Vibrating Screen Wire-Cloth Mesh Deck

Function

The mesh aperture size and wire diameter determine fractionation accuracy (separation sharpness) and the panel's capacity in tonnes per hour per square metre of deck area. Blinded apertures — choked by flat or near-size particles — reduce effective screening area and cause over-size stone to carry over into fine fractions (contamination), degrading mix gradation control. Broken wires create oversize openings allowing fine material to pass into coarser bins, again corrupting mix gradation. Both failure modes produce finished asphalt with out-of-specification particle size distribution that may not meet contract requirements.

Construction & quality

Square-weave or pre-crimped double-crimp woven wire cloth from high-tensile steel wire manufactured to EN 10270-1 SH grade or equivalent (Rm 1570–1960 N/mm² depending on wire diameter). Wire diameters 0.8–6.0 mm selected per aperture to give appropriate open area percentage (typically 45–60%) and wire-to-aperture ratio for durability. Individual panels are cut to the screen box width (typically 1.0–2.0 m) and length (0.6–1.2 m per panel) and retained across the support rails by wedge-tensioning bars or hook-strip angles matched to the screen box design. Stainless steel 316 wire available for highly acidic or adhesive fines.

When to replace

• Visible broken wire strands creating openings larger than the design aperture in the panel
• Mesh blinding — apertures choked with flat aggregate particles or bituminous fines resistant to vibratory clearing
• Mesh dish or sag in the panel indicating loss of tension or broken backing wires in the panel centre
• Incorrect aggregate fraction appearing in the wrong hot storage bin, confirmed by hot-bin grading checks
• Deck panel rattling in its retaining strips or hook-strip rails indicating tension loss