Screen assembly for a shale shaker

• US 6,938,779 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2003
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Varco I/P Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Varco I/P Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Inventors: Burnett, George Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Donald R
• Assistant Examiner(s): JOERGER, KAITLIN S
• Application Number:
  US10/418,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20040074819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 209/405, 209/409, 209/412, 209/395, 209/397, 209/399
• US Class Current: 209/405
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 33/0376 supported
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 1/46 Constructional details of screens in general; Cleaning or heating of screens
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 1/4663 Multi-layer screening surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 1/469 Perforated sheet-like material
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 1/48 Stretching devices for screens

Abstract

A screen assembly for a shale shaker comprising a panel and a support structure, the panel having an area provided with a multiplicity of apertures and at least one layer of screening material arranged over the multiplicity of apertures, wherein said panel is removable from said support structure.

Claims

1. A screen assembly for a shale shaker, the screen assembly comprising a panel and a support structure, the panel having an area provided with a multiplicity of apertures and a least one layer of screening material on top of the panel over the multiplicity of apertures, wherein said panel is removable from said support structure, and wherein said panel comprises a flat punched plate, and

wherein said screen assembly further comprises a pull down member located within said panel for pulling said panel on to said support structure.

2. The screen assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support structure is removable from aid shale shaker.

3. The screen assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said screen assembly is insertable into a clamping mechanism of a shale shaker.

4. The screen assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is a friction fit between the panel and the support structure.

5. The screen assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pull down member is linked to said panel at at least two intermediate points.

6. The screen assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pull down member is releasably connected to the panel.

7. The screen assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said pull down member comprises a rail.

8. The screen assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein said panel comprises a rail, which cooperates with said rail of said pull down member to enable the pull down member to pull on said panel.

9. The screen assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said panel has a perimeter and the pull down member is located inside the perimeter.

10. The screen assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pull down member is arranged such that, in use, it is operated by the clamping mechanism of said shale shaker.

11. The screen assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein said panel has a perimeter, at least part of which, in use is arranged in said clamping mechanism and is pushed on to said support structure wherein operated.

12. The screen assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pull down member comprises at least one rib.

13. The screen assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein the panel has a perimeter and said at least one rib extends beyond said perimeter.

14. The screen assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein said at least one rib has two ends each having a top face which, in use is contactable by said clamping mechanism.

15. The screen assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the pull down member comprises a plurality of ribs linked by a side runner on each of said two ends to form said top face which, in use is contactable by said clamping mechanism of said shale shaker.

16. The screen assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support structure comprises a plurality of support ribs on which, in use the panel is pushed or pulled on to.

17. The screen assembly as claimed in claim 16 wherein each support rib has a top edge which is flat, in use the panel is pushed or pulled on to the flat top edge.

18. The screen assembly as claimed in claim 16 wherein support structure has a crowned profile and the panel is pushable down over the support structure by a clamping mechanism at an outer perimeter of the panel.

19. The screen assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one layer of screening material is wire mesh.

20. A screen assembly for a shale shaker, the screen assembly comprising a panel and a support structure, the panel comprising a flat punched plate having an area provided with a multiplicity of apertures and at least one layer of screening material on top of he panel over the multiplicity of apertures, the at least one layer of screening material comprising wire mesh wherein said panel is removable from said support structure, and wherein said screen assembly further comprises a pull down member located with said panel for pulling said panel on to said support structure.