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US-12616979-B2 - Anti-clogging device for drywasher flow opening

US12616979B2US 12616979 B2US12616979 B2US 12616979B2US-12616979-B2

Abstract

A drywasher agitator is configured for use with a hopper and a recovery box. The hopper includes a flow opening formed therein to allow particulate within the hopper to pass through the flow opening and into the recovery box. The recovery box includes a main body and a panel extending from the main body. The agitator includes a wire having a first segment and a second segment. The first segment is connectable to the panel and extends along a first axis and a second segment extends along a second axis angled relative to the first axis. The wire is configured to extend from the panel and into the flow opening during use of the hopper and the recovery box to agitate particulate near the flow opening to mitigate clogging of particulate within the flow opening.

Inventors

  • Robert Rieck

Assignees

  • Robert Rieck

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20250121

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A drywasher comprising: a hopper having a base and a sidewall extending from the base, the base and sidewall collectively defining a hopper reservoir, the base having a flow opening formed therein and in communication with the hopper reservoir, the hopper being configured to receive particulate within the hopper reservoir allow the particulate to pass through the flow opening formed in the base; a recovery box having a main body and a panel extending from the main body, the recovery box being positionable in proximity to the hopper to receive at least a portion of the particulate having passed through the flow opening, the recovery box being configured to vibrate to facilitate sorting of the at least a portion of the particulate received at the recovery box; and an agitating body connectable to the panel of the recovery box so as to move in concert with the recovery box relative to the hopper, the agitating body being configured to extend from the panel and into the flow opening when the agitating body is connected to the panel and the recovery box is in proximity to the hopper, the agitating body being moveable relative to the hopper to agitate particulate near the flow opening to mitigate clogging of particulate within the flow opening.
  2. 2 . The drywasher recited in claim 1 , wherein the agitating body includes a wire having a first segment extending along a first axis and a second segment extending along a second axis angled relative to the first axis.
  3. 3 . The drywasher recited in claim 2 , wherein the agitating body further includes a threaded body extending around a portion of the wire.
  4. 4 . The drywasher recited in claim 3 , wherein the threaded body is tig welded to the wire.
  5. 5 . The drywasher recited in claim 3 , wherein the panel includes an opening formed therein, the threaded body being advanceable through the opening in the panel to facilitate connection of the threaded body to the panel.
  6. 6 . The drywasher recited in claim 1 , wherein the agitating body includes a wire having a proximal end portion coupled to the panel and a distal end portion extending away from the panel, the distal end portion having an enlarged body.
  7. 7 . The drywasher recited in claim 6 , wherein the enlarged body of a bulbous configuration.
  8. 8 . An agitator configured for use with a hopper and a recovery box, the hopper having a flow opening formed therein to allow particulate within the hopper to pass through the flow opening and into the recovery box, the recovery box having a main body and a panel extending from the main body, the agitator comprising: a wire having a first segment and a second segment, the first segment being connectable to the panel and extending along a first axis and a second segment extending along a second axis angled relative to the first axis, the wire being configured to extend from the panel and into the flow opening during use of the hopper and the recovery box; a threaded body extending around a portion of the wire; and the wire terminating in a bulbous enlargement at an end thereof, the bulbous enlargement being sized to remain within the flow opening during vibration.
  9. 9 . The agitator recited in claim 8 , wherein the threaded body is tig welded to the wire.
  10. 10 . The agitator recited in claim 8 , wherein the wire is formed from high carbon steel.
  11. 11 . A recovery box assembly configured for use with a hopper having a flow opening formed therein to allow particulate within the hopper to pass through the flow opening, the recovery box assembly comprising: a recovery box having a main body and a panel extending from the main body, the recovery box being positionable in proximity to the hopper to receive at least a portion of the particulate having passed through the flow opening, the recovery box being configured to vibrate to facilitate sorting of the at least a portion of the particulate received at the recovery box; and an agitating body connectable to the panel of the recovery box so as to move in concert with the recovery box relative to the hopper, the agitating body being configured to extend from the panel and into the flow opening when the agitating body is connected to the panel and the recovery box is in proximity to the hopper, the agitating body being moveable relative to the hopper to agitate particulate near the flow opening to mitigate clogging of particulate within the flow opening.
  12. 12 . The recovery box assembly recited in claim 11 , wherein the agitating body includes a wire having a first segment extending along a first axis and a second segment extending along a second axis angled relative to the first axis.
  13. 13 . The recovery box assembly recited in claim 12 , wherein the agitating body further includes a threaded body extending around a portion of the wire.
  14. 14 . The recovery box assembly recited in claim 13 , wherein the panel includes an opening formed therein, the threaded body being advanceable through the opening in the panel to facilitate connection of the threaded body to the panel.
  15. 15 . The recovery box assembly recited in claim 13 , wherein the threaded body is tig welded to the wire.
  16. 16 . The recovery box assembly recited in claim 11 , wherein the agitating body include a wire having a proximal end portion coupled to the panel and a distal end portion extending away from the panel, the distal end portion having an enlarged body.
  17. 17 . The recovery box assembly recited in claim 15 , wherein the enlarged body of a bulbous configuration.
  18. 18 . The drywasher recited in claim 1 , wherein the agitating body is mounted exclusively to the panel of the recovery box, the panel being spaced from and out of contact with the hopper during operation, the agitating body being devoid of any direct attachment to the hopper.
  19. 19 . The drywasher of claim 1 , wherein the panel extends at an upward and rearward angle from an elevated end portion of the recovery box and is configured to function as a wind shield.
  20. 20 . The drywasher of claim 1 , wherein the agitating body includes a threaded body extending around a portion of the wire, the threaded body being advanceable through an opening formed in the panel so that a shaft of the threaded body extends through the opening for threaded engagement with a nut.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/551,213, filed Feb. 8, 2024, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT Not Applicable BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field The present disclosure relates generally to a device for use with a drywasher, and more particularly, to an agitator configured to break-up clogged particulate near a flow opening in a drywasher hopper. 2. Description of the Related Art The mining of gold, and other precious metals, is a well-known practice. A common piece of equipment used when mining is a drywasher, which may be useful in separating the targeted material from the remaining particulate. A conventional drywasher may utilize forced air to separate heavier materials, like gold, from the lighter materials. A drywasher may include riffles which trap the desired heavier materials, while the lighter materials may be lifted by the forced air, and may flow over the riffles or be blown away. The riffles used in a drywasher may be fitted within a recovery box, which may be positioned below a hopper which receives the raw material. A preliminary separation procedure may occur when the raw material is fed into the hopper, which may include a classifying screen. Large particulate may be prevented from passing through the screen, while small particulate passes through the screen and into the hopper. The small particulate travels downwardly through the hopper, and is fed to the recovery box through a flow opening formed in the hopper. A significant drawback associated with conventional drywashers is that clogging may occur at, or near, the flow opening. In particular, the small particulate may accumulate and form a blockage to prevent flow through the flow opening. When such blockage occurs, a user may need to suspend operations, and manually clear the blockage. Once clear, the operation of the drywasher may resume. In some instances, blockages may occur every couple of minutes, which may test the patience of the user, as well as act as a severe limitation on the volume of material that may be processed by the drywasher. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a device which mitigates clogging or blockages at, or near, the flow opening on a drywasher. Various aspects of the present disclosure address this particular need, as will be discussed in more detail below. BRIEF SUMMARY In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a device specifically designed to reduce clogging in a drywasher. In particular, an anti-clogging device may be attached to a recovery box and may move with the vibrations of the recovery box during operation thereof to agitate particulate near a flow opening formed in a hopper positioned above the recovery box. The agitation provided by the device may mitigate clogging of particulate at the flow opening to allow for more continuous, uninterrupted operation of the drywasher. According to one embodiment, there is provided a drywasher comprising a hopper having a base and a sidewall extending from the base. The base and sidewall collectively define a hopper reservoir, with the base having a flow opening formed therein and in communication with the hopper reservoir. The hopper is configured to receive particulate within the hopper reservoir and allow the particular to pass through the opening formed in the base. The drywasher additionally includes a recovery box having a main body and a panel extending from the main body. The recovery box is positionable in proximity to the hopper to receive at least a portion of the particulate having passed through the flow opening. The recovery box is configured to vibrate to facilitate sorting of the portion of the particulate received at the recovery box. An agitating body is connectable to the panel of the recovery box and is configured to extend from the panel and into the flow opening of the base when the agitating body is connected to the panel and the recovery box is in proximity to the hopper. The agitating body is moveable relative to the hopper to agitate particulate near the flow opening to mitigate clogging of particulate within the flow opening. The agitating body may include a wire having a first segment extending along a first axis and a second segment extending along a second axis angled relative to the first axis. The agitating body may further include a threaded body extending around a portion of the wire. The threaded body may be tig welded to the wire. The panel may include an opening formed therein, and the threaded body may be advanceable through the opening in the panel to facilitate connection of the threaded body to the panel. The wire of the agitating body may include a proximal end portion coupled to the panel and a distal end portion extending away from the panel, with the distal end portion having an enlarged body. The