Patents by Inventor Andrew Ralph

Andrew Ralph has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10758848
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a filtering assembly and a method of manufacturing a filtering assembly. The filtering assembly may increases an effective screening area. Specifically, embodiments disclosed herein include a screen housing having two sidewalls and two end walls, defining a perimeter with a length and a width. The screen housing also includes a top face and a bottom face. A plurality of screen segments may be positioned on the top face of the screen housing, such that the plurality of screen segments on the top face provide a screening surface area less than a total surface area of the top face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignees: M-I L.L.C., M-I Drilling Fluids UK Ltd
    Inventors: Eric Cady, Graham Alexander Robertson, LaTosha Moore, Claire Rosaleen Galloway McLean, Andrew Ralph
  • Patent number: 10369501
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods secure modular repair plugs to one another to repair different sized cells of a screen. A modular repair plug is configured to attach to another modular repair plug to create an extended modular repair plug. The modular repair plug can fit within a first, smaller cell, and the extended modular repair plug can fit within a larger second cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: M-I Drilling Fluids UK Ltd.
    Inventor: Andrew Ralph
  • Patent number: 10364623
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally drawn to systems, devices, apparatus, and/or methods related to shaker/filtration systems for drilling environments. Specifically, the disclosed systems, devices, apparatus, and/or methods relate to extended handles on screens used in shaker/filtration systems for drilling environments. In some examples, extended screen handle(s) may include a fastening portion and a handling portion. The fastening portion may be adapted to be coupled to a screen along a side of the screen, and the handling portion may be coupled to the fastening portion. The handling portion may extend above the screen and extend about 25-100% of the length of the side of the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: United Wire Limited
    Inventor: Andrew Ralph
  • Publication number: 20190091610
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a filtering assembly and a method of manufacturing a filtering assembly. The filtering assembly may increases an effective screening area. Specifically, embodiments disclosed herein include a screen housing having two sidewalls and two end walls, defining a perimeter with a length and a width. The screen housing also includes a top face and a bottom face. A plurality of screen segments may be positioned on the top face of the screen housing, such that the plurality of screen segments on the top face provide a screening surface area less than a total surface area of the top face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicants: M-I L.L.C., M-I Drilling Fluids UK Ltd
    Inventors: Eric Cady, Graham Alexander Robertson, LaTosha Moore, Claire Rosaleen Galloway McLean, Andrew Ralph
  • Patent number: 10137389
    Abstract: A filtering assembly includes a screen housing having two sidewalls and two end walls, defining a perimeter with a length and a width. The screen housing also includes a top face and a bottom face. A plurality of screen segments are positioned on the top face of the screen housing, such that the plurality of screen segments on the top face provide a screening surface area less than a total surface area of the top face, and a plurality of screen segments are positioned on the bottom face of the screen housing, such that the plurality of screen segments on the bottom face provide a screening surface area less than a total surface area of the bottom face. A total screening surface area of the filtering assembly is greater than the total surface area of the top face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignees: M-I L.L.C., M-I Drilling Fluids UK Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric Cady, Graham Alexander Robertson, LaTosha Moore, Claire Rosaleen Galloway McLean, Andrew Ralph
  • Patent number: 10086408
    Abstract: A vibratory separator includes a screen frame having an upper screen surface and a plurality of openings and a first screen insert disposed in a first opening of the plurality of openings of the screen frame, the screen insert having a screen surface positioned at a first height above the supper screen surface. The vibratory separator also includes a second screen insert disposed in a second opening of the plurality of openings of the second screen frame, wherein a screen surface of the second screen insert is positioned at a second height. The second height may be different from the first height. A method of processing fluid includes providing a flow of fluid to a vibratory separator, and flowing the fluid over a screen having a first screen insert positioned at a first height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignees: M-I L.L.C., UNITED WIRE, LTD.
    Inventors: Eric Cady, Graham Alexander Robertson, Claire Rosaleen Galloway McLean, LaTosha Moore, Andrew Ralph
  • Publication number: 20170319991
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods secure modular repair plugs to one another to repair different sized cells of a screen. A modular repair plug is configured to attach to another modular repair plug to create an extended modular repair plug. The modular repair plug can fit within a first, smaller cell, and the extended modular repair plug can fit within a larger second cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventor: Andrew Ralph
  • Patent number: 9687878
    Abstract: A vibratory separator screen assembly, the screen assembly including a frame having a top surface and a bottom surface having a tapered recess configured to receive a locating element disposed on the vibratory separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: United Wire Limited
    Inventors: Claire Galloway, Andrew Ralph
  • Patent number: 9440261
    Abstract: A separating screen has a rectangular body (1) one side of which has a seal for sealing against an abutting side of an adjacent screen or shaker basket. The seal is provided by an elongate sealing strip (9) of resilient material held in place on the side of the body by a retaining strip (5) which can be integrally molded with the body (1) or may be a separately formed component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: United Wire Limited
    Inventor: Andrew Ralph
  • Publication number: 20160101377
    Abstract: A filtering assembly includes a screen housing having two sidewalls and two end walls, defining a perimeter with a length and a width. The screen housing also includes a top face and a bottom face. A plurality of screen segments are positioned on the top face of the screen housing, such that the plurality of screen segments on the top face provide a screening surface area less than a total surface area of the top face, and a plurality of screen segments are positioned on the bottom face of the screen housing, such that the plurality of screen segments on the bottom face provide a screening surface area less than a total surface area of the bottom face. A total screening surface area of the filtering assembly is greater than the total surface area of the top face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric Cady, Graham Alexander Robertson, LaTosha Moore, Claire Rosaleen Galloway McLean, Andrew Ralph
  • Publication number: 20160059162
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally drawn to systems, devices, apparatus, and/or methods related to screening and/or filtration of fluid. Specifically, the disclosed systems, devices, apparatus, and/or methods relate to screens having frame members with angled surface(s) for drilling environments. In some examples, an apparatus may include a frame and mesh. The frame may include opposing ends, opposing sides, and a plurality of frame members coupled to and extending between the opposing ends. A portion or section of the plurality of frame members may extend through and be coupled to the mesh. The plurality of frame members have at least one surface angled downward relative to the mesh.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Applicant: M-I DRILLING FLUIDS UK LTD.
    Inventors: Andrew Ralph, Graham Robertson
  • Publication number: 20150315862
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally drawn to systems, devices, apparatus, and/or methods related to shaker/filtration systems for drilling environments. Specifically, the disclosed systems, devices, apparatus, and/or methods relate to extended handles on screens used in shaker/filtration systems for drilling environments. In some examples, extended screen handle(s) may include a fastening portion and a handling portion. The fastening portion may be adapted to be coupled to a screen along a side of the screen, and the handling portion may be coupled to the fastening portion. The handling portion may extend above the screen and extend about 25-100% of the length of the side of the screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventor: Andrew RALPH
  • Patent number: 9073268
    Abstract: There is provided a plug for repairing a sifting or filtering screen, the plug comprising a body (1) of a first material supporting an area of a second material which is more resilient than the first material, in use the area of a second material serving as a seal (2) to engage and seal against the screen in order to plug a cell aligned with a damaged area of the screen. A second plug has a body (101) formed with holes (108) to receive securing members such as screws, the holes being positioned to enable the securing members (109) to pass into the material of the sifting or filtering screen in order releasably to secure the plug in a cell aligned with a damaged area of the sifting screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: United Wire Limited
    Inventors: Graham Robertson, Claire Galloway, Andrew Ralph
  • Patent number: 8961784
    Abstract: There is provided a plug (1) for repairing a sifting or filtering screen, the plug having at least one line of weakening (5) which can be ruptured whereby the plug has a plurality of possible plug sizes so that the plug is capable of plugging at least two different sizes of cell of the screen. Each possible plug size has a seal (2) extending around the complete periphery of the chosen plug size, in use the seal serving to engage and seal against the screen in order to plug a cell aligned with a damaged area of the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: M-I Swaco
    Inventor: Andrew Ralph
  • Publication number: 20140183143
    Abstract: A vibratory separator includes a screen frame having an upper screen surface and a plurality of openings and a first screen insert disposed in a first opening of the plurality of openings of the screen frame, the screen insert having a screen surface positioned at a first height above the supper screen surface. The vibratory separator also includes a second screen insert disposed in a second opening of the plurality of openings of the second screen frame, wherein a screen surface of the second screen insert is positioned at a second height. The second height may be different from the first height. A method of processing fluid includes providing a flow of fluid to a vibratory separator, and flowing the fluid over a screen having a first screen insert positioned at a first height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicants: United Wire, Ltd., M-I L.L.C.
    Inventors: Eric Cady, Graham Alexander Robertson, Claire Rosaleen Galloway McLean, LaTosha Moore, Andrew Ralph
  • Patent number: 8763814
    Abstract: The invention relates to a screen frame adapted for use in a shaker to separate solids from a liquid/solid mixture and to which woven wire mesh is to be attached, comprising an outer perimeter and a plurality of ribs extending between opposing regions of the perimeter, the ribs defining an upper horizontal face to which a screen is to be attached, wherein at least one rib extends downwardly from the upper face at an angle off set to vertical, and to a shaker comprising at least one such screen frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: United Wire Limited
    Inventors: Graham Robertson, Claire McLean, Andrew Ralph
  • Publication number: 20120006735
    Abstract: A separating screen has a rectangular body (1) one side of which has a seal for sealing against an abutting side of an adjacent screen or shaker basket. The seal is provided by an elongate sealing strip (9) of resilient material held in place on the side of the body by a retaining strip (5) which can be integrally moulded with the body (1) or may be a separately formed component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: UNITED WIRE LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Ralph
  • Publication number: 20110215047
    Abstract: A vibratory separator screen assembly, the screen assembly including a frame having a top surface and a bottom surface having a tapered recess configured to receive a locating element disposed on the vibratory separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: UNITED WIRE LIMITED
    Inventors: Claire Galloway, Andrew Ralph
  • Publication number: 20110155653
    Abstract: The invention relates to a screen frame adapted for use in a shaker to separate solids from a liquid/solid mixture and to which woven wire mesh is to be attached, comprising an outer perimeter and a plurality of ribs extending between opposing regions of the perimeter, the ribs defining an upper horizontal face to which a screen is to be attached, wherein at least one rib extends downwardly from the upper face at an angle off set to vertical, and to a shaker comprising at least one such screen frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: UNITED WIRE LIMITED
    Inventors: Graham Robertson, Claire McLean, Andrew Ralph
  • Publication number: 20100201081
    Abstract: There is provided a plug (1) for repairing a sifting or filtering screen, the plug having at least one line of weakening (5) which can be ruptured whereby the plug has a plurality of possible plug sizes so that the plug is capable of plugging at least two different sizes of cell of the screen. Each possible plug size has a seal (2) extending around the complete periphery of the chosen plug size, in use the seal serving to engage and seal against the screen in order to plug a cell aligned with a damaged area of the screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: UNITED WIRE LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Ralph