Screen cleaning in CIL and CIP systems

Apparatus for use in separating metal and other values from a slurry by adsorption with particles comprising:

• a tank for holding a slurry containing the values to be separated and a number of particles on which the values are to be adsorbed, said tank having a slurry outlet and a slurry inlet;
• screen means including a screen operatively connected to said slurry outlet for screening the slurry flowing into said outlet to permit slurry to flow into said outlet, but to prevent the particles from flowing into the slurry outlet, the screen having screen openings dimensioned so as to prevent the passage of a significant number of the particles therethrough, said slurry outlet comprising a generally linearly extending tubular member having a plurality of openings formed along the length of a first side thereof;
• and linear bearing means extending from said first side of said tubular member;
• and wherein said screen means comprises a hollow screen body perforated at the mid portion thereof, and having bearing means adjacent one end thereof for engagement with said bearing means extending from said tubular member;
• and a powered actuator operatively connected to said screen body for effecting reciprocation thereof, said actuation comprising means for linearly reciprocating said screen so as to provide a back flushing, self-cleaning, action thereto.