Rock separator

Claim 2

A rock separator comprising: a rigid frame; a first set of parallel interconnected sorting arms; a second set of parallel, interconnected sorting arms, the sorting arms in said first set being positioned in alternating spaced relationship with the sorting arms in said second set; means for supporting said first and second sets of sorting arms on said frame; a shock absorbing support table mounted on said frame, said support table having a mounting surface fixedly secured to said frame and a shock isolation surface resiliently supported by said mounting surface; and powered means for imparting a random-like reciprocating motion to first and second drive rods connected to said first and second sets of sorting arms respectively, said powered means being mounted on said isolation surface such that the shock imparted to said frame by said arms is substantially isolated from said powered means.

Claim 3

The rock separator of claim 1 further including: a first beam interconnecting one end of said first set of sorting arms; a second beam interconnecting one end of said second set of sorting arms; a first pair of springs pivotally secured to said frame at one end and affixed to said first beam at the other; a second pair of springs pivotally secured to said frame at one end and afixed to said second beam at the other end; and a plurality of springs, each of said springs extending between said frame and one of said sorting arms.

Claim 4

The rock separator of claim 2 wherein said powered means includes a rotating power source mounted on said shock isolation surface and driving a crankshaft having first and second lobes, and wherein one end of said first drive rod is connected to said first lobe and the other end is pivotally connected to said first beam, and one end of said second drive rod is connected to said second lobe, and the other end is pivotally connected to said second beam.

Claim 5

A rock separator comprising: a first set of parallel sorting arms having one of their ends interconnected through a first beam; a second set of parallel sorting arms having one of their ends interconnected through a second beam, the sorting arms in said first set being positioned in alternating spaced relationship with sorting arms in said second set; a frame; a crankshaft having first and second lobes, said crankshaft being driven by a source of rotating power; means connected to said arms at a point longitudinally spaced from said beams for supporting said arms on said frame; first and second links having one of their ends pivotally connected to a common point on said frame and their opposite ends connected, respectively, to said first and second beams, said first beam being spaced closer to said crankshaft than said second beam; a first drive rod having one end pivotally connected to said first link and the opposite end engaging the first lobe of said crankshaft; and a second drive rod having one end pivotally connected to said second link and the opposite end engaging the second lobe of said crankshaft, said second drive rod being longer than the said first drive rod.

Claim 6

A rock separator comprising: a first set of parallel sorting arms having one of their ends interconnected through a first beam; a second set of parallel sorting arms having one of their ends interconnected through a second beam, the sorting arms in said first set being positioned in alternating spaced relationship with sorting arms in said second set; a frame; a crankshaft having first and second lobes, said crankshaft being driven by a source of rotating power; means connected to said arms at a point longitudinally spaced from said beams for supporting said arms on said frame; first and second links having one of their ends pivotally connected to a common point on said frame and their opposite ends connected, respectively, to said first and second beams, said first beam being spaced closer to said crankshaft than said second beam; a first drive rod having one end pivotally connected to said first link and the opposite end engaging the first lobe of said crankshaft; and a second drive rod having one end pivotally connected to said second link and the opposite end engaging the second lobe of said crankshaft, said second drive rod being longer than the said first drive rod.

Claim 7

The rock separator of claim 4, wherein said links are resilient such that the length of said link is a function of the force imparted to said links in a longitudinal direction, and said crankshaft and powered means are mounted on a shock isolation surface which is resiliently supported by a mounting surface fixedly secured to said frame thereby isolating said power means and crankshaft from said frame.