Abstract: A vibratory separator with a base, vibrating apparatus, a screen container on the base, the screen container having a plurality of spaced-apart drain holes, a plurality of spaced-apart screens in the screen-container, said screens oriented vertically within the screen container, and the screens positioned so that screened fluid passes through the screens and flows from the container through the plurality of spaced-apart drain holes.

Abstract: A vibratory separator for separating components of material introduced to the vibratory separator, the vibratory separator in one particular aspect being a shale shaker, the vibratory separator including a basket for holding screening apparatus, the basket having two sides spaced-apart by a first end at which the material is introduced into the basket and a second end spaced-apart from the first end, components separated from the material exiting the basket from the second end, vibrating apparatus connected to the basket for vibrating the basket, screening apparatus mounted in the basket, the screening apparatus having at least a first portion and a second portion, the first portion at the first end of the screen and the first portion lower in the basket than the second portion, receptacle apparatus below the screening apparatus for receiving material components flowing through the screening apparatus, maintenance apparatus for maintaining height of a portion of the screening apparatus, and a pool of the mate

Abstract: A screen assembly for a vibratory separator, the screen assembly including screening material with opposed spaced-apart sides including a first side and a second side, a side mount on each of the opposed spaced-apart sides, each side of the opposed spaced-apart sides having an edge portion, and each edge portion held within a side mount; a vibratory separator with such a screen assembly; and methods of their use.

Abstract: Methods for making screen assemblies and screens for a vibratory separator or shale shaker, such methods including applying glue in a glue pattern to at least one layer of screening material, said applying done by powered moving mechanical glue application apparatus; in one aspect moving with powered mechanical screen movement apparatus the at least one layer of screening material beneath the powered moving mechanical glue application apparatus; in one aspect, using hot melt moisture-curing glue, and in one aspect facilitating the cure of moisture-curing glue by applying moisture to it.

Abstract: A screen which in at least certain aspects has at least one layer of screening material, at least one ramp formed on the at least one layer of screening material, and the at least one ramp having an upwardly projecting portion and also a lower portion or piece connected to the at least one layer of screening material, the at least one ramp positioned on the at least one layer of screening material normal to transverse to or at an angle to a direction of fluid to be flowed over the screen so that at least a portion of the fluid will pass up and over the upwardly projecting portion, the fluid, in one aspect, having solids entrained therein to be separated from the fluid by the screen.

Abstract: A screen assembly for a vibratory separator, the screen assembly having a first screen portion having a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end, and a second screen portion formed integrally of or connected to the second end of the second screen portion. A screen assembly with a first portion of screening material and a second raised portion of screening material, the second raised portion extending from a material introduction end of the screen assembly to a material exit end thereof, the raised portion, in one aspect, culminating in an apex above the first portion of screening material.

Abstract: A support for a screen assembly for a vibratory separator, a screen assembly with such a support, a vibratory separator with one or more such screen assemblies, and a method of using such a screen assembly, such a support having a body, a first series of holes through the body each hole having a first opening size as viewed from above, a second series of holes through the body each hole with a second opening size as viewed from above, the second series of holes at a selected area of the body and the support positionable in a vibratory separator so that the selected area is adjacent a selected location with respect to the vibratory separator, and the second opening size smaller than the first opening size and/or the second series of holes with holes spaced apart differently than the holes of the first series of holes; and in one aspect, a plastic grid with such hole series for fusing together layers of screening material.

Abstract: A screen assembly for a vibratory shaker, the screen assembly including at least two screening members, and the at least two screen members connected by sewing material. In one aspect of such a screen assembly the sewing material is thread in a stitch pattern across the at least two screening members, a pattern of expandable material on and corresponding to the stitch pattern, and 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.

Abstract: A method for making a screen assembly for a vibratory separator, which, in certain aspects, includes placing a first layer of screening material below a glue application apparatus, and applying with the glue apparatus an amount of glue in a pattern to a portion of the first layer of screening material, unrolling part of a second layer from a second roll and positioning the part of the second layer adjacent part of the first layer to which glue has been applied, moving the part of the second layer and the part of the first layer between opposed rotatable spaced-apart rollers to press together the part of the second layer and the part of the first layer to form a pressed-together layer of first and second layers of screening material. In certain aspects hot glue is used and is cooled following application of the second layer on the first layer.

Abstract: A shale shaker for separating material, said shale shaker comprising a basket (100) for supporting a screen assembly and a collection receptacle, the basket comprising two side walls (102), an end wall (103) and an opening in the bottom of said basket (100), said basket (100) having means (109,110) to support screen assemblies for substantially covering said opening characterised in that said basket (100) further comprises separating means (104,105,106)in or on any of said walls (102,103) for separating material. Preferably, further comprising directing means for directing separated material therefrom into said collection receptacle. The invention also provides a method for separating material using the shale shaker of the invention, a basket of the shale shaker of the invention and screen assemblies used in the shale shaker of the invention.

Abstract: A unibody structure for a screen assembly for a vibratory separator, and screens with such a structure, the unibody structure having, in certain aspects, an integral body member with a portion having a plurality of spaced-apart openings therethrough, the integral body member including side portions foldable to form a pair of spaced-apart integral side members, the integral body member having a plurality of spaced-apart support openings defining portions of the integral body member foldable to form a plurality of spaced-apart supports extending from a first side of the integral body member to a second side thereof and each support of the plurality of spaced-apart supports independent of each other support of the plurality of spaced-apart supports along its length.

Abstract: Methods for making a screen assembly for a vibratory separator, a screen assembly made by such methods, and a method for separating components of a fluid with a vibratory separator with such a scren assembly; the method in certain aspects including sewing together with sewing material at least two layers of screening material (e.g., two, three, four or more layers; e.

Abstract: A unibody structure for a screen assembly for a vibratory separator, the unibody structure, in certain aspects having an integral body member with a portion having a plurality of spaced-apart openings in a pattern of a plurality of spaced-apart screening openings and including a pair of spaced-apart integral side members made of folded portions that form the pair of spaced-apart integral side members, a pair of spaced-apart integral end members made of folded end portions, the pair of spaced-apart integral end members each with a first end member and a second end member, the first end member configured with a shoulder support portion for sealingly abutting a screen ledge end of an adjacent screen, and the second end member configured with a ledge portion for sealingly abutting a shoulder portion of an end of an adjacent screen, and the plurality of spaced-apart openings of the integral body member defined by a plurality of spaced-apart strips, each adjacent pair of the plurality of spaced-apart strips definin

Abstract: A screen assembly and methods for using it, the screen assembly including, in certain aspects, at least two layers of screening material one on top of the other and including at least a first layer over a second layer, each layer having screen mesh with rectangular openings as viewed from above, the first layer having first rectangular openings, and the second layer having second rectangular openings, each of the first rectangular openings having a first width and a first length, and each of the second rectangular openings having a second width and a second length, the ratio of the first length to the first width ranging between 1.55 and 2.00, the ratio of the second length to the second width ranging between 1.55 and 2.00, the ratio of the first length to the second width ranging between 0.95 and 1.05, and the lengths of the first rectangular openings are parallel to lengths of the second rectangular openings.

Abstract: A method for making a screen assembly for a vibratory separator, the method including, in at least certain aspects, gluing together with glue at least two layers of fine screening material, allowing the glue to set, preheating the glued together at least two layers of fine screening material, placing the thus-preheated at least two layers of fine screening material in a heating apparatus, placing a coarse mesh layer on the at least two layers of screening material on the heating apparatus, placing on the coarse mesh layer a support with heat activated material thereon for adhering the support to the coarse mesh layer, and heating the coarse mesh layer, at least two fine layers of fine screening material, and the support to adhere the support to the coarse mesh layer and to glue the at least two layers of fine screening material to the coarse mesh layer.

Abstract: A vibratory separator for separating components of material introduced to the vibratory separator, the vibratory separator in one particular aspect being a shale shaker, the vibratory separator including a basket for holding screening apparatus, the basket having two sides spaced-apart by a first end at which the material is introduced into the basket and a second end spaced-apart from the first end, components separated from the material exiting the basket from the second end, vibrating apparatus connected to the basket for vibrating the basket, screening apparatus mounted in the basket, the screening apparatus having at least a first portion and a second portion, the first portion at the first end of the screen and the first portion lower in the basket than the second portion, receptacle apparatus below the screening apparatus for receiving material components flowing through the screening apparatus, maintenance apparatus for maintaining height of a portion of the screening apparatus, and a pool of the mate

Abstract: Methods for making screen assemblies and screens for a vibratory separator or shale shaker, such methods including applying glue in a glue pattern to at least one layer of screening material, said applying done by powered moving mechanical glue application apparatus; in one aspect moving with powered mechanical screen movement apparatus the at least one layer of screening material beneath the powered moving mechanical glue application apparatus; in one aspect, using hot melt moisture-curing glue, and in one aspect facilitating the cure of moisture-curing glue by applying moisture to it.

Abstract: A support for a screen assembly for a vibratory separator, a screen assembly with such a support, a vibratory separator with one or more such screen assemblies, and a method of using such a screen assembly, such a support having a body, a first series of holes through the body each hole having a first opening size as viewed from above, a second series of holes through the body each hole with a second opening size as viewed from above, the second series of holes at a selected area of the body and the support positionable in a vibratory separator so that the selected area is adjacent a selected location with respect to the vibratory separator, and the second opening size smaller than the first opening size and/or the second series of holes with holes spaced apart differently than the holes of the first series of holes; and in one aspect, a plastic grid with such hole series for fusing together layers of screening material.

Abstract: A method for separating fluid and fibrous lost circulation material from a mixture thereof that also includes drilled cuttings, the method including introducing the mixture onto a screen assembly that is vibrating for passage of the fluid and fibrous lost circulation material through the screen assembly and for separation of the driled cuttings from the fluid, the screen assembly with a plurality of screens one on top of the other and including at least a first screen and a second screen, one of the screens with a screen mesh with non-square openings as viewed from above to facilitate the passage of fibrous lost circulation material through the screen assembly.

Abstract: A method for separating fluid and fibrous lost circulation material from a mixture of fluid, drilled cuttings and fibrous lost circulation material, the method including introducing the mixture onto a screen assembly that has at least two layers of screening material and including at least a first layer over a second layer, the layers with rectangular openings, the first layer having first rectangular openings each having a first width and a first length, and the second layer having second rectangular openings each having a second width and a second length, the ratio of the first length to the first width ranging between 1.55 and 2.00, the ratio of the second length to the second width ranging between 1.55 and 2.00, the ratio of the first length to the second width ranging between 0.95 and 1.05, and the lengths of the first rectangular openings parallel to lengths of the second rectangular openings.