WO1989010211A1

WO1989010211A1 - A sorting device

Info

Publication number: WO1989010211A1
Application number: PCT/SE1989/000211
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gösta BERGLUND
Original assignee: Berglund Goesta
Priority date: 1988-04-21
Filing date: 1989-04-18
Publication date: 1989-11-02
Also published as: SE460582B; SE8801477D0

Abstract

A sorting device comprises a plurality of elongated sorting elements (18, 20), which define passage openings for a finer proportion of the material to be sorted and which in unison form an inclined upper sorting surface, on which the material to be sorted is intended to be deposited in an area (15) intended for location at the top of the device. The device comprises first sorting elements (18), which are arranged in the upper area and extend generally along the direction of inclination of the sorting surface, and second sorting elements (20) arranged in an area (21) below the upper area and extending generally transversely to the direction of inclination of the sorting surface.

Description

A sorting device

FIELD OF INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

This invention is related to a sorting device. The term "sorting" is intended to encompass all screening, classif cation or separation where it is desired to divide the pulv rulent, granular or particulate material in question into least two size fractions. The sorting device according to t invention is particularly suitable for sorting soil types, e. excavation masses in connection with construction work. In f instance road building, the sorting device may be used f separating a finer material fraction from a coarser one.

Examples on sorting devices are given in my Swedish patent 383 768 and 443 302. The devices disclosed therein comprise plurality of elongated sorting elements, which define passag openings for a finer proportion of the material to be sorte and which in unison form an inclined upper sorting surface, o which the material to be sorted is intended to be applied in a area located at the top. The known devices comprise sortin elements extending generally along the direction of inclinatio of the sorting surfaces and have turned out to be extremel satisfactory for rough sorting purposes, i.e. when only compa ratively coarse constituents are to be prevented from passin through the sorting openings. However, there is often need t separate from excavation masses or road building masses a comparatively fine fraction, e.g. with a particle size of 0-8 mm. This finer fraction may simply be undesirable in the masses or otherwise it may be less important, so that it after separation can be used for other purposes, for instance sanding of roads. It has turned out to be impossible to adapt the known sorting devices to such finer sorting tasks by simply providing the sorting elements more closely to each other. The result of such attempts has been that the passage openings of the sorting device have been clogged very rapidly by the finer consti¬ tuents, in particular when the material to be sorted is rela¬ tively wet. Furthermore, the finer constituents have deposited and adhered so strongly to the upper portions of the sorting elements that work efforts unreasonable in this connection have been required for cleaning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a sorting device excellently suitable for separating a relatively fine fraction from the material in question with good capacity and without unacceptable clogging of the device.

In a sorting device of the nature where the material to be sorted is intended to be applied in an upper area of the inclined sorting surface, this object is obtained by that more closely defined in the appendent claim 1.

By the provision of first sorting elements extending generally along the direction of inclination of the sorting surface in said upper area, these sorting elements will cause a first sorting operation at the same time as the material efficiently will be directed to slide downwardly along the sorting surface. The second sorting elements extending generally transversely to the direction of inclination of the sorting surface in the area located under the first mentioned area will effect the main portion of the sorting operation and cause by their transverse direction a certain turbulence of the material passing there¬ over, said turbulence advantageously contributing to the passage of the finer fraction through the sorting openings.

To considerably reduce the tendency to clogging of the passage openings between the second sorting elements, it is preferable that these second sorting elements are carried by carrying members adapted to allow at least some of the sorting elements to carry out some transverse movement and/or rotational move¬ ment under influence of the material to be sorted.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the enclosed drawings, a more specific description of an embodiment example of the invention will follow hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Fig 1 is a perspective view of a known sorting device;

Fig 2 is a view from the side of the device according to fig 1 provided with an accessory in the form of the sorting device according to the invention;

Fig 3 is perspective view of the device according to the invention as viewed towards its sorting surface;

Fig 4 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention as viewed obliquely from below; and

Fig 5 is a longitudinal section through the device according to the line V-V in fig 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A sorting device of the type described in my Swedish patents 383 768 and 443 302 is illustrated in fig 1. This device comprises a frame 1 and a plurality of elongated sorting elements 2 forming an inclined sorting surface. The rod like sorting elements 2 extend parallell to the direction of incli¬ nation. The frame 1 is supported by four legs 3 located at the corners of the frame 4. The two legs supporting the frame at its upper end comprise spring devices 4, which when material is laid on to the sorting surface, e.g. by means of a loading bucket, cause the frame and accordingly the sorting elements 2 to be put into vibration under influence of the weight of the material.

The sorting device intended with the present invention is illustrated on its own in Figs 3 and 4. This sorting device is generally denoted 5 and has in the embodiment the character of an accessory applicable on the sorting device illustrated in fig 1. The latter is intended to be designed for allowing passage between the sorting elements 2 also of relatively coarse material. However, the sorting device 5 according to figs 3 and 4 is intended to allow passage only of much finer material; the passage openings in the sorting device 5 are accordingly much more narrow than^* in the sorting device accor¬ ding to fig 1.

As appears from figs 3 and 4, the sorting device 5 comprises a frame 6 consisting of four rectangularly disposed beams, namely two transverse beams 7, 8 and two longitudinal beams 9, 10. Hereinabove and in the following the longitudinal direction of the device is nominated as being parallel to the intended direction of inclination. However, it is to be noted that the device of course may be given such dimensions that its longi¬ tudinal direction will extend perpendicularly to the intended direction of inclination. The transverse beam 7 intended for location at the top comp¬ rises members 11 for connecting the sorting device 5 to the sorting device illustrated in fig 1. These members 11 are in the embodiment designed as hooks, which when the sorting device 5 is located on the sorting device illustrated in fig 1 in the situation shown in fig 2 engage about the upper transverse beam of the frame of the sorting device illustrated in fig 1. Accordingly, the sorting device 5 will lie on top of the elements 2 of the sorting device illustrated in fig 1 and material passing through the device 5 will also pass through the openings between the elements 2 since these openings are larger than the passage openings in the sorting device 5. It is illustrated in fig 2 how the fine fraction passes between the sorting elements and is collected at 12 whereas the more coarse fraction moves over the sorting surface and arrives at a heap indicated at 13. Separating members 14 may, as indicated in fig 2, be arranged to separate the heaps 12 and 13 from each other.

It is to be emphasized that the sorting device 5 according to the invention by no means is restricted to use with the device illustrated in fig 1. Instead the device 5 could be provided with its own support members, legs etc for locating the device in an operational position.

The sorting surface of the device 5 comprises an upper area 15, which is intended to receive the material to be sorted from an arbitrary material delivering equipment. This is in fig 2 indicated as formed by the load bucket 16 of a loading machine 17. The delivery of material in the area 15 will accordingly occur batchwise and in a relatively tough manner.

The device 5 comprises two sets of sorting elements, namely first sorting elements 18, which are arranged in the area 15 and extend generally along the direction of inclination (arrow 19) of the sorting surface, and second sorting elements 20, which are arranged in an area 21 under the area 15 and which extend generally transversely to the direction of inclination of the sorting surface. The elements 20 are in practice gene¬ rally horisontally disposed during operation.

All sorting elements 18, 20 have the character of elongated rods, which in the embodiment have a generally uniform, cir¬ cular cross section.

The sorting elements 18 in the area 15 are preferably consi¬ derably more coarse than the sorting elements 20 to adopt the forces occurring by the material delivery. As appears from fig 5, the elements 18 are laid onto support members 22 and secured in. position by e.g. welding. One of the members 22 obtains support by the upper transverse beam 7 of the frame 6 whereas the other is supported by a transverse carrying member 23 extending between the longitudinal beams 9, 10 of the frame. Longitudinal support members 24 are also arranged between the carrying member 23 and beam 7. An angle piece 25 attached to the beam 7 overlaps the top ends of elements 18.

The second sorting elements 20 are carried by longitudinal carrying members 26, which are so arranged that they allow at least some and in the embodiment illustrated all of the ele¬ ments 20 to carry out a certain movement transverse to their longitudinal direction and also a rotational movement relative to the carrying members about their longitudinal axes under influence of the material to be sorted. All elements 18 in the area 15 are in this embodiment parallel and also all elements 20 are mutually parallel.

As is most clearly illustrated in fig 5, the carrying members 26 comprise holes 27 for receiving the sorting elements 20 with such clearance that said movement of the elements 20 in the holes 27 are allowed. As an example it may be mentioned that the sorting elements 20 may have a diameter of 8 mm wherea holes 27 may have a diameter of 9-10 mm.

The holes 27 in the various carrying members 26 are located i alignment so that an individual sorting element 20 is intro ducable into the associated holes 27 in the carrying members 26 from one side of the sorting device 5. The latter comprises a its longitudinal beams 9, 10 side pieces 29, the upper portions of which form lateral limitations for the material to be sorted. The upper parts of these upper portions may diverge upwardly as is most clearly apparent from fig 3 in order to direct the material in a funnel like way. At least one of the side pieces 29 is releasably connected to the frame 6 of the device 5 so that the sorting elements 20 after removal of this releasable side piece may be withdrawn from the holes in the carrying members 26 and introduced into the holes when it is necessary to exchange sorting elements.

The two carrying members 26 located at the longitudinal beams 9 and 10 are attached on top of these beams, whereas the carrying members 26 spaced therebetween are formed by an upper portion 30 comprising the holes 27 and a lower portion 31 supporting the portion 30. The purpose therewith is that the holes 27 should be able to be made in the relatively easily manipula- table portions 30 but during production of the device, the portions 30 and 31 are permanently fixed to each other by means of e.g. welding.

The device comprises in the area 21 a further transverse support member 32, which extends between the longitudinal beams 9 and 10 and adjoins supportingly to the carrying members 26.

As appears from fig 3 and 5, the sorting elements 20 in the area 21 may be arranged in different, mutually parallel planes, so that downwardly directed steps occur in transition zones 33. A similar step 34 is for the rest at hand in the transition area between the elements 18 and the adjacent elements 20, which is preferable since material sliding downwardly along elements 18 will leave the same above the adjacent transverse elements 20.

It is preferred that the sorting elements 18 between each other define slot like passage openings, the free width of which is smaller than the free width b formed between adjacent sorting elements 20 (see fig 5). The free width in question is in both cases when viewing the sorting surface perpendicularly thereto. However, the free width B between two adjacent sorting elements 20 on projection perpendicularly to a horizontal plane is substantially of the same magnitude as the free width betwen two adjacent elements 18, the latter free width being as viewed perpendicularly to the sorting surface. The sorting elements 20 may in practice have a diameter of about 8 mm whereas the sorting elements 18 may have a diameter of about 16 mm. This means with other words that the open area of the sorting surface, on viewing perpendicularly thereto, will be much larger in the area 21 than in the area 15, more specifically about two times larger.

It is preferred that the second sorting elements 20 are made of highly resilient material, in particular spring steel. This is preferably also valid for the elements 18.

The following occurs when using the sorting device 5: The material to be sorted is laid off, e.g. by means of the load bucket 16, on the sorting elements 18 in the area 15; this material deposit causes considerable strain, which however, may be adopted by the relatively coarse elements 18. At the same time the device 5 is put into vibration since it according to fig 2 is carried by the frame 1, which in turn is resiliently suspended by means of the devices 4. Even if the open area in the area 15 is relatively small, a first sorting operation occurs already therein since some proportion of the finer material passes through the slots between the elements 18. The rods 18 pointing in the direction 19 of inclination will, however, divert the main portion of the material stream so that it moves downwardly over the sorting elements 20 in the area 21. Since the material is deposited within the area 15 the rough contact with the material will cause the tendency to clogging of the openings between the sorting elements 18 to be relatively small. In case the elements 18 consist of highly resilient material, in particular spring steel, the resilient character of elements 18 will reduce the risk for wedging of bigger particles, such as stones, between elements 18. The material reaching the area 21 will continue to slide downwardly along the sorting device 5 and during this sliding the trans¬ verse elements 20 will cause a certain amount of turbulence of the material particles, said turbulence simplifying material passage in the desired degree. Since the elements 20 are received with clearance in the holes 27, they will under influence of the material be able to rotate or turn in the holes, which reduces the tendency of deposit of fine material on the elements and simplifies particle passage through the sorting openings. The high resiliency of the elements 20 will also cause the risk for wedging of stones or other coarser particles in the material between adjacent rods to be consi¬ derably reduced since the elements 20 will be able to deflect from their straight form. Besides, the elements 20 may move somewhat transversely within the holes 27, which is favourable to sorting capacity and reduces clogging tendencies.

It has been found suitable to arrange the sorting device 5 according to the invention so that its sorting surface substan¬ tially slopes in an angle a relative to horizontal planes (fig 2 ) which is within the interval 30-60°, preferably 40-50°. Particularly good results have been obtained with a slope angle a of 43-48°, it being suitable to have 45° as a target. The sorting device may of course be modified in several ways in relation to the embodiment illustrated within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A sorting device, in particular for soil types and excavated masses, comprising a plurality of elongated sorting elements (.18, 20), which define passage openings for a finer proportion of the material to be sorted and which in unison form an inclined upper sorting surface, on which the material to be sorted is intended to be applied in an area (15) intended to be located at the top of the device, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it comprises a combination of two sets of sorting ele¬ ments, namely

a) first sorting elements (18), which are arranged in the upper area (15) and extend generally along the direction of incli¬ nation of the sorting surface, and

b) second sorting elements (20), which are arranged in an area (21) below the upper area and which extend generally trans¬ versely to the direction of inclination of the sorting surface.

2. A device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the first sorting elements (18) have a smaller free distance between each other than the second sorting elements (20).

3. A device according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the mutual distance between adjacent second sorting elements (20) is such that the free width therebetween pro¬ jected perpendicularly to a horisontal plane is generally of the same magnitude as the free width between the first sorting elements (18) .

4. A device according to any preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the first sorting elements (18) are considerably coarser than the second sorting elements (20).

5. A device according to any preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the second sorting elements (20) are carried by carrying members (26) arranged to allow at least some of the sorting elements to carry out some transverse movement and/or rotational movement under influence of the material to be sorted.

6. A device according to claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the carrying members (26) comprise holes (27) for receiving the second sorting elements (20) with such a clearance that said movement or movements thereof are allowed.

7. A device according to any preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at least the second sorting elements (20) are made of a highly resilient material, in particular spring steel.

8. A device according to any preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at least the second sorting elements (20J have generally circular cross sections.