Injection molded screening apparatuses and methods
AssigneeDerrick Corporation
InventorsAlex DeMay, Kurt Stodolka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A screen assembly is formed by attaching side edges of a plurality of screen elements to each other. Reinforcing fibers may be embedded in the material of selected screen elements. The reinforcing fibers extend in a direction in which the screen assembly will be tensioned to secure the screen assembly to a screening machine. Hook strips may be attached to ends or sides of the screen assembly to facilitate mounting the screen assembly to a screening machine.
Claims32
A method of forming a screen assembly, comprising:
- providing a plurality of screen elements that are formed from a thermoplastic material, each screen element having a screening surface with a plurality of screening openings separated by screen surface elements;
- attaching the plurality of screen elements to each other to form a screen assembly that includes a continuous screening surface comprised of the screening surfaces of the plurality of screen elements, wherein the plurality of screen elements are attached to each other by directly affixing adjacent side edges of the screen elements to each other;
- and
- causing at least one reinforcement fibers to become attached to at least some of the screen elements after or while the screen elements are attached to each other.
A screen assembly for use on a screening machine, comprising:
- a plurality of screen elements made from a thermoplastic material, each screen element having a screening surface with a plurality of screening openings separated by screen surface elements, wherein adjacent side edges of the plurality of screen elements are directly attached to each other to form a screen assembly that has a continuous screening surface comprised of the screening surfaces of the plurality of screen elements;
- and
- at least one reinforcement fibers that was attached to selected ones of the plurality of screen elements after or while the screen elements were affixed to each other.
A screen assembly for use on a screening machine, comprising:
- a plurality of injection molded screen elements made from a thermoplastic material, each screen element having a screening surface with a plurality of screening openings separated by screen surface elements, wherein adjacent side edges of the plurality of screen elements are directly coupled to each other to form a screen assembly that has a continuous screening surface comprised of the screening surfaces of the plurality of screen elements, and wherein for each of the screen elements:
- a width of each screening opening between adjacent screen surface elements is between approximately 10 μm and approximately 6000 μm;
- a thickness of each screen surface element between adjacent screening openings is between approximately 10 μm and approximately 4000 μm;
- and
- an open screening area of the screen element is between approximately 15% and approximately 40% of the total area of the screen element;
- and
- at least one reinforcement fibers that was attached to at least some of the screen elements after or while the screen elements were directly coupled to each other to form the screen assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.