US4253952A — Weed screen and trash eliminator

Claim 1

Independent Claim 264 words

A weed screen and trash eliminator for use in irrigation canal systems, comprising: a rigid open frame having longitudinal sides extending from a front end of the frame that is adapted to abut a weir or other water delivery structure to a rear end of the frame that is adapted to be located downstream from its front end; a longitudinal stationary screen extending transversely between the sides of the open frame and including a planar upper screen surface having a front transverse edge and a rear transverse edge; movable endless conveyor means mounted along the sides of the frame, said conveyor means including working flights spanning the length of the screen and arranged parallel to the planar upper screen surface; transverse bristle brush means fixed across the conveyor means for engagement against the upper screen surface as the brush means is carried along the working flights of said conveyor means; motive means mounted on said framework and operably connected to said conveyor means for imparting motion to said conveyor means for imparting motion to said conveyor means in a direction such that the brush means fixed thereto is swept along the upper screen surface from its front edge to its rear edge; means on the frame for directing incoming water from the weir or other water delivery structure onto the planar upper screen surface; and an elevationally recessed catch pan fixed across the frame immediately adjacent the rear edge of the screen, said catch pan having solid walls adapted to retain material swept from the rear edge of the screen by said brush means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 264 words

A weed screen and trash eliminator for use in irrigation canal systems, comprising: a rigid open frame having longitudinal sides extending from a front end of the frame that is adapted to abut a weir or other water delivery structure to a rear end of the frame that is adapted to be located downstream from its front end; a longitudinal stationary screen extending transversely between the sides of the open frame and including a planar upper screen surface having a front transverse edge and a rear transverse edge; movable endless conveyor means mounted along the sides of the frame, said conveyor means including working flights spanning the length of the screen and arranged parallel to the planar upper screen surface; transverse bristle brush means fixed across the conveyor means for engagement against the upper screen surface as the brush means is carried along the working flights of said conveyor means; motive means mounted on said framework and operably connected to said conveyor means for imparting motion to said conveyor means for imparting motion to said conveyor means in a direction such that the brush means fixed thereto is swept along the upper screen surface from its front edge to its rear edge; means on the frame for directing incoming water from the weir or other water delivery structure onto the planar upper screen surface; and an elevationally recessed catch pan fixed across the frame immediately adjacent the rear edge of the screen, said catch pan having solid walls adapted to retain material swept from the rear edge of the screen by said brush means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 98 words

An apparatus as set out in claim 1 wherein said endless conveyor means comprises: a pair of endless chains each entrained about the front and rear sprockets along the respective longitudinal sides of the frame; a front transverse shaft rotatably mounted to said frame about a first transverse axis and having the front sprockets fixed thereto; a rear transverse shaft rotatably mounted to said frame about a second transverse axis and having the rear sprockets fixed thereto; and brackets fixed to each chain at transversely aligned positions, said brackets being secured to opposite ends of the brush means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 252 words

A weed screen and trash eliminator for use in irrigation canal systems, comprising: a rigid frame having a pair of transversely spaced parallel side members; a planar screen fixed across the side members and having an open upper surface extending longitudinally between a front screen edge and a rear screen edge; a solid trough fixed across the side members, said trough extending forward from the front screen edge and adapted to direct all incoming water received thereon to the upper surface of the screen; a catch pan fixed across the side members, said catch pan extending rearwardly from the rear screen edge and being elevationally recessed below the screen, said catch pan being adapted to receive materials swept rearwardly from the upper surface of the screen; a pair of endless chain conveyors movably mounted along the respective side members, each chain conveyor presenting a working flight spanning the length of the screen, the working flights being arranged substantially parallel to the screen; a transverse bristle brush mounted at opposite ends to the endless conveyors, said brush resting in sweeping engagement against the upper surface of the screen along the working flights of the conveyors; and motive means on said frame operatively connected to said endless means operatively connected to said endless conveyors for powering the conveyors in a direction such that the brush sweeps over the upper surface of the screen from its front edge to its rear edge as the brush is moved along the working flights of the endless conveyors.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 252 words

A weed screen and trash eliminator for use in irrigation canal systems, comprising: a rigid frame having a pair of transversely spaced parallel side members; a planar screen fixed across the side members and having an open upper surface extending longitudinally between a front screen edge and a rear screen edge; a solid trough fixed across the side members, said trough extending forward from the front screen edge and adapted to direct all incoming water received thereon to the upper surface of the screen; a catch pan fixed across the side members, said catch pan extending rearwardly from the rear screen edge and being elevationally recessed below the screen, said catch pan being adapted to receive materials swept rearwardly from the upper surface of the screen; a pair of endless chain conveyors movably mounted along the respective side members, each chain conveyor presenting a working flight spanning the length of the screen, the working flights being arranged substantially parallel to the screen; a transverse bristle brush mounted at opposite ends to the endless conveyors, said brush resting in sweeping engagement against the upper surface of the screen along the working flights of the conveyors; and motive means on said frame operatively connected to said endless means operatively connected to said endless conveyors for powering the conveyors in a direction such that the brush sweeps over the upper surface of the screen from its front edge to its rear edge as the brush is moved along the working flights of the endless conveyors.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 48 words

An apparatus as set out in claim 3 further comprising: support means fixed to the side members of the frame for mounting the frame within an irrigation ditch in an orientation such that the screen is inclined upwardly from its front screen edge to its rear screen edge.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1984-03-02	1984-09-01	1985-03-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1988-03-02	1988-09-01	1989-03-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1992-03-02	1992-09-01	1993-03-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Weed screen and trash eliminator

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