# US 2021/0276045 A1 · Modular, pre-tensioned, self-cleaning screening panels > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0276045 A1 - Document ID: US20210276045A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/194,816 - Filed: 2021-03-08 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-06 - Assignees: Buffalo Wire Works Company, Inc. - Applicants: Buffalo Wire Works Company, Inc. - Inventors: Erich Steadman; Bryan N. Seymour - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210276045A1 ## CPC - B07B 1/4618: {Manufacturing of screening surfaces} - B01D 33/0376: {supported} - B07B 1/4609: {constructional details of screening surfaces or meshes} - B07B 1/4654: {Corrugated Screening surfaces} - B07B 1/48: Stretching devices for screens - B07B: SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS BY SIEVING, SCREENING, SIFTING OR BY USING GAS CURRENTS; SEPARATING BY OTHER DRY METHODS APPLICABLE TO BULK MATERIAL, e.g. LOOSE ARTICLES FIT TO BE HANDLED LIKE BULK MATERIAL (wet separating processes, sorting by processes using fluent material in the same way as liquid B03; combinations of dry separating apparatus with wet separating apparatus B03B; using liquids B03B, B03D; sorting by magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges or vortex apparatus for carrying out physical processes B04; hand sorting, postal sorting, sorting by switching or other devices actuated in response to detection or measurement of some feature of articles or samples of material B07C) - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract A modular, pre-tensioned, self-cleaning screening panel having a frame and at least one pre-tensioned wire that is fastened to the frame. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A screening panel comprising: a frame comprising a first frame end spaced from a second frame end in a longitudinal direction and a first frame side spaced from a second frame side in a lateral direction; and a plurality of wires extending from the first frame end to the second frame end, individual of the plurality of wires being coupled proximate a first wire end to the first frame end and being coupled proximate a second wired end to the second frame end, the plurality of wires being in tension between the first wire end and the second wire end and being configured to vibrate independently of each other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The screening panel of claim 1, wherein the wires are in tension such that, when a wire of the plurality of wires cut at a longitudinal position between the first wire end and the second wire end, at least one of a first portion of the wire between the first wire end and the cut shortens in the longitudinal direction or a second portion of the wire between the second wire end and the cut shortens in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The screening panel of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first frame end or the second frame end further comprises a bonding surface and a raised bonding surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The screening panel of claim 3, wherein the plurality of wires contact the raised bonding surface and are secured to the bonding surface using an adhesive, the raised bonding surface inhibiting migration of the adhesive prior to curing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The screening panel of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wires are in tension from about 2,000 lbs. to about 5000 lbs. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The screening panel of claim 1, further comprising a polymeric structure encapsulating at least a portion of the frame and ends of the plurality of wires, the polymeric structure having at least one of a size or a shape to facilitate coupling of the screening panel to a vibratory machine. ### Claim 7 (depends on 7) The screening panel of claim 7, wherein the polymeric structure at least partially encapsulates at least one of a first wire of the plurality of wires proximate the first frame side or a second wire of the plurality of wires proximate the second frame side. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The screening panel of claim 1, wherein: the frame further comprises at least one support extending laterally between the first frame side and the second frame side, at a position spaced from the first frame end and the second frame end; and the plurality of wires are disposed to contact the support. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The screening panel of claim 1, wherein: the first frame end has a first neutral axis extending generally along a longitudinal axis of the first frame end; the second frame end has a second neutral axis extending generally along a longitudinal axis of the second frame end; and the plurality of wires are arranged proximate a plane coincident with the first neutral axis and the second neutral axis. ### Claim 10 A method of forming a screening panel comprising: providing a plurality of wires, the plurality of wires extending generally from first wire ends to second wire ends in a longitudinal direction and adjacent wires of the plurality of wires being arranged to provide a spacing there between; providing a frame comprising a first frame end spaced from a second frame end in the longitudinal direction and a first frame side spaced from a second frame side in a lateral direction; at least one of tensioning the wires in the longitudinal direction or compressing the frame in the longitudinal direction; with the at least one of the plurality of wires tensioned in the longitudinal direction or the frame compressed in the longitudinal direction, securing the first wire ends of the plurality of wires to the first frame end and securing the second wire ends of the plurality of wires to the second frame end; and releasing the at least one of the tensioning or the compressing with the wires secured to the frame to provide a screening panel with tensioned wires in which the wires are configured to vibrate independently of each other. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one of the tensioning the un-tensioned wires or the compressing the frame comprises tensioning the un-tensioned wires, the tensioning the un-tensioned wires comprising: securing, via a first unit, the plurality of wires proximate the first wire ends; securing, via a second unit, the plurality of wires proximate the second wire ends; and moving the first unit relative to the second unit to place the plurality of wires in tension. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the moving the first unit relative to the second unit imparts a force of from about 2000 pounds to about 5000 pounds of tension on the plurality of wires. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one of the tensioning the un-tensioned wires or the compressing the frame comprises tensioning the un-tensioned wires, the tensioning the un-tensioned wires comprising: tensioning a first wire of the plurality of wires to a first tension; and tensioning a second wire of the plurality of wires to a second tension. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one of the tensioning the un-tensioned wires or the compressing the frame comprises compressing the frame, the compressing the frame comprising: contacting a first unit to the first frame end; contacting a second unit to the second frame end; and moving the first unit relative to the second unit to move at least a portion of the first frame end relatively closer to the second frame end. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of the securing the first wire ends to the first frame end or the securing the second wire ends to the second frame end comprises at least one of adhering or welding. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: applying an overmold to the screening panel with tensioned wires. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the overmold encapsulates at least a portion of the first frame end, the second frame end, the first frame side, the second frame side, the first wire ends and the second wire ends. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the overmold further encapsulates at least a portion of the at least one of a first wire of the plurality of wires proximate the first frame side or a second wire of the plurality of wires proximate the second frame side. ### Claim 19 A screening panel for use in a vibratory machine comprising: a frame including frame ends and frame sides; and a plurality of tensioned wires extending between and secured to the frame ends, the tensioned wires being arranged to define spaces through which material can pass during use of the vibratory machine. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The screening panel of claim 19, further comprising an overmold disposed over the frame and at least a portion of the plurality of tensioned wires, the overmold providing the screening panel with a fixed size and shape for coupling to the vibratory machine.