Hey soil screening builders

[Wayne County Hose]

Boy, too bad we all couldn't get together and have a screening plant build party! A barbecue, some welders and a pile of steel, it don't get much better!

 

[MrJimi]

Boy, too bad we all couldn't get together and have a screening plant build party! A barbecue, some welders and a pile of steel, it don't get much better!

All hydraulically operated

 

[chickenman]

here's my answer to the hydraulicaly operated towed screener

 

[SkunkWerX]

here's my answer to the hydraulicaly operated towed screener

ChickenMan, your machine is approaching "legendary" status. I have stared at those photos quite a bit.

Question for you, Are you shaking the grate mechanically, if so, how?
Or is it just the conveyor with mostly gravity doing the sifting work?

 

[chickenman]

after sorting out the bugs im pleased at how well it cleans

it picks up all but pea sized stones 1/4 to 3/8 inches

 

[StrangeRanger]

I think it is possible!! I think you will want to run the the pulley in parallel with the direction on slope to reduce side-side motion, which would be hard on your frame. I don't think a vertical shaft is that much of a problem, run a long enough belt to put a 90 degree twist to put the pulley shaft on horizonal plane. Good Luck!!

I was thinking that a long belt would allow me to twist it to 90*. Just needed to hear someone say it's ok

I'm not too worried about side-side motion. The design in my head (haven't even made it to paper yet) is basically re-enforced screen box/frame that will be suspended by some big honkin heavy duty springs from the 4 corners. The frame will of course be angled. The motor will be mounted to a post on a stand w/ a long belt running to ??? mounted on the screen frame. The ??? will basically just shake the piss out of the screen box in all directions I'm guessing.

I've got grass/weed clumps etc that I've got to deal w/ so I'm sure it will take some hand work too.

My only bummer so far is I located a fee mower engine to use, but it's the type w/ just the safety cable attached to it, no throttle control. Gotta figure out how to rig up a throttle b/c I don't want that thing running full tilt. Should be interesting
j

 

[chickenman]

a better and easier way to mount the screen is with rubber isolators

McMaster-Carr

page1350

that is what i used and comercial makers use them

 

[StrangeRanger]

a better and easier way to mount the screen is with rubber isolators

McMaster-Carr

page1350

that is what i used and comercial makers use them

Good idea, but how much "give" do they have. Do they allow the screen to shakr rattle and roll?

Also, guys, I need your help. I'm a very literal thinking person (I think inside the box) and I'm having trouble envisioning the shaker part of this thing. Can any of you jump start my imagination please? I'm thinking of using a 3.5hp vertical shaft mower engine for power and a belt to drive something. But I'm just having a total brain fart on what to do. I think what I'm having real trouble with is that I'm thinking of making the screen angle adjustable. Ideas please? Thanks,
**EDIT** Ohh... I just had an idea. I've been making this much harder on myself I think than I needed to! If I have the patience I'll post some drawings
j

 

[StrangeRanger]

Dang, ok, so my idea only helped w/ the angling part of the issue. I still don't really know how to shake the screen. Please, I'd love to hear ya'll's ideas. Thanks,
j

 

[SkunkWerX]

Some of the commercial units I have seen have coil springs.

I like the idea of an eccentric disc/pulley mounted to the shaker tray.
Or, if not eccentric, weighted so that it creates vibration. The good thing about a weight (Like a bolt and bunch of washers) is that it can be dialed in, by using a smaller bolt, and/or adding or subtracting washers.

Speed can be adjusted via RPM, as well as pulley diameters, but i think you want it running above 1/2 the rated RPMs of the motor, because that is where the power is.

What you need to adjust for is proper harmonics. Each and every thing has a frequency at which it will resonate and feedback causing harmonic vibration.

The trick is to find that spot, where the entire tray assembly is acting like a tuning fork.