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US 4,360,426 AGranted
Joint between traveling water screen trays
AssigneeFMC Corporation
InventorJack D. Wetzel
Life of this patent
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AssigneeFMC Corporation
InventorJack D. Wetzel
Estimating the term…
A traveling water screen has trays that travel one after the other along a path in the form of a vertical loop. Adjacent trays are connected for articulation about an axis extending transversely of the path. Each tray has a transverse member extending parallel and adjacent to the axis, with one member leading the other member in the direction of tray travel. The trailing member has a cross-sectional shape that extends linearly outward of the loop and curves about the axis of articulation both outwardly and forwardly relative to the path of travel. The leading member has a cross-sectional shape that extends outwardly of the loop beyond the curved portion of the trailing member to an outer edge where an extension projects rearwardly towards the curved portion. A flexible seal that is mounted on the leading member overlaps and contacts the curved portion of the trailing member on the opposite side thereof from the axis of articulation. In a preferred form of the invention, the seal is mounted to the leading member by a fastener that can be both fastened and removed from outside of that member.
In a joint between adjacent traveling water screen trays that are connected for articulation about an axis extending transversely of a path along with the trays travel seriatim in a vertical loop, each tray having a transverse member extending parallel and adjacent to the axis with one member leading the other member in the direction of tray travel, the improvement comprising the trailing member having a cross-sectional shape that extends linearly outward of the loop and curves about the axis of articulation both outwardly and forwardly relative to the path of travel, the leading member having a cross-sectional shape that extends outwardly of the loop beyond the curved portion of the trailing member to an outer edge from where an extension projects rearwardly towards the curved portion, and a flexible seal mounted on the leading member for continuous overlapping and contact with the curved portion of the trailing member on the opposite side thereof from the axis of articulation as the traveling water screen trays travel in the vertical loop.
A joint between traveling water screen trays that are connected for articulation about an axis extending transversely of a path along which the trays travel seriatim comprising a pair of endless chains in spaced parallel relationship, a plurality of screened trays connected between the chains on opposite sides of the axis with one tray leading the other tray in the direction of tray travel, each tray having a transverse member extending parallel and adjacent to the axis for supporting a screen cloth on a side thereof inwardly from the path of tray travel, the trailing member having a cross-sectional shape that extends outwardly from the screen to a point opposite the axis of articulation whereabout the shape curves through an arc having components forward in the direction of tray travel and outwardly beyond the axis, the leading member having a cross-sectional shape that extends outwardly from the screen beyond the curved portion of the trailing member to define a lifting lip with an outer edge from where the shape slopes with components backwardly to the direction of tray travel and inwardly towards the curved portion of the trailing member, and a flexible seal mounted on the backwardly inwardly sloping portion of the leading member for continuous overlapping and contact with the curved portion of the trailing member on the opposite side thereof from the axis of articulation as the traveling water screen trays travel in the vertical loop.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.