Patent US3852197A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3852197A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mud and shale separating apparatus
Assignee: Oilfield Supply & Rental Ltd
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Filing: 1973-03-16
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Granted: 1974-12-03
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Expires: 1993-03-16
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for separating mud from the mud and shale mixture forced to the surface from a drill hole and including an arrangement which prevents the mud, which is normally collected for reuse, from being wasted in the event of a power failure. The mixture is collected in a tank as it returns to the surface, and from the tank it is deposited on a vibrating screen so that the cuttings or shale are separated from the mud which passes through the screen and into a collecting tank. A passage is provided between the mixture tank and the collecting tank, the passage having a door which is normally closed to prevent by-pass of the mixture into the collecting tank. A door operating device is provided in series with a power supply to a screen operating motor, and the door operating device is arranged to permit the door to open when power is not being conducted to the motor so that the mixture passes directly into the collecting tank and does not continue to flow from the mixture tank and on to the then stationary screen.
Inventors
- 👤 J Thompson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:08
CPC Classifications
B; B03; B03B; B03B7/00; B01; B01D; B01D35/00; B01D35/20; B01D35/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A mud and shale separating apparatus comprising a tank for receiving a mud and shale mixture from a drill hole, a vibrating screen having an infeed end, an outfeed end, said tank having outlet means for permitting a flow of the mixture from said tank onto said infeed end of said screen, motor means for driving said screen and thereby causing the mud to pass through the screen and the shale to be conveyed therealong during operation of said motor means, means for conducting power to said motor means, collecting means below said screen for receiving the mud passed through said screen, passage means defining communication between said tank and collecting means, a door movable between an opened position and a closed position for blocking said passage means, door operating means having an actuator energizable by the power conducting means, said door operating means on de-energization of said actuator permitting said door to move to said opened position whereby the mixture is permitted to flow through said passage means when power is not being conducted to said motor means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
A mud and shale separating apparatus comprising a tank for receiving a mud and shale mixture from a drill hole, a vibrating screen having an infeed end, an outfeed end, said tank having outlet means for permitting a flow of the mixture from said tank onto said infeed end of said screen, motor means for driving said screen and thereby causing the mud to pass through the screen and the shale to be conveyed therealong during operation of said motor means, means for conducting power to said motor means, collecting means below said screen for receiving the mud passed through said screen, passage means defining communication between said tank and collecting means, a door movable between an opened position and a closed position for blocking said passage means, door operating means having an actuator energizable by the power conducting means, said door operating means on de-energization of said actuator permitting said door to move to said opened position whereby the mixture is permitted to flow through said passage means when power is not being conducted to said motor means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said actuator of said door operating means comprises a motor of the type including a piston and cylinder device, and a valve for controlling flow of pressurized fluid to said device, and means for operation of said valve between first and second positions whereby said piston is shifted between a door closed and a door opened position when said valve is in said first and second positions respectively by admittance of said pressurized fluid to said cylinder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the screen driving motor means includes an electric motor, the conducting means including electrical lines extending to said electric motor, and wherein said actuator further includes a solenoid connected in series in said electrical lines, said solenoid being mechanically connected to said valve foR moving said valve from said first position to second position when said electrical lines are de-energized.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said collecting means includes an open-topped tank below said screen, said passage means having an outlet opening in one vertical wall of said open-topped tank, said door having a hinge providing a horizontally disposed axis of pivot above said outlet opening whereby said door hangs in a substantially vertically disposed position when in the closed position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
123 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said door operating means further includes a horizontal shaft extending across said open topped tank adjacent said door and on the side of said door opposite to said outlet opening, cam means secured to said shaft for engaging said door and holding said door in the closed position, a crank arm fixed to one end of said shaft, said piston being connected to said crank arm whereby said shaft is rotated when said piston is shifted from said first to said second position and said cam means are moved away from said door so as to permit said door to swing open under the influence of the hydrostatic head on the mud and shale mixture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said collecting means includes a mud tank in communication with said open-topped tank, means being connected to said mud tank for withdrawing mud therefrom for reuse.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said pressurized fluid is compressed air, and further comprising means for supplying compressed air to the solenoid controlled valve, and a pair of conduits for conducting compressed air from said solenoid to opposite ends of said piston and cylinder device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, including additional passage means between the mud and shale mixture tank and said collecting means, a second door movable between an opened and closed position for blocking said additional passage means, and manually operable means for permitting opening of said second door.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US392218A
Cited
US2329295A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-02 | 1978-06-03 | 1978-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-02 | 1982-06-03 | 1982-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-02 | 1986-06-03 | 1986-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |