Material sorter

Abstract

A material sorter ( 23 ) including a material sorting assembly capable of receiving, sorting, and discharging material, a chassis including mobility means, and an attitude adjusting assembly ( 14 ) extending from the chassis to contact an environmental terrain surface ( 24 ) supporting the material sorter ( 23 ) to alter the material sorter ( 23 ) attitude with respect to the environmental terrain surface ( 24 ). There is also disclosed a method of operating a material sorter.

1 . A material sorter including; 
 a material sorting assembly capable of receiving, sorting and discharging material, and    a chassis including; 
 mobility means, and  
 an attitude adjusting assembly,  
   characterised in that 
 the attitude adjusting assembly is capable of extending from the chassis to contact an environmental terrain surface supporting said material sorter to alter the material sorter attitude with respect to said environmental terrain surface thereby lifting said mobility means from the terrain surface during operation of the material sorting assembly.  
   
   
   
       2 . A material sorter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said material sorting assembly includes at least one of: 
 at least one hopper,    a material screening assembly including at least one screening box, and/or    at least one discharge assembly.    
   
   
       3 . A material sorter as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein in use, material from the hopper is fed to the material screening assembly for screening and transport to a discharge assembly.  
   
   
       4 . A material sorter as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said discharge assembly is capable of passing material from at least one exit of the material screening assembly to a collection point external to the material sorter.  
   
   
       5 . A material sorter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the attitude of the chassis of the material sorter with respect to the environmental terrain surface may be varied by movement around at least one pivot point in contact with the environmental terrain surface.  
   
   
       6 . A material sorter as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the chassis of the material sorter may be pivoted around at least one pivot point positioned on an underside of the chassis.  
   
   
       7 . A material sorter as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein a distal portion of the chassis is configured to receive a coupling mechanism of a towing vehicle.  
   
   
       8 . A material sorter as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said pivot point is provided by a support element projecting downwards from the chassis.  
   
   
       9 . A material sorter as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said support element is capable of supporting the material sorter in conjunction with the mobile means in an un-tilted, substantially horizontal orientation, without support from the attitude adjustment assembly.  
   
   
       10 . A material sorter as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the longitudinal location of pivot point is positioned substantially centrally on an underside of the chassis.  
   
   
       11 . A material sorter as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the longitudinal location of the pivot point is positioned toward the distal portion of the chassis configured to receive the coupling mechanism of a towing vehicle.  
   
   
       12 . A material sorter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, said mobility means are wheels.  
   
   
       13 . A material sorter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, said attitude adjusting assembly includes hydraulic or pneumatic rams or a manual jack system.  
   
   
       14 . A material sorter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the attitude adjusting assembly is provided with laterally enlarged grounding-engaging feet.  
   
   
       15 . A material sorter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, said attitude adjusting assembly is housed within the chassis until deployed for use.  
   
   
       16 . A material sorter as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the hopper is positioned toward one distal end of the material sorting assembly.  
   
   
       17 . A material sorter as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein material placed in the hopper is transferable onto a conveyor and conveyed to a material screening assembly including a series of sieves or gratings to provide size screening of the material.  
   
   
       18 . A material sorter as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the material screening assembly includes screening boxes, decks and wash bars.  
   
   
       19 . A material sorter as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said screening boxes are capable of vibrating during screening.  
   
   
       20 . A material sorter as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the gradient of at least one discharge assembly is adjustable.  
   
   
       21 . A material sorter as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the discharge assembly may be positioned at an opposing distal end to the coupling mechanism.  
   
   
       22 . A material sorter as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the hopper is located at a distal end toward the coupling mechanism.  
   
   
       23 . A material sorter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said attitude adjustor is retrofitted to the material sorter underside.  
   
   
       24 . An attitude adjustor for retrofitting to a material sorter including a material sorting assembly capable of receiving, sorting and discharging material, and a chassis including a mobility means, 
 said attitude adjustor including an attitude adjusting assembly adapted to be attached to the material sorter underside,    wherein the attitude adjusting assembly is capable of extending from the material sorter chassis to contact an environmental terrain surface supporting said material sorter to alter the material sorter attitude with respect to said environmental terrain surface, thereby lifting said mobility means from the terrain surface during operation of the material sorting assembly.    
   
   
       25 . A method of operating a material sorter as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised by: 
 activating the attitude adjusting assembly to extend from the chassis to contact an environmental terrain surface supporting said material sorter;    pivoting the material sorter about at least one pivot point located on an underside of the chassis by continued extension of the attitude adjusting assembly to a defined point to alter the material sorter attitude with respect to said environmental terrain surface, thereby lifting said mobility means from the terrain surface; and    operating said material sorting assembly.    
   
   
       26 . A method of retrofitting an attitude adjustor as claimed in  claim 25 , to a material sorter, said attitude adjustor including an attitude adjusting assembly adapted to be attached to the material sorter underside characterised by the step of attaching the attitude adjusting assembly to the material sorter underside.  
   
   
       27 - 30 . (canceled)