Semi-cylindrical oscillating sifter

A sifter for separating large particles from fine particulate matter comprising:

• a perforated sifter panel of substantially semi-cylindrical configuration having parallel end panels disposed at extremities of said sifter panel in which said sifter panel and said end panels are oriented to be on an incline relative to a true horizontal plane and in which one of said end panels is vertically lower than the other, wherein the lower end panel is provided with an aperture at its lower extent, said sifter further including a baffle panel disposed parallel to and inbetween said end panels, said baffle panel further having an aperture at its lower extent so that said sifter panel, end panels and baffle panel define two isolated upper and lower compartments inter-connected by said aperture on said baffle panel and said sifter is provided with means to oscillate said sifter whereby the material to be sifted is disposed within the upper compartment and the sifter is oscillated and said baffle panel serves to delay the deployment of the material to the lower compartment;
• said means to oscillate said sifter includes a shaft which supports said sifter at said end panels and shaft is inclined from the horizontal similar to said end panels, said shaft supported at its lower end by an open top bushing and at its upper end by a tapered block connected to said shaft which nests within a bayonet bracket, said bayonet bracket having a tapered slot complimentally formed to receive said tapered block, said bayonet bracket further connected to an inverted substantially U-shaped yoke which is slideably disposed on a motor driven crank whereby said motor driven crank provides oscillatory motion.