SCREEN PANEL WITH IMPROVED SCREENING AREA
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 rider bar portion.
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 the panels in vogue is that during screening
operation, lump or big particles cause substantial impact on these panels.
Consequently, the panels get worn out at a faster rate. To be precise, the screening
portion gets damaged away due to constant use and consequent wear and tear,
rendering the entire screen panel unfit for use after a certain period of operation.
Also, due to low screening efficiency, the stratification achieved in the screened
material is low.
Accordingly, there exists a long felt need to design improved screen panels for its
application in mining and quarrying industries, which have replaceable portions in
the screening portion, so that the longevity of the screen panel is substantially
improved and simultaneously, the screening efficiency is improved.
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",
"rider bar", "reinforcement portion", 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 having a
screening portion with replaceable rider bars for its application in mining and
quarrying industries.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a screen panel having
higher longevity and which is flexible.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a screen panel adapted to
provide improved stratification in the screened material.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a screen panel which has
a substantially low cost of manufacturing and operation.
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 at least a screening
portion having one or more rider bars and a bottom reinforcement portion, said
screen panel being designed such that said rider bar(s) is(are) adapted to be
replaced from said screening portion as and when required.
In accordance with preferred embodiments of the screen panel of the present
invention:
-said screening portion of said screen panel has abrasion resistant apertures having
a flaring design and said screen panel is adapted to provide improved stratification;
-said screening portion having one or more rider bars and said reinforcement zone
are adapted to be configured as a plurality of modular units;
-said rider bars are attached to a portion of said screening portion and/or said
reinforcement portion by button type snug fitting or by pin and lug arrangement or
by bolting or by any slot;
-said rider bars are made up of polyurethane/rubber/steel and said reinforcement
section is a frame made by hot vulcanizing or casting with rubber or polyurethane;
-the screening surface of said panel is made of any one of or a combination of mild
steel, stainless steel, rubber and/or polyurethane with or without steel reinforcing;
-the reinforcement portion 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 screening portion , and at least a bottom reinforcement portion,
detachably attaching one or more rider bars to lie on said screening portion in the
manner such as herein described and attaching said screening portion and said
reinforcement section such that said rider bars can be replaced as and when
required.
The present invention also provides a screening deck for mining and quarrying
industries, having mounted thereon a plurality of screen panels , each said panel at
least a screening portion having one or more rider bars and a bottom reinforcement
portion, said screen panel being designed such that said rider bar(s) is(are) adapted
to be replaced from said screening portion as and when required.
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 rider bar,
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The following describes a preferred embodiment 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.
Principally, the present invention aims to providing a screening device for screening
mineral ores, which improves the screening efficiency by improving stratification as
well as prevents wear of the panels. Thus, the life of the panels is increased . This is
done by designing screen panels having screening portions with replacable rider
bars. This technology, improves the screening efficiency to a great extent and at the
same time, it prevents wear considerably with the help of its unique rider bar
design. The polyurethane/Rubber, helps to take the impact of the materials coming
in contact with the screening surface, whereas the apertures prevent clogging, due
to its flaring type design(not shown). In the event of substantial wearing of the rider
bars, those can be replaced with fresh ones, thus eliminating the need for replacing
the entire screening portion, or for that matter the entire screening panel.
The present invention, prevents the wear considerably by protecting the modular
panels and enhances the screening efficiency, due to the presence of replaceable
rider bars. This in turn improves the stratification in the screened material.
The panel is manufactured by hot vulcanizing or casting with rubber or polyurethane,
having externally reinforced/supported with the panel fixing frame under the edge
surface of the panel . The panels have button fixing slots , in the screening portion,
into which button type rider bars, i.e- replaceable rider bars are fixed, say for
example, simply by press fit. The accompanying figure 1 illustrates the screening
surface of a preferred embodiment of the screen panel, according to the present
invention. It shows the slot (1) for button type fixing of the rider bars (3), best
shown in the accompanying figures 2 and 3. The accompanying figure 1 also shows
the screen panel 2 fitted to the frame through lugs and pins.
In the above context, it is hereby clarified that the screen panel 2, the reinforcement
portion to be precise, may be fitted to the frame by button type, bolting type, pin
and lug type or by any other suitable technique, as would be known to persons
skilled in the art and the present invention also encompasses all such techniques.
This is true also for the fitting arrangement of the rider bars(3) on the screening
portion of the panel as well. The accompanying figures 2 and 3 show only one such
technique. Alternatively, the rider bars may be fitted in the reinforcement portion
also in the same manner , ensuring that the majority of it lies in the screening
portion.
Now coming to the accompanying figure 2, it shows how the rider bars 3 have
preferably a button type fixing (4). This would be further clear from the
accompanying figure 3, where the like reference numerals, represent like features.
The screening portion of the panel has a slot(l)[illustrated in figure 1], into which
the protrusion(4) is detachably attached by snug fitting. This slot, alternatively may
be in the reinforcement portion as well, but in that event, rider bars have to be fitted
therein , ensuring that the majority of it lies in the screening portion.
Since lump size particles do not come to the contact of main screening zone (or
comes very less), the whole screening zone or the panel need not to be replaced.
Just replacing the rider bars in the screening zone will do. There is no need to
replace the entire screen panel or for that matter the entire screening zone. This

facilitates ensuring higher longevity of the screen panels and, simultaneously,
ensures low cost of operation. Thus, the rider bars prolong the life of the screening
elements and also reduce the cost of operation.
Further, the rider bars ensure enhancement of stratification in the screened material
and thus the screening efficiency is increased as will be understood to persons
skilled in the art. In particular, this is achieved by replacing the damaged rider bars
from time to time so that the material to be screened is indeed screened, rigorously,
according to the grain size, so that no clogging or defective/erroneous screening
takes place. Hence, improved stratification is achieved.
The screen panels are preferably standard modular type,i.e- 305x305 or 300x300 or
610x300 or similar will have all the advantages of modular panels,i.e- easy to handle,
down time is much less compared to existing panels for similar application. Further the
panels can be of any size starting from the standard modular sizes. Rider bars are
easily replacable when they get worn out, as stated before. Hence, by changing only
the rider bars the screen can be used for a considerable period of time and without
changing the whole screen panels. This renders the screen panels economic as well.
This technology is applicable to both rubber and polyurethane panels.
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.
Further the fixing of replaceable rider bars may be done by the button type snug
fitting applying the fixing means, as protected by patent number 231453 of the
applicant. As explained before, other type of fixing arrangements are also embraced
by the present invention. For example, 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 method of manufacturing a screen panel according to the present invention
includes designing a screening portion , and at least a bottom reinforcement portion,
detachably attaching one or more rider bars to lie on said screening portion in the
manner such as herein described and attaching said screening portion and said
reinforcement section such that said rider bars can be replaced, from said screening
portion as and when required.
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 at least a screening portion having one or more rider bars
and a bottom reinforcement portion, said screen panel being designed such that said
rider bar(s) is(are) adapted to be replaced from said screening portion as and when
required.
2. The screen panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said screening portion of said
screen panel has abrasion resistant apertures having a flaring design and said screen
panel is adapted to provide improved stratification.
3. The screen panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said screening portion having
one or more rider bars and said reinforcement zone are adapted to be configured as
a plurality of modular units.
4. The screen panel as claimed in any of claims 1 or 3 wherein said rider bars are
attached to a portion of said screening portion and/or said reinforcement portion by
button type snug fitting or by pin and lug arrangement or by bolting or by any slot.
5. The screen panel as claimed in 4 wherein said rider bars are 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 the screening surface of said
panel 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 wherein the reinforcement
portion of said panel is fitted to the machine frame by button type snug fitting or by
pin and lug arrangement or by bolting.
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 portion ,
and at least a bottom reinforcement portion, detachably attaching one or more rider
bars to lie on said screening portion in the manner such as herein described and
attaching said screening portion and said reinforcement section such that said rider
bars can be replaced as and when required.
9. A screening deck for mining and quarrying industries, having mounted thereon a
plurality of screen panels , each said panel at least a screening portion having one
or more rider bars and a bottom reinforcement portion, said screen panel being
designed such that said rider bar(s) is(are) adapted to be replaced from said
screening portion as and when required.
10. The screen panel as claimed in claim no.1 is applicable for any size including
modular size such as 305x305 mm and/or 300x300 mm and/or 610x300 mm and/or
similar size.

1. A screen panel for mining and quarrying industries adapted to be mounted on a
screen deck including at least a screening portion having one or more rider bars(3)
and a bottom reinforcement portion, said screen panel being designed such that said
rider bar(s) is(are) adapted to be replaced from said screening portion as and when
required.