Drilling mud cleaning apparatus

Apparatus for separating cuttings from drilling mud, which comprises:

• a housing having laterally spaced, upwardly standing sidewalls defining an open area therebetween;
• means for directing cutting-laden drilling mud into the open area of the housing;
• a traveling belt screen having a planar surface for receiving in an area thereof cutting-laden drilling mud and separating the cuttings therefrom,
• the planar screen surface being upwardly inclined in the direction of screen travel, so as to form a puddle of drilling mud over an aft portion of the planar surface;
• a mud compaction plate resiliently mounted in the housing opening for vertical movement, the plate extending substantially parallel to the planar screen surface for immersion in the puddle of mud forming thereon;
• and
• a vibrator coupled to the mud compaction plate for imparting vertical vibrational movement to the plate to force penetration of drilling mud through the planar screen surface.