Abstract:
A screening assembly framework includes a plurality of support members, each of which supports at least one securing element by which a screening module is secured to the support member. A plurality of spacer members are arranged intermediate the support members for retaining the support members at a predetermined distance relative to one another, at least certain of the support members and at least certain of the spacer members being demountably connected to one another to form a demountable underlying structure for an array of screening modules of the screening assembly.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This patent application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/149,006 filed Jun. 12, 2000. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates to a screening module. More particularly, the invention relates to a screening module and to a screening assembly including such module.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0004]    According to the invention, there is provided a screening assembly framework which includes:  
           [0005]    a plurality of support members, each of which supports at least one securing element by which a screening module is secured to the support member; and  
           [0006]    a plurality of spacer members arranged intermediate the support members for retaining the support members at a predetermined distance relative to one another, at least certain of the support members and at least certain of the spacer members being demountably connected to one another to form a demountable underlying structure for an array of screening modules of the screening assembly.  
           [0007]    At least certain of the support members may carry at least one receiving formation for receiving a complementarily-shaped end of one of the spacer members. Each receiving formation may comprise a boss extending from a side of the support member, the boss defining a slot in which said end of the spacer member is received, the slot and the end having complementary retaining formation for retaining the end of the spacer member in the slot.  
           [0008]    Each securing element may comprise a receiving rail running along a top surface of the support member.  
           [0009]    At least certain of the support members may carry mounting formations for removable mounting to a screen deck on which the screening assembly is to be installed.  
           [0010]    Each support member and each spacer member may be of a synthetic plastics material to facilitate releasable engagement, for example clipping engagement, between the support members and the spacer members.  
           [0011]    The framework may be modular and may comprise a plurality of sub-frames, each sub-frame including at least one support member and at least one spacer member extending transversely to its associated at least one support member. 
       
    
    
     DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    An embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a screening module;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 shows an end view of the module;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 shows a side view of the module;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 shows a three dimensional, exploded view of a screening assembly framework, also in accordance with the invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 shows a plan view of a component of the framework;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 shows a side view of the component of FIG. 5;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 shows an end view of the component of FIG. 5;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 shows a plan view of another component of the framework;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 9 shows a side view of the component of FIG. 8; and  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 10 shows an end view of the component of FIG. 8. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0023]    Referring firstly to FIG. 1 to  3  of the drawings, a screening module, is illustrated and is designated generally by the reference numeral  10 . The screening module  10  comprises a substantially rectangular, planar screening member or deck  12  which defines a plurality of screening apertures therethrough illustrated schematically by panels  14  in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The module  10  has a pair of transversely spaced, longitudinal sides  16  and a pair of longitudinally spaced, transverse sides  18 . The longitudinal sides  16 , in use, extend parallel to a direction of flow of material over the module  10 .  
         [0024]    A mounting means in the form of a clip-like formation or clip  20  is arranged along each longitudinal side  16 . Similarly, a mounting means in the form of a clip  22  is arranged along each transverse side  18 . The clips  20  and  22  are shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings. It is to be noted that each clip  20 ,  22  defines a slot  24  therein which clips over a rail  26  (FIG. 4) as will be described in greater detail below.  
         [0025]    The module  10  is formed integrally as a one-piece unit and is a moulding of a synthetic plastics material. More particularly, a flexible polyurethane material is used for the module  10 .  
         [0026]    To ensure that there is not too great a degree of flexing, in use, which would result in the module  10  being torn loose from its underlying structure, at least a part of the module  10  is reinforced.  
         [0027]    In this regard, the sides  16  of the module  10  contain reinforcing  28  with the sides  18  being without reinforcing.  
         [0028]    The reinforcing in the sides  16  extends into the clips  20  associated with the sides  16 . As illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the reinforcing  28  straddles the slots  24  of the clips  20 .  
         [0029]    Thus, the reinforcing  28  comprises a plate  30  arranged inwardly of the slot  24  with a further plate  32  arranged outwardly of the slot  24 . The plates  30  and  32  are interconnected by a bridging portion  34  arranged in the deck  12 .  
         [0030]    In addition, also to control flexing of the module  10 , a locating means in the form of a shoulder  36  is arranged along each side  16  inwardly of the clip  24 . Each shoulder  36  abuts against a side rail (not shown) extending in a direction parallel to the direction of flow of material and controls flexing of the module  10 . It is to be noted that, to improve the rigidity of the shoulder  36 , the reinforcing plate  30  of the reinforcing  28  extends into the shoulder  36 .  
         [0031]    Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawings, a screening assembly, which includes a framework in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, is illustrated and is designated generally by the reference numeral  40 . The screening assembly  40  includes a plurality of screening modules  10 , only one of which is shown. The screening modules  10  are arranged in side-by-side and end-to-end relationship to form a screening surface over which material passes to be screened. The material moves in the direction of arrow  42 .  
         [0032]    The framework of the screening assembly  40  is modular and includes a feed end frame  44 , a discharge end frame  46  and an intermediate, connecting, frame  48 . These frames  44 ,  46  and  48  clip into standard rails (not shown) to form an underlying structure  50  for the modules  10 .  
         [0033]    The feed end frame  44  and the discharge end frame  46  are of substantially the same construction and, accordingly, only one of the frames, the feed end frame  44 , is discussed in greater detail. As illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings, the feed end frame  44  comprises a ladder-like structure having a pair of side rails  52  interconnected by cross members  54 . Ends of the rails  52  have engaging formations  56  for engaging and being secured to the underlying standard rails.  
         [0034]    On one side of one of the side rails  52 , opposite its junction with the cross-members  54 , receiving formations  58  are defined for receiving connecting, or spacer, members  60  of the intermediate frame  48 .  
         [0035]    The receiving rail  26  runs along the top of each rail  52 . Each receiving rail  26  includes clips  62  which are received in the slots  24  of the clips  20 ,  22  of the modules  10 . The modules  10  are clipped on to the rails  26  by means of a dedicated “roll-on” tool to attach the modules  10  to the underlying structure  50  securely.  
         [0036]    Referring again to the receiving formations  58 , it is to be noted that each receiving formation  58  defines a slot  64  in which an end  66  of one of the connecting members  60  of the intermediate frame  48  is received. The end  66  of the connecting members  60  has ribs  68  which engage recesses  70  in the slots for connecting the intermediate frame  48  to the feed end frame  44  and the discharge end frame  46 .  
         [0037]    The intermediate frame  48  has a central spine  72  (FIGS.  8  to  10 ) from which the connecting members  60  project at right angles. A connecting formation  74  is arranged at each end of the spine  72  for connecting the intermediate frame  48  to the underlying rails.  
         [0038]    As in the case of the feed end frame  44  and the discharge end frame  46 , a connecting rail  26  is arranged on top of the spine  72  for securing the modules  10  to the intermediate frame  48 .  
         [0039]    It is a particular advantage of the invention that a screening module  10  is provided which can readily be “peeled” off the underlying structure  50  to be replaced without the need to disassemble the underlying structure  50 . Also, due to the demountability of the underlying structure  50 , should a component of the structure  50  be damaged, it can be readily replaced without replacing the whole underlying structure.  
         [0040]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.