Device for obtaining samples of formation cuttings entrained in drilling fluids

Claim 1

A SAMPLING DEVICE FOR USE WITH A ROTARY DRILLING RIG EMPLOYING A DRILLING STRING AND A CIRCULATING STREAM OF DRILLING FLUID COMPRISING: A CONDUIT FOR CARRYING DRILLING FLUID MIXED WITH FORMATION CUTTINGS FOR A WELL; SAID CONDUIT HAVING AN OPENING FOR DISCHARGING A PORTION OF THE DRILLING FLUID IN SAID CONDUIT, AN ANNULAR HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED CHANNEL SHAPED DRAIN HAVING A PORTION THEREOF UNDERLYING SAID OPENING AND DEFINING A CIRCULAR PATH; A PLURALITY OF FORAMINATED BUCKETS MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION ABOUT SAID CIRCULAR PATH, SAID BUCKETS BEING SPACED FROM EACH OTHER ALONG SAID PATH, EACH OF SAID BUCKETS BEING MOVABLE SUCCESSIVELY TO A POSITION BENEATH SAID OPENING TO RECEIVE A SAMPLE OF DRILLING FLUID AND FORMATION CUTTINGS DISCHARGED THERETHROUGH, A FIRST WATER SPRAY DEVICE IN SAID PATH SPACED FROM SAID OPENING FOR WASHING; SAID DRILLING FLUID FROM THE SAMPLE OF DRILLING FLUID AND FORMATION CUTTINGS HELD IN A BUCKET; MEANS AFFIXED IN SAID PATH AND COOPERATING WITH MEANS ON SAID BUCKET TO UNLOAD THE BUCKET OF THE FORMATION CUTTINGS REMAINING IN THE BUCKET AFTER THE DRILLING FLUID IS WASHED AWAY; A SECOND WATER SPRAY DEVICE IN SAID PATH AND SPACED FROM THE BUCKET UNLOADING MEANS; FOR WASHING THE BUCKETS OF ANY FORMATION CUTTINGS REMAINING AFTER UNLOADING; THE MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID DRILLING STRING FOR MOVING EACH OF SAID BUCKETS ALONG SAID PATH FROM ONE POSITION TO THE NEXT EACH TIME SAID DRILLING STRING DESCENDS A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE IN A WELL