Sifting shovel arrangement

Abstract

Provided is a sifting shovel arrangement (10) for sifting particulate material (8). The sifting shovel arrangement (10) comprises a blade (12) defining a scooping surface (14) configured for scooping particulate material (8), and a handle (16) fast with said blade (12) via which the blade (12) is manipulable. Also included is a sifting frame (18) with a sifting surface (20) arranged in register with said scooping surface (14) so that scooped particulate material (8) is transferrable onto said sifting surface (20) under the influence of gravity via manipulation of the handle (16). Further included is an agitator (22) configured selectively to agitate said sifting surface (20) in a back-and-forth manner to facilitate sifting of particulate material on the sifting surface (20).

Description

SIFTING SHOVEL ARRANGEMENTTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates broadly to the field of sifting of particulate and granular materials, and more specifically to a sifting shovel arrangement for sifting particulate materials.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] The following discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention only. The discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to is or was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

[0003] As is well-known in the art, a shovel is a tool used for digging, lifting, and moving bulk materials, such as soil, coal, gravel, snow, sand, or ore. Such bulk materials often comprise granular or particulate materials, such as compost, sand and / or soil that requires sifting, or separation of differently-sized particles from each other.

[0004] Conventionally, one solution to sifting particulate material is to erect a free-standing sieve or similar grate through which particulate material can be passed in order to sift said material, with particles below a certain size as determined by a size of holes in the sieve or grate passing therethrough, with larger particles impeded from passing therethrough, effectively separating the particles of different sizes. Alternatively, conventional solutions have seen the development of sifting shovels that allow more control with handling of particulate material during sifting, with some examples shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings .

[0005] Similarly, other more advances conventional methods for sifting particulate material generally involve devices that include some manner of screen with associated screen vibrators, some examples of which are disclosed in CN 209975959 U (Yang Yanguang) , CN 212664088 U (Gansu Highway & Bridge Constr Group Co Ltd, DE 102008025605 Al (Biniaminov Youri et al.) , US 2005416 A (Fisher John H) and CN 211960506 U (Shenzhen Gianhai Homerun Tech Co Ltd) and shown in Figure 1.

[0006] However, such conventional solutions have shortcomings in sifting particulate material that may include moisture causing particles to adhere to itself and / or the device used for sifting, or require additional moving of material once sifted. Conventional practices also present ergonomic problems, as long-term exposure to vibration from such conventional sifting shovels may cause Hand- Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) , leading to permanent damage to nerves, blood vessels, and muscles in the hands and arms. This syndrome can manifest as pain, numbness, tingling, "white finger" (Raynaud's phenomenon) , carpal tunnel syndrome, reduced grip strength, and the like.

[0007] Manual sifting with conventional sifting shovels can also be arduous and time-consuming, as a user is required to shake or vibrate the tool and material to be sifted. Conventional sifting shovels also cause material to pass through when picking said material up, which generally leads to material being messed during material pick-up and handling, resulting in a dirty work area, which may be undesirable.

[0008] The current invention was conceived with these shortcomings in mind to propose a possible improvement in amelioration of the art of handling and sifting particulate material .SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The skilled addressee is to appreciate that reference herein to 'shovel' is made in a broad and non-exclusive manner and may refer to different configurations or shovels, generally being a man-portable and operable tool. Additionally, while a spade is a tool primarily for digging consisting of a long handle and blade, typically with the blade narrower and flatter than the common shovel, reference herein to 'shovel' includes reference to a spade.

[0010] The skilled addressee is further to appreciate that reference herein to particulate material includes broad and nonexclusive reference to granular materials and volumes of particles or grains, such as soil, sand, compost, etc. , that may comprise particles of varying sizes.

[0011] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a sifting shovel arrangement for sifting particulate material, said shovel arrangement comprising: a blade defining a scooping surface configured for scooping particulate material; a handle fast with said blade via which the blade is manipulable ; a sifting frame arranged in register with said scooping surface, the sifting frame having a sifting surface so that scooped particulate material is transferrable from the scooping surface into the sifting frame and onto said sifting surface under the influence of gravity via manipulation of the handle, and wherein the sifting surface is slidably configured relative to said sifting frame; and an agitator configured selectively to agitate said sifting surface to slide the sifting surface cyclically in a back-and- forth manner relative to the sifting frame to facilitate sifting of particulate material.

[0012] In an embodiment, the blade comprises at least one side wall laterally arranged on the scooping surface to configure the blade as a scoop.

[0013] In an embodiment, the side wall is contiguous with the sifting frame, the scooping surface and sifting surface optionally arranged at an angle with respect to each other.

[0014] In an embodiment, the sifting surface comprises a foraminous surface defining a plurality of foramina shaped and / or dimensioned in accordance with a particle size of the particulate material to be sifted.

[0015] In an embodiment, the sifting surface is comprised as a portion of the scooping surface.

[0016] In an embodiment, the sifting surface is arranged in register with the scooping surface via the sifting surface being disposed laterally to the scooping surface.

[0017] In an embodiment, the sifting surface is arranged at an angle relative to the scooping surface to facilitate passing scooped particulate material from the scooping surface onto the sifting surface under the influence of gravity via manipulation of the handle.

[0018] In an embodiment, the agitator is mounted to the sifting frame, sifting surface, the blade and / or the handle.

[0019] In an embodiment, the agitator comprises an electromechanical agitator, such as an electric motovibrator , with a switch for selectively activating said agitator and an electrical energy supply, such as a battery.

[0020] In an embodiment, the sifting surface comprises a sifting plate defining elongate slots complementarily receivable in projections in the sifting frame to capture said sifting plate slidably relative to said sifting frame.

[0021] In an embodiment, the sifting plate defines an undulating sifting surface in order to facilitate sifting of particulate material as said sifting plate is agitated in a back- and-forth manner relative to the sifting frame.

[0022] In an embodiment, the agitator includes a linkage linking the agitator with the sifting plate.

[0023] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method for sifting particulate material, said method comprising steps of: scooping particulate material with a sifting shovel arrangement in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; manipulating the handle to transfer said scooped particulate material under the influence of gravity onto the sifting surface; and actuating the agitator to sift the particulate material.

[0024] According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a sifting shovel arrangement and an associated method for sifting particulate material, substantially as herein described and / or illustrated.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:Figure 1 shows conventional prior art sifting shovels;Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective-view representation of one embodiment of a sifting shovel arrangement, in accordance with aspects of the present invention;Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective-view representation of a further embodiment of a sifting shovel arrangement, in accordance with aspects of the present invention;Figure 4 is a diagrammatic rear perspective-view representation of the sifting shovel arrangement of Figure 2;Figures 5 and 6 show diagrammatic perspective-view representations of the sifting shovel arrangement when in-use sifting particulate material;Figure 7 and 8 are respective diagrammatic perspective closer view representations of the sifting frame and sifting surface of one embodiment of the sifting shovel arrangement;Figure 9 is a diagrammatic perspective-view representation of a yet further embodiment of a sifting shovel arrangement, in accordance with aspects of the present invention;Figures 10 is a diagrammatic bottom perspective-view representation of one embodiment of a sifting plate; andFigure 11A to 11C show additional different embodiments of sifting shovel arrangements, in accordance with aspects of the present invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Further features of the present invention are more fully described in the following description of several non-limiting embodiments thereof. This description is included solely for the purposes of exemplifying the present invention to the skilled addressee. It should not be understood as a restriction on the broad summary, disclosure or description of the invention as set out above .

[0026] In the figures, incorporated to illustrate features of the example embodiment or embodiments, like reference numerals areused to identify like parts throughout. Additionally, features, mechanisms and aspects well-known and understood in the art will not be described in detail, as such features, mechanisms and aspects will be within the understanding of the skilled addressee.

[0027] Additionally, the accompanying figures do not represent engineering or design drawings, but provide a functional overview of the invention only. As a result, features and practical construction details required for various embodiments may not be indicated in each figure, but such construction requirements will be within the understanding of the skilled addressee.

[0028] Broadly, the present invention provides for a sifting shovel arrangement 10 for sifting particulate material 8, such as soil. Also provided is an associated method for sifting particulate material by means of the sifting shovel arrangement 10, as will become apparent to the skilled addressee in light of the present disclosure .

[0029] With reference now to the accompanying figures, there is shown various embodiments of such a sifting shovel arrangement 10 for sifting particulate material 8. In one embodiment, the sifting shovel arrangement 10 comprises a blade 12 which defines a scooping surface 14 configured for scooping particulate material 8, as well as a handle 16 fast with the blade 12 via which the blade 12 is manipulable. The skilled addressee will appreciate that the handle 16 may take various forms, depending on ergonomic requirements and use of the sifting shovel arrangement 10, e.g. length of handle, grasping feature (s) of the handle, etc. In one embodiment, the blade 12 may comprise at least one side wall 24 which is laterally arranged on the scooping surface 14 to configure the blade as a scoop, or the like. Of course, variations hereon are possible and expected.

[0030] The sifting shovel arrangement 10 also includes a sifting frame 18 which is arranged in register with the scooping surface 14, as shown. The sifting frame 18 also includes a sifting surface 20 so that scooped particulate material 8 is transferrable from the scooping surface 14 into the sifting frame 18 and onto said sifting surface 20 under the influence of gravity via manipulation of the handle 16, i.e. the handle 16 may be rotated to transfer the scooped material 8 onto the sifting frame 18, or the like. Importantly, the sifting surface 20 is slidably configured relative to the sifting frame 18, as described in more detail below.

[0031] The sifting shovel arrangement 10 further includes an agitator 22 which is configured selectively to agitate the sifting surface 20 to slide the sifting surface 20 cyclically in a back- and-forth manner relative to the sifting frame 18 in order to facilitate sifting of particulate material 8 which has been transferred or passed onto the sifting surface 20.

[0032] In one embodiment, the sifting surface 20 comprises a foraminous surface defining a plurality of foramina shaped and / or dimensioned in accordance with a particle size of the particulate material to be sifted. For example, smaller foramina for smaller particles, such as fine sand, or larger foramina for larger particles, such as pebbles, or the like. In one embodiment, the sifting surface 20 is arranged in register with the scooping surface 14 via the sifting surface 20 being disposed laterally to the scooping surface 14. Similarly, or additionally, in one embodiment the sifting surface 20 is arranged at an angle relative to the scooping surface 14 in order to facilitate transferring or passing scooped particulate material 8 from the scooping surface 14 onto the sifting surface 20 under the influence of gravity via manipulation of the handle 16.

[0033] In one embodiment, the sifting surface 20 may be replaceable to provide for sifting different particle sizes, or the like. Examples of various such configurations are shown in the accompanying figures, including different embodiments of the sifting surface 20 relative to the blade 12, as per Figures 11. The skilled addressee is to appreciate that by having the sifting frame 18, which can keep particulate material 8 in place therein, with the sifting surface 20 as a bottom or floor portion of said sifting frame 18 and which cycles back-and-forth underneath the sifting frame 18, facilitates sifting of such particulate material, i.e. the material 8 is effectively held in place inside the sifting frame 18 whilst the floor or sifting surface 20 of the sifting frame 18 is slidably cycled back-and-forth to sift the material 8. In this manner, a 'sawing' action of the cycled sifting surface 20 with the material 8 held in place onto top thereof within sifting frame 18 efficiently sifts material 8, even if moist .

[0034] In one embodiment, an example of which is shown in Figure 10, the sifting plate 30 defines an undulating sifting surface 20 in order to facilitate sifting of particulate material 8 as said sifting plate 30 is agitated in a back-and-forth manner relative to the sifting frame 18. For example, the sifting surface 20 may comprise a wavy, sinusoidal, triangular, sawtooth or similar undulating and / or irregular surface which is configured to improve sifting of particulate material 8 as the sifting plate 20 is agitated relative to the sifting frame 18. Such an undulating sifting surface 20 finds particular application in sifting moist particulate material 8, for example.

[0035] In one embodiment, the agitator 22 comprises an electromechanical agitator, such as an electric motovibrator , i.e. an electrical motor with or without unbalanced weights on a shaft thereof, with a switch 26 for selectively activating said agitator 22 and an electrical energy supply 28, such as a battery. Ofcourse, in one embodiment the agitator 22 may comprise an electric motor with an output shaft thereof substantially transversely connected with linkage 36 so that rotational motion is converted into cyclical back-and-forth motion, as known in the art. In one embodiment, the agitator 22 may be mounted to the sifting frame 18, but other embodiments may have the agitator 22 mounted to the blade 12 and / or the handle 16, i.e. the agitator 22 may be mounted to various parts of the arrangement 10 and within the principle of mechanical equivalence. For example, in one example, the battery 28, switch 26 and agitator 22 may be comprised within and / or on the handle 16, or the like.

[0036] In one embodiment, as shown in more detail in Figure 4, the sifting surface 20 comprises a sifting plate 30 defining foramina to form sifting surface 20 and further defining elongate slots 32, typically but not necessarily proximate a boundary of said plate 30, that are complementarily receivable in projections 34 in the sifting frame 18 in order to capture the sifting plate 30 slidably relative to said sifting frame 18. Such projections 34 may comprise suitable fasteners, such as bolts with flanges or washers to mount the sifting plate 30 slidably relative to the sifting frame 18, or the like, i.e. the sifting plate 30 is captured to allow cyclical back-and-forth sliding, but fast with the sifting frame 18. Of course, variations hereon are possible and expected.

[0037] In another example, the sifting shovel arrangement 10 embodiment of Figures 7 and 8 may comprise two sifting surfaces, one such sifting surface defined by the sifting surface itself and the other sifting surface defined by sifting plate 30 arranged substantially in parallel, each with sifting foramina, that are slidably arranged with respect to each other, or the like. In such an embodiment, one sifting surface is cyclically slid past another, which may further facilitate sifting of material 8. Other mechanical equivalent embodiments are possible and anticipated.Depending on such different possible mechanical configurations, the agitator 22 may further include a linkage 36 of different possible configurations in order to link the agitator 22 with the sifting plate 30.

[0038] In another embodiment, examples of which are shown in Figures 9 and 11B and 11C, the sifting surface 20 may be comprised as a portion of the scooping surface 14. In such an embodiment, the blade 12 comprises both the scooping and sifting surfaces 14 and 20, so that particulate material 8 is scoopable onto the scooping surface 14 and transferrable onto the sifting surface 20 via suitable manipulation of the handle 16. As described above, the sifting surface 20 may comprise the sifting plate 30 arranged beneath the scooping surface 14 and configured to be cyclically slid back-and-forth via the agitator 22, or the like. Again, variations hereon are possible and expected and within this scope of the present disclosure.

[0039] The present invention further provides for an associated method for sifting particulate material 8. Such a method broadly comprises steps of scooping particulate material 8 with the sifting shovel arrangement 10, as described herein, manipulating the handle 16 to transfer said scooped particulate material 8 under the influence of gravity onto the sifting surface 20, and actuating the agitator 22 to sift the particulate material 8. An example of performance of this method is exemplified in Figures 5 and 6, where the handle 16 is manipulated to transfer material 8 from the scooping surface 14 into the sifting frame 18 and onto sifting surface 20 under the influence of gravity.

[0040] Applicant believes it particularly advantageous that the present invention provides for a sifting shovel arrangement 10 whereby particulate material is selectively siftable as well as moveable without unnecessary messing of such particulate material. In particular, arrangement 10 comprises a sifting surface 20 boundby sifting frame 18, with said sifting surface 20 configured to be slidable in a back-and-forth manner relative to the sifting frame 18 to facilitate sifting of particulate material 8. Such an arrangement generally reduces vibration felt via handle 16, as only the sifting surface 20 cycles back-and-forth, and further facilitates sifting of especially moist particulate material that adheres to itself and / or the sifting surface 20. The possible undulating sifting surface 30 may further facilitate with sifting of particulate material, particularly moist particulate material.

[0041] In the example embodiments, well-known processes, well- known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail, as such will be readily understood by the skilled addressee. Optional embodiments of the present invention may also be said to broadly consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated herein, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of the parts, elements or features. Where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which the invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

[0042] It is to be appreciated that reference to "one example" or "an example" of the invention, or similar exemplary language (e.g., "such as") herein, is not made in an exclusive sense.Various substantially and specifically practical and useful exemplary embodiments of the claimed subject matter are described herein, textually and / or graphically, for carrying out the claimed subject matter. Accordingly, one example may exemplify certain aspects of the invention, whilst other aspects are exemplified in a different example. Variations (e.g. modifications and / or enhancements) of one or more embodiments described herein might become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this application. The inventor (s) expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor (s) intendsfor the claimed subject matter to be practiced other than as specifically described herein.

[0043] The use of the terms "a", "an", "said", "the", and / or similar referents in the context of describing various embodiments (especially in the context of the claimed subject matter) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising," "having," "including," and "containing" are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e. , meaning "including, but not limited to,") unless otherwise noted. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0044] Spatially relative terms, such as "inner," "outer," "beneath," "below," "lower," "above," "upper," and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element (s) or feature (s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the contrivance in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the contrivance in the figures is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the example term "below" can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The contrivance may be otherwise oriented and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

[0045] Any method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed .

Claims

CLAIMS1. A sifting shovel arrangement for sifting particulate material, said shovel arrangement comprising: a blade defining a scooping surface configured for scooping particulate material; a handle fast with said blade via which the blade is manipulable ; a sifting frame arranged in register with said scooping surface, the sifting frame having a sifting surface so that scooped particulate material is transferrable from the scooping surface into the sifting frame and onto said sifting surface under the influence of gravity via manipulation of the handle, and wherein the sifting surface is slidably configured relative to said sifting frame; and an agitator configured selectively to agitate said sifting surface to slide the sifting surface cyclically in a back-and-forth manner relative to the sifting frame to facilitate sifting of particulate material.

2. The sifting shovel arrangement of claim 1, wherein the blade comprises at least one side wall laterally arranged on the scooping surface to configure the blade as a scoop.

3. The sifting shovel arrangement of claim 2, wherein the side wall is contiguous with the sifting frame, the scooping surface and sifting surface optionally arranged at an angle with respect to each other.

4. The sifting shovel arrangement of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sifting surface comprises a foraminous surface defining a plurality of foramina shaped and / or dimensioned in accordance with a particle size of the particulate material to be sifted.

5. The sifting shovel arrangement of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sifting surface is comprised as a portion of the scooping surface.

6. The sifting shovel arrangement of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sifting surface is arranged in register with the scooping surface via the sifting surface being disposed laterally to the scooping surface.

7. The sifting shovel arrangement of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sifting surface is arranged at an angle relative to the scooping surface to facilitate passing scooped particulate material from the scooping surface onto the sifting surface under the influence of gravity via manipulation of the handle .

8. The sifting shovel arrangement of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the agitator is mounted to the sifting frame.

9. The sifting shovel arrangement of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the agitator comprises an electromechanical agitator, such as an electric motovibrator , with a switch for selectively activating said agitator and an electrical energy supply, such as a battery.

10. The sifting shovel arrangement of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the sifting surface comprises a sifting plate defining elongate slots complementarily receivable in projections in the sifting frame to capture said sifting plate slidably relative to said sifting frame.

11. The sifting shovel arrangement of claim 10, wherein the sifting plate defines an undulating sifting surface in orderto facilitate sifting of particulate material as said sifting plate is agitated in a back-and-forth manner relative to the sifting frame.

12. The sifting shovel arrangement of either of claims 10 or 11, wherein the agitator includes a linkage linking the agitator with the sifting plate.

13. A method for sifting particulate material, said method comprising steps of: scooping particulate material with a sifting shovel arrangement in accordance with any of claims 1 to 11; manipulating the handle to transfer said scooped particulate material under the influence of gravity onto the sifting surface; and actuating the agitator to sift the particulate material.

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