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US 9,038,542 B2Granted
Tie plate separator and method thereof
AssigneeB & B Metals, Inc.
InventorWilliam R. Coots
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of a tie plate sorter are disclosed wherein the tie plates are sorted and fed to an output device for further feeding to a tie plate distribution system. The tie plates may be oriented as needed. Exemplary methods are also provided.
Claims31
A tie plate sorter, comprising:
- a generally circular receiver having a generally hollow interior;
- a drive assembly capable of rotating said receiver;
- said receiver having a surrounding wall and a plurality of apertures within said surrounding wall;
- at least one end wall extending radially inward from said surrounding wall;
- a tie plate path in communication with at least one of said plurality of apertures;
- a magnetic retaining mechanism positioned along said tie plate path;
- said magnetic retaining mechanism selectively retaining and releasing tie plates from within said receiver to an outside of said receiver.
4 more elements
A tie plate sorter, comprising:
- a rotatable body formed of at least one outer surrounding wall having a plurality of apertures defining an outlet path;
- a radial wall having an inlet aperture, said radial wall extending toward said surrounding wall;
- a path member spaced from each of said plurality of apertures;
- a magnetic retaining mechanism disposed along said outlet path to selectively retain or release tie plates;
- a switch associated with said retaining mechanism to actuate said retaining mechanism.
2 more elements
A tie plate sorter, comprising:
- a receiver having an input aperture and a plurality of output apertures;
- a drive assembly to rotate said receiver;
- wherein tie plates move from said input aperture to said plurality of output apertures;
- a tie plate path including said plurality of output apertures;
- a magnetic a retaining mechanism disposed along said tie plate path;
- said magnetic retaining mechanism being operable to either retain or release said tie plates at a selected position of rotation of said receiver.
3 more elements
A tie plate sorter control system, comprising:
- a first motor drivably engaged to a receiver which receives tie plates and magnetically selectively retains and releases said tie plates;
- a second motor drivably engaged to a tie plate mover of a feed system;
- a pressure regulating valve wherein pressure increases with loading of tie plates into said receiver;
- said pressure regulating valve in fluid communication with said first motor and said second motor;
- wherein said pressure regulating valve inhibits flow to said second motor when said pressure increases beyond a preselected value.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.