Back to results
US 7,556,154 B2Granted
Drill fluid screening device
OwnerJohn Astleford, Sharon Astlefordinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a method and apparatus for screening drilling fluids to remove entrained debris, the fluid is urged upwardly from the lower side to the upper side of an inclined or horizontal mesh screen, so that debris falls from the face of the screen under gravity to be collected and removed, and the clean fluid emerges above the screen. The debris may be removed by a conveyor or by a vibrating mesh surface. The operating life of the screen is thereby extended.
Claims18
A method for removing debris from drilling fluid, comprising:
- a. passing the fluid through a vibrating screen which lies in a non-vertical plane the screen having a top face and a bottom face, the bottom face being directed downwardly and the top face is directed upwardly, wherein the fluid initially contacts the bottom face of the screen and passes through the screen to the top face against gravity, whereby fluid passes through the screen and debris not passing through the screen settles generally lower than the bottom face of the screen, and
- b. transporting said debris settling beneath the screen upwardly out of the fluid for disposal.
An apparatus for removing debris from drilling fluid, comprising:
- a. a vibrating screen which lies in a non-vertical plane, the screen having a bottom face directed downwardly and a top face directed upwardly, whereby the vibration dislodges debris from the bottom face of the screen, the debris not passing through the screen settling generally lower than the bottom face of the screen;
- b. a fluid inlet positioned in proximity to the screen such that fluid initially contacting the bottom face of the screen and passes through the screen to the top face against gravity;
- and,
- c. conveyor means provided generally beneath or lower than the screen for transporting debris settling lower than the screen upwardly out of the fluid for disposal.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.