# US 10,369,501 B2 · Apparatus, system and method for combining modular repair plugs > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,369,501 B2 - Document ID: US10369501B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/145,759 - Filed: 2016-05-03 - Published: 2017-11-09 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-03 - Assignees: M-I Drilling Fluids UK Limited - Applicants: M-I Drilling Fluids UK Ltd. - Inventors: Andrew Ralph - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369501B2 ## CPC - B01D 35/28: Strainers not provided for elsewhere - B01D 33/03: with vibrating filter elements - B07B 1/4627: {Repairing of screening surfaces} - B07B 1/4645: {Screening surfaces built up of modular elements} - E21B 21/065: {Separating solids from drilling fluids} - B01D 2201/4084: Snap or Seeger ring connecting means - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B07B: SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS BY SIEVING, SCREENING, SIFTING OR BY USING GAS CURRENTS; SEPARATING BY OTHER DRY METHODS APPLICABLE TO BULK MATERIAL, e.g. LOOSE ARTICLES FIT TO BE HANDLED LIKE BULK MATERIAL (wet separating processes, sorting by processes using fluent material in the same way as liquid B03; combinations of dry separating apparatus with wet separating apparatus B03B; using liquids B03B, B03D; sorting by magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges or vortex apparatus for carrying out physical processes B04; hand sorting, postal sorting, sorting by switching or other devices actuated in response to detection or measurement of some feature of articles or samples of material B07C) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract An apparatus and methods secure modular repair plugs to one another to repair different sized cells of a screen. A modular repair plug is configured to attach to another modular repair plug to create an extended modular repair plug. The modular repair plug can fit within a first, smaller cell, and the extended modular repair plug can fit within a larger second cell. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a first modular repair plug shaped for insertion into a shale shaker screen wherein the first modular repair plug has a first width defined between a first end and an opposite second end of the first modular repair plug and a first length defined between a first side and an opposite second side of the first modular repair plug; a second modular repair plug shaped for insertion into a shale shaker screen, wherein the second modular repair plug has a second width; a first securing mechanism on a side of the first modular repair plug configured to secure the first modular repair plug to the second modular repair plug to form an extended modular repair plug having a combined width; and a groove extending across the first width and the first length of the first modular repair plug such that the groove is provided above the first securing mechanism when the first modular repair plug is in an upright position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a second securing mechanism on the second modular repair plug to engage the first securing mechanism of the first modular repair plug. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first securing mechanism is a protrusion extending from the first modular repair plug and the second securing mechanism is a pocket formed in the second modular repair plug wherein insertion of the protrusion into the pocket attaches the first modular repair plug to the second modular repair plug. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the combined width is greater than the first width of the first modular repair plug and the second width of the second modular repair plug. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first modular repair plug and the second modular repair plug fit in a cell of the shale shaker screen. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a ridge on a first cross-member of a grid of the shale shaker screen, wherein the ridge engages the groove of the first modular repair plug. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the ridge is within an interior of a first cell on the first cross-member or a second cross-member of the grid of the shale shaker screen. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the groove extends across the first length of the first modular repair plug and the combined width of extended modular repair plug. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first modular repair plug is removably secured to the second modular repair plug and further wherein the first modular repair plug is separable from the second modular repair plug without damaging the first modular repair plug or the second modular repair plug. ### Claim 10 An apparatus comprising: a first modular repair plug shaped for insertion into a shale shaker screen wherein the first modular repair plug has a first width; a second modular repair plug shaped for insertion into the shale shaker screen wherein the second modular repair plug has a second width; a first securing mechanism on at least one side of the first modular repair plug configured to secure the first modular repair plug to the second modular repair plug to form an extended modular repair plug having a combined width; and a groove provided about an entire perimeter of the first modular repair plug such that the groove is provided above the first securing mechanism when the first modular repair plug is in an upright position.