Rotary rock screen

Abstract

A material separator includes a frame and a first elongated drum extending along a first longitudinal axis. The elongated drum is supported by the frame and configured to rotate about the first longitudinal axis when the material separator is assembled and in operation. The material separator further includes a first segment attached to the first elongated drum. The segment extends radially outward from the first elongated drum, wherein the first segment is configured to agitate material supported by the first elongated drum and frame as the first elongated drum rotates about the first longitudinal axis.

Description

ROTARY ROCK SCREEN

[0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority and hereby incorporates by reference in its entirety U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 625,368 entitled “ROTARY ROCK SCREEN” filed on January 26, 2024.FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

[0003] Not ApplicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention relates generally to rock quarry machines for separating materials. More particularly, the present invention relates to rigid classifiers for separating gravel by size.

[0005] Rigid classifiers such as bar grating screens or “grizzly bars” or “grizzly screeners” are prone to binding issues when they encounter large and / or wet aggregate materials (e.g. clods). The clumps or clods of material slide down the bars and off the screen instead of passing through the bars even though the materials in the aggregate clod arc meant to pass through between the bars in the screen. This slows production time and reduces efficiency of a mining operation. Binding and clearing binds can also result in the loss of target materials.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Aspects of the invention provide a material separator including rotary movement and conveying action. The material separator breaks up clods and wet aggregate materials while separating and dumping preselected sizes of acceptable and unacceptable materials.

[0007] In one aspect, a material separator includes a frame and a first elongated drum extending along a first longitudinal axis. The elongated drum is supported by the frame and configured to rotate about the first longitudinal axis when the material separator is assembled and in operation. The material separator further includes a first segment attached to the first elongated drum. The segment extends radially outward from the first elongated drum, wherein the first segment is configured to agitate material supported by the first elongated drum and frame as the first elongated drum rotates about the first longitudinal axis.

[0008] In another aspect, the material separator further includes a second elongated drum extending along a second longitudinal axis. The elongated dram is supported by the frame and configured to rotate about the second longitudinal axis. The first segment is configured to agitate material supported by the first elongated drum and the second elongated drum as the first elongated drum rotates about the longitudinal axis. The first elongated drum and the second elongated drum both rotate in the same direction such that material supported by the first and second elongated drums are transferred laterally along the material separator from an input of the material separator toward an output of the material separator.

[0009] In another aspect, a segment for a material separator includes a mounting plate configured to extend radially relative to a first elongated drum of the material separator when the material separator is assembled and a prong configured to extend outwardly from the mounting plate. The prong is generally planar and a plane of the prong is perpendicular to the mounting plate, and theplane of the prong is askew to a first longitudinal axis of the first elongated drum about which the first elongated drum is configured to rotate when the material separator is operating.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a material screen system including a chute and a material separator according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0011] FIG. 2 is an elevated right side perspective view of the material separator of FIG. 1.

[0012] FIG. 3 is an elevated left side perspective view of the material separator of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the material separator of FIG. 1 with an impact chute connected to the material separator.

[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the material separator of FIG. 1, wherein the top plate of the impact chute has been removed to better illustrate the frame of the impact chute.

[0015] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the material separator of FIG. 1 with an adjustable chute connected thereto.

[0016] FIG. 7 is a top perspective and isometric view of the material separator of FIG. 1,

[0017] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the material separator of FIG. 7.

[0018] FIG. 9 is an end perspective view of a bull horn drum of the material separator of FIG. 1. Each bull horn drum includes a plurality of bull horn segments comprised of bull horn inserts welded to mounting segments that are respectively connected to the bull horn drum via a pair of drum flanges.

[0019] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the bull horn drum of FIG. 9.

[0020] FIG. 11 is a side view of a counterbored dram flange of the bull horn dram of FIG. 9.

[0021] FIG. 12 is a side view of a threaded drum flange of the bull horn drum of FIG. 9.

[0022] FIG. 13 is a side perspective view of a bull horn segment of the bull horn drum of FIG. 9.

[0023] FIG. 14 is a side view of the bull horn segment of FIG. 13.

[0024] FIG. 15 is a side view of the mounting segment of the bull horn segment of FIG. 13.

[0025] FIG. 16 is a side view of the bull horn insert of the bull horn segment of FIG. 13.

[0026] FIG. 17 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a material separator.

[0027] FIG. 18 is a close up isometric view of the material separator of Fig. 17, illustrating pillow bearings associated with each bull horn drum of the material separator.

[0028] FIG. 19 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a material separator, wherein the bull horn drums are configured to be adjustable in position relative to one another.

[0029] FIG. 20 is a side view of the material separator of FIG. 19.

[0030] Reference will now be made in detail to optional embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawing and in the description referring to the same or like parts.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention.

[0032] To facilitate the understanding of the embodiments described herein, a number of terms are defined below. The terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the present invention. Terms such as “a,” “an,” and “the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but rather include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specificembodiments of the invention, but their usage does not delimit the invention, except as set forth in the claims.

[0033] As described herein, an upright position is considered to be the position of apparatus components while in proper operation or in a natural resting position as shown in FIG. 1 and described herein. Vertical, horizontal, above, below, side, top, bottom and other orientation terms are described with respect to this upright position during operation unless otherwise specified. The term “when” is used to specify orientation for relative positions of components, not as a temporal limitation of the claims or apparatus described and claimed herein unless otherwise specified. The terms “above”, “below”, “over”, and “under” mean “having an elevation or vertical height greater or lesser than” and are not intended to imply that one object or component is directly over or under another object or component.

[0034] The phrase “in one embodiment,” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may. Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and / or states. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and / or states are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without operator input or prompting, whether these features, elements and / or states are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.

[0035] The terms “coupled” and “connected” mean at least either a direct electrical or mechanical connection between the connected items or an indirect connection through one or more passive or active intermediary devices.

[0036] Referring to FIGS. 1-6, in one embodiment, a material screen system 10 includes a material separator 100 that is configured to sieve (i.e., separate out unwanted objects) and agitate (i.e., break up or pulverize) material, e.g., dirt with clods and foreign objects therein, as the material passes through the material separator 100 due to gravity. The material separator 100 generally includes a frame 102 comprised of steel beams 104, one or more elongated bull horn drums 150 rotatably connected to the frame 102 via bearings (unnumbered) and driven by a hydraulic drive unit 152, and one or more bull hom segments 160 equidistantly spaced about a length of each elongated drum 150 for agitating material supported by the elongated drums 150 as one or more of the elongated drums 150 rotate about their respective longitudinal axes 154 (see FIG. 8).

[0037] In one embodiment, the set of drums 150 are actuated by a combination of hydraulic / chain or hydraulic only drive units 152. When the material to be separated is dumped or fed onto an input or infeed end 122 of the material separator 100, the elongated drums 150 rotate and push the material towards an output or dump end 124 of the material separator 100 (FIG. 2). That is, the elongated drums 150 propel material toward the dump end 124 of the material separator 100. In operation, the good material (i.e., material with a size less than a predetermined distance between each of the elongated drums 150 of the material separator 100) is dropped through the gap between adjacent elongated drums 150 (and / or space between the frame). The tailings or scrap (i.e., unwanted material) is conveyed to the dump end by the rotating action of the plurality of elongated drums. The segments 160 affixed to each elongated drum 150 break up aggregate material and move larger material toward the dump end. Thus, the material separator 100 achieves better dropout rates of good materials (i.e., material less than the predetermined spacing or distance between the elongated drum rollers) and increases production of good materials from a given load or dump placed upon the material separator 100 which increases efficiency of the operation.

[0038] In use, the material separator 100 can be located next to a fixed chute 12 mounted to a wall 14 (or other structural support member) and receive material from a dump truck 16, or other work vehicle, offloading the material into the material separator 100. To mitigate the impact force of the falling material, an impact chute 110 is connected to a front end 106 of the material separator 100 to first receive the material and direct the material toward the elongated drums, at an approximately 55 degree angle between the impact chute and frame, plus or minus 20 degrees. The frame 102 can be angled at a 10-degree downward slope relative to the wall 14 (which is substantially vertical), plus or minus 20 degrees. Referring specifically to FIGS. 4-5, in one embodiment, the impact chute 110 includes a top plate 112 and a reinforced subframe 114 supporting the top plate 112 and comprised of vertical beams 116, buttresses 118, and a horizontal reinforcement beam 120 connected to the frame 102. Referring specifically to FIG. 6, in one embodiment, an adjustable chute 130 with a frame cutout or notch 132 can be used in conjunction with the material separator 100, instead of the impact chute 120. The adjustable chute 130 may be pivotally mounted to the wall 14 and be manually and / or automatically adjustable via a corresponding drive unit (such as a hydraulic arm or motor).

[0039] Referring now to FIGS. 7-16, in one embodiment, the material separator 100 includes the frame 102, a plurality of elongated drums 150 each extending along a respective longitudinal axis 154. Each elongated drum 150 is supported by the frame 102 and configured to rotate about its longitudinal axis 154 when the material separator 100 is assembled and in operation. The material separator 100 further includes a plurality of segments 160 respectively attached to the plurality of elongated drums 150. Each segment 160 extends radially outward from each respective elongated drum to which the segment is mounted. The segments 160 are configured to agitate the material that is supported by the elongated drums 150 and frame, as the elongated drums 150 rotate abouttheir respective longitudinal axes 154. In one embodiment, the elongated drums 150 rotate in the same direction such that material supported by sequential elongated drums 150 (from front to back) are transferred laterally along the material separator 100, from the input 122 of the material separator 100 toward the output 124 of the material separator 100.

[0040] Referring specifically to FIGS. 9-16, in one embodiment, the material separator 100 further comprises a plurality of discs 162. Each disc 162 is rigidly fixed to a respective elongated drum 150 and extends radially outward from the respective elongated drum. Each disc 162 is configured to support one or more segments 160 and connect each segment to the respective elongated drum 150. In one embodiment, the material separator 100 further includes a plurality of backing plates 164. Each backing plate 164 corresponds to a disc 162 of the plurality of discs. Each disc 162 is bolted or otherwise fastened together with the corresponding backing plate 162, via fasteners such as bolts, screws, etc., to secure the segment 160 to the disc 162 (and elongated drum 150). In one embodiment, each disc 162 can include one or more counter bores with fastener through holes (unnumbered), and each backing plate 164 can include one or more corresponding threaded fastener through holes (unnumbered).

[0041] In one embodiment, a segment 160 of the material separator 100 includes one or more mounting plates 170 and one or more prongs 180 extending outwardly from the mounting plate(s) 170. The mounting plate 170 is configured to extend radially relative to the elongated drum to which the mounting plate 170 is attached, when the material separator 100 is assembled. Each prong 180 is fixedly attached to mounting plate. For example, each prong 180 can be fused or welded onto the mounting plate 170. The bull horn segments 160 are offset longitudinally from one another on adjacent or sequential elongated drums 150, and the bull horn segments 160 are bolted to the elongated drum 150 to make replacement of segments 160 easy and time-efficient.

[0042] Each prong 180 is generally planar and defines a plane that is perpendicular to the mounting plate 160. The plane of the prong is askew to the longitudinal axis 154 of the respective elongated drum 150. In one embodiment, the prong 180 leans forward in the direction of rotation of its respective elongated drum, hi one embodiment, the prong 180 has a profile (or a cross-section) that is substantially U shaped, V shaped, or bull horn shaped such that the prong extends longitudinally in both directions from the mounting plate. In one embodiment, each prong 180 can include a base that is fitted within a corresponding prong compartment or cutout 172 in the radial perimeter wall of the mounting plate 170 (FIG. 15). Each prong cutout 172 can be angled relative to a tangent line at the outer perimeter of mounting plate such that each prong extends outwardly and forwardly of the outer perimeter of the mounting plate 170, at an angle of approximately 30 degrees, plus or minus 20 degrees, relative to the perpendicular tangent line.

[0043] The elongated drums 150 extend substantially parallel to one another. The elongated drums 150 are coplanar with one another. The elongated drums 150 are evenly spaced from one another. In one embodiment, each elongated drum 150 can be driven by a respective motor 156 of the drive unit. In one embodiment, the motor 156 is supported by the frame 102 and located at a proximal end of the elongated drum 150 to which the motor 156 is connected. In one embodiment, a first elongated drum 150 can be driven by a motor 156 and the remaining elongated drums 156 can be slaved thereto by a chain drive 180 operably connected to the first elongated drum 150. For example, each elongated dram 150 has a sprocket 182 at a distal end thereof and a chain 184 operably connects the elongated drums 150 (FIG. 8). The chain 184 is configured to connect the sprockets to one another such that the first motor rotates each of the elongated drums about a respective longitudinal axis thereof. Thereby, each of the elongated drums 150 rotate in the same direction.

[0044] In one embodiment, to prevent the material from damaging the drive unit, a sprocket cover 190 is connected to and supported by the frame 102 (FIG. 7). The sprocket cover 190 is configured to substantially cover the sprockets, when the material separator 100 is assembled and the sprocket cover is extending laterally along the frame. In one embodiment, the sprocket cover extends upwardly from the frame at an angle, e.g., approximately 45 degrees relative to a horizontal plane defined by a top of the frame 102, plus or minus 20 degrees, such that the sprocket cover directs material into the elongated drums, when the material separator 100 is assembled and operating. In one embodiment, the sprocket cover comprises a bent plate, having triangular cross- section, that is fastened, e.g., bolted, onto the frame.

[0045] Referring to FIGS. 17-18, there is shown another embodiment of a material separator 100 which includes independently driven elongated drums. Therein, each drum is driven by respective motor at a distal end thereof. Roller bearings and / or pillow bearings mount each elongated drum to the frame. Additionally, the segments 160 are offset from one another, as between juxtaposed elongated drums.

[0046] Referring to FIGS. 19-20, there is shown another embodiment of a material separator 100 which includes adjustable elongated drams, allowing the user to adjust the number of and spacing between the elongated drums. Each elongated drum is movably attached to the frame via a respective mounting bracket and slot within the frame, allowing the position of each elongated drum to be easily adjusted upon loosening, repositioning, and retightening the mounting bracket thereof.

[0047] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention isdefined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

[0048] It will be understood that the particular embodiments described herein are shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the invention. The principal features of this invention may be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize numerous equivalents to the specific procedures described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims.

[0049] All of the compositions and / or methods disclosed and claimed herein may be made and / or executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this invention have been described in terms of the embodiments included herein, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that variations may be applied to the compositions and / or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit, and scope of the invention. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope, and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0050] Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful ROTARY ROCK SCREEN it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A material separator comprising: a frame; a first elongated drum extending along a first longitudinal axis, wherein the elongated drum is supported by the frame and configured to rotate about the first longitudinal axis when the material separator is assembled and in operation; a first segment attached to the first elongated drum, the segment extending radially outward from the first elongated drum, wherein the first segment is configured to agitate material supported by the first elongated drum and frame as the first elongated drum rotates about the first longitudinal axis.

2. The material separator of Claim 1, wherein: the material separator further comprises a second elongated drum extending along a second longitudinal axis, wherein the elongated drum is supported by the frame and configured to rotate about the second longitudinal axis; the first segment is configured to agitate material supported by the first elongated drum and the second elongated drum as the first elongated drum rotates about the longitudinal axis; and the first elongated drum and the second elongated drum both rotate in the same direction such that material supported by the first and second elongated drums arc transferred laterally along the material separator from an input of the material separator toward an output of the material separator.

3. The material separator of claim 1, wherein: the material separator further comprises a disc extending radially outward from the first elongated drum, the disc supporting the first segment and connecting the first segment to the first elongated drum.

4. The material separator of claim 1, wherein: the material separator further comprises a plurality of discs extending radially outwardly from the first elongated drum; each disc of the plurality of discs supports a segment; and a first disc of the plurality of discs supports the first segment.

5. The material separator of claim 1, wherein: the material separator further comprises a plurality of discs extending radially outwardly from the first elongated drum; each disc of the plurality of discs is fixed to the first elongated drum; each disc of the plurality of discs supports a segment; and a first disc of the plurality of discs supports the first segment.

6. The material separator of claim 1, wherein: the material separator further comprises a plurality of discs extending radially outwardly from the first elongated drum; each disc of the plurality of discs is fixed to the first elongated drum; each disc of the plurality of discs supports a segment;each disc is configured to support a plurality of segments; and a first disc of the plurality of discs supports the first segment.

7. The material separator of claim 1, wherein: the material separator further comprises a plurality of discs extending radially outwardly from the first elongated drum; each disc of the plurality of discs is fixed to the first elongated drum; each disc of the plurality of discs supports a segment; a first disc of the plurality of discs supports the first segment; the material separator further comprises a plurality of backing plates, each backing plate corresponding to a disc of the plurality of discs; and each disc is bolted together with the corresponding backing plate to secure the segment to the disc.

8. The material separator of claim 1, wherein: the material separator further comprises a plurality of discs extending radially outwardly from the first elongated drum; each disc of the plurality of discs is fixed to the first elongated drum; each disc of the plurality of discs supports a segment; a first disc of the plurality of discs supports the first segment; the material separator further comprises a plurality of backing plates, each backing plate corresponding to a disc of the plurality of discs; andeach disc is bolted together with the corresponding backing plate to secure the segment to the disc with the segment between the disc and corresponding backing plate.

9. The material separator of claim 1, wherein: the material separator further comprises a plurality of discs extending radially outwardly from the first elongated drum; each disc of the plurality of discs is fixed to the first elongated drum; each disc of the plurality of discs supports a plurality of segments when the material separator is assembled and operating; a first disc of the plurality of discs supports the first segment; the material separator further comprises a plurality of backing plates, each backing plate corresponding to a disc of the plurality of discs; and each disc of the plurality of discs is bolted together with the corresponding backing plate to secure the segment to the disc with the segment between the disc and corresponding backing plate.

10. The material separator of claim 1, wherein: the segment comprises: a mounting plate configured to extend radially relative to the first elongated drum when the material separator is assembled; and a prong configured to extend outwardly from the mounting plate.

11. The material separator of claim 1, wherein:the segment comprises: a mounting plate configured to extend radially relative to the first elongated drum when the material separator is assembled; and a prong configured to extend outwardly from the mounting plate, wherein the prong is generally planar and a plane of the prong is perpendicular to the mounting plate, and the plane of the prong is askew to the first longitudinal axis.

12. The material separator of claim 1, wherein: the segment comprises: a mounting plate configured to extend radially relative to the first elongated drum when the material separator is assembled; and a prong configured to extend outwardly from the mounting plate, wherein: the prong is generally planar and a plane along which the prong extends is perpendicular to the mounting plate; the plane of the prong is askew to the first longitudinal axis; and the prong leans forward in the direction of rotation of the first drum.

13. The material separator of claim 1, wherein: the segment comprises: a mounting plate configured to extend radially relative to the first elongated drum when the material separator is assembled; and a prong configured to extend outwardly from the mounting plate, wherein:the prong is generally planar a plane of the prong is perpendicular to the mounting plate; and the prong has a profile that is U shaped, V shaped, or bull horn shaped such that the prong extends longitudinally in both directions from the mounting plate; and the prong is welded to the mounting plate.

14. The material separator of Claim 1, wherein: the material separator comprises a plurality of elongated drums; the first elongated dram is one of the plurality of elongated drums; each of the plurality of elongated drums extend parallel to one another; each of the plurality of elongated drums is coplanar with one another; and each of the plurality of elongated drums is evenly spaced from one another.

15. The material separator of Claim 1, wherein: the material separator further comprises a plurality of motors; and a first motor of the plurality of motors is configured to rotate the first elongated drum about the first longitudinal axis.

16. The material separator of Claim 1 , wherein: the material separator further comprises a first motor at a proximal end of the first elongated drum, supported by the frame, and configured to rotate the first elongated drum about the first longitudinal axis;the material separator comprises a plurality of elongated drums supported by the frame when the material separator is assembled; the first drum is an elongated drum of the plurality of elongated drums; the material separator further comprises a plurality of sprockets; and each elongated drum of the plurality of elongated drums has a sprocket at a distal end of the elongated drum.

17. The material separator of Claim 1, wherein: the material separator further comprises a first motor at a proximal end of the first elongated drum, supported by the frame, and configured to rotate the first elongated drum about the first longitudinal axis; the material separator comprises a plurality of elongated drums supported by the frame when the material separator is assembled; the first drum is an elongated drum of the plurality of elongated drums; the material separator further comprises a plurality of sprockets; each elongated drum of the plurality of elongated drums has a sprocket at a distal end of the elongated drum; and the material separator further comprises a chain configured to connect the sprockets of the plurality of sprockets to one another such that the first motor rotates each of the elongated drums of the plurality of drams about a respective longitudinal axis thereof, and each of the elongated drums of the plurality of elongated drams rotates in the same direction.

18. The material separator of Claim 1, wherein:the material separator further comprises a first motor at a proximal end of the first elongated drum, supported by the frame, and configured to rotate the first elongated drum about the first longitudinal axis; the material separator comprises a plurality of elongated drums supported by the frame when the material separator is assembled; the first drum is an elongated drum of the plurality of elongated drums; the material separator further comprises a plurality of sprockets; each elongated drum of the plurality of elongated drums has a sprocket at a distal end of the elongated drum; the material separator further comprises a chain configured to connect the sprockets of the plurality of sprockets to one another such that the first motor rotates each of the elongated drums of the plurality of drams about a respective longitudinal axis thereof, and each of the elongated drums of the plurality of elongated drums rotates in the same direction; and a sprocket cover configured to cover the plurality of sprockets, the sprocket cover supported by the frame when the material separator is assembled and extending laterally along the frame.

18. The material separator of Claim 1, wherein: the material separator further comprises a first motor at a proximal end of the first elongated drum, supported by the frame, and configured to rotate the first elongated drum about the first longitudinal axis; the material separator comprises a plurality of elongated drums supported by the frame when the material separator is assembled;the first drum is an elongated drum of the plurality of elongated drums; the material separator further comprises a plurality of sprockets; each elongated drum of the plurality of elongated drums has a sprocket at a distal end of the elongated drum; the material separator further comprises a chain configured to connect the sprockets of the plurality of sprockets to one another such that the first motor rotates each of the elongated drums of the plurality of drums about a respective longitudinal axis thereof, and each of the elongated drums of the plurality of elongated drums rotates in the same direction; a sprocket cover configured to cover the plurality of sprockets, the sprocket cover supported by the frame when the material separator is assembled and extending laterally along the frame; and the sprocket cover extends upwardly from the frame at an angle such that the sprocket cover directs material into the plurality of elongated drums when the material separator is assembled and operating.

19. A segment for a material separator, the segment comprising: a mounting plate configured to extend radially relative to a first elongated drum of the material separator when the material separator is assembled; and a prong configured to extend outwardly from the mounting plate, wherein the prong is generally planar and a plane of the prong is perpendicular to the mounting plate, and the plane of the prong is askew to a first longitudinal axis of the first elongated drum about which the first elongated drum is configured to rotate when the material separator is operating.

20. The segment of Claim 19, wherein: the prong is generally planar and a plane along which the prong extends is perpendicular to the mounting plate; and the prong has a profile that is U shaped, V shaped, or bull horn shaped such that the prong extends longitudinally in both directions from the mounting plate when the material separator is assembled; the prong is fused to the mounting plate; the plane of the prong is askew to the first longitudinal axis when the material separator is assembled; and the prong leans forward in the direction of rotation of the first drum when the material separator is assembled and operating.

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