Pressurized screen

Claim 2

In a screening assembly including an outer casing, a cover extending across said casing, a cylindrical screen disposed within said casing with an outer surface of said screen spaced from an inner surface of said housing, a floor extending between said casing and said screen and defining therewith an annular chamber, an inlet for feeding a suspension of solids and liquid into said annular chamber, an accepts outlet communicating with the interior of said cylindrical screen for withdrawing accepts which pass through said screen, and a rejects outlet for removing rejects which do not pass through said screen, the improvement comprising: a partition mounted in said chamber intermediate said inner and outer surfaces of said casing and said screen, respectively, said partition extending upwardly from said floor partially about less than the full circumference of said screen from a position opposite said inlet to prevent direct flow from said inlet to said screen, and a baffle interposed between said inlet and rejects outlet for preventing direct flow from said inlet to said rejects outlet.

Claim 3

The assembly of claim 1 wherein: axes of said casing and said screen are offset with respect to each other to define an enlargement in said annular chamber.

Claim 4

The assembly of claim 2 wherein: said partition extends substantially parallel to said axes.

Claim 5

The assembly of claim 3 wherein: said baffle extends between said partition and an opposite surface of said screen and slopes helically about said screen from adjacent said inlet to a point above said rejects outlet and defines with said screen, partition and floor a passage decreasing in area from adjacent said inlet to said rejects outlet.

Claim 6

The assembly of claim 4 wherein: said inlet and said rejects outlet are substantially diametrically opposed with respect to each other.

Claim 7

The assembly of claim 5 wherein: said partition decreases in height from adjacent said inlet to adjacent said rejects outlet.

Claim 8

The assembly of claim 1 wherein: said inlet and said rejects outlet are substantially diametrically opposed with respect to each other.

Claim 9

The assembly of claim 1 wherein: said partition decreases in height from a maximum height adjacent said inlet to a minimum height adjacent said rejects outlet.

Claim 10

The assembly of claim 1 wherein: said means interposed between said inlet and rejects outlet extends substantially co-extensively with said partition about said screen.

Claim 11

The assembly of claim 1 wherein: said baffle extends between said partition and an opposite surface of said screen and slopes helically about said screen from said inlet to a point above said rejects outlet and defines with said screen, partition and floor a passage decreasing in area from said inlet to said rejects outlet.

Claim 12

The assembly of claim 10 further comprising: means for introducing a dilution liquid through said floor into said passage.

Claim 13

The assembly of claim 10 further comprising: means for introducing purging liquid into said passage immediately upstream of said rejects outlet to assist in the removal of rejects therethrough.

Claim 14

In a screening assembly including a cylindrical outer casing, a cover extending across said casing, a cylindrical screen disposed within said casing with an outer surface of said screen spaced from an inner surface of said casing, a floor extending between said casing and screen and defining with said casing, cover and screen an annular chamber, an inlet through said casing for feeding a suspension of solids and liquid into said annular chamber, an accepts outlet for withdrawing accepts which pass through said screen, and a rejects outlet for removing material which does not pass through said screen, the improvement comprising: said inlet and rejects outlet are substantially diametrically opposed with respect to each other about said casing, axes of said casing and said screen are offset with respect to each other to provide an enlargement in said annular chamber between said inlet and rejects outlet, a partition is mounted in said enlargement extending in parallel relationship to said axes of said casing and said screen intermediate said inner and outer surfaces thereof, one end of said partition is disposed opposite said inlet to prevent direct flow from said inlet to said screen, said partition decreases in height from a maximum at one end thereof, a helical baffle extends co-extensively with said partition between said partition and an opposite surface of said screen from adjacent said inlet to a point above said rejects outlet and defines with said screen, partition and floor a passage decreasing in area from said inlet to said rejects outlet, means is provided for introducing dilution liquid through said floor into said passage intermediate said inlet and rejects outlet, and means is provided for introducing purging liquid through said casing into said passage immediately upstream of said rejects outlet to assist in the removal of rejects therethrough.

Claim 15

In a screening assembly including a cylindrical outer casing, a cover extending across said casing, a cylindrical screen disposed within said casing with an outer surface of said screen spaced from an inner surface of said casing, a floor extending between said casing and screen and defining with said casing, cover and screen an annular chamber, an inlet through said casing for feeding a suspension of solids and liquid into said annular chamber, an accepts outlet for withdrawing accepts which pass through said screen, and a rejects outlet for removing material which does not pass through said screen, the improvement comprising: said inlet and rejects outlet are substantially diametrically opposed with respect to each other about said casing, axes of said casing and said screen are offset with respect to each other to provide an enlargement in said annular chamber between said inlet and rejects outlet, a partition is mounted in said enlargement extending in parallel relationship to said axes of said casing and said screen intermediate said inner and outer surfaces thereof, one end of said partition is disposed opposite said inlet to prevent direct flow from said inlet to said screen, said partition decreases in height from a maximum at one end thereof, a helical baffle extends co-extensively with said partition between said partition and an opposite surface of said screen from adjacent said inlet to a point above said rejects outlet and defines with said screen, partition and floor a passage decreasing in area from said inlet to said rejects outlet, means is provided for introducing dilution liquid through said floor into said passage intermediate said inlet and rejects outlet, and means is provided for introducing purging liquid through said casing into said passage immediately upstream of said rejects outlet to assist in the removal of rejects therethrough.