System, apparatus and/or method for repairing sifting and/or filtering screens using plugs with a mesh layer
AssigneeM-I Drilling Fluids UK Limited
InventorClaire Rosaleen Galloway McLean
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
System, method and/or apparatus repairs an area of damaged mesh in a sifter screen (80). Such sifter screens (80) have woven wire mesh (81) stretched, tensioned and/or secured over a supporting frame (85) having cells (82). Damage occurs to the mesh (81) over certain cells (82). A plug (10) having a mesh layer (14) inserts and/or locks into place in the damaged cell (89). The mesh layer (14) of the plug (10) is flush with the mesh (81) on the sifting screen (80). Ridges (62) and/or ledges (66) secure the plug (10) in place by engaging a lip (96) in the damaged cell (89) to snap-fit the plug (10) in place.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a plug having side walls arranged perpendicular to end walls in planes perpendicular to a top forming a hollow block having an interior wherein ridges extend outwardly from the side walls;
- and
- a mesh covering the top between the side walls and the end walls.
A system comprising:
- a plug having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is located in a position opposite to the second end and a first side and a second side wherein the second side is located in a position opposite to the first side and further wherein the first side extends a length from the first end to the second end and the second side extends a length from the first end to the second end wherein the plug has a hollow interior defined by the first side and the second side and an exterior portion having ridges on the first side and the second side and further wherein the plug has a top having a first mesh attached thereto;
- and
- a screen having cells defined by an orthogonal array of ribs and a perimeter frame wherein the screen has a second mesh extending over the perimeter frame and further wherein the cells have interior walls with a lip located therein wherein the plug inserts within the interior walls of a damaged cell wherein the lip interfaces with the ridges on the plug to hold the plug in the damaged cell.
A method comprising:
- attaching a first mesh to a top of a plug having a shape of a hollow block;
- identifying a damaged cell in a screen having cells wherein the screen is covered with a second mesh;
- and
- inserting the plug into the damaged cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.