Apparatus and method for analyzing aggregate
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
a plurality of grading screens nested in concentric fashion within the housing, wherein an innermost grading screen defines a receiving compartment configured to receive aggregate, a subsequent grading screen has a finer mesh size and a larger surface area than the innermost grading screen, and a space between adjacent grading screens defines a sorting compartment;
a continuous fluid pathway passing from the receiving compartment through the plurality of grading screens;
a first end plate configured to engage a first end of the plurality of grading screens;
a second end plate configured to engage a second end of the plurality of grading screens;
a connector extending between and joining the first end plate and the second end plate, wherein the connector resides within the receiving compartment of the innermost grading screen; and
a lid configured to be brought into a liquid-tight sealing relationship with the housing;
wherein at least one of the first end plate or second end plate is further configured to be brought into a liquid-tight sealing relationship with the plurality of grading screens.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device, method, and system for analyzing aggregate are described. An exemplary device may include a housing with one or more grading screens. Aggregate and liquid may be received by a port within the housing. The liquid and any suspended fines, after passing through the one or more grading screens and aggregate, may be received into an observation container for observing the clarity of the liquid.
14 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a housing; a plurality of grading screens nested in concentric fashion within the housing, wherein an innermost grading screen defines a receiving compartment configured to receive aggregate, a subsequent grading screen has a finer mesh size and a larger surface area than the innermost grading screen, and a space between adjacent grading screens defines a sorting compartment; a continuous fluid pathway passing from the receiving compartment through the plurality of grading screens; a first end plate configured to engage a first end of the plurality of grading screens; a second end plate configured to engage a second end of the plurality of grading screens; a connector extending between and joining the first end plate and the second end plate, wherein the connector resides within the receiving compartment of the innermost grading screen; and a lid configured to be brought into a liquid-tight sealing relationship with the housing; wherein at least one of the first end plate or second end plate is further configured to be brought into a liquid-tight sealing relationship with the plurality of grading screens. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of analyzing aggregate, the method comprising:
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passing at least a portion of a liquid and an aggregate through a first grading screen of a given mesh size and a given surface area; passing at least a portion of the liquid and the aggregate through a second grading screen, wherein the second grading screen has a finer mesh size and a larger surface area than the first grading screen, and the first grading screen is configured to nest concentrically within the second grading screen, and wherein the first and second grading screens are sealed within a housing; collecting at least a portion of the liquid and fines of the aggregate after passage thereof through the second grading screen; and performing at least one of; observing the clarity of the collected portion of the liquid; measuring the amount of settled particulate matter in the collected portion of the liquid;
ormeasuring the turbidity of the collected portion of the liquid; wherein passing at least a portion of the liquid and aggregate through a grading screen comprises tumbling, shaking, spinning, or agitating the housing. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system comprising:
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a grading container comprising; a housing; a plurality of grading screens nested in concentric fashion within the housing, wherein an innermost grading screen defines a receiving compartment configured to receive aggregate, a subsequent grading screen has a finer mesh size and a larger surface area than the innermost grading screen, and a space between adjacent grading screens of the plurality defines a sorting compartment; a continuous fluid pathway passing from the receiving compartment and through the plurality of grading screens, wherein fluid communication between adjacent sorting compartments is restricted to occurring through the grading screen there between; a first end plate configured to engage a first end of the plurality of grading screens; a second end plate configured to engage a second end of the plurality of grading screens; and a connector extending between and joining the first end plate and the second end plate, wherein the connector resides within the receiving compartment of the innermost grading screen; and an observation container configured to receive at least a portion of the liquid and fines of the aggregate which exit the grading container, wherein the observation container includes indicia for classifying fines in the aggregate and is configured to permit at least one of observing the clarity of the liquid, measuring the volume of settled particulate matter, or measuring the turbidity of the liquid.
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Specification