U.S. patent number RE38,303 [Application Number 08/775,825] was granted by the patent office on 2003-11-11 for particle screening system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Weatherford Australia Pty. Ltd.. Invention is credited to Terry R Askew.
United States Patent |
RE38,303 |
Askew |
November 11, 2003 |
Particle screening system
Abstract
A particle screening system is a modular industrial screen
system having a number of screen panel modules supported
side-by-side and/or end-to-end by a supporting structure assembly.
The supporting structure assembly has a number of support bars
arranged to support peripheral portions of each screen panel module
by way of rail members. The rail members have protrusions which are
designed to meet with recesses in the screen panel modules using a
snap-engagement.
Inventors: |
Askew; Terry R (Dudley,
AU) |
Assignee: |
Weatherford Australia Pty. Ltd.
(Malaga, AU)
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Family
ID: |
3774138 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/775,825 |
Filed: |
December 31, 1996 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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821249 |
Jan 10, 1992 |
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570380 |
Aug 21, 1990 |
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Reissue of: |
037721 |
Mar 25, 1993 |
05377846 |
Jan 3, 1995 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S.
Class: |
209/405; 209/399;
209/409 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04C
2/42 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E04C
2/30 (20060101); E04C 2/42 (20060101); B07B
001/49 () |
Field of
Search: |
;209/327,395,397,399,403,405,408,409,411,412 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1186311 |
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Jan 1965 |
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DE |
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3544752 |
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May 1987 |
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DE |
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3606854 |
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Sep 1987 |
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DE |
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2380080 |
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Oct 1978 |
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FR |
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1641469 |
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Apr 1991 |
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SU |
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8908509 |
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Sep 1989 |
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WO |
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745092 |
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Aug 1974 |
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ZA |
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752229 |
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Mar 1976 |
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ZA |
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Other References
Schreckengast, "Spotlight on Screens", Mar. 1989, pp. 48-51.* .
Isepren Sales Brochure..
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Primary Examiner: Nguyen; Tuan N.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear,
LLP
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/821,249 filed
Jan. 10, 1992, now abandoned, which is a continuation of
application Ser. No. 07/570,380 filed Aug. 21, 1990, now abandoned.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A screening apparatus comprising: a plurality of elongated
support bars which are generally parallel and transversely spaced
with respect to each other.[.:.]. .Iadd.;.Iaddend. a plurality of
elongated rail members which are mounted on said support bars and
which are generally parallel and transversely spaced with respect
to each other, each elongated rail member having a pair of
transversely-spaced, longitudinally-extending protrusions; and a
plurality of screen panel modules mounted on said elongated rail
members in side-by-side abutting relationship, each said screen
panel module having side portions which extend longitudinally of an
adjacent rail so as to be supported thereby, adjacent side portions
of adjacent screen panel modules cooperating to secure the screen
panel modules to the elongated rail members, each of said mounted
screen panel modules being supported only on two sides, each side
portion having (a) a longitudinally-extending recess (b) a
longitudinally extending resilient .[.skirt.]. .Iadd.peripheral
edge portion.Iaddend., and a longitudinally extending groove
projecting from the recess in a direction normal to the recess,
each protrusion having a transverse cross-section complimentary to
its associated recess and groove and being positioned securely
therein so as to be engaged between opposing parts of its
associated module with the adjacent .[.skirt.]. .Iadd.peripheral
edge .Iaddend.portions of adjacent modules abutting each other to
facilitate retaining the modules in position secured to the
elongated rail members, each said elongated rail member providing
means for preventing movement of said screen panel modules in a
longitudinal direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of
said rail elongated member.
2. The screening apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the
protrusion further comprises a lip over which a groove of said
screen panel module .[.us.]. is adapted to snap fit.
3. The screening apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the screen
panel module and rails are formed of a resilient plastic material
to facilitate resilient deformation of the modules on the
rails.
4. The screening apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said
screen panel module is further provided with reinforcing bars
extending longitudinally and/or transversely therein.
5. The screening apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
elongated rail member consists of an elongated base and a pair of
parallel protrusions formed integrally therewith, each protrusion
comprising a lip adapted to snap fit .[.over.]. .Iadd.into
.Iaddend.one of said pair of adjacent screen panel modules.
6. The screening apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
screen panel modules having formed therein a pair of longitudinal
recesses each located adjacent to an opposing side of the modules
and having grooves formed in said longitudinal recesses, each
groove being adapted to snap-engage with a protrusion of each said
elongated rail members over and by which the screen panel modules
are adapted to be supported.
7. The screening apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sole means for
preventing movement of said screen panel modules comprises cut-outs
provided in said rail member.
8. The screening apparatus of claim 5 wherein the protrusion
comprises a lip over which a groove of said screen panel module is
adapted to snap fit.
9. The screening apparatus of claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.6
.Iaddend.wherein the screen panel modules are formed of resilient
plastics material.
10. The screening apparatus of claim 9 wherein said screen panel
modules are further provided with reinforcing bars extending
transversely therein.
11. The screening apparatus of claim 5, wherein said means for
preventing movement of said screen panel modules comprises cut-outs
provided in said rail member.
12. The screening apparatus of claim 6 wherein the protrusion
comprises a lip over which a groove of said screen panel module is
adapted to snap fit.
13. The screening apparatus of claim 6 wherein the .[.screen panel
modules.]. .Iadd.elongate rail members .Iaddend.are formed of
resilient plastics material.
14. The screening apparatus of claim 13 wherein said screen panel
modules are further provided with reinforcing bars extending
transversely therein.
15. The screening apparatus of claim 6, wherein said means for
preventing movement of said screen panel modules comprises cut-outs
provided in said rail member.
16. The screening apparatus of claim 1 wherein the recesses of each
screen panel module have a minimum transverse width which is less
than the maximum transverse width of the protrusions so that the
protrusions snap fit within the recesses.
17. The screening apparatus of claim .[.5.]. .Iadd.8
.Iaddend.wherein the recesses of each screen panel module have a
minimum transverse width which is less than the maximum transverse
width of the protrusions so that the protrusions snap fit within
the recesses.
18. The screening apparatus of claim 6 wherein the recesses of each
screen panel module have a minimum transverse width which is less
than the maximum transverse width of the protrusions so that the
protrusions snap fit within the recesses.
19. The screening apparatus of claim 13 wherein the recesses of
each screen panel module have a minimum transverse width which is
less than the maximum transverse width of the protrusions so that
the protrusions snap fit within the recesses.
20. The screening apparatus of claim 14 wherein the recesses of
each screen panel module have a minimum transverse width which is
less than the maximum transverse width of the protrusions so that
the protrusions snap fit within the recesses..Iadd.
21. A screen panel module mountable to a screening apparatus that
is configured to receive a plurality of screen panel modules in
side-by-side abutting relationship, wherein the screening apparatus
has a plurality of elongated support bars which are generally
parallel and transversely spaced with respect to each other, a
plurality of elongated rail members which are mounted on said
support bars and which are generally parallel and transversely
spaced with respect to each other, each elongated rail member
having a pair of transversely-spaced, longitudinally-extending
protrusions, and wherein each said elongated rail member provides
means for preventing movement of said screen panel module in a
longitudinal direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of
said rail elongated member, said screen panel module comprising:
two side portions which extend longitudinally of an adjacent rail
member so as to be supported thereby such that said mounted screen
panel module is supported only on two sides, wherein said side
portions are configured such that adjacent side portions of
adjacent screen panel modules cooperate to secure the screen panel
module to the elongated rail members, and wherein each side portion
comprises: a longitudinally-extending recess; a longitudinally
extending resilient peripheral edge portion; and a longitudinally
extending groove projecting from the recess in a direction normal
to the recess, wherein said recess and groove have a transverse
cross-section complimentary to its associated protrusion and
configured to receive said protrusion securely therein so as to
mount said module with adjacent peripheral edge portions of
adjacent modules abutting said module to facilitate retaining said
module in position secured to the elongated rail members.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to particle screening system
industrial screens and more particularly to a screen module a
plurality of which are retained by a supporting structure.
Currently available screen panels are generally large, heavy and
cumbersome requiring considerable time and trouble to dismantle
from a supporting structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved
modular industrial screen system.
There is disclosed herein apparatus comprising: at least one screen
panel module, a supporting structure adapted to support a plurality
of said screen panel modules in side-by-side and/or end-to-end
abutting relationship, the supporting structure comprising a
plurality of supporting bars onto at least one of which is mounted
a .[.fall.]. .Iadd.rail .Iaddend.member, said screen panel
module(s) comprising mating means adapted to engage with said rail
member so as to secure said screen panel module(s) thereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by
way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a screen panel and
support assembly therefor;
FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic sectional end view of a central
support rail and an edge of a screen panel; and
FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional end view of a support member
supporting the rail of FIG. 2 and abutting edges of adjacent screen
panels.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the accompanying drawing, there is schematically depicted a
plurality of screen panels 1 supported by support assembly 2. The
support assembly 2 includes a plurality of support bars 3 which are
arranged to engage at least a portion of the periphery 4 of the
panels 1.
The panels may be clamped into position with respect to bars 3. The
operation of the optional clamping arrangement 5 is described in
the applicant's Australian Patent Application No. 27046/88.
Basically, wedge means 11 drive member 10 downwardly onto support
bars 3 to firmly secure screen module 1 in place.
Onto support bars 3 are mounted rail members 6 and 6'. Rail member
6 is a central rail adapted to support in side-by-side abutting
relationship adjacent screen panels 1. Rail member 6' is a side
rail being essentially equivalent to one half of rail member 6.
Cut-outs 17 are provided in rail member and protuberances 20 in
FIG. 2 cooperate with cut-outs 17 .[.6.]. to provide means by which
movement in directions B and C of panels 1 is prevented.
Rail members 6 may be fastened to support bars 3 by means of bolt 7
as shown In FIG. 3. Bolts 7 are located at various longitudinal
locations along track 6.
Referring to FIG. 2, rail members 6 (and 6') are provided with
protrusions 12 being designed to mate with recesses 14 in the edge
4 of the screen panel 1. Additionally, protrusion 12 is provided
with a lip 13 designed to engage with groove 15 in edge 4 of screen
1 thus providing means by which screen 1 is held firmly in place by
track 6.
Further, screen members 1 being formed of plastics material may be
reinforced with reinforcing bars 16 extending longitudinally and/or
transversely therein.
In use, screen members 1 are .[.Individually.]. .Iadd.individually
.Iaddend.snapped onto tracks 6 and 6' by application of a force in
the direction of arrow A. As a plurality of screen members replace
much larger conventional unitary screen members this process is
much easier and safer than otherwise possible. Once one screen
member is in place, further screen members 1 are similarly snapped
into tracks 6 and 6' to abut with the screen member previously put
in place and any adjacent screen members.
It should be noted that minor changes are envisaged by the
applicant. For example the specific shape of tracks 6 and the means
by which the tracks 6 are anchored to support bars 3 may be altered
without departing from the scope of the invention.
* * * * *