Fluid-Cooled Vibratory Apparatus, System and Method for Cooling

Abstract

A vibratory apparatus includes a trough assembly comprising first and second plates, the first and second plates joined together in close proximity so as to define a space through which a fluid may pass at a high velocity, a vibration generator coupled to the trough assembly, and a frame resiliently coupled to the trough assembly. Also included is a system including the vibratory apparatus and other equipment, and a method of using the vibratory apparatus.

1 . A vibratory apparatus comprises:
 a trough assembly comprising first and second plates, the first and second plates joined together in close proximity so as to define a space through which a fluid may pass at a high velocity;   a vibration generator coupled to the trough assembly; and   a frame resiliently coupled to the trough assembly.   
   
   
       2 . The vibratory apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first plate has a surface on which a material to be moved along the trough assembly may be deposited, and is not made of copper. 
   
   
       3 . The vibratory apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the first and second plates comprise mild steel. 
   
   
       4 . The vibratory apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second plates have side edges that are joined together, and the distance between opposing surfaces of the first and second plates is at least an order smaller than the distance between the side edges of the first and second plates. 
   
   
       5 . The vibratory apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising an inlet header tank and an outlet header tank, the inlet and outlet header tanks in fluid communication with the space. 
   
   
       6 . The vibratory apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the space comprises a single plenum having a first end in fluid communication with the inlet header tank and a second end in fluid communication with the outlet header tank. 
   
   
       7 . The vibratory apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the single plenum is unobstructed from the first end to the second end. 
   
   
       8 . The vibratory apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the trough assembly has a first end with a feed point and a second end with a discharge point, the outlet header tank disposed at the first end and the inlet header tank disposed at the second end. 
   
   
       9 . The vibratory apparatus according to  claim 5 , comprising:
 at least one tube disposed in at least one of the inlet and outlet header tanks, the tube having an inner space that is not in fluid communication with the at least one of the inlet and outlet header tanks and that is open to a space exterior to the at least one of the inlet and outlet header tanks.   
   
   
       10 . The vibratory apparatus according to  claim 9 , comprising at least two tubes disposed in each of the inlet and outlet header tanks, the at least two tubes each having an inner space that is not in fluid communication with the inlet or outlet header tanks and that is open to a space exterior to the inlet or outlet header tanks. 
   
   
       11 . The vibratory apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 the outlet header tank has an outlet port, and   the outlet port of the outlet header tank is disposed beyond an end of the first and second plates.   
   
   
       12 . The vibratory apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a load plate assembly mounted to the trough assembly adjacent a feed point,   the load plate assembly comprising first and second plates being joined together to define a space between opposing surfaces of the first and second plates, and inlet and outlet ports in fluid communication with the space formed between the opposing surfaces of the first and second plates.   
   
   
       13 . The vibratory apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second plates comprise catenary plates. 
   
   
       14 . A system comprising:
 a vibratory apparatus comprising
 a trough assembly comprising first and second plates, the first and second plates joined together in close proximity so as to define a space through which a fluid may pass at a high velocity, 
 a vibration generator coupled to the trough assembly, and 
 a frame resiliently coupled to the trough assembly; and 
   a pump having an inlet in fluid communication with a fluid source and an outlet in fluid communication with the space.   
   
   
       15 . The system according to  claim 14 , comprising:
 a carriage comprising at least two pairs of wheels and the frame, one of each of the pairs of wheels joined to the frame on one of the opposing sides of the trough assembly; and   a pair of spaced rails, the wheels joined to the carriage on the one of the opposing sides disposed along one of the pair of spaced rails.   
   
   
       16 . The system according to  claim 14 , comprising:
 a controller coupled to the vibration generator.   
   
   
       17 . The vibratory apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the first plate has a surface on which a material to be moved along the trough assembly may be deposited, and is not made of copper. 
   
   
       18 . The vibratory apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the first and second plates comprise mild steel. 
   
   
       19 . The vibratory apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the first and second plates have side edges that are joined together, and the distance between opposing surfaces of the first and second plates is at least an order smaller than the distance between the side edges of the first and second plates. 
   
   
       20 . A method for cooling a material using a vibratory apparatus comprising a trough assembly comprising first and second plates, the first and second plates joined together in close proximity so as to define a space through which a fluid may pass at a high velocity, the method comprising:
 feeding a material onto the trough assembly at a first point;   vibrating the trough assembly to move the material along the trough assembly in a first direction to a second point; and   passing a fluid through the space at a high velocity.   
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 20 , comprising feeding molten slag onto the trough assembly at a first point, and vibrating the trough assembly to move the molten slag from the first point to the second point. 
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 20 , comprising passing water through the space in a second direction opposite the first direction.