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US 5,060,806 AGranted
Variable-aperture screen
AssigneeCal Recovery Systems, Incorporated
InventorGeorge M. Savage
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for separating material into first and second portions according to size including a plurality of shafts, a plurality of spaced disks radiating outwardly from each of the shafts to define apertures and linkage interconnecting the shafts for moving the shafts toward or away from one another to vary the size of the apertures while the apparatus is performing the separating function.
Claims14
Apparatus adapted to separate material into first and second portions according to size, said apparatus comprising, in combination:
- a support;
- a plurality of cylindrically-shaped shafts movably mounted on said support in spaced, substantially parallel relationship and adapted to receive said material, each of said plurality of shaft having a longitudinal axis and defining spaced circumferential notches, said notches radiating outwardly at right angles to said longitudinal axis, with the notches defined by each of said shafts being offset from and out of alignment with the notches defined by shafts adjacent thereto and the notches defined by alternate shafts being in alignment with one another;
- a plurality of spaced, generally flat disks radiating outwardly from each of said shafts at right angles to the longitudinal axis thereof, with the disks of each of said shafts staggered relative to the disks on shafts adjacent thereto and defining therewith a plurality of apertures between adjacent shafts, said apertures permitting passage of said first portion therethrough under the influence of gravity to separate said first portion from said second portion, said disks of each of said shafts being located between the notches defined thereby and in alignment with the notches defined by adjacent shafts, whereby disks of alternate shafts are in alignment;
- means for rotating said shafts;
- and
- means for selectively moving said shafts on said support toward or away from one another to vary the size of said apertures including linkage interconnecting said shafts and adapted to cause substantially simultaneous movement of said shafts relative to said support while maintaining substantially parallel relationship between said shafts, said notches of each of said shafts receiving therein at least a portion of the disks radiating outwardly from adjacent shafts when said shafts are moved toward one another by said means for selectively moving said shafts, said apertures being discrete and having a rectangular configuration defined by the outer peripheries of said shafts between the notches defined thereby and said disks when said disk portions are received by said notches.
3 more elements
In combination:
- a framework;
- at least one accordion linkage mounted for movement relative to said framework, said accordion linkage comprising a plurality of linkage arms pivotally interconnected at ends thereof and at locations substantially mid-point between said ends;
- bearing members located at said mid-point locations;
- a plurality of rotatable shafts, each said shaft having an end rotatably disposed in one of said bearing members;
- a plurality of first gears, said first gears rotatably mounted on said accordion linkage at the pivotally interconnected ends thereof;
- a plurality of second gears, said second gears attached to said shafts and in operable engagement with said first gears;
- and
- means for simultaneously rotating said first and second gears and said shafts.
5 more elements
In apparatus for separating material into first and second portions according to size, the following combination:
- a framework;
- at least one accordion linkage mounted for movement relative to said framework, said accordion linkage comprising a plurality of linkage arms pivotally interconnected at ends thereof and locations substantially mid-point between said ends;
- bearing members located at said mid-point locations;
- a plurality of rotatable shafts, each said shaft having an end rotatably disposed in one of said bearing members;
- a plurality of spaced disks radiating outwardly of said shafts, with the disks projecting from said shafts staggered relative to the disks on adjacent shafts to define with said shafts a plurality of apertures, said shafts and disks engageable by said material;
- a plurality of first gears, said first gears rotatably mounted on said accordion linkage at the pivotally interconnected ends thereof;
- a plurality of second gears, said second gears attached to said shafts and in operable engagement with said first gears;
- and
- means for simultaneously rotating said first and second gears and said shafts.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.