GB2189171A - Sieving apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

In a sieving apparatus, for use in separating particulate material, a sieve tray (41) carried on a support framework (1) is movable thereon continuously by a motor drive assembly (43). Thus the operator is free to feed the sieve in a more efficient and less tiring manner than previously required by manual operation. As shown, the drive assembly comprises a power tool (44) releasably secured to an attachment (47) pivotally secured by a hinge (45) to a cross-member of the framework (1). The attachment includes a drive arm (51) which executes an orbital or elliptical motion. In another embodiment, the power tool attachment includes a crank drive which is associated with a connecting rod for reciprocating a rectangular sieve tray. Alternatively the connecting rod may be operated by a permanently installed motor or a solenoid. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to sieves The present invention relates to a sieve for use in separating particulate materials.

In particular the present invention relates to a sieve for use primarily in a private garden to separate reusable soil from vegetation. The sieve may however be applicable to other situations eg a building site. Conventionally soil, sand or other particulate material, is sieved by manually moving, e.g. shaking, moving a form of tray having a wire mesh base region, in which the material to be sieved is placed. The guage of the wire mesh base region is selected to allow only the desired grade ie size, of particulate material to pass through. As will be appreciated, such a sieving operation is lengthy and tedious, it being necessary to stop manually shaking the sieve tray each time the tray requires a new load.

Further, such manual operation is extremely tiring.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a sieve apparatus which can be operated by one person and which can be loaded as and when necessary without sieving having to stop.

According to the present invention there is provided a sieve apparatus comprising of sieve tray carried on a support and adapted to be moved on said support by a motor drive.

In one embodiment of the present invention the motor drive comprises a power tool attachment adapted to move a connecting rod in an axially reciprocating manner when a standard power tool, e.g. electric drill, is detachably secured to the attachment and operated. Aternatively the motor drive may be constructed as a permanent motor (electric, petrol etc.) with a reciprocable connecting rod.

The connecting rod is connectable, preferably via a resilient, e.g. rubber, connection to the sieve tray, the resilient connection absorbing the shock on the motor drive resulting from the load in the sieve tray when the connecting rod reverses its direction of movement. Thus by installing an electric drill in the power tool attachment and connecting a sieve tray of the required gauge to the connecting rod, the sieve tray can be reciprocated back and forth with the connecting rod when the drill is operated. With the drill set in continuous operation, the operator is free to load the sieve tray as and when required, it only being necessary to stop operation when the sieve tray has to be emptied.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the motor drive is adapted to produce an elliptical or orbital sieve tray movement. Again the motor drive may be formed by a permanent motor or by a detachable motor and an orbital movement attachment, e.g. by a power tool and an orbital movement attachment.

In a still further embodiment of the present invention, the motor drive assembly comprises a solenoid and return spring, the solenoid being operable by a suitable arrangement of make and brake contacts. Alternatively a push-pull solenoid may be sustituted.

In any one of the above embodiments the motor drive may be connected to a purpose built sieve tray located on the support, the support being preferably in the form of a rectangular framework mounted on legs. Alternatively a conventional sieve tray, e.g. a circular rimmed sieve tray, may be located on the said support and secured to the motor drive, the only criterion being that there is sufficient room on the support for the tray to move under the action of the motor drive.

Preferably the support comprises a framework with detachable legs, the framework being designed to locate snugly over or just within a standard size container, e.g. wheelbarrow, when the legs are detached. Thus the material can be directly sieved into a desired container.

The present invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of part of one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of part of the embodiment of Fig 1 showing the motor drive assembly; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.

The embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings comprises a support formed by a generally rectangular framework (1) mounted on detachable legs (3). The legs (3) are formed by bent pieces of tubing which are bolted as at (5) to corner regions of rectangular framework (1). The framework (1) is formed by two elongate runners (7) which are held parallel to each other by elongate cross members (9,11 and 13). Each runner (7) has a generally L-shaped transverse cross-section.

One limb (15) of each runner (7) is, in use, arranged substantially horizontally and a sieve tray (17) rests on these horizontal limbs (15), the other sustantially vertical limb (19) of each runner (7) limiting the available lateral movement for the sieve tray (17).

The sieve tray (17) comprises a generally rectangular box frame (21) with an open base region, into which a wire mesh tray (23) can be easily located, the wire mesh tray (23) having handles (25) at each end to facilitate manual lifting of the wire mesh tray (23) out of or into the box frame (21). The box frame (21) rests on runners (7) is connected to a motor drive assembly (27-see Fig. 2) mounted between cross members (11) and (13), by means of an elongate connecting rod (29).

The cross member (9) is located so that it is beneath the box frame (21) at all times, thus preventing an operator from trapping his/her fingers. The elongate connecting rod (29) extends through a hole in an end wall of the box frame (21) with an annular resilient rubber member (31) located over the connecting rod (29) and engaging between a shoulder and washer (33) on the connecting rod (29), and the outside surface of the box frame (21). A like annular resilient rubber member (35) is engaged over the free end region of the connecting rod (29) and is secured between the inside surface of the box frame (21) and a nut and washer (37).Thus the resilient members (31, 35) absorb the shock to the motor drive assembly resulting from the load in the sieve tray when the connecting stops, starts or changes direction, the motor drive assembly (27) being adapted to cause the connecting rod (29) to axially reciprocate.

The motor drive assembly (27) comprises a power tool attachment (37) into which a standard power tool (39) can be releasably and conventionally secured. Alternatively an integral motor (petrol, diesel, electric or hydraulic) and reciprocating drive mechanism can be substituted. The power tool attachment (37) incorporates a crank drive (not shown) to convert the rotary motion of the power tool (39) into the required reciprocating motion for the connecting rod (29).

In use the power tool (39) can be switched on for continuous operation, thus causing the sieve tray (17) to reciprocate back and forth along the elongate runners (7). The wire mesh tray (23) will have been either pre-loaded with material to be sieved or it can be loaded after the motor drive assembly (27) has been started. As the material is sieved, fresh material can as necessary, be loaded into the wire mesh tray (23) without stopping the sieving operation. When the sieve tray (17) has to be emptied the motor drive assembly (27) can be switched off and the wire mesh tray (23) lifted out of the box frame (21).

As an alternative to having a two part sieve tray (17), e.g. wire mesh tray (23) and box frame (21), an integral sieve can be supported on the runners (7) and detachably secured to the connecting rod (29).

Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings. In describing this further embodiment the same reference numerals as used with reference to the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 will be used for equipment parts. This further embodiment of the present invention comprises a framework (1) with a circular sieve tray (41) carried on runners (7), the spacing between the vertical limbs (19) of the parallel runners (7) being greater than the diameter of the sieve tray (41) to allow for limited lateral movement of the sieve tray (41) on the runners (7). A motor drive assembly (43) is pivotally mounted on cross member (13) by means of a hinge (45).The motor drive assembly (43) comprises a power tool (44) which can be releasably secured in a power tool attachment (47), the main body (49) of which attachment (47) is attached to cross member (13) by the hinge (45). The attachment (47) also includes a drive arm (51) which executes an orbital or elliptical motion in a generally horizontal plane when the power tool is operated. The free end region (53) of the drive arm (51) is shaped as an inverted 'U' or 'V' to engage over the edge of the rim of the sieve tray (41), the drive arm (51) being secured to the rim by a bolt and butterfly nut (55). In operation, the sieve tray (41) is casused to move over an orbital or elliptical path.When the sieve tray (41) has to be emptied, the bolt and butterfly nut (55) are released and the motor drive assembly (43) is hinged upwardly about the hinge (45), to free the drive arm (51) from the rim of the sieve tray (41).

The integral sieve tray (41) can be used on the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, provided the connecting rod (29) is suitably modified.

Further, the two part sieve tray of Figs. 1 and 2 can equally well be used in a modified form of the further embodiment of Fig. 3.

By detaching the legs (3) from the framework (1), the framework can be located over a container, e.g. wheelbarrow, so that the sieved material passes directly into the desired container. Preferably guiders (not shown) are provided on the framework (1) to accurately locate and retain the apparatus over the container.

In a still further embodiment of the present invention (not illustrated) the motor drive assembly takes the form of a solenoid and return spring, the soleniod being operated by suitable make and break contacts. Alternatively a push-pull solenoid can be substituted.

The present invention thus provides a sieving apparatus which enables an operator to efficiently sieve particulate material in a continuous manner. Further the sieving apparatus of the present invention can be simply designed to be portable, light weight, and mobile, e.g.

wheels can be provided, if required.

Claims (13)

1: A sieve apparatus comprising a sieve tray carried on a support and adapted to be moved on said support by a motor drive.

2. Apparatus as claimed jn claim 1, in which the motor drive comprises a power tool attachment adapted to move a connecting rod in an axially reciprocating manner when a power tool is detachably secured to the attachment and operated.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the motor drive comprises a permanently installed motor with a reciprocable connecting rod.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, in which the motor drive is adapted to produce an elliptical or orbital tray movement.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the motor drive comprises a solenoid arranged to move a connecting rod.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the solenoid is arranged to operate against a spring return.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, in which the connecting rod is connectible to the sieve tray via a resilient member.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the sieve tray comprises a frame to which the motor drive is in use connected, with a wire mesh tray located in said frame.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the support is in the form of a framework mounted on legs.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which the legs are detachable.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in combination with a container, the legs being detached and the framework being located snugly over or just within the container.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which the container is a wheelbarrow.

13. A sieve apparatus constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.