Field of the Invention This invention relates to devices for separating particles of different sizes in a supply of particulate material and more particularly, to a vibratory particle separating apparatus for separating a supply of particulate material such as wood chips, shredded tire particles, steel turnings, chopped or ground paper and the like, into at least two streams according to particle size.

Background of the Invention Many devices are known for separating particles according to size in a stream of particulate material containing wood waste, shredded tires and the like. For example, in the separation of particles in a wood waste stream, these devices are used to separate the "fines", or particles smaller than a desired size, from the "overs", or particles larger than the desired size. The "fines" are typically removed from the stream in order to reduce wear on downstream equipment which processes or sizes the larger particles, as well as to facilitate alternative processing of the material, such as drying, grit removal or by-pass of redundant sizing.

Most particle separating devices utilize a screen or screens having an arrangement of openings, through which the "fines" may pass but the "overs" may not. After falling through the openings, the "fines" are collected or discharged for further processing in one stream, whereas the "overs" are collected or discharged from the end of the screen or screens in a separate stream. In some instances, some of the openings have a tendency to "blind" or become plugged with particles having a size between chat of the "fines" and that of the "overs". The new and improved design of this invention minimizes "blinding" of the openings by selecting the size, shape and orientation of the openings in the vertical and horizontal surfaces of the particle separating screen steps, such that particles having a tendency to plug the openings are either vibrated out of the openings or pushed out of the openings by

the oncoming stream of material and continue sliding down to the foot of the screen. Use of an opening-free landing of selected size, above or in selected screen steps, to pre-orient the material to be screened, along with adjustment of the angle of contact between the horizontal and vertical step components, further optimizes the separation procedure.

Many devices are known in the art for separating particles in a mixture of particulate material according to particle size, weight or other characteristics. U.S. Patent No. 4,624,370, dated November 25, 1986, to Gary A. Danner, describes a "Vibratory Separation Apparatus" having upper and lower conveying surfaces separated by an opening. A mixture of particulate material is conveyed by a vibrating action beyond the upper conveying surface and through the opening. A stream of air is directed from below the upper conveying surface against the falling particles and propels particles having a predetermined density or dimension onto the lower conveying surface.

U.S. Patent No. 4,802,591, dated February 7, 1989, to William E. Lower, et al, discloses a "Louvered Chip Screener" for separating chip-shaped particles according to thickness. The screener is characterized by a sloping deck having a series of spaced, flexible slats which extend parallel to the direction of chip flow. The deck is subjected to a horizontal gyratory motion, such that particles smaller than a selected size fall between the slats and are collected or discharged in one stream, whereas larger particles slide down the slats and are collected or discharged at the foot of the deck.

A "Vibratory Separation Apparatus" is detailed in U.S. Patent No. 4,844,235, dated July 4,

1989, to Raymond W. Sherman, in which apparatus a resilient liner is provided on the particle supporting surfaces of a vibratory conveyor system. The liner provides a surface which prevents the particles from adhering to each other and to the conveying surface and is particularly effective when used in particle separating systems.

U.S. Patent No. 5,108,589, dated April 28, 1992, to Raymond W. Sherman, discloses a "Material Separating Apparatus" for separating particles of different sizes. The apparatus includes a trough having a material input end, a material discharge end and a screen having multiple, longitudinally-spaced finger screen sections that extends over the trough. As the trough is vibrated, particles smaller than a preselected size pass through the fingers, whereas larger particles move from the input end to the discharge end of the trough.

A "Vibrating Conveyor Screening Method and Apparatus" for screening fine particles from a stream of particulate material, is detailed in U.S. Patent No. 5,368,167, dated November 29, 1994, to Glen E. Howes. The apparatus is characterized by first and second sets of transversely-spaced, longitudinally-extending members disposed parallel to each other. At least one of the sets is mounted to vibrate along a longitudinal axis to feed material therealong. Multiple, spaced, transversely-extending third members are located between the first and second members, defining multiple screen openings between the first, second and third members. As the particulate material is passed over the apparatus, the fine particles fall through the screen openings, whereas larger particles are discharged from the end of the apparatus.

A "Screen Assembly For Vibrating Screening Machine" is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,417,858, dated May 23, 1995, to William W. Derrick, et al. The screen assembly is characterized by a plate having spaced apertures and channels formed in the sides for attachment to a vibratory screening machine. Spaced frame members are provided on opposite sides of the plate and an undulating screen is mounted between the frame members above the plate. The screen includes substantially parallel ridges with downwardly-sloping sides and troughs formed between the sides for conducting the material.

To date, none of the known vibratory particle separating apparatuses have suggested the various advantageous features of the present invention, whereby the screening surface is sloped, has plural steps, can vibrate in an elliptical and/or translational manner, is mounted in a floating frame seated in a fixed support and/or includes multiple openings of selected size, shape and spacing included in the vertical and horizontal components of the steps.

Objects of the Invention

An object of this invention is to provide a vibratory particle separating apparatus having multiple steps disposed in selected pitch and step openings arranged in a selected size and shape for separating particulate material according to particle size.

Another object of this invention is to provide a vibratory particle separating apparatus characterized by at least one sloped particle separating screening surface which vibrates in an elliptical and translational path responsive to operation of a vibratory motor and receives a supply of particulate material to be screened, wherein the material cascades down the vibrating screening surface and particles smaller than a selected size fall through spaced openings of selected shape and size provided in

the vertical and horizontal components of the screening surface and the particles are collected or discharged below the screening surface. Particles larger than the selected size are collected or discharged for further processing at the foot of the screening surface.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a vibratory particle separating apparatus for receiving and separating a supply of particulate material into two streams according to particle size. The apparatus is characterized by a vibrating particle separating screening surface or surfaces mounted in a floating frame seated in a fixed support, the screening surface(s) disposed in a selectively sloped configuration or pitch and shaped to define a top landing of selected size and a series of perpendicular or acute angle steps from the landing of the screening surface(s) to the foot of the screening surfac ). Particles of selected size thus fall through one of multiple openings of selected size, shape and spacing in the vertical and horizontal components of the steps and are collected or discharged in one stream and particles larger than the selected size cascade to the bottom end or foot of the screening surface and are collected or discharged in a separate stream, responsive to vibration from a vibratory motor mounted on the floating frame.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a vibratory particle separating apparatus characterized by one or more stacked, sloped vibrating particle separating screening surfaces, each having an opening-free landing of selected size and including multiple, perpendicular or acutely angled steps formed therein and multiple openings of selected size, shape and spacing included in the vertical and horizontal components of the steps, wherein screened particles having a tendency to plug or "blind" the openings are either pre-oriented to slide over the openings, vibrated out of the openings or pushed out of the openings by the oncoming stream of material.

Summary of the Invention

These and other objects of the invention are provided in a vibratory particle separating apparatus for separating a stream of particulate material into at least two streams according to particle size. The apparatus includes a selectively inclined, sloped or pitched particle separating screening surface or surfaces which may be bolted together and/or stacked and mounted in a floating frame. Multiple, selectively angled steps are shaped in the screening surface(s), with a series of adjacent openings of selected size, shape and spacing common to the horizontal and vertical components of each step. The floating frame is resiliently mounted in a support frame of selected design by means of resilient rubber, plastic or alternative float mounts and the floating frame mounts a vibratory motor for vibrating the particle separating screening surface or surfaces, typically ranging from an elliptical

motion at the top to a back-and-forth translational motion at the bottom. One or more auxiliary or secondary screening surfaces may be mounted in the floating frame beneath the primary particle separating screening surface for secondary screening of the first screened particulate material "fines." Two or more primary screens can also be used in the initial screening procedure by bolting screening surfaces of selected step, opening and pitch character, as desired. The particulate material to be screened is loaded on the upper end or landing of the vibrating screening surface and as the material cascades down the steps of the screening surface, particles smaller than a selected size fall through the openings and are collected or discharged in one stream or are screened by one or more secondary screening surfaces and discharged for further processing, whereas the largest particles are collected or discharged in another stream at the foot of the primary screening surface. In another embodiment the resilient float mounts can be selectively positioned parallel to the axis of vibration at the top rear of the floating frame and perpendicular to the axis of vibration at the bottom front of the floating frame, to optimize a preferred elliptical-to-translational vibratory motion of the primary and/or the secondary screening surfaces for optimum separation of the material. In still another embodiment a step or steps on the top inclined end of the screening surface are "blinded" to define a landing of selected size, such that sticks or other elongated particles loaded on the screen are preoriented and therefore not prone to fall or "dive" through the step openings and mix with the smaller particles being separated from the material, but instead, lie flat and slide across the openings, down to the foot of the screening surface.

In one embodiment the apparatus is characterized by one or more particle separating screens or screening surfaces, including multiple perpendicular or angled steps positioned substantially perpendicular to the path of material flow and mounted in a selectively sloped or pitched configuration in a floating frame. The floating frame is suspended in a support frame, typically by resilient rubber or plastic float mounts and vibrated by a vibratory motor mounted on the floating frame to effect an elliptical and back-and-forth translational movement of the screening surface. As the supply of material to be screened is loaded on the top end or landing of the vibrating screening surface, the material is caused to cascade down the steps of the screening surface and particles smaller than a selected size fall through one of multiple, adjacent openings of selected size, shape and spacing provided in each step and are collected or discharged for further processing in a stream below the screening surface. Particles too large to fall through the openings are collected or discharged in a separate stream at the foot of the screening surface.

In another embodiment, the vibratory motion of the screening surface may be varied to optimize particle separation according to the characteristics of the material, by adjusting the angle of the float mounts with respect to the support frame and/or the type of float mounts utilized.

In still another embodiment the openings in the upper step or steps on the inclined top end or landing of the particle separating screening surface are omitted, or blinded, to more particularly define the landing, such that elongated particles such as sticks loaded on the screening surface lie flat prior to contacting the screen openings and slide down to the foot of the screening surface instead of "diving" through the openings, thus "blinding" the openings and blocking the smaller particles being separated from the material.

Yet another embodiment of the invention two or more screening surfaces can be bolted together to present screen openings of selected size, shape and spacing in both the vertical and horizontal surfaces of the steps to optimize the particle separation procedure. Moreover, the horizontal and vertical step surfaces can be disposed in 90-degree or acute angular relationship with respect to each other, according to the size and type of material to be screened. Also, one or more secondary screening surfaces, each having similar screen openings, can be positioned beneath the primary screening surface, as deemed necessary.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of a flat plate configuration of a particle separating screening surface element of the vibratory particle separating apparatus of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the particle separating screening surface illustrated in FIGURE 1, having round screen openings;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a top segment of the particle separating screening surface illustrated in FIGURE 1, with perpendicular steps shaped in the screening plate;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a typical particle separating screening surface of the vibratory particle separating apparatus for mounting in a floating frame;

FIGURE 5 is a side view of the particle separating screening surface element illustrated in FIGURE 4, with one of the screen sides removed for brevity;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of support frame and floating frame elements of the vibratory particle separating apparatus, with the floating frame ready to receive the particle separating screening surface illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5;

FIGURE 6 A is a rear end view, partially in section, of the rear end of the supporting frame and floating frame elements, illustrating a preferred mounting of the top float mounts;

FIGURE 7 is a top view of the support frame of the vibratory particle separating apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a front view of the support frame;

FIGURE 9 is a right side view of the support frame;

FIGURE 10 is a top view of a typical floating frame and vibratory motor mounted on the support frame of the vibratory particle separating apparatus;

FIGURE 11 is a front view of the floating frame and vibratory motor illustrated in FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a rear view of the floating frame and vibratory motor;

FIGURE 13 is a front view of a typical conventional cam element for use in a conventional vibrating motor and vibrating the mount frame on the support frame;

FIGURES 14-18 illustrate various screening surface pitch orientations and screen opening configurations for use in the vibratory particle separating apparatus of this invention;

FIGURE 19 is a side view or a primary and secondary, stacked screening surface system mounted in a typical floating frame seated in a support frame;

FIGURE 20 is a top view of three particle separating screening surfaces bolted together and having varying screen opening sizes;

FIGURE 21 is a perspective view, partially in section, illustrating two of the bolted particle separation screening surfaces illustrated in FIGURE 20; and

FIGURE 22 is a top view of a pair of particle separating screening surfaces bolted together and having common screen opening sizes.

Description of Particular Embodiments Referring initially to FIGURES 1-6A and 19 of the drawings, in a particular embodiment, the vibratory particle separating apparatus, hereinafter referred to as "the apparatus", of this invention is generally illustrated by reference numeral 1. The apparatus 1 includes a support frame 20, defined by a frame base 26, a frame brace 29 and supporting side panels 3. Further included is a floating frame 21, characterized by a pair of spaced side walls 22, connected by a front panel 5, a sloped motor panel 4, a bottom panel 8 and a rear panel 6, as illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 10-12. As further illustrated in FIGURES 1-5, a particle separating screening surface 10, typically constructed from a flat steel sheet (FIGURE 1), includes multiple screen steps 11, folded therein along the phantom lines in FIGURE 1 to define respective screen insteps 15 and screen knees 15 a. Each screen step 11 has a horizontal surface 12 and a vertical surface 13, as illustrated in FIGURES 3-5. A series of multiple, adjacent screen openings 14, each having a selected size and shape, are formed in adjacent screen steps 11, with each screen opening 14 formed in the horizontal surface 12 and corresponding vertical surface 13 of a common screen step 11 and optionally, in the horizontal surface 12 of the adjacently underlying screen step 11, as illustrated in FIGURE 3. As further illustrated in FIGURE 3, the screen openings 14 in one series of screen openings 14 are typically offset or staggered with respect to the screen openings 14 in an adjacent series of openings. A pair of screen sides 10a, one of which is illustrated in FIGURE 5, may be shaped in or welded to the lateral edges of the particle separating screening surface 10 and extend above and below the plane of the particle separating screening surface 10, inside the parallel side walls 22 of the floating frame 21. Alternatively, the particle separating screening surface 10 may be constructed of a flat plate or sheet, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, and mounted in the floating frame 21, between the side walls 22, without adding the screen sides 10a, as desired. As further illustrated in FIGURES 4-6, the particle separating screening surface 10 is typically secured in the floating frame 21 in a selectively pitched or sloped configuration, by means of multiple bolts (not illustrated) extending

through aligned bolt openings 16, provided in each side wall 22 of the floating frame 21 and in the screen sides 10a of the screening surface 10, and each of the bolts threadably receive a nut (not illustrated).

As illustrated in FIGURES 10-13, an electric vibratory motor 7, having one or more rotating eccentrics 27, is mounted on the outside surface of the motor panel 4 of the floating frame 21 and drives the internal or external eccentric or eccentrics 27. A first float mount clevis 19 is welded or otherwise mounted in each side wall 22 of the floating frame 21 below the front edge of the particle separating screening surface 10, for resting on a resilient flout mount 18, mounted on a corresponding second float mount clevis 19, fixed to the support frame 20, as hereinafter further described. As further illustrated in FIGURE 6A, a second pair of float mounts 18 are secured between the side walls 22 of the floating frame 21 and the side panels 3 of the support frame 20.

Referring next to FIGURES 6 and 7-9 of the drawings, the floating frame 21 and attached particle separating screening surface 10 are resiliently mounted in the support frame 20, typically characterized by a rectangular frame base 26, supporting a pair of side panels 3, extending upwardly from the frame base 26 and connected at the rear of the side panels 3 by a frame brace 29. As further illustrated in FIGURES 8 and 10-12, the float mount clevis 19, fixedly mounted in each side of the base 26 adjacent to the front end thereof, mounts the front resilient float mount 18, which is typically constructed from rubber or resilient plastic. As described above, an additional float mount 18 is interposed in like manner between each side panel 3 of the support frame 20 and the adjacent corresponding side wall 22 of the floating frame 21, as illustrated in phantom in FIGURE 6 A. The floating frame 21 is thus resiliently mounted or seated in the support frame 20, as illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 19, to accommodate rotary and translatory vibratory motion of the floating frame 21 and the particle separating screening surface 10 with respect to the support frame 20, responsive to operation of the vibratory motor 7 and the rotating eccentric 27.

In another embodiment (not illustrated), each of the float mount clevis 19 are pivotally mounted in the mount frame 2 and support frame 20, respectively. By pivoting each float mount clevis 19 and the interposed float mount 18 with respect to the plane of the particle separating screening surface 10, the vibratory motion of the particle separating screening surface 10 may be varied, as desired, to optimize screening, according to the characteristics of the material to be screened. As illustrated in FIGURES 6-9, particle deflectors 25, fitted with deflector gussets 24, may be bolted or otherwise attached to the side panels 3 of the support frame 20, to prevent particulate material separated on the particle separating screening surface 10 from falling over the sides of the support

frame 20. It will be appreciated that alternative configurations are possible for the support frame 20 and floating frame 21, as desired.

Referring now to FIGURES 14 and 14A of the drawings, the screen openings 14 provided in the particle separating screening surface 10 of the vibratory particle separating apparatus 1 are typically rectangular in configuration, with each element of the screen opening 14 shaped in the configuration of a rectangle in both the horizontal surface 12 and the corresponding vertical surface 13 of the particle separating screening surface 10. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the screen insteps 15 of each of the screen steps 11 form a 90-degree angle where each of the respective horizontal surfaces 12 join the vertical surfaces 13. Moreover, each screen knee 15a also describes a 90-degree angle where the horizontal surface 12 and vertical surfaces 13 meet, respectively.

Referring to FIGURES 15 and 15 A, the particle separating screening surface 10 includes screen steps 11 having a truncated screen knee 15a and a screen instep 15 of 90-degrees. The respective screen openings 14 are also typically rectangular.

As further illustrated in FIGURES 16 and 16A of the drawings, the particle separating screening surface 10 is characterized by multiple screen openings 14, each of which generally describe a typically rectangular opening, rounded at the ends on both the adjacent horizontal surfaces 12 and the connecting vertical surfaces 13, respectively. Both the screen insteps 15 and the screen knees 15a define an acute angle at the lines where the respective horizontal surfaces 12 and vertical surfaces 13 meet. Furthermore, additional smaller screen openings 14 are provided in the screen knees 15a, to facilitate the passage of additional "fines" from the material being screened.

Referring now to FIGURES 17 and 17A of the drawings, in yet another preferred embodiment of the invention the decline angle, or pitch of the respective screen steps 11 are much steeper than the screen steps 11 illustrated in FIGURES 14-16A and include horizontal surfaces 12 that join longer vertical surfaces 13, respectively, to effect the desired steepness, grade or pitch of the particle separating screening surface 10. The screen openings 14 are typically rectangular in configuration and extend only to each respective horizontal surface 13, with no continuity of screen openings 14 from the respective vertical surfaces 13 into the next succeeding corresponding horizontal surfaces 12.

Referring next to FIGURES 18 and 18A of the drawings, in another particular embodiment of the invention, the screen openings 14 are elongated, with curved top edges and extend through both

the horizontal surfaces 12 and the vertical surfaces 13, respectively. While the screen insteps 15 and the screen knees 15a each describe a 90-degree angle where each of the horizontal surfaces 12 join the corresponding vertical surfaces 13 in the particle separating screening surface 10, the horizontal surfaces 12 are not in a horizontal plane, nor on the vertical surfaces 13 in the vertical plane, due to the selected pitch.

Referring again to FIGURES 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, in a specific embodiment of the invention, a screen landing 9 is provided at the top end of the particle separating screening surface 10, to initially organize the particulate material flowing onto the particle separating screening surface 10 and minimize jamming of the larger particles in the respective screen openings 14, thereby blocking or "blinding" the screen openings 14 from passage of the "fines." It has been found that the screen landing 9 greatly improves the efficiency of the screening process and the screen landing 9 may extend into the top one or more screen steps 11, as illustrated in FIGURE 4 and as hereinafter further described.

Referring to FIGURE 19, a second screening surface 10 may be positioned beneath the primary top screening surface 10, constructed of bolted screen segments, for additional screening of the feed material. Both screening surfaces 10 are bolted or otherwise attached to the floating frame 21, mounted in the support frame 20 by means of the two sets of float mounts 18, as heretofore described.

Referring again to the drawings, in operation, the vibratory particle separating apparatus 1 is used for separating a supply of particulate material (not illustrated) such as dirt, bark, wood, rubber, metal, plastic and the like, into separate streams according to particle size. The vibratory motor 7 is first energized to vibrate the floating frame 2 and attached particle separating screening surface 10 by operation of the eccentric 27. The material to be screened is then fed to or poured on the particle separating screening surface 10, adjacent to the inclined top rear edge thereof, typically on the screen landing 9, if the screening surface 10 is so equipped. As the particle separating screening surface 10 vibrates with the floating frame 21 on the float mounts 18, the material thins on the screen landing 9 and cascades down the screen steps 11, toward the bottom front edge or foot of the particle separating screening surface 10. Particles smaller than the screen openings 14 (fines) fall through the screen openings 14 and are collected in a receptacle (not illustrated) or diverted by means of chutes or conveyors or the like (also not illustrated) for further processing. Particles too large to fall through the screen openings 14 (overs) cascade down the screen steps 11 to the foot of the particle separating screening surface 10 and are likewise either collected or diverted for further processing. Particles (overs) which tend to clog or "blind" the screen openings 14 are either vibrated or pushed out of the

screen openings 14 by the oncoming stream of material, and cascade down to the foot of the particle separating screening surface 10.

Referring next to FIGURE 4 of the drawings, as heretofore described, the screen openings 14 may be omitted from any number of the screen steps 11 in the particle separating screening surface 10, to define a screen landing 9 of desired size. For example, the screen openings 14 may typically be omitted from the first one, two or three or more screen steps 11 located at the inclined top end of the particle separating screening surface 10. As the material to be screened is loaded on these screen steps 11 of the vibrating particle separating screening surface 10, sticks and other elongated particles are caused to lie flat on the particle separating screening surface 10 and slide to the foot of the screening surface 10, and are thus less likely to "dive" or fall lengthwise through the screen openings 14 and mix with the small particles being separated from the material.

It will be understood that in one specific embodiment of the invention, the conventional vibratory motor 7 and eccentric 27 impart an elliptical motion to the upper area of the particle separating screening surface 10 and the floating frame 21 to which the vibratory motor 7 is attached.

This elliptical motion gradually changes to a back-and-forth translational movement of the particle separating screening surface 10, as the material being screened moves downwardly. This changing motion of the particle separating screening surface 10 is effected by the positioning and material choice of the rubber float mounts 18, the top, rear pair of which are mounted parallel to the axis of vibration and the bottom, front pair of which are mounted perpendicular to the axis of vibration. While this orientation of the float mounts 18 in the apparatus 1 has been found to optimize the screening of a wide variety of particulate material using the apparatus of this invention, it will be recognized and understood that alternative orientation of the float mounts 18, as well as varying the number and material of construction of the float mounts 18, effects different screening efficiencies for various materials while operating the apparatus of this invention.

Accordingly, while particular embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

The above is a detailed description of particular embodiments of the invention. Those with skill in the art should, in light of the present disclosure, appreciate that obvious modifications of the embodiments disclosed herein can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All of the embodiments disclosed and claimed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. The full scope of the invention is set out in the claims that follow and their equivalents. Accordingly, the claims and specification should not be construed to unduly narrow the full scope of protection to which the present invention is entitled.

As used herein and unless otherwise specified or noted, the terms "a" and "an" are taken to mean "one", "one or more" or "at least one".