Vibrator separator screens

A screen assembly for a vibratory separator apparatus, the screen assembly comprising

• at least two screening members, each screening member having a surface area,
• the at least two screen members connected by sewing material, and
• the sewing material extending across substantially all of the surface area of the screening members,
• the at least two screening members including three-dimensional screening material with a plurality of alternating ridges and troughs,
• at least one series of stitches of sewing material ascending up a side of a ridge from a top to a bottom thereof, and
• the at least one series of stitches having stitch portions projecting out from an outer surface of the ridge for contact by solid particles flowing over the screen assembly to change direction of travel of the solid particles.

A shale shaker for treating drilling fluid with solids therein, the shale shaker comprising

• a basket for holding a screen assembly,
• a vibratory device for vibrating the basket and the screen assembly,
• a screen assembly mounted on the basket, the screen assembly having a top and comprising
• at least two screening members, each screening member having a surface area,
• the at least two screen members connected by sewing material,
• a lower receptacle for receiving drilling fluid passing through the screen assembly,
• the screen assembly mounted so that solids separated from the drilling fluid are moved off the top of the screen assembly by motion imparted to the screen assembly by the vibratory device.

A method for treating drilling fluid with solids therein, the method comprising

• introducing the drilling fluid with solids therein to a shale shaker, the shale shaker comprising a basket for mounting a screen assembly therein suitable for separating solids from the drilling material, a vibratory device for vibrating the basket and the screen assembly, the screen assembly mounted so that solids separated from the drilling fluid are moved off the top of the screen assembly by motion imparted to the screen assembly by the vibratory device, a receptacle beneath the screen assembly for receiving drilling fluid passed through the screen assembly, a screen assembly mounted on the basket and comprising at least two screening members, and the at least two screen members connected by sewing material, the sewing material extending across the screening members,
• screening the drilling fluid with solids therein with the at least two screening members to separate solids therefrom, the at least two screening members vibrated by the vibratory device,
• moving solids separated from the drilling fluid off the top of the screen assembly by vibrating the screen assembly with the vibrator device, and
• collecting drilling fluid passed through the screen assembly in the receptacle.

A screen assembly for a vibratory separator apparatus, the screen assembly comprising

• at least two screening members, and
• the at least two screen members connected by sewing material,
• wherein the sewing material comprises thread,
• the sewing material comprising thread in a stitch pattern across the at least two screening members,
• a pattern of expandable material on and corresponding to the stitch pattern,
• the thread passing through holes in the pattern of expandable material, the expandable material expanded within the holes following extraction of a needle therefrom, the needle used to apply the sewing material, to inhibit tearing of either of the at least two screening members between holes,
• the at least two screening members including three-dimensional screening material with a plurality of alternating ridges and troughs,
• at least one series of stitches of sewing material ascending up a side of a ridge from a top to a bottom thereof, and
• the at least one series of stitches having stitch portions projecting out from an outer surface of the ridge for contact by solid particles flowing over the screen assembly to change direction of travel of the solid particles.