Vibratory separator with automatically adjustable beach

• US 20050242009A1
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Varco I/P Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Varco I/P Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Inventors: McDonough, Kevin, Scott, Eric, McClung, Guy L. III, Stone, Lyndon, Seyffert, Kenneth W., Padalino, Norman
• Granted Patent: US 7,331,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/86
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 33/0376 supported
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 33/37 in parallel connection
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 33/807 by level measuring
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 1/42 Drive mechanisms, regulating or controlling devices, or balancing devices, specially adapted for screens
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 1/4609 constructional details of screening surfaces or meshes
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 13/18 Control
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 2230/01 Wet separation

Abstract

A vibratory separator having a basket for supporting screen apparatus for treating material, the basket pivotably mounted on a base, vibratory apparatus connected to the basket for vibrating the basket, the material forming a pool on the screen apparatus, and a beach formed on the screen apparatus, measurement apparatus connected to the basket and positioned above the screen apparatus for measuring a distance from the measurement apparatus to a top surface of the pool, control apparatus for controlling and in communication with the measurement apparatus for receiving signals therefrom indicative of said distance, which distance is indicative of pool depth at that location and which correspond to beach extent, and adjustment apparatus controlled by the control apparatus for adjusting angle of the basket, thereby adjusting extent of the beach.

Claims

1. A vibratory separator comprising

a basket for supporting screen apparatus for treating material introduced into the vibratory separator, the basket on a base and pivotable with respect thereto,

vibratory apparatus connected to the basket for vibrating the basket,

screen apparatus supported by the basket, the material flowing onto the screen apparatus and forming a pool on the screen apparatus, and a beach on the screen apparatus adjacent the pool,

measurement sensor apparatus connected to the vibratory separator and positioned above the screen apparatus for measuring a distance from the measurement sensor apparatus to a top surface of the pool, the measurement sensor apparatus including a signal production portion for producing signals indicative of said distance and for transmitting said signals,

a control system for controlling and in communication with the measurement sensor apparatus for receiving signals from the measurement sensor apparatus indicative of said distance and for processing said signals to calculate a pool depth corresponding to said distance, said pool depth related to a location of an edge of said pool adjacent said beach, and

angle adjustment apparatus connected to the basket and controlled by the control system for adjusting angle of the basket, thereby adjusting extent of the beach.

2. The vibratory separator of claim 1 wherein the vibratory separator is a shale shaker and the material is drilling fluid with drilled cuttings therein.

3. The vibratory separator of claim 1

wherein the screen apparatus includes at least an exit screen with an exit end from which material separated by the screen apparatus flows off the screen apparatus for discharge from the vibratory separator,

wherein the basket is at an angle such that the beach is formed adjacent an edge of the pool adjacent said exit end, and

wherein the control system controls extent of the beach.

4. The vibratory separator of claim 3 wherein the control system controls extent of the beach to maintain the beach on the exit screen.

5. The vibratory separator of claim 1 wherein the screen apparatus comprises a plurality of screens placed adjacent each other in the basket, each screen with an associated screen support connected to the basket.

6. The vibratory separator of claim 1 wherein the angle adjustment apparatus includes a basket support pivotably mounted to the base and moving apparatus for selectively moving the basket up and down.

7. The vibratory separator of claim 6

wherein the basket has a fluid entry end and a fluid exit end and wherein the basket is pivotably mounted adjacent the fluid exit end, and

wherein the angle adjustment apparatus moves the basket'"'"'s fluid entry end.

8. The vibratory separator of claim 7 wherein the moving apparatus includes hydraulic cylinder apparatus for moving the basket.

9. The vibratory separator of claim 8 wherein the hydraulic cylinder apparatus includes two hydraulically powered piston apparatuses, each on a side of the basket for moving the basket.

10. The vibratory separator of claim 9 wherein each hydraulically powered piston apparatus is pivotably interconnected with corresponding linkage apparatus, the linkage apparatus pivotably connected to the basket support adjacent the fluid entry end of the basket.

11. The vibratory separator of claim 1 wherein the measurement sensor apparatus is ultrasonic apparatus.

12. The vibratory separator of claim 11 wherein the ultrasonic apparatus is at least one ultrasonic apparatus.

13. The vibratory separator of claim 1 wherein the measurement sensor apparatus comprises a plurality of distance sensor apparatuses.

14. The vibratory separator of claim 13 wherein said plurality includes a first ultrasonic sensor apparatus spaced-apart from a second ultrasonic sensor apparatus, the first ultrasonic sensor apparatus above one side of the screen apparatus and the second ultrasonic sensor apparatus above an opposite side of the screen apparatus.

15. The vibratory separator of claim 1 wherein the measurement sensor apparatus is from the group consisting of electrical, optical, electromagnetic, ultrasonic, acoustic, and pulse-echo apparatus.

16. The vibratory separator of claim 3 wherein a rear boundary of the beach is along a rear beach line and the basket is pivotably connected to the base beneath said rear beach line.

17. The vibratory separator of claim 1 wherein the angle adjustment apparatus is powered by power apparatus from the group consisting of pneumatic power apparatuses, hydraulic power apparatuses and electric power apparatuses.

18. The vibratory separator of claim 1 further comprising

flow sensor apparatus connected to the vibratory separator for sensing the flow of the material onto the screen apparatus,

the flow sensor apparatus controlled by and in communication with the control system,

the control system adjusting basket angle in response to signals from the flow sensor apparatus.

19. A vibratory separator comprising

a basket for supporting screen apparatus for treating material introduced into the vibratory separator, the basket on a base and pivotable with respect thereto,

vibratory apparatus connected to the basket for vibrating the basket,

screen apparatus supported by the basket, the material forming a pool on the screen apparatus, a beach formed on the screen apparatus adjacent the pool,

measurement sensor apparatus connected to the vibratory separator and positioned above the screen apparatus for measuring a distance from the measurement sensor apparatus to a top surface of the pool, the measurement sensor apparatus including a signal production portion for producing signals indicative of said distance and for transmitting said signals,

a control system for controlling and in communication with the measurement sensor apparatus for receiving signals from the measurement sensor apparatus indicative of said distance and for processing said signals to calculate a pool depth corresponding to said distance,

angle adjustment apparatus connected to the basket and controlled by the control system for adjusting angle of the basket, thereby adjusting extent of the beach,

wherein the control system controls extent of the beach,

wherein the angle adjustment apparatus includes a basket support pivotably mounted to the base and moving apparatus for selectively moving the basket up and down,

wherein the basket has a fluid entry end and a fluid exit end and wherein the basket is pivotably mounted adjacent the fluid exit end,

wherein the screen apparatus includes at least an exit screen with an exit end from which material separated by the screen apparatus flows off the screen apparatus for discharge from fluid exit end of the basket,

wherein the basket is at an angle such that the beach is formed adjacent an edge of the pool adjacent said exit end, and

wherein the angle adjustment apparatus raises and lowers the basket'"'"'s fluid entry end.

20. A method for treating material introduced to a vibratory separator, the method comprising

introducing material to a vibratory separator, the vibratory separator comprising a basket for supporting screen apparatus for treating material introduced into the vibratory separator, the basket on a base and pivotable with respect thereto, vibratory apparatus connected to the basket for vibrating the basket, screen apparatus supported by the basket, the material forming a pool on the screen apparatus, and a beach on the screen apparatus adjacent the pool, measurement sensor apparatus connected to the vibratory separator and positioned above the screen apparatus for measuring a distance from the measurement sensor apparatus to a top surface of the pool, the measurement sensor apparatus including a signal production portion for producing signals indicative of said distance and for transmitting said signals, a control system for controlling and in communication with the measurement sensor apparatus for receiving signals from the measurement sensor apparatus indicative of said distance and for processing said signals to calculate a pool depth corresponding to said distance, and angle adjustment apparatus connected to the basket and controlled by the control system for adjusting angle of the basket, thereby adjusting extent of the beach basket and positioned above the screen apparatus for measuring a distance from the measurement sensor apparatus to a top surface of the pool, the measurement sensor apparatus including a signal production portion for producing signals indicative of said distance and for transmitting said signals, control apparatus for controlling and in communication with the measurement sensor apparatus for receiving signals from the measurement sensor apparatus indicative of said distance, and angle adjustment apparatus connected to the basket and controlled by the control apparatus for adjusting angle of the basket, thereby adjusting extent of the beach,

treating the material in the vibratory separator, and

adjusting the angle of the basket and the extent of the beach with the angle adjustment apparatus.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the vibratory separator is a shale shaker and the material is drilling fluid with drilled cuttings therein.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the screen apparatus includes at least an exit screen with an exit end from which material separated by the screen apparatus flows of f the screen apparatus for discharge from the vibratory separator, wherein the 5 basket is at an angle such that the beach is formed adjacent an edge of the pool adjacent said exit end, and wherein the control system controls extent of the beach, and wherein a rear boundary of the beach is along a rear beach line and the basket is pivotably connected to the base beneath said rear beach line, the method further comprising

maintaining the beach at a desired extent on the exit screen.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the vibratory separator has flow sensor apparatus connected to the vibratory separator for sensing the flow of the material onto the screen apparatus, the flow sensor apparatus controlled by and in communication with the control system, the control system adjusting basket angle in response to signals from the flow sensor apparatus, the method further comprising

adjusting the basket angle with the angle adjustment apparatus upon cessation of material flowing into the basket to accommodate the recommencement of material flowing into the basket onto the screen apparatus.

24. Beach adjustment apparatus for adjusting extent of a beach on a screen of a vibratory separator, the screen mounted to a vibratable basket of the vibratory separator, the beach adjustment apparatus comprising

an end-pivotable basket support for supporting the basket, the end-pivotable basket support pivotable at a pivot end thereof, and

means for pivoting the end-pivotable basket support at its pivot end.