IMPROVED SCREEN PANEL
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention in general relates to an improved screen panel and in
particular, to screen panels, which have external reinforcement and possess high
open area and low thickness , said screen panels being applied for screening /
separating or grading of minerals in the mining and quarrying industries. The present
invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such improved screen panels.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Screening panel system for ore screening decks that is now widely used by the
mining industry, replaced the earlier screening cloths and large wire screening
frames. These screening panels are known to be either of Rubber or Polyurethane
with steel reinforcements. It is also known that such panels are manufactured by hot
vulcanized method or casting. The panels are adapted to be secured with the support
frame of the screen machine by bolting. The panels may also be secured to the
frame with an alternate method using a pin and separate lug arrangement.
The screen panels known in the art, as described aforesaid, suffer from the vital
disadvantage of degradation of screening efficiency, due to low open area compared
to the conventional screen desks. Of course, clogging of screen panels and absence
of substantial flexibility are the other deficiencies, which are frequently encountered
in the field. Research is on in this area for a considerably long period of time to
substantially increase the screening efficiency, simultaneously ensuring prevention of
clogging and substantial flexibility for continuous screening. However, significant
breakthrough in that perspective is yet to be achieved.
Accordingly there was a long felt need to design screen panels for its application in
mining and quarrying industries, which have substantially increased screening
efficiency and which simultaneously ensure prevention of clogging and substantial
flexibility for continuous screening.
The present invention meets the aforesaid long felt need.

All through out the specification including the claims, the words "screen panel",
"screen deck" "mining", "quarrying", "mineral", "ores", " reinforcement", "support",
"walls", "button", "sleeve", "screening device", "screening deck", are to be
interpreted in the broadest sense of the respective terms and includes all similar
items in the field known by other terms, as may be clear to persons skilled in the art.
Restriction/limitation, if any, referred to in the specification, is solely by way of
example and understanding the present invention.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a screen panel for its
application in mining and quarrying industries, which has substantially increased
screening efficiency .
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a screen panel for its
application in mining and quarrying industries which has substantially increased
screening efficiency by virtue of external reinforcement.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a screen panel for its
application in mining and quarrying industries, having increased number of apertures
by virtue of external reinforcement, whereby high open area and low thickness are
ensured.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a screen panel for its
application in mining and quarrying industries which ensures prevention of clogging
by virtue of flaring design of hole shape and also ensures substantial flexibility for
continuous screening.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a screen panel for its
application in mining and quarrying industries, which is available at a fairly
reasonable price by virtue of its reasonably low manufacturing cost.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a
a screen panel for its application in mining and quarrying industries, which has
substantially increased screening efficiency by virtue of external reinforcement.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a screening deck for its
application in the mining and quarrying industry, having mounted thereon a screen
panel which has substantially increased screening efficiency by virtue of external
reinforcement.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a screening deck for its
application in the mining and quarrying industry, having mounted thereon a plurality
of screen panels ,for its application in mining and quarrying industries, each said
screen panel having substantially increased screening efficiency by virtue of
external reinforcement.
How the foregoing objects are achieved and the other aspects of the present
invention, will be clear from the following description which is purely by way of
understanding and not by way of any sort of limitation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides a screen panel for mining and quarrying
industries adapted to be mounted on a screen deck, including a screening surface
made up of materials such as herein described formed on a reinforcing, said
screening surface having suitably designed apertures of desired shape for allowing
materials of desired size to pass through, said, said reinforcing being an external
reinforcing, whereby screening efficiency of said screen panel is substantially
enhanced.
In accordance with preferred embodiments of the screen panel of the present
invention:
-said reinforcing is a steel reinforcing and is adapted to be mechanically fixed to said
panel by button type fixing.
-said reinforcing comprises externally reinforced body/support with panel fixing
frame under the edge surface of said panel.

-said screen panel has a substantially high number of apertures thereby
increasing the open area of said panel substantially and also reducing the thickness
of said panel substantially.
-said apertures have a flaring design of hole shape thereby preventing clogging
substantially and edges of said panel and gaps between said apertures are
substantially reduced.
-said screening surface, other than said apertures, are made of any one of or a
combination of mild steel, stainless steel, rubber and/or polyurethane with or without
steel reinforcing.
-said panel comprises of vulcanized material, rubber polyurethane, having external
steel reinforcing bars under the edge surface of said panel.
The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing a screen panel for
mining and quarrying industries adapted to be mounted on a screen deck, including
designing a screening surface made up of materials such as herein described formed
on a reinforcing , said method further including making suitably designed apertures
of desired shape on said screening surface, for allowing materials of desired size to
pass through wherein said reinforcing is formed as an external reinforcing in the
manner such as herein described, whereby screening efficiency of said screen panel
is substantially enhanced.
In accordance with preferred embodiments of the method of the present invention:
-said reinforcing is a steel reinforcing and is mechanically fixed to said panel by
button type fixing under the edge surface of said panel.
The present invention also provides a screening deck for mining and quarrying
industries, having mounted thereon a plurality of screen panels , each said panel
including screening surface made up of materials such as herein described formed on
a reinforcing, said screening surface having suitably designed apertures of desired
shape for allowing materials of desired size to pass through, said reinforcing being an

external reinforcing whereby screening efficiency of said screen panel is
substantially enhanced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The nature and scope of the present invention, will be better understood from the
accompanying drawings, which are by way of illustration of some preferred
embodiments and not by way of any sort of limitation. In the accompanying
drawings,
Figure 1 illustrates a plan view of the screening surface incorporating the screen
panel in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 illustrates a sectional side view of the screening surface illustrated in figure
1 along the line A-A.
Figure 3 illustrates a pictorial view of the screening area of polyurethane screen
panels according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The following describes some preferred embodiments of the present invention, which
are purely for the sake of understanding the performance of the invention, and not
by way of any sort of limitation.
The screen panels are mounted on screen decks for causing screening / separating
or grading of minerals in the mining and quarrying industries. The present invention
is aimed at providing screen panels for its application in mining and quarrying
industries, which have external reinforcement/support with the panel fixing frame
under the edge surface of the panel. This ensures substantial increase of screening
efficiency of the panel. That apart, this facilitates increasing the number of
apertures, whereby high open is ensured. Simultaneously, this also ensures
reduction in thickness. Furthermore, due to the high open area and low thickness the
weight of polyurethane required to be applied for manufacturing the screen panel is
less. Since there is reduction in polyurethane weight, so the cost of production goes

down, which ensures its availability at a fairly reasonably low price. The screen
panels in accordance with the present invention, nullifies/substantially reduces the
drawbacks of the screen panels known in the art, as discussed hereinbefore under
the heading "Background of the Invention".
The accompanying figure 1, illustrates a preferred embodiment of the screen panel
according to the present invention. It shows the panel fixing frame(l) that is
bolted/welded to the frame under the screen deck. Conventionally, reinforcements
such as steel reinforcements are provided inside the panel. In accordance with the
present invention, the reinforcement is kept externally. This increases the screening
efficiency. Conventionally, the reinforcements such as but not limited to screen
reinforcements, in all screen panels, are bonded to the polyurethane or rubber part
chemically. As a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the
reinforcement is mechanically fixed to the panel by button type fixing.
The accompanying figure 2 illustrates a sectional view of the screen panel in
accordance with the present invention, along the line A-A in the accompanying figure
1. It also illustrates the external reinforcement(2) which constitutes the crux of the
present invention. The accompanying figure 3 illustrates a pictorial view of a
preferred embodiment of the screening area polyurethane screen panel of the
present invention.
As illustrated in the accompanying figures 2 and 3, the edges of the screen panels
according to the present invention have been reduced, the gaps between the
apertures have been reduced and the central bar wide portion of internal
reinforcements as given in conventional types are also reduced. These increase the
open area by virtue of the increase in the number of apertures. The thickness of the
panels is also as a consequence, substantially reduced. This in turn ensures
reduction in mass of polyurethane that is applied to manufacture the screen panels
which in turn reduces the manufacturing cost and the cost at which such screen
panels are made available to its users. Reduction in cost is also facilitated by
clubbing the fixing system and the reinforcement. The apertures are suitably
designed to desired shape, for allowing materials of desired size to pass through. The
apertures are made of suitable abrasion resistant material as will be known to
persons skilled in the art.

The screening device in accordance with the present invention improves the
screening efficiency as well as prevents clogging due to the flaring design of the hole
shape. Substantial flexibility is also ensured to have continuous screening without
clogging due to the absence of internal reinforcement. Thus, not only is the
screening efficiency improved to a great extent but also, it provides adequate
flexibility. The polyurethane helps to take the impact of the materials coming in
contact with the screening surface, whereas the apertures prevent clogging due to
the flaring type design.
The screen panel in accordance with the present invention is manufactured by hot
vulcanizing or casting with rubber or polyurethane having external
reinforcement/support with the panel fixing frame under the edge surface of the
panel. In this arrangement, the number of apertures are increased to a great extent
i.e. open area increased to the highest level compared to any other panel, for which
efficiency of the screen deck is enhanced substantially. The screen panels, not being
internally reinforced and being less thick weighs less and thus provide adequate
flexibility. This helps to have continuous screening which further results in maximum
output for the user.
The present invention is applicable for all desired shapes of apertures, as required
in the industry. The panels may be of different sizes, i.e. - modular type (305x305
mm and 610x300 mm) and larger sizes also. For modular type snap on type fixing,
like button type, pin and sleeve type may be provided for mounting on to the screen
deck.
Preferably, the screening surface, other than said apertures, are made of any one of
or a combination of mild steel, stainless steel, rubber and/or polyurethane with or
without steel reinforcing. Preferably, the screen panel comprises of vulcanized
material, rubber polyurethane, having external steel reinforcing bars under the edge
surface of panel.
The method of manufacturing a screen panel for mining and quarrying industries
adapted to be mounted on a screen deck, according to the present invention includes

designing a screening surface made up of materials such as herein described formed
on a reinforcing. The method further includes making suitably designed apertures of
desired shape on said screening surface, for allowing materials of desired size to
pass through. As a prerequisite, the reinforcing is formed as an external reinforcing
as described before , whereby screening efficiency of the screen panel is
substantially enhanced. Preferably, the reinforcing is a steel reinforcing and is
mechanically fixed to the panel by button type fixing, under the edge surface of the
panel. The reinforcing may be a reinforced steel bar.
The present invention has been described with reference to some drawings and
preferred embodiments, purely for the sake of understanding and not by way of any
limitation and the present invention includes all legitimate developments within the
scope of what has been described hereinbefore and claimed in the appended claims.

We Claim
1. A screen panel for mining and quarrying industries adapted to be mounted on a
screen deck, including a screening surface made up of materials such as herein
described formed on a reinforcing, said screening surface having suitably designed
apertures of desired shape for allowing materials of desired size to pass through,
said, said reinforcing being an external reinforcing, whereby screening efficiency of
said screen panel is substantially enhanced.
2. The screen panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing is a steel
reinforcing and is adapted to be mechanically fixed to said panel by button type
fixing.
3. The screen panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing comprises
externally reinforced body/support with panel fixing frame under the edge surface of
said panel.
4.The screen panel as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said panel has a
substantially high number of apertures thereby increasing the open area of said
panel substantially and also reducing the thickness of said panel substantially.
5. The screen panel as claimed in claim 4 wherein said apertures have a flaring
design of hole shape thereby preventing clogging substantially and edges of said
panel and gaps between said apertures are substantially reduced.
6. The screen panel as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said screening
surface, other than said apertures, are made of any one of or a combination of mild
steel, stainless steel, rubber and/or polyurethane with or without steel reinforcing.
7. The screen panel as claimed in any preceding claim 6, wherein said panel
comprises of vulcanized material, rubber polyurethane, having external steel
reinforcing bars under the edge surface of said panel.
8. A method of manufacturing a screen panel for mining and quarrying industries
adapted to be mounted on a screen deck, including designing a screening surface

8. A method of manufacturing a screen panel for mining and quarrying industries
adapted to be mounted on a screen deck, including designing a screening surface
made up of materials such as herein described formed on a reinforcing , said method
further including making suitably designed apertures of desired shape on said
screening surface, for allowing materials of desired size to pass through wherein said
reinforcing is formed as an external reinforcing in the manner such as herein
described, whereby screening efficiency of said screen panel is substantially
enhanced.
9.The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said reinforcing is a steel reinforcing
and is mechanically fixed to said panel by button type fixing under the edge
surface of said panel.
10. A screening deck for mining and quarrying industries, having mounted thereon a
plurality of screen panels , each said panel including screening surface made up of
materials such as herein described formed on a reinforcing, said screening surface
having suitably designed apertures of desired shape for allowing materials of desired
size to pass through, said reinforcing being an external reinforcing whereby
screening efficiency of said screen panel is substantially enhanced.

A screen panel for mining and quarrying industries adapted to be mounted on a
screen deck, including a screening surface made up of materials such as herein
described formed on a reinforcing, said screening surface having suitably designed
apertures of desired shape for allowing materials of desired size to pass through,
said, said reinforcing being an external reinforcing(2), whereby screening efficiency
of said screen panel is substantially enhanced.