Mud separator valve apparatus
AssigneeMilchem Incorporated
InventorStephen J. Schneider
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic cleaning system is provided for a mud separator apparatus. Water and mud inputs to a mud pump feeding the separator are respectively controlled by two butterfly valves ganged for cooperation, and operated by a single valve actuator motor. When the mud separator is shut off, a time delay relay is actuated which keeps the mud separator rotor motor on line during a predetermined flush cycle. The valve actuator opens the water valve, and closes the mud valve, permitting the separator to be flushed with water. Activating the start button returns the valve actuator to the position in which the mud valve is open and the water valve is closed, thereby returning the apparatus to the mud separation cycle.
Claims4
In a drilling mud separator system having a rotatable separator means, power means to rotate said separator means, pumping means for water or mud, and valve means for selectively directing mud or water to said separator, the improvement comprising:
- electrically operated means for actuating said valve means;
- a main relay having normally open contacts controlling application of power to said power means;
- means for energizing said main relay including a normally opened start switch, a series connected normally closed stop switch, and a time delay relay having a pair of contacts connected in series with said main relay;
- means responsive to closing of said switch for energizing said time delay relay to close said time delay contacts and bypass said start switch;
- means responsive to opening of said stop switch for de-energizing said time delay relay to delay de-energization of said main relay for a preselected delay period, said means responsive to opening also effecting the operation of said valve actuating means to direct water to said separator and interrupt the flow of mud to said separator to assure cleaning of the separator during said preselected time delay period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.