim 15

In a screen type separator presenting a screen surface inclined to the horizontal and over which a fluent material is caused to flow from a raised to a lower end with fluid portions of the fluent material separating by escape through the screen surface, transversely disposing screen bars forming said screen surface and longitudinally spaced apart to define lateral open screen area therebetween, and at least a pair of laterally spaced apart longitudinally extending tie rods interconnecting said screen bars, at least a portion of adjacent screen bars being so relatively positioned and so configured as to define therebetween a slot-like opening projected in the sense of flow to an arcuate configuration terminating in an apex substantially centrally positioned between said tie rods, said slot-like opening gradually widening from said tie rods to said apex.

Claim 16

In a screen type separator presenting a screen surface inclined to the horizontal and over which a fluent material is caused to flow from a raised to a lower end with fluid portions of the fluent material separating by escape through the screen surface, transversely disposing screen bars forming said screen surface and longitudinally spaced apart to define lateral open screen area therebetween, and at least a pair of laterally spaced apart longitudinally extending tie rods interconnecting said screen bars, at least a portion of adjacent screen bars being so relatively positioned and so configured as to define therebetween a slot-like opening projected in the sense of flow to an arcuate configuration terminating in an apex substantially centrally positioned between said tie rods, said slot-like opening gradually widening from said tie rods to said apex.