Abstract: A screen assembly for grading and dewatering sand includes a frame upon which is mounted a deck having a plurality of apertures therein. The frame is mounted on a base and includes a vibration generating device for imparting vibration to the deck. The deck has a first portion inclined downwardly from a first end to second end for grading sand thereon, and a second portion for dewatering sand thereon. The first deck portion is inclined downwardly at a first angle, and the second portion is arranged substantially horizontally or inclined upwardly at a second angle. Sand may be delivered onto the deck at or adjacent the first end of the first portion, so that undersized particles of sand passing through the apertures in the first portion of the deck as oversized particles pass onto the second portion of the deck, whereby the oversized particles are dewatered.

Abstract: A materials processing apparatus for the wet attrition of particulate material includes at least one mixing chamber having one or more impeller blades or paddles rotatably mounted therein, and a drive device for driving the impeller blades or paddles. The apparatus includes a fluidizing device for adding a fluid to the at least one mixing chamber to fluidize the material contained therein prior to operation of the drive device.

Abstract: An apparatus for classifying particulate material includes at least one tank for receiving a feed slurry, a device for introducing water into a lower region of the at least one tank whereby water is caused to flow upwardly and through the feed slurry contained therein, whereby hydraulic separation takes place within the at least one tank with particles of lower settling velocity progressing upwardly and into a device for effecting discharge of an overflow fraction from the at least one tank, and particles of greater settling velocity progressing downwardly to a lower region of at least one tank, wherein the feed slurry is introduced into the at least one tank in an upwards direction.

Abstract: A process for refining sand for use as frac sand includes the steps of passing the sand through a first fines separation stage to remove fine particles of contaminant from the sand, reducing the water content of the sand (such as to less than 20%), passing the sand into an attrition scrubber unit containing moving blades to delaminate clay and other contaminants from the sand grains, passing the sand from the attrition scrubber unit through a second fines separation stage to separate fine contaminants from the sand, and dewatering the resulting sand product in a further dewatering stage.

Abstract: A screen assembly for grading and dewatering sand includes a frame upon which is mounted a deck having a plurality of apertures therein. The frame is mounted on a base and includes a vibration generating device for imparting vibration to the deck. The deck has a first portion inclined downwardly from a first end to second end for grading sand thereon, and a second portion for dewatering sand thereon. The first deck portion is inclined downwardly at a first angle, and the second portion is arranged substantially horizontally or inclined upwardly at a second angle. Sand may be delivered onto the deck at or adjacent the first end of the first portion, so that undersized particles of sand passing through the apertures in the first portion of the deck as oversized particles pass onto the second portion of the deck, whereby the oversized particles are dewatered.

Abstract: A sludge conditioning apparatus includes at least one hopper for receiving waste water having solid impurities entrained therein, wherein the solid impurities settle out of suspension to be collected in a lower region of the hopper as sludge. The hopper includes a sludge outlet at a lower end thereof communicating with a pump for removing sludge therefrom. A sensing device is provided for determining the amount of sludge collected in the hopper, and the rate at which the sludge is removed by the pump is controlled by a control device, the control device controlling the operation of the pump to control the rate of removal of the sludge as a function of the output of the sensing device.

Abstract: A vibrating screen is provided for separating excess water from particulate materials such as sand, gravel, iron ore, sludge or other particulate material and/or for grading, classifying or sorting particulate material by size. The vibrating screen includes a frame upon which is mounted a deck having a plurality of apertures therein, the frame being mounted on a base and being provided with vibration generating means for imparting vibration to the deck, wherein the frame includes pair of substantially parallel side walls between which the screen is mounted, each side wall including a pair of spaced apart side members defining outer faces of the side wall, at least one intermediate member being located between the side members, wherein the at least one intermediate member incorporates a plurality of apertures and/or cut-outs therethrough.

Abstract: A screening apparatus (10) comprising a frame, a motor assembly (16) for vibrating the frame, at least one screen (20, 30) mounted on the frame for separating materials by size and at least one feed device (35A, 35B, 35C, 35D) provided for delivering a liquid onto said at least one screen (20, 30), said at least one feed device (35A, 35B, 35C, 35D) being adapted to deliver said liquid onto the at least one screen (20, 30) to define a laminar flow of liquid and entrained or suspended solid material over the at least one screen (20, 30).