CDE announced the launch of its new Infinity screening products to the global market earlier this year after securing a global patent for the new construction of the screen sidewalls. Lead designer on the new Infinity range for CDE is Neil Mullan, senior R&D engineer and product specialist for the screening range of products. Mullan joined the CDE USA team after having spent the last seven years working at the CDE headquarters in Ireland.
CDE is a name associated with the manufacture of washing equipment for use in quarries, mines and recycling operations across the world, but its expertise in the design of screens is less well known. “We sell more than 200 screens a year to the global market and these are largely integrated into the modular equipment that we have become well known for,” said Mullan. “The development of the new Infinity screening range is an opportunity for us to increase awareness of the screening range that we produce and securing the global patent for the new design proves our capability in this area.”
Design Process
The Infinity range includes double- and triple-deck screens in 16 x 5 and 20 x 6 configurations and the patented sidewall construction has also been introduced to the new range of dewatering screens now available from CDE. “Going back to day one of the design process we took our lead from the aerospace industry and how aircraft wings are designed. The only assumptions we made from a design perspective were that the screen was to be rectangular and have one, two or three screening decks” said Mullan.
The 16 x 5 double-deck screens are integrated into the M2500 mobile washing plant while the 20 x 6 version is provided as part of the M4500. The new R2500 primary screening unit also utilises the double deck 16 x 5 screen, while smaller sizing screens are included on the AggMax portable logwasher.
All screens within the new Infiinity range are available for application in both dry and wet screening situations across a wide range of materials including aggregates, construction and demolition waste, top soil, coal, iron ore and other mineral ores. “The Infinity screens are available as stand-alone screenboxes as well as being integrated into our modular equipment and we hope the innovations within the range will allow us to make a mark in this area of the market,” said Mullan.
Development Process
The development process for the new Infinity screen range started with the intention of removing all welds from the construction of the sidewalls. “The basis for this approach was to prolong the operational life of the screen,” said Mullan. The design for which the patent was granted allows for increased thickness of the screen wide walls while reducing weight.
“This has been proved possible as a result of the extensive FEA process that all our new product developments go through,” said Mullan. “We are able to produce a screen which provides additional strength and support where required, while not including weight where it is not required.”
According to CDE the Infiinity screen range is able to generate the same acceleration as conventional screens with less weight, which results in a reduction in power consumption, reducing operational costs. “The focus on reducing power consumption is evident in several of the design innovations within the Infinity range and is achieved in balance with using power efficiently.”
The range also includes a unique design of the eccentric shaft which further removes unnecessary weight, reduces power consumption and ensures the efficient transfer of energy to the material. The focus on prolonging the working life of the screen is evident through the introduction of wear protection at every impact and transfer point. One example of this is a magnetic polyurethane wear plate on the top of the screen shaft. This not only protects the shaft but is quick and easy to replace, ensuring productivity targets are met.
Another design innovation within the Infinity Range is the development of new U-Span cast cross members which, in combination with the construction of the side walls deliver higher specific stiffness that prolongs the working life of the screen. The Infinity range utilises Rosta suspension units which deliver 98 percent vibration isolation ensuring protection for the supporting structure and the most efficient transfer of energy to the screening material.
CDE, www.cdeusa.com