Title of Invention

A SCREEN PANEL MODULE A RESILIENTLY FLEXIBLE COMPOENT FOR THE SAME AND A FRAME COMPONENT

Abstract

A SCREEN P4NEL MODULE, A EESILIENTLY FLEXIBLE COMPCNeNT FOR THE SAME AND A FRAME CCMPCNENT" A screen panel module 1 for mounting on a screen deck frame for screening, separating and grading materials such as ores. The module comprises a stiff frame component 5 for supporting a resiliently flexible screening surface 7 provided by a panel component 3. Opposite sides of the panel component 3 include depending flanges 9 having ribs 11 for seating in complementary grooves 21 in sides 15 of the frame component 5 for removably mounting the panel component 3 on the frame component 5. The module 1 includes means such as ribs, grooves, beads or the like, preferably associated with both the panel and frame components for interengaging with fixing means 31 for locating and fixing the module to a screen deck frame. Whereas the whole of a prior art screen module has to be exchanged when worn, the invention allows the exchange of one component of a module, namely the panel component 3, which component costs a fraction of the whole module.

Full Text

The present invention relates to screening apparatus and more particularly to a modular screen panel for use in such apparatus. Screening apparatus of the type with which the invention is concerned is generally used for screening, grading, or separating materials such as ores and comprises an array of screen panels removably fixed to a frame to provide a continuous screen deck. This deck is vibrated to move bulk materials over and through its screening surface and generally it is desirable that the screening surface be resiliently flexible such that the vibration of the frame sets up a secondary vibration in the screening surface. This secondary vibration is desirable because it assists in overcoming the problem of the screen becoming clogged. However the panels must also be sufficiently stiff to support the material and provide for structural integrity of the apparatus. It is known to form screen panels in one piece by moulding a resilient plastics material. However a problem with these moulded panels is that stiffness is provided at the expense of flexibility and generally the provision of a requisite degree of stiffness results in the screening surface of the panels having a low degree of flexibility. It is also known to provide stiffness by embedding steel reinforcement members in the plastics material along the sides of the panel, as exemplified by Australian Patent No. 577767 (66006/86). However this increases the expense of the panels, which are consumable items. The screen panels in a screen deck can be subjected to quite harsh wear, depending on the materials being screened, and thus require periodical replacement. Indeed, the ready exchangeability of worn screen panels for new panels is characteristic of screening apparatus of the type with which the invention is concerned and is a factor which has led to reduced operating costs for such apparatus. However the cost of individual screen panels remains as a significant ' component of the operating costs for this apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide a screen panel which may have a relatively highly flexible screening surface and which allows for a significant reduction in the replacement costs for a panel. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a screen panel module for mounting on a screen deck frame for screening, separating or grading materials such as ores, the module including: a resiliently flexible panel component providing a screening surface; and, a frame component on which the panel component is removably mounted, the frame component providing a stiff support for the panel component; characterized in that the frame component fits under the panel component, and in that means are provided on at least two opposite sides of the module for interengaging with fixing means for locating and fixing the module to a screen deck frame. The means for interengaging with fixing means may be provided by the panel component, the frame component or both components, preferably, such means are provided by both the panel component and the frame component. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a resiliently flexible panel component of a screen panel module for mounting on a screen deck frame for screening, separating or grading materials such as ores, the panel component providing a screening surface and being removably mountable on a frame component in order to provide a stiff support for the panel component, characterized in that a depending flange extends along at least two opposite sides of the panel component, and in that the panel component fits over the frame component with the depending flanges extending down over opposite sides of the frame component and engages therewith to mount the panel component thereon. According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a frame component providing a stiff support for the screen panel module. In yet another aspect, the present invention provides screening apparatus including at least one of the screen panel modules. The frame component may be a square or rectangular shaped moulding of resilient plastics material and may include reinforcing members embedded in the plastic. The panel component may also be moulded from a resilient plastics material. The panel component preferably includes a depending flange extending along at least two opposite sides thereof, wherein each flange includes elements for engaging with the opposite sides of the frame component for removably mounting the panel component on the frame component. Preferably, those elements interengage with complementary elements on the opposite sides of the frame component. Those interengaging elements may be ribs, grooves, beads or the like for providing a snap fit engagement action for the panel component on the frame component. Preferably each side of the frame component includes a groove and each depending flange of the panel component includes a complementary rib for sealing in the grooves. This removable interconnection for mounting the panel component on the frame component to form a screen panel module does not employ or require any additional or external fixing means and allows ready and easy interchange of a panel component on a frame component. Although both the panel component and the frame component are subject to wear, the panel component wears much more quickly and thus requires more frequent replacement than the frame component. The invention allows for this frequent replacement of the worn component to occur independently of replacement of the 3 frame component and it will be understood that this confers a significant saving in the maintenance costs for screening apparatus that employs two part modules according to the invention. Whereas the whole of a prior art screen module has to be exchanged when worn, the invention allows the exchange of only one component of a module which component costs a fraction of the whole module. The invention also allows manufacturers more scope to tailor the properties of the panel component to suit particular applications or materials. Thus its flexibility and/or surface hardness characteristics may be established y. independently of the frame component. Furthermore, the means for removably mounting the panel component on the frame component, particularly a snap-fit type of interconnection as described above, does not reduce the flexibility of the interconnection to the same extent as occurs with prior art integrally moulded panels. For example, for a screen module that is to be used for screening bulk material having a high clay content, which tends to be sticky, the panel component can be made sufficiently flexible and be removably mounted on a frame component such that the secondary vibration in the screening surface is of greater amplitude than that which occurs in prior art panels. This greater amplitude secondary vibration reduces the problem of the clay-like material binding to the screening surface and clogging the screen. Preferably the means along the at least two opposite sides of the module (which will be the sides that don't include the means for removably mounting the panel component on the frame component) for interengaging with fixing means for locating and fixing the module to a screen deck frame, are also elements in the ,, nature of ribs, grooves, beads or the like for preferably providing a snap-fit engagement action for the screen panel module with complementary elements on the fixing means. The fixing means preferably includes a U-shaped fixing rail attached to the screen deck frame and an elongate retaining member for plugging into the channel provided by the U rail. Preferably both the fixing rail and the retaining member include elements in the form of ribs and grooves for interengaging with complementary ribs and grooves on both the panel component and the frame component of the screen panel module. This preferred form of fixing means for the panel module, wherein both the frame component and the panel component are engaged, provides a more secure fixation for the module than would be the case if only the frame component or the panel component were engaged, although the invention encompasses embodiments wherein only the frame component or only the panel component is engaged. The preferred form of fixing means also allows for ready removal of a module from the screen deck. Thus, the invention allows for quick removal of a module from a screen deck and quick replacement of a worn panel component of that module, followed by quick replacement of the "repaired" module in the screen deck. For a better understanding of the invention in all its aspects, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a screen panel module according to the invention and fixing means for locating and fixing the panel module to a screen deck frame. Fig. 2 is a side view of the panel module of Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is an end view of portion of the panel module of Fig. 1 engaged with a fixing means, Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating another embodiment of a fixing arrangement for screen panels according to the invention, and Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating yet another embodiment of a fixing arrangement. A screen panel module 1 according to an embodiment of the invention as shown in Fig. 1 comprises a panel component 3 and a frame component 5. The panel component 3 is preferably moulded from a resilient plastics material, such as polyurethane, although it may be made from other suitable resilient materials, for example rubber, and includes a screening surface 7 that includes, as is known, screening apertures for allowing passage of bulk material as determined by the sizing of the apertures. The panel component may also be a composite structure comprising an array of apertured panel segments arranged side by side and held together by a resilient binding material. The panel component includes a depending flange 9 along two opposite sides and each flange includes a rib 11 along the length of the inner facing surfaces of the flanges 9. The frame component 5 may also be moulded from a resilient plastics material, such as polyurethane, or another suitable material including rubber, and may include metal reinforcement members 13 (see Fig. 3) embedded within its sides 15 and ends 17. The frame may also include a substantially centrally located cross-rib 19 for supporting the panel screening surface 7. It is to be understood that the frame 5 could be formed from other materials that may or may not incorporate reinforcement such as members 13, and that one or more cross-ribs 19 which may extend lengthwise or widthwise of the frame, or both ways, may be provided. Also the invention includes a frame 5 that does not include any ribs 19. The outer facing surfaces of the opposite sides 15 of frame 5 each include a longitudinal groove 21 for seating the rib 11 of a flange 9 of the panel component 3. Thus the panel component 3 is removably mountable on the frame component 5 by fitting the panel 3 over the frame 5 such that ribs 11 engage in grooves 21. The resiliency and dimensioning of the interengaging parts may be such as to provide for a snap-fit of the panel component 3 onto the frame component 5. Panel component 3 at each opposite end portion Includes a groove 23 in upper surface 7 and a rib 25 depending from its undersurface. Frame component 5, along each end 17, includes a groove 27 along the upper edge and a rib 29 along each end at about mid height. The grooves 23 and 27 and ribs 25 and 29 comprise means for engaging with fixing means for locating and fixing a screen panel module to a screen deck frame, as will be described below. A fixing means for securing an array of screen panel modules 1 to a frame includes a U shaped fixing rail 31, which includes depending bolts (represented by reference 33 in Fig. 1) for securing the rail to the frame (not shown) of the screening apparatus, and an elongate retaining member 35 that plugs into the channel formed by the legs of the rail 31 forming the U shape. The fixing rail 31 and retaining member 35 are preferably moulded from a resilient plastics material, such as polyurethane, such that the plugging of the member 35 into rail 31 serves to clamp a screen panel module 1 in position. It will of course be understood that an array of panel modules forming a screen deck will require at least two and possibly more fixing means 31-35 (depending on the number of modules across the width of the deck) running parallel to each other along the length of the dock. The fixing means 31-35 include complementary ribs and grooves for interengaging with the ribs and grooves of the frame 5 and panel 3 components of the screen panel module 1. Thus, with reference to Fig. 3, retaining member 35, which includes a cover portion 37 and a plug portion 39, includes a rib 41 on an undersurface of the cover portion for engaging in a groove 23 of the panel component 3. Also it will be seen from Fig. 3 that rib 25 of panel 3 seats within groove 27 of frame 5 and that a rib 43 of fixing member 31 seats in a groove that is formed between rib 29 of frame 5 and the undersurface of panel 3 by the seating of the rib 25 in groove 27. Fixing member 31 also includes a groove 45 for receiving the rib 29 of frame 5. It is to be understood that the particular fixing means described above is one example only of a suitable fixing arrangement for modular panels according to the invention and that other suitable fixing arrangements could be provided. Such another fixing arrangement may include use of a fixing rail and retaining member similar to parts 31 and 35 described above, but having a different arrangement of connection elements (that is, ribs and grooves or the like) for interengaging with complementary elements of the panel 3 and the frame 5 components. In an alternative embodiment, as illustrated by Fig. 4, two side-by-side screen panel modules 101 are shown engaging with fixing means 103 for locating and fixing the modules to a screen deck frame (not shown). Each screen panel module 101 includes a frame component 105 on which a panel component 107 is removably mounted. The panel component 107 includes a depending flange 109 having a broad rib 111 at the foot of the flange which extends along the inner facing surface thereof (a similar flange on the opposite side of each panel module is not shown). Each frame component 105 has opposite ends 106 and sides 108, only one each of which is shown. Each end 106 includes a recess 113 within which the broad rib HI removably seats. The fixing means 103 is a rail which comprises a base 115 having two upstanding resilient sections 117 each of which is shaped, in conjunction with the base 115, to provide a recess 119. The flange 109 includes another broad rib 121, opposite the broad rib 111, which seats in recess 119. Thus the ribs 111 (which may be chamfered as indicated by reference 123) provide means along at least two opposite sides of a module 101 for interengaging with a fixing means 103 for locating and fixing the module to a screen deck frame. It will be appreciated that with this embodiment, the ribs 121, that is the means for interengaging with the fixing means 103, are provided by only the panel component 107. It will also be appreciated that, with this embodiment, the interengagement of the ribs 111 and recesses 113 provide for removable mounting of the panel component 107 on the frame component 105. In addition, interengaging elements can be provided on further depending flanges of the panel component 107 and on opposite sides of the frame component 105 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the first embodiment. Thus, although not shown, panel component 107 has depending flanges along the other two opposite sides and further ribs extending there along for interengaging with further recesses extending along the opposite sides 108 of the frame component 105. In this way, the panel component 107 is mounted to the frame component 105 along all four sides thereof. In a further embodiment as illustrated by Fig. 5, two screen panel modules 201 are shown interengaging with fixing means 203 for locating and fixing the modules to a screen deck frame (not shown). In this embodiment the frame component 205 of each module has opposite ends 206 and sides 208, only one each of which is shown. Each end 206 includes a broad rib 207 which seats within a complementary recess 209 in the fixing means 203. The panel component 211 of each module extends over an upstanding section 213 of the fixing means and includes a depending flange 215 having an enlarged end 217 for plugging into, in combination with an adjacent panel component, a complementary recess in the fixing means defined by the two upstanding sections 213. It will be appreciated that with this embodiment, the ribs 207 and flanges 215-217, that is the means for interengaging with the fixing means 203, are provided by both the frame component 205 and the panel component 211. It will also be appreciated that, with this embodiment, the panel component 211 is removably mounted to the frame component 205 by interengaging elements provided on depending flanges of the panel component 211 and on opposite sides of the frame component 205 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the first embodiment. Thus, although not shown, panel component 211 has depending flanges along two opposite sides thereof and ribs extending therealong for interengaging with grooves extending along the opposite sides 208 of the frame component 205. The invention described herein is susceptible to variations, modifications and/or additions other than those specifically described and it is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations, modifications and/or additions which fall within the spirit and scope of the following claims. WE CLAIM; 1. A screen panel module for mounting on a screen deck frame for screening, separating or grading materials such as ores, the module including: a resiliently flexible panel component providing a screening surface; and, a frame component on which the panel component is removably mounted, the frame component providing a stiff support for the panel component; characterized in that the frame component fits under the panel component, and in that means are provided on at least two opposite sides of the module for interengaging with fixing means for locating and fixing the module to a screen deck frame. 2. The module as claimed in claim 1, wherein both the panel component and the frame component provide said means for interengaging with the fixing means. 3. The module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the panel component includes a depending flange along at least two opposite sides thereof for removably mounting the panel component on the frame component. 4. A screen panel module for mounting on a screen deck frame for screening, separating or grading materials such as ores, the module including: a resiliently flexible panel component providing a screening surface; and, a frame component on which the panel component is removably mounted in order to provide a stiff support for the panel component, characterized in that the panel component has a depending flange extending along at least two opposite sides thereof, the panel component fitting over the frame component with the depending flanges extending dovm over opposite sides of the frame component and engaging therewith to mount the panel component thereon, and in that means are provided on at least two opposite sides of the module for interengaging with fixing means for locating and fixing the module to a screen deck frame. 5. The module as claimed in claim 3, wherein the depending flanges ;lude elements for engaging with the opposite sides of the fi"ame component to removably mount the panel component to the frame component. 6. The module as claimed in claim 5, wherein the elements of the depending flanges interengage with complementary elements on the opposite sides of the frame component to mount the panel component to the frame component. 7. The module as claimed in claim 6, wherein the interengaging elements provide for a snap-fit engagement of the panel component onto the frame component. 8. The module as claimed in claim 5, wherein the elements are ribs, grooves, beads or the like. 9. The module as claimed in claim 6, wherein each interengaging element of the depending flanges includes a rib, and each interengaging element on the opposite sides of the frame component includes a complementary groove for seating a respective rib therein. 10. The module as claimed in claim 9, wherein the complementary grooves are formed in outer facing surfaces of opposite sides of the frame component, and the depending flanges of the panel component fit over the outer facing surfaces for the ribs to seat within the grooves. 11. The module as claimed in claim 3, wherein the means on the at least two opposite sides for interengaging with fixing means for locating and fixing the module to a screen deck frame are located along sides of the module that do not include the depending flanges. 12. The module as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said means for interengaging with fixing means are elements including ribs, beads, grooves, recesses, or the like. 13. The module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the elements for interengaging with fixing means provide for a snap fit engagement of the screen panel module with complementary elements on the fixing means. 14. The module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the panel component includes a groove in its upper surface along each of said two opposite sides (not including the depending flanges) and a rib depending fi"om its undersurface along the same sides. 15. The module as claimed in claim 14, wherein the frame component includes a groove at each side edge for receiving the ribs depending from the undersurface of the panel component, and a rib on the outer facing surfaces of the same sides. 16. The module as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the frame component includes at least one cross-rib for supporting the panel screening surface. 17. The module as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the panel component is a moulding of resilient plastics material. 18. The module as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the frame component is a moulding of resilient plastics material. 19. A resiliently flexible panel component of a screen panel module for mounting on a screen deck frame for screening, separating or grading materials such as ores, the panel component providing a screening surface and being removably mountable on a frame component in order to provide a stiff support for the panel component, characterized in that a depending flange extends along at least two opposite sides of the panel component, and in that the panel component fits over the frame component with the depending flanges extending down over opposite sides of the frame component and engages therewith to mount the panel component thereon. 20. The panel component as claimed in claim 19, wherein the depending flanges include elements for engaging with the opposite sides of the frame component to mount the panel component thereon. 21. The panel component as claimed in claim 20, wherein the engaging elements provide for a snap-fit engagement of the panel component onto the frame component. 22. The panel component as claimed in claim 20, wherein the elements are ribs, grooves, beads or the like extending along the depending flanges. 23. A resiliently flexible panel component providing a screening surface for a screen panel module as claimed in claim 1. 24. A frame component providing a stiff support for a screen panel module as claimed in claim 1. 25. A screening apparatus including at least one screen panel module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the panel module is fixed to a screen deck frame of the apparatus by fixing means interengaging with means on both the panel component and the frame component of the module. 26. A resiliently flexible panel component for a screen panel module, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the embodiments as shown in the accompanying drawings. 27. A frame component providing a stiff support for a screen panel module substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the embodiments as shown in the accompanying drawings. 28. A screen panel module substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the embodiments as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

1959-mas-1997 abstract duplicate.pdf

1959-mas-1997 abstract.pdf

1959-mas-1997 claims duplicate.pdf

1959-mas-1997 claims.pdf

1959-mas-1997 correpondence others.pdf

1959-mas-1997 correpondence po.pdf

1959-mas-1997 description (complete) duplicate.pdf

1959-mas-1997 description (complete).pdf

1959-mas-1997 drawings.pdf

1959-mas-1997 form-19.pdf

1959-mas-1997 form-2.pdf

1959-mas-1997 form-26.pdf

1959-mas-1997 form-4.pdf

1959-mas-1997 form-6.pdf

1959-mas-1997 others.pdf

1959-mas-1997 petition.pdf