Vibrating screen tensioning apparatus and method

1. A screen tensioning apparatus for tensioning a screen in a vibrating screen separator of the type having a box structure defined by two opposing spaced-apart upright side walls separated by at least one screen bed support structure, the tensioning apparatus comprising:

an actuator support mounted to an exterior surface of a side wall of a box structure;

an actuator having a stationary end pivotally linked to the actuator support, and a movable end that is cyclically movable from a first releasing position, to a second engaging position;

a clamp rail assembly fixed to the movable end of the actuator, the clamp rail assembly adapted to extend from the movable end of the actuator, through an opening formed in the side wall, into the box structure adjacent a screen having a screen hook disposed on the edge thereof;

a track disposed adjacent the exterior surface of the sidewall;

a track follower extending from the clamp rail assembly for sliding engagement with the track responsive to movement of the movable end of the actuator; and

wherein a portion of the track is inclined from the side wall to vary the distance of the track from the sidewall along the track so that as the movable end of the actuator is moved from the first releasing position to the second engaging position, the track follower is urged in a transverse direction, as it slides along the track, away from the side wall, to induce transverse movement of the clamp rail assembly for engagement with the screen to urge the same toward the side wall for tensioning the screen across the screen bed support structure.

2. A tensioning apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein an upper portion of the track is inclined in relation to the side wall to vary the track to decrease the distance between the track and the side wall as the movable end of the actuator moves from the first releasing position toward the second engaging position, wherein responsive to movement along the track, the track follower is urged in a transverse direction, toward the sidewall causing the clamp rail assembly to move in a transverse direction, prior to engagement with the screen, toward a screen hook disposed to define the edge of the screen.

3. A tensioning apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein a lower portion of the track is inclined in relation to the side wall to vary the track to increase the distance between the track and the side wall as the movable end of the actuator moves from the first releasing position toward the second engaging position, wherein responsive to movement along the track, the track follower is urged in a transverse direction, away from the sidewall.

4. A tensioning apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein a lower portion of the track is inclined in relation to the side wall to vary the track to increase the distance between the track and the side wall as the movable end of the actuator moves from the first releasing position toward the second engaging position, wherein responsive to movement along the track, the track follower is urged in a transverse direction, away from the sidewall.

5. A tensioning apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the actuator support comprises two vertically oriented spaced apart support members disposed to receive the actuator between the same.

6. A tensioning apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein the two vertically oriented spaced apart support members extend in length to receive the actuator between the same, and to define the track which receives the track follower.

7. A tensioning apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein the track which receives the track follower is defined by two opposing slots formed in the two spaced apart support members.

8. A tensioning apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein the clamp rail assembly comprises a track follower having opposing members, including a track end, and a receiving shaft that extend substantially horizontally in opposite directions to respectively engage the opposing slots formed in the two spaced apart support members.

9. A tensioning apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein a plurality thereof are disposed on each side wall of a vibrating screen separator, to act in concert to tension at least one screen therein.

10. A method for making a screen tensioning apparatus for tensioning a screen in a vibrating screen separator of the type having a box structure defined by two opposing spaced-apart upright side walls separated by at least one screen bed support structure, the tensioning apparatus comprising:

mounting an actuator support to an exterior surface of a side wall of a box structure;

pivotally linking a stationary end of an actuator to the actuator support, wherein the actuator comprises a movable end that is cyclically movable from a first releasing position, to a second engaging position;

fixing a clamp rail assembly to the movable end of the actuator, the clamp rail assembly adapted to extend from the movable end of the actuator, through an opening formed in the side wall, into the box structure adjacent a screen having a screen hook disposed on the edge thereof;

defining a track disposed adjacent the exterior surface of the sidewall;

extending a track follower, from the clamp rail assembly, for sliding engagement with the track responsive to movement of the movable end of the actuator; and

arranging a portion of the track so that a portion of the track is inclined from the side wall to vary the distance of a portion of the track from the sidewall along the track so that as the movable end of the actuator is moved from the first releasing position to the second engaging position, the track follower is urged in a transverse direction, as it slides along the track, away from the side wall, to induce transverse movement of the clamp rail assembly for engagement with the screen to urge the same toward the side wall for tensioning the screen across the screen bed support structure.

11. A method for making a screen tensioning apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein an upper portion of the track is inclined in relation to the side wall to vary the track to decrease the distance between the track and the side wall as the movable end of the actuator moves from the first releasing position toward the second engaging position, wherein responsive to movement along the track, the track follower is urged in a transverse direction, toward the sidewall causing the clamp rail assembly to move in a transverse direction, prior to engagement with the screen, toward a screen hook disposed to define the edge of the screen.

12. A method for making a screen tensioning apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein a lower portion of the track is inclined in relation to the side wall to vary the track to increase the distance between the track and the side wall as the movable end of the actuator moves from the first releasing position toward the second engaging position, wherein responsive to movement along the track, the track follower is urged in a transverse direction, away from the sidewall.

13. A method for making a screen tensioning apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein the actuator support comprises two vertically oriented spaced apart support members disposed to receive the actuator between the same, and wherein the track which receives the track follower is defined by two opposing slots formed in the two spaced apart support members.

14. A method for making a screen tensioning apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein the clamp rail assembly comprises a track follower having opposing members, including a track end, and a receiving shaft that extend substantially horizontally in opposite directions to respectively engage the opposing slots formed in the two spaced apart support members.

15. A screen tensioning apparatus for tensioning a screen in a vibrating screen separator of the type having a box structure defined by two opposing spaced-apart upright side walls separated by at least one screen bed support structure, the tensioning apparatus comprising:

an actuator support mounted to surface of a side wall of a box structure;

an actuator having a stationary end pivotally linked to the actuator support, and a movable end that is cyclically movable from a first releasing position, to a second engaging position;

a clamp rail assembly fixed to the movable end of the actuator, adjacent a screen having a screen hook disposed on the edge thereof;

a track disposed adjacent a surface of the sidewall;

a track follower extending from the clamp rail assembly for sliding engagement with the track responsive to movement of the movable end of the actuator; and

wherein a portion of the track is inclined from the side wall to vary the distance of the track from the sidewall along the track so that as the movable end of the actuator is moved from the first releasing position to the second engaging position, the track follower is urged in a transverse direction, as it slides along the track, away from the side wall, to induce transverse movement of the clamp rail assembly for engagement with the screen to urge the same toward the side wall for tensioning the screen across the screen bed support structure.

16. A screen tensioning apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein the actuator support is mounted to an exterior surface of a side wall of a box structure, with the clamp rail assembly adapted to extend from the movable end of the actuator, through an opening formed in the side wall, into the box structure, and the track is disposed adjacent the exterior surface of the of the sidewall.

17. A screen tensioning apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein an upper portion of the track is inclined in relation to the side wall to vary the track to decrease the distance between the track and the side wall as the movable end of the actuator moves from the first releasing position toward the second engaging position, wherein responsive to movement along the track, the track follower is urged in a transverse direction, toward the sidewall causing the clamp rail assembly to move in a transverse direction, prior to engagement with the screen, toward a screen hook disposed to define the edge of the screen.

18. A tensioning apparatus as recited in claim 17 wherein a lower portion of the track is inclined in relation to the side wall to vary the track to increase the distance between the track and the side wall as the movable end of the actuator moves from the first releasing position toward the second engaging position, wherein responsive to movement along the track, the track follower is urged in a transverse direction, away from the sidewall.

19. A tensioning apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein a lower portion of the track is inclined in relation to the side wall to vary the track to increase the distance between the track and the side wall as the movable end of the actuator moves from the first releasing position toward the second engaging position, wherein responsive to movement along the track, the track follower is urged in a transverse direction, away from the sidewall.

20. A tensioning apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein the actuator support comprises two vertically oriented spaced apart support members disposed to receive the actuator between the same, the two vertically oriented spaced apart support members extending in length to define the track which receives the track follower, wherein the track which receives the track follower is defined by two opposing slots formed in the two spaced apart support members.