Vibratory separators and screens for them
A vibratory separator (in one aspect a shale shaker) and screen assemblies for them; the screen assemblies, in at least certain aspects, having an undulating plate with a plurality of spaced apart openings therethrough, a plurality of spaced apart supports extending beneath the plate and to which the plate is secured, and each support having a length and independent of and not connected to the other supports along its length, each support having two spaced apart ends, and screening connected to the plate.
This is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/202,406 filed Jul. 4, 2002 issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,892,888 on May 17, 2005 and this is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/834,174 filed Apr. 12, 2001 which is a division of 09/544,572 filed Apr. 6, 2000 (issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,302 on Sep. 4, 2001) which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/228,572 filed Jan. 11, 1999 (issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,307 on Nov. 28, 2000) which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/183,005 filed Oct. 30, 1998, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/090,554 filed Jun. 4, 1998 entitled “Vibratory Separator Screen” which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/895,976 filed Jul. 17, 1997 entitled “Screen For Vibratory Shaker” issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,397 on Nov. 23, 1999 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/786,515 filed Jan. 21, 1997 entitled “Screen For Shale Shaker” issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,159 on Oct. 26, 1999 and of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/598,566 filed Feb. 12, 1996 entitled “Screen For Vibrating Separator.” U.S. application Ser. No. 08/786,515 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,159) is a continuation in part of the following co-owned applications and patents: U.S. Ser. No. 29/048,575 filed Jan. 4, 1996, now U.S. Patent D 377,656 issued Jan. 28, 1997 which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 29/014,571, now U.S. Patent D 366,040 issued on Jan. 9, 1996 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. applications: Ser. No. 08/56,123 filed Apr. 30, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,669 issued on Jan. 31, 1995; and Ser. No. 08/105,696 filed Aug. 12, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,925 issued on Feb. 28, 1995; U.S. Ser. No. 08/504,495 filed Jul. 20, 1995 entitled “Shale Shaker Screen” issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,930 in Feb. 4, 1997; U.S. Ser. No. 08/598,566 filed Feb. 12, 1996 entitled “Screen For Vibrating Separator” (abandoned) which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/220,101 filed Mar. 30, 1994 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,598 issued Feb. 13, 1996. All of these related applications and patents are incorporated herein in their entirety for all purposes and the present invention claims priority from all of them under the Patent Laws.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to frames, support structures, and screens for vibratory shakers, screens with such a support, and methods of their use.
2. Description of Related Art
The prior art discloses a wide variety of vibrating screens, devices which use them, shale shakers, and screens for shale shakers and vibratory separators. The screens catch and remove entrained solids from fluid, drilling fluid, and/or drilling mud as it passes through them.
Various prior art screens have one, two or more overlying layers of screening material, mesh, and/or screen cloth which may be bonded together. A support, supports, or a perforated or apertured plate is often used beneath the screen, mesh or screens of many prior art screen assemblies. Also an outer frame is used in many screens. The frame may include one or more crossmembers extending across the frame and connected at the ends to sides of the frame. The frame facilitates connection of the screen to a separator device and provides support for the plate and screening material.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTIONIn at least certain preferred embodiments the present invention provides: new, useful, unique, efficient, non-obvious screens, filtering screens, two- or three-dimensional screens; flat or non-flat screens; mountings for them; such screens with one or more bottom support strips or rods; such screens in which screening material is on a corrugated perforated plate which itself is on strip(s) and/or on a frame; and shale shakers with such items; such a screen with a corrugated perforated solid support plate; such a screen for a shale shaker with one or more bottom support strips; such a screen also with one or more strip or rod projections for projecting above a bottom strip or apertured plate into an indentation or raised part in an upper screen layer or layers; and a shale shaker with one or more such screens.
In one aspect the strips (or rods) have one or more projecting portions formed integrally thereof or secured thereto which project into troughs or areas of the layer(s). Such projecting portions may be shaped and configured to mate with the shape of a hill, valley, trough or indented area; may be bonded to the layer(s) at such areas; may be bonded only to the sides of such areas and not to the uppermost portion of a top portion thereof; or may be adjacent such areas without bonding thereto. If there is a series of parallel troughs or a plurality of adjacent indented areas, such projections may be provided in all such troughs or areas; in only on such trough or area; in troughs or areas only adjacent frame sides; or in only middle troughs or areas.
It is within the scope of this invention in embodiments in which the screen has a series of parallel troughs, to use alternating flat strips and strips with one or more projections as described above. It is also within the scope of this invention to use non-flat strips which have a shape that corresponds to the series of troughs, e.g. with undulating layer(s), a corresponding undulating strip is used. Such strips may be used instead of or in combination with flat strips. Any strip herein may have holes through it to facilitate fluid flow. In one aspect any strip, combination of strips, or pattern of strips disclosed herein may be used with a generally flat (“two-dimensional”) screen.
The present invention, in one embodiment includes a shale shaker with a frame; a “basket” or screen mounting apparatus; one or more screens as described above and below; and basket vibrating apparatus.
The present invention discloses, in certain embodiments, a unibody structure for a screen assembly for a vibratory separator and a screen assembly with such a unibody structure, 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.
In certain embodiments, the screen with a unibody structure according to the present invention has one, two, three or more upper layers of screen, screen cloth, and/or mesh, bonded or not to the structure. If more than one layer mounted on the structure is used, they may be bonded together at discrete points, at discrete areas, or over their entire surface. The unibody structure may, in certain aspects, include one or two interconnected pairs of spaced-apart integral sides in a generally rectangular configuration. Hook strips, channels, or other mounting structure may be provided on opposed sides of a structure which are formed of either separate or integral portions of the original single piece of material.
The unibody structure may be made of any suitable plastic or metal, including, but not limited to, steel, stainless steel, aluminum, aluminum alloys, zinc, zinc alloys, PTFE, or some combination thereof. The present invention may include a shale shaker or vibratory separator with one or more screen assemblies with a unibody structure according to the present invention.
This invention may provide a screen as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,000,556; 5,958,236; 5,944,993; 5,876,552; 5,888,929; 5,713,077; 5,720,881; 5,673,797; 5,417,793; 5,417,858; and 5,417,859, (all fully incorporated herein) but to delete the apertured plate or frame and to use instead a unibody structure as disclosed herein.
In certain aspects according to the present invention, a single piece of material is used to form a four-sided support or frame for screening material (one, two, three or more layers) and/or for a plate or sheet with holes therethrough.
Alternatively, pointed corrugations may be used with no flat top and no flat bottom or with a flat bottom and pointed top. Such a screen (and any screen or screen assembly disclosed herein) may be used on a frame; on a flat perforated plate; on one or more braces and/or strip supports (flat and/or corrugated; and corrugated to correspond to the shape of the screen 330's shapes); on a combination thereof; and/or with upturned side edges or other connection apparatus for connection to a vibratory separator or shale shaker.
It is within the scope of this invention to have a strip with three, four, five or more sets of upturned fingers and, in one aspect, to have a set of fingers for each raised portion of a plate and/or screen used with the strip.
In one aspect the top curved portion of a support finger according to the present invention corresponds in shape to a curved portion of a corrugated plate and/or screen used with one or more strips 380. Alternatively, a strip can be made of one integral plastic piece.
Any support disclosed herein may be fastened to a strip and/or screen and/or plate with one or more fasteners and/or with VELCRO™ material.
U.S. application Ser. Nos. 08/598,566 and 08/786,515 are incorporated herein in their entirety for all purposes.
What follows are some of, but not all, the objects of this invention. In addition to the specific objects stated below for at least certain preferred embodiments of the invention, other objects and purposes will be readily apparent to one of skill in this art who has the benefit of this invention's teachings and disclosures. It is, therefore, an object of at least certain preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide:
New, useful, unique, efficient, non-obvious screen frames, screen assemblies with such a frame, shale shakers and vibratory separators with such screens, and methods of their use.
Certain embodiments of this invention are not limited to any particular individual feature disclosed here, but include combinations of them distinguished from the prior art in their structures and functions. There are, of course, additional aspects of the invention described below and which may be included in the subject matter of the claims to this invention. Those skilled in the art who have the benefit of this invention, its teachings, and suggestions will appreciate that the conceptions of this disclosure may be used as a creative basis for designing other structures, methods and systems for carrying out and practicing the present invention. The claims of this invention are to be read to include any legally equivalent devices or methods.
The present invention recognizes and addresses the previously-mentioned problems and long-felt needs and provides a solution to those problems and a satisfactory meeting of those needs. To one skilled in this art who has the benefits of this invention's realizations, teachings, disclosures, and suggestions, other purposes and advantages will be appreciated from the following description of preferred embodiments, given for the purpose of disclosure, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detail in these descriptions is not intended to thwart this patent's object to claim this invention no matter how others may later disguise it by variations in form or additions of further improvements.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSA more particular description of embodiments of the invention briefly summarized above may be had by references to the embodiments which are shown in the drawings which form a part of this specification. These drawings illustrate certain preferred embodiments and are not to be used to improperly limit the scope of the invention which may have other equally effective or legally equivalent embodiments.
A plurality of openings 24 through the unibody structure 20 define a plurality of support members 26. To the underside of the unibody structure 20 are, optionally, connected a plurality of spaced-apart ribs or strips 28 which, in one aspect are welded to a metal unibody structure 20. In this particular embodiment the ribs 28 are positioned along a substantial majority of their length directly beneath one of the support members 26 that extend across a major portion of the unibody structure 20; but it is within the scope of this invention to use no such ribs or to position them anywhere on the underside of the unibody structure 20. The unibody structure 20 has spaced-apart sides 36, 38.
As shown in
As shown in
Extensions 31, 32, 33, and 34 are folded to form, respectively, the end, 14, end 16 and sides 36, 38. It is within the scope of this invention to fold the various extensions of the unibody structure with any suitable press brake, pliers, or bending device with or without applying heat to the structure.
It is within the scope of this invention for the screen assembly 10 to have none, one, two, three or more layers of screening material, i.e., screen, mesh, and/or cloth made, e.g., of stainless steel wire and/or plastic. Any such layer or combination of layers may be bonded together (glued, welded, and/or sintered) in any known manner and/or bonded to the unibody structure 20 in any known manner. Any such layer or layers of screening material may be substantially flat or may be undulating (with a series of alternating ridges and valleys) as is well known in the art.
Edges on both sides of a unibody structure according to the present invention can form hook strips. In such an embodiment with hook strips a hook end (like the hook end 14),
Also, e.g. as shown in the embodiment of
In certain embodiments of a screen assembly with a unibody structure according to the present invention as described above has no separate pieces added to form parts, e.g. sides, hook strips, hook end, ledge end, etc. and is, therefore, relatively less expensive to make. By reducing or eliminating seams and connection areas, a relatively more substantial screen assembly is possible.
As shown in
As shown in
In one aspect the panel 1150 (and/or strips and/or sides) is made of any suitable metal, e.g. but not limited to iron, steel, stainless steel, zinc, zinc alloys, aluminum, and aluminum alloys. In another aspect the panel is made of any suitable plastic, fiberglass, polytetrafluoroethylene cermet or composite. In one particular aspect the panel is made of 14 gauge cold rolled steel about 0.074 inches thick.
The openings in the panel may be made by any suitable method, including, but not limited to, drilling, sawing, or laser cutting. In one particular aspect a panel of 14 gauge cold rolled steel about 0.074 inches thick is laser cut with a CO2 laser producing very precise and well-defined open spaces and very precise and well-defined strips 1155, in one aspect with strips about 0.22 inches wide, about 1.3 inches apart from each other.
In other aspects, the strips 1155 may range in width between about 0.10 inches to about 3.00 inches and they may be spaced apart between about 0.2 inches to about 4.00 inches. In one particular screen with about 0.22 inch wide strips spaced about 1.3 inches apart, the panel is 14 gauge cold rolled steel about 46.75 inches long, about 35.86 inches wide, about 0.074 inches thick with end portions, as viewed from above, about 1.65 inches wide between the screen ends” outer edge and the edge of an open space. Alternatively, the strips 1155 may be vertically oriented as viewed in
Alternatively, the outer edges of the panel 1150 may be provided and the strips, as separate pieces, connected thereto in any manner, shape, or design as described above herein.
In other embodiments a backup mesh, middle mesh and a top mesh (in one aspect ranging between 100 mesh to 300 mesh) are used. In one aspect the backup mesh was 304 stainless steel 32 mesh with wire diameter of 0.045 inches, the middle mesh was 130 mesh 304 stainless steel with wire diameter of 0.0017 inches, and the top mesh was 304 stainless steel 180 mesh with a wire diameter of 0.0012 inches. A panel like the panel 1150 was coated with a powder coating (e.g. such as commercially available TK NOVO B Powder from Tuboscope Vetco) and bonded to the three meshes.
In other embodiments a backup mesh and a top mesh are used bonded together. In one aspect the backup mesh was 304 stainless steel 8 mesh with wire diameter of 0.025 inches, and the top mesh was 304 stainless steel 200 mesh with a wire diameter of 0.0021 inches. A panel like the panel 1150 was coated with a powder coating and bonded to the two meshes.
In other embodiments a backup mesh, middle mesh and a top mesh are used bonded together. In one aspect the backup mesh was 304 stainless steel calendared 8 mesh (with tops of ridges flattened) with wire diameter of 0.025 inches, and the top mesh was 304 stainless steel 180 mesh with a wire diameter of 0.0012 inches (or alternatively 200 mesh with a wire diameter of 0.0010 inches). A panel like the panel 1150 was coated with a powder coating and bonded to the three meshes.
In certain embodiments of a screen as in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,159 issued Oct. 26, 1999 describes the items of
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Referring now to
Any strip or rod disclosed herein may have, in certain embodiments, holes therethrough to promote fluid flow. Any strip or rod disclosed herein with an upper projecting portion and a lower strip or rod may have holes in the upper strip or rod, the lower strip or rod, or both to promote fluid flow.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Any mesh, meshes, screen, screens, screening material(s) or any combination thereof or any such as described herein may be used with any of the items shown in
In conclusion, therefore, it is seen that the present invention and the embodiments disclosed herein and those covered by the appended claims are well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends set forth. Certain changes can be made in the subject matter without departing from the spirit and the scope of this invention. It is realized that changes are possible within the scope of this invention and it is further intended that each element or step recited in any of the following claims is to be understood as referring to all equivalent elements or steps. The following claims are intended to cover the invention as broadly as legally possible in whatever form it may be utilized. The invention claimed herein is new and novel in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 102 and satisfies the conditions for patentability in § 102. The invention claimed herein is not obvious in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 103 and satisfies the conditions for patentability in § 103. This specification and the claims that follow are in accordance with all of the requirements of 35 U.S.C. § 112. The inventors may rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the scope of their invention and of the claims that follow as they may pertain to apparatus not materially departing from, but outside of, the literal scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A screen assembly for a vibratory separator, the screen assembly comprising
- a support plate having a plurality of alternating raised portions and lower portions, the support plate having a plurality of spaced apart openings therethrough,
- a plurality of spaced apart supports extending beneath the support plate and to which the support plate is secured, and each support having a length and independent of and not connected to the other supports along its length, each support having two spaced apart ends, and
- screening material on the support plate.
2. The screen assembly of claim 1 further comprising
- a frame to which the support plate is secured, and
- wherein each support has two spaced apart ends each connected to a spaced apart side of the frame.
3. The screen assembly of claim 1 wherein
- the supports are made of a material from the group consisting of metal, plastic, fiberglass, rubber or cermet.
4. The screen assembly of claim 1 wherein
- wherein the screening material is connected to the support plate.
5. The screen assembly of claim 1 further comprising
- the screening material comprising at least one wire mesh connected to the support plate.
6. The screen assembly of claim 1 wherein the screen material is a plurality of layers of wire mesh.
7. The screen assembly of claim 1 further comprising
- bonding material bonding the at least one wire mesh to the support plate.
8. The screen assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one support has at least one projecting portion for reception within a raised portion of the support plate.
9. The screen assembly of claim 1 wherein for each raised portion of the support plate there is a corresponding projecting portion of each support.
10. The screen assembly of claim 1 wherein the supports of the plurality of spaced-apart supports range in width between about 0.10 inches and about 3.00 inches, and are spaced-apart between about 0.2 inches to about 4.00 inches.
11. The screen assembly of claim 1 wherein the screening material comprises
- a first mesh connected to the support plate, and
- a second mesh connected to the first mesh.
12. The screen assembly of claim 1 wherein the screening material ranges between 2 mesh and 500 mesh.
13. Vibratory separator apparatus comprising
- screen assembly mounting apparatus,
- vibrator apparatus for vibrating the screen assembly mounting apparatus,
- screen assembly apparatus mounted on the screen assembly mounting apparatus, the screen assembly apparatus comprising a support plate having a plurality of alternating raised portions and lower portions, the support plate having a plurality of spaced apart openings therethrough, a plurality of spaced apart supports extending beneath the support plate and to which the support plate is secured, and each support having a length and independent of and not connected to the other supports along its length, each support having two spaced apart ends, and screening material on the support plate.
14. A method for treating fluid with a vibratory separator, the fluid having material therein to be separated therefrom, the method comprising,
- introducing the fluid onto a screen assembly in the vibratory separator, the screen assembly comprising a support plate having a plurality of alternating raised portions and lower portions, the support plate having a plurality of spaced apart openings therethrough, a plurality of spaced apart supports extending beneath the support plate and to which the support plate is secured, and each support having a length and independent of and not connected to the other supports along its length, each support having two spaced apart ends, and screening material on the support plate.
15. A screen assembly for screening material in a vibratory screening machine, said assembly comprising
- a frame,
- a plurality of apertures in said frame, spaced frame members on opposite sides of said plurality of apertures,
- a screen on said frame comprising a support plate with a support plate undulating shape and screening material connected to the undulating support plate and having a screening material undulating shape corresponding to the support plate undulating shape,
- the undulating shapes with elongated substantially parallel ridges having sloping sides, troughs formed between said sloping sides for conducting material which is being screened longitudinally of said troughs while it is being screened, and
- at least one support beneath at least one of said ridges, said at least one support within a space defined by a lower surface of said at least one of said ridges and an upper surface of the frame.
16. A screen assembly for screening material in a vibratory screening machine comprising
- an undulating apertured plate having ridges and troughs between said ridges,
- a screen on and formed in the same configuration as said undulating apertured plate and connected in complementary mating relationship thereto, and
- at least one support beneath at least one of said ridges, said at least one support having at least a portion thereof beneath one of said ridges and within a space below a lower surface of said at least one of said ridges.
Type: Application
Filed: May 16, 2005
Publication Date: Oct 27, 2005
Inventors: David Schulte (Willis, TX), Thomas Adams (Hockley, TX), Kenneth Seyffert (Houston, TX), Guy McClung (Spring, TX)
Application Number: 11/130,019