AU741062B2

AU741062B2 - Support spacer for ore screening panels

Info

Publication number: AU741062B2
Application number: AU34999/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jeff Zubovich
Original assignee: Screenex Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Sandvik Rock Processing Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1998-06-12
Filing date: 1999-06-11
Publication date: 2001-11-22
Anticipated expiration: 2019-06-11
Also published as: AU3499999A

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: /99 r Lodgement Date: 1 1 th -June- 1999 Applicant Richrd Pcfc L[AC N 004 067 243] Invention Title: Support Spacer for Ore Screening Panels The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to the applicant.

Support Spacer for Ore Screening Panels Field of the invention This invention relates to improvements in ore screening panels used in the separation and grading of materials in the mining and quarrying industries and in particular is concerned with support spacers for vertically spacing such panels.

Background to the invention Screening panels of the kind described in Australian patents 482212 [headed spigot fastening] and 517319 [pin fastening] are fitted to vibrating screening •machines and usually they are fitted to steel frames that are adapted to support and secure the panels. Patent 601052 discloses a compact arrangement of mounting one set of screening panels on a lower set. This is achieved by providing 5is an integral spacer element along one edge of each lower panel. Double screen decks of this kind have been well accepted. However in use a number of shortcomings have become apparent. The spacers being integral with the panels limits the choice of panel orientations available. Having an integral spacer meant that the pin fastening arrangement as disclosed in 517319 could only be used on the top deck. Inventory requirements are more difficult to manage because two types of panel are required. The cost of the spacer panels is higher because of the additional material needed. Also the width of the spacer impinged on the available open area of the screening surface. Another disadvantage of the spacers is that the sockets in the spacers which accommodate the fastening spigots of the panels accumulate fines and become blinded.

It is an object of this invention to overcome these problems.

Brief Description of the Invention To this end the present invention provides a screening apparatus which includes a) at least two screening decks and one support frame for all the decks b) each screening deck being composed of a plurality of modular rectangular screening panels c) each screening panel including an apertured screening surface bounded by four edges of the panel (ii) at least two integral, dependent, fastening spigots on the underside of at least two edges (iii) the dependent fastening spigots optionally including a groove to accommodate a pin d) spacers between each pair of screening decks, each spacer including at its lower end at least one pin adapted to fit into the grooves of said fastening spigots of the modular panels and at its upper end at least one socket axially aligned with said pin and adapted to receive said fastening spigots of said modular panels e) said sockets incorporating drainage outlets to prevent the accumulation of screening fines.

oo The utilization of separate, non integral fasteners means that only one type of panel is essential, namely those using a pin fastening system of the kind described in patent 517319. It is possible to use a spigot type fastening system for the top deck. Although the inventory will also require spacers these are less expensive than panels. By using non integral spacers problems with orientation of the panels is avoided. Blinding of the sockets is avoided by the provision of drainage holes.

oleo The axial alignment of the fastening pins and the sockets means that the panel retention forces for all the screen decks act along the same axes.

When more than one socket and pin combination is used the spacer will take the form of a bar and it is preferred that the thickness of the bar is less in the regions between the sockets. Where only one socket and pin is used the spacer will be generally cylindrical with a maximum diameter equaling the external diameter of the socket. These arrangements mean that the amount of material used to form the spacers is reduced compared to the prior art.

The spacers are preferably formed from the same material as the panels, namely, polyurethane. If deemed necessary the bars may be reinforced to ensure that the spacers can withstand the forces during operation of the vibratory screening machines.

Detailed Description of the Invention Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded end view of the spacers of this invention shown with the modular screening panels to form two screening decks; Figures 2A and 2B are an end view and a plan view respectively of a single pin spacer; Figures 3A and 3B are an end view and a plan view respectively of a double pin spacer; Figures 4A and 4B are an end view and a plan view respectively of a triple pin spacer.

The system as shown in figure 1 shows a number of screening panels mounted on the steel frame 9 within a screening machine. These panels comprise the bottom deck while the panels 10OB comprise the upper deck. Each 1 5 screening panel 10A or 10OB has an apertured screening surface 12A or 12B extending toward the edge margins. The screening panels 1 0A will be of the same general type as disclosed in patent 517319 in that they will have grooved fastening spigots 11A which are secured into position by the use of a pin. The panels 10Bmay be the same as panels 1 OA or may be of the type disclosed in patent 482212 wherein the spigots 11B rely on their oversize to resist removal and in which case no pins would be required. The apertures in the surface 12B will be equal to or larger than the apertures in surface 12A. Any aperture design may be used for the surfaces 12A and 12B.

The two decks A and B are separated and secured together by spacers 21. The spacers 21 shown in more detail in figures 2A and 2B have fastening pins 24 mounted on their underside which are a matching fit into the grooved bore formed by the abutment of two spigots 11A of two abutting panels 10 A. Axially aligned with the pin 24 is the spacer socket 25 which has an opening 26 in the top of spacer 21.

The opening 26 is of a slightly smaller diameter that the diameter of the socket to form a retaining lip 27 about the opening 26. This retaining lip helps to retain the spigots 11 B within socket 25. The diameter of the socket is larger than the diameter of two abutting spigots 11 B while the diameter of the opening 26 is the same or slightly smaller than the diameter of two abutting spigotsl B. Drainage holes 28 are provided in the bottom of socket 25 to allow accumulated fines to be washed out during screening operations. Two drainage holes 28 on opposite sides of the spacer 21 are usually sufficient for this purpose.

The single pin spacer as illustrated in figures2A and 2B is preferably used in lighter applications. The diameter of the spacer 21 is the same as the external diameter of the socket25. The diameter of the pin 24 is related to the bore formed by the grooves in the spigots 11A and is larger than that bore but smaller than the diameter of the retaining hole 8 in the frame 9. Preferably the diameter of the pin24 on spacer 21 is the same as that of the pin 13 used with pin fastened panels 10 B.

Similarly the diameter of the frame hole 8 is the same as that for opening 26.

In figures 3A and 3B a two pin spacer 31 is illustrated. Spacer 31 consists of two sockets 35 each axially aligned with two pins 34. The sockets35 are contained within septagonal pillars 33 which are linked by a web or bar 32 of smaller thickness than the external diameter of the pillars 33. It is not essential that the S 15 thickness of the web be less, but in most cases there is no structural reason for the web 32 to be as thick as the diameter of the pillars 33. The diameter of the sockets and pins will be the same as for the single pin spacer 21. The two pin spacer 31 is used with panels 10A and 10OB that have two spigotsl 1.

Again the sockets have an opening 36 and a retaining lip 37 the same as for spacer 21. A pair of drainage holes 38, extending at right angles from the plane of web 32, are provided at the base of the socket .:.OiI Figures 4A and 4B illustrate a three pin spacer 41 to be used with panels 10A and OB that have 3 spigots 11. As with the two pin spacer 31 the sockets 45 are contained within pillars 43 which are linked by webs 42. The end pillars 43 are septagonal while the central pillar 43 is octagonal. Any suitable external shape can be used for the pillars 33 and 43. The pins 44 are the same as the pins 24 and 34 of the earlier embodiments. Similarly each socket 45 has an opening 46, a retaining lip 47 and a drainage outlet 48 equivalent to those in the two pin spacer 31.

The spacers 31 and 41 are best used in more robust applications. They are used in screening arrangements having more than two decks. When more than two decks are used the panels in each of the lower decks must be of the pin fastening type to receive the pins 34 or 44 of the spacers 31 or 41, but the top deck can be either pin fastened or spigot fastened.

The number of pins and sockets in each spacer can be more than 3 if required.

The number of spigots on the panels 10A and 1 OB determine the number of pins and sockets required.

It is conceivable that three-spigot panels could be used on one deck and twospigot panels on the other deck. In that case the number of pins and spigots on the spacer would be different and at least one pin or socket would not be aligned with an associated pin or socket.

Compared to the spacer arrangement disclosed in patent 601052 the present invention has the following advantages: better cost control as only conventional screening panels are required cheaper production costs because less material is required fewer maintenance problems because fines don't accumulate in the sockets less intrusion on the open area of the screening surface because of the S:absence of webs between the spacers 21 or the reduced web thickness in spacers 31 and 41.

From the above it can be seen that the present invention provides an

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advantageous spacer design for use in multiple screen decks.

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Claims

1. A screening apparatus which includes a) at least two screening decks and one support frame for all the decks b) each screening deck being composed of a plurality of modular rectangular screening panels c) each screening panel including i) an apertured screening surface bounded by four edges of the panel ii) at least two integral, dependent, fastening spigots on the underside of at least two edges iii) the dependent fastening spigots including, at least for the panels on the lower decks, a groove to accommodate a pin d) spacers between each pair of screening decks, each spacer including at its lower end at least one pin adapted to fit into the grooves of said fastening 15 spigots of the modular panels and at its upper end at least one socket axially aligned with said pin and adapted to receive said fastening spigots of said modular panels e) said sockets incorporating drainage outlets to prevent the accumulation of screening fines.

2. A screening apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which for each screening panel il in the decks below the top deck there are provided two spacers for opposing edges of the panel and each spacer has at least two pins on the lower edge and two sockets each axially aligned with said pins said sockets being joined by a web to form an integral spacer.

3. A Spacer adapted for use in screening apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each spacer includes at its lower end at least one pin adapted to fit into the grooves of said fastening spigots of the modular panels and at its upper end at least one socket axially aligned with said pin and adapted to receive said fastening spigots of said modular panels and said sockets incorporating drainage outlets to prevent the accumulation of screening fines.

4. A spacer as claimed in claim 3 which has at least two sockets joined by a web and pins axially aligned with said sockets depend from the socket body below said web.

5. A spacer as claimed in claim 4 wherein the web is of a thickness less than the external diameter of said sockets. Richardson Pacific Limited 0 0 0 0