Multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus

1. A multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus comprising:

an elongated housing including at least a first zone and a second zone situated adjacent to one another along a length of the housing;

at least first and second screen sections having a plurality of openings and being situated adjacent one another along a length of the housing so as to generally correspond with the first and second zones, respectively, wherein each of the first and second zones are configured to collect liquid medium that passes through the plurality of openings in the first and second screen sections, respectively, and wherein the second screen section is larger in diameter than the first screen section;

a support ring that connects the first screen section and the second screen section, the support ring defines a juncture between the first screen section and the second screen section having a drop-off into the second screen section, wherein the support ring includes a liquid inlet in fluid communication with an interior of the first and/or second screen sections to supply wash water to the multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus;

an elongated shaft including at least first and second conveyors situated lengthwise within the first and second screen sections, respectively, and along a length of the shaft so as to generally correspond with the first and second zones, respectively, at least one of the conveyors including a plurality of paddles extending in a direction away from the shaft and wherein each of the first and second conveyor sections are configured to move material in a direction along a length of the corresponding screen section;

at least one feed inlet in fluid communication with the interior of the first screen section to supply the liquid medium and the material to the multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus; and

a discharge chute that collects filtered material from the multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus.

2. The multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a juncture that connects the first screen section and the second screen section defines a drop-off into the second screen section, which is larger in diameter than the first screen section.

3. The multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first screen section and the second screen section together define a cylindrical configuration of increasing diameter.

4. The multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first screen section and the second screen section together define an outwardly expanding conical configuration.

5. The multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second conveyors rotate relative to a central axis to direct the medium toward the first and second screen sections, respectively, so as to filter the material from the medium.

6. The multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus of claim 5 , wherein each of the first and second conveyors are configured to provide a centrifugal force and the second conveyor provides a centrifugal force higher than that of the first conveyor.

7. The multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first conveyor includes the plurality of paddles and the second conveyor includes a second plurality of paddles extending in a direction away from the shaft.

8. The multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of paddles of the first conveyor and the second plurality of paddles of the second conveyor radially extend in a direction away therefrom and are spaced apart from the first and second screen sections, respectively, with the second plurality of paddles of the second conveyor extending farther from the shaft than the plurality of paddles of the first conveyor.

9. The multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the plurality of paddles includes a plurality of bristles radially extending away therefrom towards the corresponding screen section.

10. The multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the feed inlet is in fluid communication with an interior of the first screen section to supply the liquid medium and the material to the multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus.

11. The multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the discharge chute collects filtered material from the second zone.

12. The multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a liquid inlet in fluid communication with an interior of the first and/or second screen sections to supply wash water to the multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus.

13. The multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the conveyors includes the liquid inlet to supply wash water to the multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus.

14. The multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third zone situated opposite the first zone, adjacent the second zone, and along a length of the housing, wherein the third zone is larger in diameter than the second zone;

a third screen section having a circular cross-section and a plurality of openings and being situated opposite the first screen section, adjacent the second screen section, and along a length of the housing so as to generally correspond with third zone, wherein the third zone is configured to collect liquid medium that passes through the plurality of openings in the third screen section, and wherein the third screen section is larger in diameter than the second screen section; and

the elongated shaft further including a third conveyor situated lengthwise within the third screen section and along a length of the shaft so as to generally correspond with the third zone.

15. The multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one of the conveyors includes the plurality of paddles and the other conveyor includes a plurality of vanes and a ribbon flight helically winding about a length of an outer surface of the vanes.

16. The multi-zoned paddle screen apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second zone is larger in diameter than the first zone.