Vibrating screen deck support framework system

Claim 1

A support tray as a modular unit of a multiple pieced interconnected deck support framework system for use in a vibrating screen which has a feed end to discharge end flow of materials being sorted or conveyed, said support tray having a perimeter framework of predetermined dimensions comprising: (a) two side framework members being opposed and elongated and of substantially equal length including square cut side angle (48) or square cut side channel (60), having a predetermined cross sectional shape and predetermined dimensions, said two side framework members so oriented to each have a feed end portion and a discharge end portion, and essentially oriented to each have respective longitudinal axes oriented so as to substantially share a common plane and to be essentially parallel to each other and to be essentially parallel with said flow of materials to be sorted in said vibrating screen, and (b) an elongated feed end cross framework member including square cut cross angle (50) or notched end angle (62), having end portions attached to said feed end portions of said two side framework members and having a first longitudinal axis both oriented in a plane essentially perpendicular to said flow of materials and a second longitudinal axis oriented in a plane essentially parallel to said flow of materials, said elongated feed end cross framework member having a cross sectional shape essentially angular in profile thus having two common leg portions oriented such that a square cut cross angle upper leg (50U) or notched end angle upper leg (62U) is oriented to point in an essentially upward direction and also essentially perpendicular to said flow of materials, and a square cut cross angle lower leg (50L) or notched end angle lower leg (62L) is oriented essentially parallel with said flow of materials, and (c) an elongated discharge end cross framework member including square cut flat stock (52) or curved top flat stock (52C) having end portions attached to said discharge end portions of said two side framework members and having a longitudinal axis oriented both in a plane essentially perpendicular to said flow of materials and in a plane essentially parallel with said flow of materials, said elongated discharge end cross framework member having a cross section essentially rectangular in profile, said cross section oriented such that a square cut flat stock short side (52S) or curved top flat stock short side (52CS) are oriented essentially parallel with said flow of materials and a square cut flat stock long side (52L) or curved top flat stock long side (52CL) is oriented essentially perpendicular to said flow of materials, and said support tray further including an elongated at least one plain end support bar (46), each support bar having a longitudinal axis oriented essentially parallel with said flow of materials, having feed end portions attached to said feed end cross framework member including square cut cross angle (50) or notched end angle (62), and having discharge end portions attached to said discharge end cross framework member including square cut flat stock (52) or curved top flat stock (52C), and said support tray further including an elongated curved support member comprising wide seal strip support bar (44) or seal strip support (30) having predetermined dimensions and having two end portions thereof, each end portion of which is attached essentially to each of the two respective discharge end portions of said two side framework members including square cut side angle (48) or square cut side channel (60), said elongated curved support member oriented essentially above and/or essentially adjacent to said elongated plain end support bar (46), said elongated curved support member being also located essentially adjacent to and/or essentially above said elongated discharge end cross framework member including square cut flat stock (52) or curved top flat stock (52C), said elongated curved support member being oriented essentially higher in elevation in central portions thereof than said two end portions, and is thus essentially curved in an arc generally higher at said central portions, said elongated curved support member having an essentially rectangular cross sectional profile, said cross sectional profile oriented such that a seal strip support short side (30S) or a wide seal strip support bar short side (44S) is oriented essentially perpendicular to said flow of materials and seal strip support long side (30L) or a wide seal strip support bar long side (44L) is oriented essentially parallel with said flow of materials, further enabling said elongated curved support member to additionally be used to support edge portions of screening media as needed, and said support tray further including a fastening means for attachment of said two side framework members to vibrating screen side-walls for attaching said support trays to said vibrating screen, and also including a fastening means for attachment of said elongated feed end cross framework member to join with said elongated discharge end cross framework member for attachment of adjacent support trays to each other, whereby a support tray having increased strength, flow, and wear characteristics and can be more easily manufactured and used in service.