US 4,731,188 A · Adjustable ramp for dewatering device

Abstract

A dewatering method and apparatus is disclosed which uses a ramp at one end of a perforate conveyor in which the incline of the ramp may be adjusted while the dewatering operation is taking place. The ramp receives material to be further dewatered after the material has moved along the length of the perforate conveyor. The ramp causes the material to roll back upon itself as the material tends to move up the ramp, which rolling back action enhances dewatering. An actuator is coupled with said ramp for effecting movement of said ramp with respect to the conveyor to adjust the incline of the ramp with respect to the upper surface of the conveyor. In this way, the operator may readily optimize the rolling back action of the material to be dewatered to, in turn, thereby provide optimum dewatering. The ramp is also capable of being completely lifted out of the flow of material to be dewatered while the apparatus is in operation and while the dewatering process is being carried out.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A dewatering device comprising:

(a) a frame;
(b) a perforate conveyor carried by said frame, said conveyor having upstream and downstream ends and having an upper surface on which material being dewatered is deposited and through which conveyor water is drained;
(c) a ramp adjacent said downstream end of said conveyor and disposed at an incline with respect to said upper surface of said conveyor, said ramp receiving the material being dewatered and causing the material to roll back upon itself as the material tends to move up the ramp but partially falls back as a result of the incline, which rolling back action enhances dewatering, said ramp being coupled with said frame for movement with respect thereto and with respect to said upper surface of said conveyor;
and
(d) an actuator coupled with said ramp for effecting movement of said ramp with respect to said frame and with respect to said upper surface of said conveyor to adjust the incline of the ramp with respect to said upper surface of said conveyor to optimize the rolling back action of the material to be dewatered and to, in turn, thereby provide optimum dewatering.

2 more elements

A dewatering device comprising:

(a) a frame;
(b) a perforate conveyor having upstream and downstream ends and having an upper surface on which material being dewatered is deposited and through which conveyor water is drained as the material being dewatered moves downstream along said conveyor;
(c) a ramp adjacent said downstream end of said conveyor and dispossed at an incline with respect to said upper surface of said conveyor, said ramp receiving the material being dewatered and causing the material to roll back upon itself as the moving material tends to move up the ramp but partially falls back as a result of the incline, which rolling back action enhances dewatering;
and
(d) means coupled with said ramp for completely lifting said ramp out of the path of the mateiral being dewatered during operation of the dewatering device, said ramp being supported by said frame.

2 more elements

An apparatus for use wiht a dewatering device of the type having a frame which carries a perforate conveyor with upstream and downstream ends, the conveyor also having an upper surface on which material being dewatered is deposited and through which conveyor wwater is drained, which apparatus is for enhancing the performance of the dewatering device, the apparatus for use with the dewatering device comprising:

(a) a ramp for disposition adjacent said downstream end of said conveyor and for disposition at an incline with respect to the upper surface of the conveyor, said ramp receiving the material being dewatered and causing the material to roll back upon itself as the material tends to move up the ramp but partially falls back as a result of the incline, which rolling back action enhances dewatering, said ramp being for coupling with the frame for movement with respect thereto and with respect to said upper surface of said conveyor;
and
(b) an actuator coupled with said ramp for effecting movement of said ramp with respect to the frame and with respect to said upper surface of the conveyor to adjust the incline of said ramp with respect to said upper surface of said conveyor to optimize the rolling back action of the material to be dewatered and to, in turn, thereby provide optimum dewatering.

An apparatus for use with a dewatering device of the type having a frame which carries a perforate conveyor with upstream and downstream ends, the conveyor also having an upper surface on which material being dewatered is deposited and through which conveyor water is drained, which apparatus is for enhancing the performance of the dewatering device, the apparatus for use with the dewatering device comprising:

(a) a ramp for disposition adjacent the downstream end of the conveyor and for disposition at an incline with respect to the upper surface of said conveyor, said ramp receiving the material being dewatered and causing the material to roll back upon itself as the moving material tends to move up the ramp but partially falls back as a result of the incline, which rolling back action enhances dewatering;
and
(b) means coupled with said ramp for completely lifting said ramp out of the path of the material being dewatered during operation of the dewatering device.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Adjustable ramp for dewatering device

Life of this patent

Adjustable ramp for dewatering device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29