Improvements in Screening or Sorting Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 27th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 6th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Screening or Sorting Machines.
I, THOMAS EBENEZER PYE, of the Gasworks, Shrewsbury, in the County of
Shrewsbury, Assistant Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
A mechanical screen, actuated by hand, steam, or other power for the separation
into as many sizes as may be required of gasworks coke, breezes, ash, coal, broken
concrete, macadam, cement, & similar materials generally; also the separation of
ashes from domestic grate cinders, & of ashes & clinkers from refuse furnace
cokes &c.
The apparatus consists primarily of an upright frame in which is freely suspended,
or otherwise supported, an inclined screen or series of screens. To the screen or
screens is given by special means hereinafter described a vibratory & also an
oscillating motion, or a side thrust.
The construction of the machines will depend upon the nature of the work to be
done. They may be entirely of wood, of iron, or of steel; or be a composite of
all 3. For the purposes herein enumerated they will preferably be of hard wood
frames with steel mountings, & have steel wires stretched across or along at the
necessary intervals.
The angle of inclination of the screens will also depend upon the nature of the
material to be dealt with, the rapidity with which the work is to be done, & the
relation which may exist between the power available & the amount of work to
be done.
The screens may be inclined laterally or longitudinally.
Where two or more screens are to be used they will he suspended one over the
other, the larger sizes of the material being separated out by the upper screens,
each successive screen below reducing the size as desired, & either shooting out
direct the separated matter, or passing it into an enclosed shoot or chamber, as may
be desired.
When two or more screens are used they may be actuated independently of each
other & worked if desired at varying speeds, or they may, by suitable framing,
bracing, or other means, be worked together bodily as one machine, the frame
bracing being made the recipient of the various motions necessary to work the
screens.
The screen or screens may be fully suspended at either end from the top or
sides of the upright frame, or they may be suspended at the upper end only, the
lower end resting directly on a rotating spindle to be described below. In the
former case the screen will be so suspended as just to prevent its weight bearing on
the rotating spindle, the lower end of screen hanging say from th to 2nds of an
inch above the spindle.
The vibration & side thrust to be imparted to the screen are secured as
follows-
Underneath the lower end or side of the screen (according as the inclination
be lateral or longitudinal) is fixed a rapidly rotating spindle or shaft, working
in suitable bearings, & provided with a belt-pulley, gearing, or other means
for receiving power. On this spindle is keyed or otherwise fixed a cam or
series of cams: for this class of work the latter is preferable, the cams being of
varying radii & placed at irregular intervals on the periphery of the shaft. In
addition to these there are also fixed on the spindle at either end, & at distances
apart which correspond with the width of the lower end or side of the screen where
it rests on or immediately above the spindle, two triangular cams--one at each end

page_text: & numbered 1 & 2 respectively-whose hypotenuse rise from the spindle at an
angle of 45° & whose bases are parallel with the centre line of the shaft. As,
say, No. 1 cam comes round with the motion of the spindle it receives the side
edge of screen at its apex & it forces or thrusts aside the screen to the extent of
its own width at the base. The screen is thus thrown towards opposite side of the
upright frame & is then received in a similar manner by No. 2 cam at the other
end of spindle (placed on the opposite side of the circumference of spindle to No. 1)
& is by it thrust back again ready to be received by No. 1.
A double thrust from side to side is thus given to the screen in one revolution of
the spindle, & this-together with the rapid vibrations produced by the cams first
mentioned gives to the screen a compound motion which is more than sufficient to
ensure the free passage downwards of whatever material may be placed on it.
When it is desirable to substitute an oscillating motion for the side thrust, the
triangular cams may be dispensed with & an eccentric or crank be fixed on to
the spindle or other rotating part of the machine, & connected by suitable means to
the screens individually or collectively.
The power for rotating the spindle may be communicated from a central shaft
carrying the necessary pulleys or gearing &c. by belts, gearing, or other means,
either from the central shaft to one spindle & thence to the spindle next below,
& so on through the series, each spindle receiving power & transmitting it again
to another; or by conveying the power direct from the central shaft to each
individual screen; or by subdividing the work as may be deemed best.
In separating clinkers from coke, cinders, &c.—or in separating any material
from others of a lighter specific gravity-the material will first be subdivided by
screening into so many portions, the pieces in each of which will be of uniform
size (or as near so as may be). The screened portions will be passed by the screens
into chambers whose bottom or floor is inclined & provided with two ports or
outlets, the one some little distance beyond the other. A blast will be provided
which meets the material as it falls into this chamber. The heavy clinkers will
either fall direct, in spite of the blast, (which will be tempered to the size of the
material dealt with), or be diverted but little thereby, & will fall into the port
provided for it. The coke or cinder being much lighter-bulk for bulk-than
the clinker, will be diverted by the blast sufficiently to escape the port for the
latter, & will pass onwards to its own outlet.
Suitable provision being made for dispensing with the blast when not required,
the machine may be used either as a simple screen, or for the more complex
operations just described.
Dated this 95th 1 of Man 1005
T. EBENEZER PYE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Screening or Sorting Machines.
I, THOMAS EBENEZER PYE, of the Gas Works, Shrewsbury in the County of
Shrewsbury, Assistant Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention is designed chiefly for screening or grading breeze or coke with
the object of providing a machine in which the sieves or screens will receive a
compound movement, or an irregular vibrating movement, which comprises a vertical
lateral longitudinal and tilting movements.
It consists essentially in applying to a screen or sieve suspended by adjustable
rods or links, of a number of interchangeable cams on a rapidly rotating shaft
below the lower end of he sieve comprising cams of varying throw acting vertically
and cams of triangular formation acting laterally to give the desired composite
motion.

page_text: Fig. 2. end elevation (screens not shewn).
Fig. 3. longitudinal section.
Fig. 4. transverse section.
Fig. 5. sectional elevation of the actuating cams in position (enlarged scale).
Fig. 6. end elevation of same.
Fig. 7. side and sectional elevation of the cams placed separately.
Fig. 8. enlarged detail views showing the rods and links for suspending the sieves.
The screens A are mounted in a frame B of braced wood and are constructed of
any ordinary or suitable form and are freely suspended by rods a and links a'.
Beneath the lower end of each of the screens A I fix a shaft or spindle C
rotating rapidly in suitable bearings c. On each spindle C is keyed or otherwise
securely fixed a number or series of cams D, E and F two sets being preferably
employed one at each end of the shaft C.
The cams D and E are of similar shape with a radial lift or throw but preferably
of different height to vary the movement. The cam F differs from the others and
is of such a shape as to give both a lifting and lateral movement being triangular
in section the base parallel with the spindle and the hypotenuse rising at an angle
of 45° therefrom. The cams D and E are placed on the shaft as shown with the
lift of one in a different position to that of the other and the cams F are placed one
on each end of the shaft in a position not coincident with that of the cams D and E
so that the inclined face strikes against the side of the screen and gives it at the
same time both a lateral and a lifting movement. The cam F on one side is set
the reverse with that on the other side so that they come into action alternately
and throw the sieve first to one side and then to the other at the same time inclining
it sidewisc.
The cams D, E and F are preferably made separately as shown and keyed to the
shaft but if desired they may be cast in one. Or one set of the cams D and E
only may be employed and fixed in the centre of the shaft while one of the cams F
is fixed at each end but at present I prefer the arrangement shown.
The screen is preferably suspended clear of the shaft C so that no weight rests
upon the shaft except when the cams strike the sieve though if desired the whole
weight of the screen may be allowed to rest thereon.
Where two or more sieves are employed I prefer to actuate each separately
as shown but if desired two or more sieves may be attached together and suspended
from the frame by one set of rods and links.
By this arrangement of cams the sieves receive the desired vibratory motion.
The vertical and longitudinal movements are imparted by the cams D and E, as
they strike the sieve they lift it vertically and at the same time carry it longi-
tudinally towards the upper support. The lateral and tilting movements are
imparted by the cams F, as they alternately strike it they throw it from side to
side and lift first one side and then the other.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
In a screening and sorting machine the combination with a freely suspended
sieve or screen of a number or series of cams such as D, E and F on a rapidly
rotating shaft whereby a composite motion comprising vertical longitudinal lateral
and tilting movements are imparted to the sieve at each revolution of the shaft
substantially as described.
Dated this 25th day of February 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.