IMPROVED SCREEN PANEL
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention in general relates to screening panel for screening / separating
or grading of minerals in the mining and quarrying industries and in particular to
screen panels equipped with replaceable wearing/functional sections.
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.
A difficulty encountered in using these panels is that the whole panel needs to be
replaced with a minimum defect in the aperture zone due to cutting of aperture or
wearing of aperture where screening area thickness is reduced. This affects the
strength of apertured area of the panel and also the cut point. In a screen panel
the edges are thicker than the screening portion as in the edges, the internal
reinforcements are placed which needs to be wear protected. However, the main
wear portion is the screening area thickness i.e in the aperture zone which is the
functional zone. Conventionally the functional zone and the reinforcement zone are
homogeneous and one piece. Hence, at the time of replacement of panels the
customer has to change the entire panel i.e the functional zone or wear zone and the
reinforcement zone being one , homogeneous and integral. Further, the integral
nature of the screen panels add on to the overall weight triggering, handling
inconveniences.
Accordingly there was a long felt need to design improved screen panels for its
application in mining and quarrying industries, which have replaceable

wearing/functional sections and which are light weight, easy to handle and have
substantially low manufacturing cost.
The present invention meets the aforesaid long felt need.
All through out the specification including the claims, the words "screen panel",
"mining", "quarrying", "mineral", "ores", "abrasion resistant", "wear resistant",
"sections", "zones", "wear zone/section", "reinforcement zone/section" 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 with
replaceable wearing/functional sections for its application in mining and quarrying
industries.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a screen panel with
replaceable wearing/functional sections having higher longevity and which is flexible.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a screen panel with
replaceable wearing/functional sections having light weight and consequently, is easy
to handle.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a screen panel with
replaceable wearing/functional sections which have a substantially low cost of
manufacturing.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a screen panel with
replaceable wearing/functional sections which ensures easy fitting of the panels and
substantially reduces the spares cost.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a screen panel with
replaceable wearing/functional sections which ensures prevention of clogging of
materials during screening.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a
screen panel with replaceable wearing/functional sections for its application in mining
and quarrying industries.
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 wear section and a
reinforcement section, said wear section comprising a screening surface made up of
materials such as herein described formed on said reinforcement section such as
herein described, said wear section being the top portion of said panel and said
reinforcement section being the bottom portion of said panel, said wear section and
said reinforcement section being separate units and said wear section being adapted
to be replaceable from time to time, for ensuring smooth functioning of screening
operation.
In accordance with preferred embodiments of the screen panel of the present
invention:
-said screening area comprises abrasion resistant apertures having a flaring design;
-said wear section is separated into two or more units;
-said wear section and said reinforcing section are adapted to be attached to each
other by button type snug fitting or by pin and lug arrangement or by bolting;
-said wear section is made up of polyurethane/rubber/steel and said reinforcement
section is a frame made by hot vulcanizing or casting with rubber or polyurethane;

-said screening surface is 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 embedded
within it steel reinforcing bars, at the outer edges of said panel and extended across
the inner area of said panel, thereby providing support to said screening surface;
-the reinforcement section of said panel is fitted to the machine frame by button
type snug fitting or by pin and lug arrangement or by bolting.
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 wear section having a screening surface made up of materials such as
herein described and a reinforcement section such as herein described and forming
the wear section on said reinforcing section, said method further including making
the said wear zone and said reinforcement zone as separate units such that, said
wear section is replaceable from time to time, for ensuring smooth functioning of
screening operation.
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 a wear section and a reinforcement section, said wear section comprising a
screening surface made up of materials such as herein described formed on said
reinforcement section such as herein described, said wear section being the top
portion of said panel and said reinforcement section being the bottom portion of said
panel, said wear section and said reinforcement section being separate units and
said wear section being adapted to be replaceable from time to time, for ensuring
smooth functioning of screening operation.

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 in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 illustrates a sectional view of the screening surface in Figure 1 along the line
A-A.
Figure 3 illustrates an enlarged plan view of a preferred embodiment of the screening
surface in accordance with the present invention and a sectional view of the same
along the line A-A.
Figure 4(a) illustrates a pictorial view of the screening area according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4(b) illustrates a sectional view of the screening surface in Figure 4(a) along
the line A-A.
Figure 5 illustrates how the reinforcing section and the wearing/functional section are
fitted according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6(a) illustrates a plan view of a conventional screen panel.
Figure 6(b) illustrates an enlarged sectional view of the panel in Figure 6(a) along
the line A-A.
Figure 7(a) illustrates a plan view of the screen panel according to a preferred
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 7(b) illustrates an enlarged sectional view of the screen panel in figure 7(a)
along the line B-B.

Figure 7(c) illustrates an enlarged sectional view of the screen panel in figure 7(a)
along the line A-A.
Figure 8(a) illustrates a plan view of the screen panel according to another preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 8(b) illustrates an enlarged sectional view of the screen panel in figure 8(a)
along the line A-A.
Figure 9 illustrates a plan view of the screen panel according to a further 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.
It is traditionally known that screen panels basically comprise a wear/functional
section and a reinforcement section. These sections are also commonly referred to as
wear zones and reinforcement zones in the art of screening in mining and quarrying
industries. The wear zones include screening surface/area with abrasion resistant
apertures. The reinforcement zone comprises the reinforcement frame, which is
eventually mounted on the machine frame. Traditionally, the functional zones and
reinforcement zones are homogeneous and integral with one another or in other
words, are made in one piece. Thus, after some time when the apertures get weared
due to abrasion, the whole screen panel has to be changed, which renders the entire
operation costly and inconvenient.
The present invention aims at the innovative step of separating the functional zone
from the reinforcement zone, thus allowing the non wearing reinforcement zone to
remain as it is and reusable, whereas the functional zone is changed from the top
whenever it wears off. So, the customer replaces only the top portion of the panel

and hence obviously the total cost reduces and the whole screening operation
becomes very convenient. Also, this reduces the overall weight of the panels. Thus,
the present invention provides screen panels with replaceable functional zones , for
its application in mining and quarrying industries.
Ideally, the screening surface is made of any one of or a combination of mild steel,
stainless steel, rubber and/or polyurethane with or without steel reinforcing.
The comprehensive panel preferably comprises of vulcanized material, rubber
polyurethane, having embedded within it steel reinforcing bars, at the outer edges of
said panel and extended across the inner area of said panel, thereby providing
support to said screening surface.
The accompanying figure 1 illustrates a plan view of the screening surface according
to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It shows the panel fixing frame
1', that is bolted/welded to the frame under the screen deck.
The accompanying figure 2 illustrates a side view of the screening surface illustrated
in the figure 1.
The screening panels according to the present invention may be either of rubber or
polyurethane with steel reinforcements. The bottom part or frame of the panel is
manufactured by hot vulcanizing or casting with rubber or polyurethane.
The accompanying figure 3 illustrates a pictorial view of the screening area according
to the present invention, which is the functional/wear section of the panel and is
replaceable. It shows a screening area made of polyurethane/rubber/steel . Figure 3
also shows a sectional view along the line A-A.
The accompanying figure 4(a) shows the screening area shown in figure 3 together
with the frame, the frame being the reinforcing section and is non-replaceable.
The accompanying figure 4(b) shows a sectional view of the panel shown in figure
4(a) along the line A-A.

The accompanying figure 5 illustrates the technology by which the screen panel with
replaceable wear/functional section according to the present invention, is fixed to the
frame of the machine. The fixing may be done by the button type snug fitting
applying the fixing means, as protected by patent number 231453 of the applicant.
The replaceable functional section may be fitted to the non-replaceable reinforcing
section of the screen panel, according to the present invention, applying the same
technology. For that purpose, button type male portion has to be provided on the top
functional part, while the corresponding female part has to be in the reinforcement
zone. Other type of fixing arrangements are also embraced by the present invention,
as explained hereinafter.
The accompanying figure 6(a) illustrates a plan view of a conventional screen panel
having the wear zone integrated to the reinforcement zone and made in one piece.
This is particularly clear from the sectional view in the accompanying figure 6(b)
taken along the line A-A in figure 6(a). It shows the reinforcement zone(l) and the
wear zone(2) integral to each other. On the contrary, the accompanying figure 7(a)
illustrates a plan view of the screen panel according to the present invention, where
the top wear zone(2) and the bottom reinforcement zone(l) constitute separate
parts. This is particularly clear from the sectional view in the accompanying figure
7(b) taken along the line B-B in figure 7(a). It clearly shows that the wear zone(2)
and the reinforcement zone(l) are separated. It also illustrates that by snug type
fixing as described in the preceding paragraph, the reinforcement section(l) is fixed
onto the frame/angle(3). The accompanying figure 7(c) illustrates a sectional view
along the line A-A in figure 7(a). It illustrates how the two separated portions,
namely the top and replaceable wear zone(2) is fixed to the bottom reinforcement
zone(l) by snug type fixing arrangement(4), as detailed in the last four lines of the
preceding paragraph. The top/wear part is provided with the snug type fixing(4),
that fits into the cavity in the bottom/reinforcement part. Preferably, the wear zone
has a thickness of 18mm and the reinforcement zone has a thickness of 22mm.
Now, instead of snug fitting type of arrangement, there may be pin and lug type
fixing arrangement for fixing the two portions of the panel and for fitting the panel
on to the machine frame. Alternatively, there may be bolt type of fixing
arrangement.

The accompanying figure 8(a) shows a plan view of a screen panel according to the
present invention, having a replaceable top/wear part and a fixed,
bottom/reinforcement part where the two parts are fixed by pin and separate lug
arrangement. This would be particularly clear from the sectional view in the
accompanying figure 8(b), taken along the line A-A in figure 8(a). It illustrates pin
and lug fixing arrangement for fixing the top/wear zone(2) to the
bottom/reinforcement zone(l). Preferably, the thickness of the wear zone is 10 mm
and the thickness of the reinforcement zone is 30mm and more preferably 22mm.
The accompanying figure 9 illustrates a further preferred embodiment where the
top/replaceable wear zone is divided into a top left part(5) and a top right part(6).
Thus, the screen panel comprises three portions, top left part, top right part and the
bottom reinforcement part. The top part of course, may be broken into three or more
parts as well. So, in this way the screen panel according to the present invention
may be divided into several modular parts each of which can be replaced from top,
for convenient, smooth and perfect screening operation, which is economic as well.
Although the fitting arrangement between the top portion and the bottom portion
has been shown in the accompanying figure 9 , as snug fitting type as discussed
hereinabove, it should be understood that all possible fixing arrangements are
possible.
In all the various preferred embodiments of the present invention, as described
hereinbefore, the apertures of the removable screening area preferably has flaring
design, for prevention of clogging of materials during screening operation.
The method of manufacturing a screen panel according to the present invention
includes designing a wear section having a screening surface made up of materials
such as herein described and a reinforcement section such as herein described and
forming the wear section on said reinforcing section. The method further includes
making the wear zone and the reinforcement zone as separate units such that, the
wear section is replaceable from time to time, for ensuring smooth functioning of
screening operation.

In a nutshell, the non-limiting advantages of the screen panel according to the
present invention may be summarized as below;
l.The requirement for replacing the whole panel is done away with, thereby reducing
the cost of operation and manufacturing of screen panels.
2. The screen panels are made light weight by making the top portion replaceable
either in totality or in part.
3. The flaring design of the screening apertures, ensure prevention of clogging
during screening operation.
4. Easy fitting of the panel to the machine frame and easy fitting between the top
and bottom portion are ensured.
5. Flexibility and higher longevity are ensured.
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 wear section and a reinforcement section, said wear section
comprising a screening surface made up of materials such as herein described
formed on said reinforcement section such as herein described, said wear section
being the top portion of said panel and said reinforcement section being the bottom
portion of said panel, said wear section and said reinforcement section being
separate units and said wear section being adapted to be replaceable from time to
time, for ensuring smooth functioning of screening operation.
2. The screen panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said screening area comprises
abrasion resistant apertures having a flaring design.
3. The screen panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wear section is separated
into two or more units.
4. The screen panel as claimed in claim 3 wherein said wear section and said
reinforcing section are adapted to be attached to each other by button type snug
fitting or by pin and lug arrangement or by bolting.
5. The screen panel as claimed in any preceding claim 4 wherein said wear section is
made up of polyurethane/rubber/steel and said reinforcement section is a frame
made by hot vulcanizing or casting with rubber or polyurethane.
6. The screen panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein said screening surface is 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 embedded within it
steel reinforcing bars, at the outer edges of said panel and extended across the inner
area of said panel, thereby providing support to said screening surface.

8. The screen panel as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the reinforcement
section of said panel is fitted to the machine frame by button type snug fitting or by
pin and lug arrangement or by bolting.
9. A method of manufacturing a screen panel for mining and quarrying industries
adapted to be mounted on a screen deck, including designing a wear section having
a screening surface made up of materials such as herein described and a
reinforcement section such as herein described and forming the wear section on said
reinforcing section, said method further including making the said wear zone and
said reinforcement zone as separate units such that, said wear section is replaceable
from time to time, for ensuring smooth functioning of screening operation.
10. A screening deck for mining and quarrying industries, having mounted thereon a
plurality of screen panels , each said panel including a wear section and a
reinforcement section, said wear section comprising a screening surface made up of
materials such as herein described formed on said reinforcement section such as
herein described, said wear section being the top portion of said panel and said
reinforcement section being the bottom portion of said panel, said wear section and
said reinforcement section being separate units and said wear section being adapted
to be replaceable from time to time, for ensuring smooth functioning of screening
operation.

A screen panel for mining and quarrying industries adapted to be mounted on a
screen deck including a wear section(2) and a reinforcement section(1), said wear
section(2) comprising a screening surface made up of materials such as herein
described formed on said reinforcement section(1) such as herein described, said
wear section being the top portion of said panel and said reinforcement section
being the bottom portion of said panel, said wear section and said reinforcement
section being separate units and said wear section being adapted(4) to be
replaceable from time to time, for ensuring smooth functioning of screening
operation.