Screening Plant Project

[Dan W]

AK Pilot, Very nice build, you have my wheels turning, I too am need of a screening plant. One question. I was thinking instead of using belts and your weighted vibration mechanism, I would try mounting a flywheel on the motor with a solid arm mounted with a bearing off center on the flywheel say an inch or so. As the flywheel spins the arm would have 2 inches of travel back and forth in a cam type action. The other end of the arm would be mounted solid to the shaker table with a heim type joint. With your experience with your build what are your thoughts?

I actually took a look at doing what you described on my setup Rinorider, and although it looked like an easier solution at first it was slightly complicated. With my initial mock-up I used a connecting rob setup as you described. The concept shook the screen well but it also shook the engine quite hard. So I went with a 1” shaft, 80” long and welded twin off-balance flywheels one at each end. Also, as you suggested, originally I considered drilling the 1” holes in the centre off the flywheels off-set by a ½” but that was a risky move as well, not knowing what the degree of shake would be. So I elected to cut a notch out of each flywheel. The trick was how much material to take out of the flywheel. My first attempt was to cut out a chunk measuring 1.25 x1.5”.

Dan

 

[timster2]

Working on a screen plant project and was looking for some experience based ideas on what you would have done differently. What worked what didn't. So far I have the frame and suspension built. Still to design is the shaker mechanism. Any and all suggestions will be helpful. Will post some pictures soon.

 

[tractorgp]

Working on a screen plant project and was looking for some experience based ideas on what you would have done differently. What worked what didn't. So far I have the frame and suspension built. Still to design is the shaker mechanism. Any and all suggestions will be helpful. Will post some pictures soon.

My earlier comment (#59) includes a video of my screener. Here's a couple of points... make sure your design includes a plate or board to push against to pick up the good stuff on one side and the bad stuff on the other. My screener uses an old galvanized table where the plate metal top of the table now serves as the board I'm talking about. In my experience so far it would be pretty difficult to work effectively without such a feature. This year I also added side boards to contain screened material within the U of the screener (Pouring rain out now but will get a picture tomorrow and post it here). 3/4 inch pressure treated plywood would make a reasonable board.

When I was working on my design what I found lacking in many of the interesting designs found on the web was videos of the screeners in action. Even a short video can give a pretty fair idea of how the thing actually works.

 

[tractorgp]

Here's added containment panel... same done on the other side of the screener. I decided to go less than full height so that I get a sidewise view of the screened soil.

 

[timster2]

I built in framework to add 3/4 PT plywood on the inside perimeter of the screen to push the bucket against. What rpm do you turn your eccentric weight at?

 

[tractorgp]

I built in framework to add 3/4 PT plywood on the inside perimeter of the screen to push the bucket against. What rpm do you turn your eccentric weight at?

It runs at about 2400 rpm. The engine pulley is 4 inches and the weighted pulley is 6 inches. I have been running the engine flat out and the engine rated rpm is 3600. (I just tried measuring the rpm with my tach but too much interference from the sun.)

 

[burntside bob]

Communication to AKPIOLT:
How is the gravel screen holding up??
Would you give every body an update on the performance of the gravel screen.
Communicate your thoughts on what you would do differently now after its build and has been used.
From every body that has looked at this thread; thank you for replying.

 

[David Devuono]

I built a screening plant this summer. I used trailer springs cut in half for the pivot end which allows the platform to be sprung from all four corners but I can still lift it to shake it and lift it to 90 degrees to clear the screen. In the future I will add a shaker, but for now its simple and works. Fast forward to the end of the video to see the screener in action. I also have 4 steel bars welded on the back side so I can lift the whole unit to move it around.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb9-EdoflNE

 

[burntside bob]

I built a screening plant this summer. I used trailer springs cut in half for the pivot end which allows the platform to be sprung from all four corners but I can still lift it to shake it and lift it to 90 degrees to clear the screen. In the future I will add a shaker, but for now its simple and works. Fast forward to the end of the video to see the screener in action. I also have 4 steel bars welded on the back side so I can lift the whole unit to move it around.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb9-EdoflNE

Nice screen.
How about some more photos of it; with how the screen deck (is attached ) to the side that the reject rocks fall of the screen deck.

 

[David Devuono]

Bob I was unable to figure out how to post a picture to the PM. So here it is. I recycled some springs from a tracked vehicle project. Basically I cut trailer springs in half and clamped them inside a piece of tubing with 1/2 bolts. Nuts welded to the tubing. I cut the tubing off this project and welded it to the screener deck. This allows a hinge and spring action. You can leave in extra leaves as required. I only used the main leaf in my screen project.