Classifying – separating – and assorting solids – Sifting – Elements
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-20
2004-06-01
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3653)
Classifying, separating, and assorting solids
Sifting
Elements
C209S405000, C267S179000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06742658
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to machines for screening a particulate, granulate or any other material. Particularly, the present invention relates to a screener that is portable and compact enough to be contained and moved on a dump body. More particularly the present invention is a screener compact enough to be mounted over the dump body on a standard dump truck. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a screener that can support itself independent of the vehicle's support structure or power source.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Particle screeners are useful in the field of construction excavation for separating the components of soil. By using a screener soil can be broken up into its components of different particle size such as topsoil, sand, rocks, and larger organics such as plant matter. Once the components of the soil have been separated the product can be used in its proper application. Currently the only designs available are either so large that it is required that they are towed to location or are built to a specialized truck.
Several portable screeners have been created for particle separation. Current portable screeners are either towed to the site or are fixed to a specialized vehicle dedicated to moving the screener. There have been no devices created for a vehicle mounted portable screener that can also function independently from the mounting vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,822 (Allan Skoropa) discloses a vibratory screening device including a frame and a screen, supported by the frame, for separating undersize and oversize material. A vibratory device, consisting of an eccentric shaft, coupled to the screen that includes a first output shaft with an axis of rotation that oscillates with relation to the frame. The vibratory device oscillates the screen as the first output shaft is rotated. A driver includes a second output shaft with an axis of rotation that includes a second output shaft with an axis of rotation that is fixed relative to the frame. The driver rotates the first output shaft. Preferably, the connector includes a first universal joint, a sliding spine shaft, and a second universal joint. The driver preferably includes an engine, a centrifugal clutch coupled to the first output shaft, a sheave, and an endless belt connecting the centrifugal clutch to the sheave. The disadvantage of this device is that it is not a truck dump-body mounted unit.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,065 (Timothy O. Harms) discloses a high rate portable combination screening/dosing/mixing plant that is mounted on a single tractor-trailer for highway travel. The apparatus is used in soil remediation. The invention comprises of an apparatus train for preliminary particle separation, a hopper, a shredder, particle size screener, an apparatus for mixing, and a conveyor belt for elevating product to desired locations. The disadvantage in this apparatus is that it must be towed to the site.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,575 (John Milstead) discloses a method of erecting a portable asphalt production plant. The asphalt production plant comprises of upper and lower subassemblies that are attached to a trailer for towing the production plant to the worksite. Once at the worksite the frame is detached from the trailer and the upper subassembly is positioned on top of the lower subassembly. The size of this apparatus dictates that it must be towed to the worksite.
The disadvantages of the currently available screeners are that they require a specialized truck and additional driver to transport them to the excavation sites. This is problematic because in addition to the added costs of obtaining and using the equipment and drivers for transporting the particle screener, the equipment is no longer readily available for performing other tasks. Owners of screeners often own vehicles, i.e. dump trucks, for towing the screeners. The advantage of mounting equipment to a dump body is it allows for the same vehicle to tow additional equipment by trailer thus reducing the number of vehicles and drivers necessary to transport the screener.
Therefore what is needed is a portable screener that can be easily mounted onto and removed from atop the dump body of a dump truck. What is further needed is a dump-body mounted portable screener that is capable of functioning on its own structural supports or legs. What is still further needed is a portable vehicle mounted screener that can function under either its own power source or the power source provided by the vehicle on which it is mounted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a particle screener for removably mounting atop the dump body of a dump truck. It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a portable screener that can be mounted atop the dump body of a dump truck and be capable of functioning on its own structural supports or legs to support the portable screener. It is still a further objective of the present invention that the screener is capable of functioning under either its own power source or a power source provided by the mounting vehicle.
The present invention achieves these and other objectives by providing various structural features that make mounting the particle screener onto a dump body of a dump truck, possible. The vehicle-mounted screener includes a support frame, at least one vibratory screen deck, a plurality of springs, and an agitation/oscillating source. The support frame provides support for the vibratory screen deck and the mechanism for mounting the screener to a dump body. The springs hold the vibratory screen deck to the screener frame and return the screen to its original position during agitation/oscillation. The screen separates the particles by particle size. As used herein “particle” refers to any material, which is primarily non-continuous and largely comprises solid or semisolid pieces. The particulate material referred to may range from uniformly sized grains such as sand to a sill or compost having entities of widely varying sizes and compositions including material of animal, vegetable and mineral origin. Moisture or other liquid may be associated with the solids. The agitation/oscillation source provides motion to the vibratory screen deck.
The support frame of the present invention provides a stationary base for the vibratory screen deck and for supporting the screener atop the dump body of a dump truck. Optionally, the screener may be provided with a mechanism to support the screener when the screener is not mounted atop the dump body of a dump truck. The support frame is constructed from elongated tubing. The tubing may be square, rectangular or circular in cross section. The cross pieces that support the screener over the dump body are pieces of square tubing that are rotated in a manner to create a diamond cross section. This configuration presents angled crosspieces that prevent material from collecting on the crosspieces as the material is screened into the dump body from the vibratory screen deck. The support frame may be described as having a rectangular shape with extending ends from two sides of the rectangular structure. The dimensions of the support frame are compatible and sized to the dump body over which it is to be mounted. The extending ends are used to support the screener atop the dump body of the dump truck.
The frame mounts are configured onto sideboards that are mounted along the sides of the dump body. The extending ends are fitted into the frame mounts for supporting the screener over the dump body allowing the screened material to collect within the dump body. The sideboards have at least four shaped receiving connectors, i.e. frame mounts, for supporting the support frame of the screener. The receiving connectors in the sideboards may be either shaped slots or shaped brackets. The shaped slots are formed by cutting the slots into the sideboards. The shaped brackets are formed by attaching the brackets to the sideboards. The shape of the brackets or slots is comp
Bolton Christopher J.
White, Sr. Kenneth D.
Deleault, Esq. Robert R.
Mesmer & Deleault, PLLC
Rodriguez Joseph
Walsh Donald P.
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