Shale shakers and screens with identification apparatuses

• US 7,484,625 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2005
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Varco I/P Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Varco I/P Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Inventors: Worms, Manfred H., Lam, Clive Chemo, Scott, Eric, Kammann, Reinhold, McClung, Guy L. III, Ellison, Leon D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mackey; Patrick H
• Assistant Examiner(s): KUMAR, KALYANAVENKA K
• Application Number:
  US11/255,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20060108113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 166/255.1, 209/404
• US Class Current: 209/404
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/52 Filter identification means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 33/0376 supported
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 33/0384 with corrugated, folded or wound filtering sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 1/42 Drive mechanisms, regulating or controlling devices, or balancing devices, specially adapted for screens
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 1/46 Constructional details of screens in general; Cleaning or heating of screens
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 1/4654 Corrugated Screening surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 1/4663 Multi-layer screening surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 13/18 Control
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/065 Separating solids from drilling fluids

Abstract

A screen apparatus, which in certain aspects is a screen apparatus having a support, screening material on the support, and energizable identification apparatus on (exteriorly, interiorly, and/or within) the support for identifying the screen apparatus; a vibratory separator with such a screen apparatus; and a vibratory separator or shaker with energizable identification apparatus.

Claims

1. A screen apparatus for use on a vibratory separator, the screen apparatus for screening material introduced to the vibratory separator, the screen apparatus comprising

a support mountable on a vibratory separator, the support comprising a body,

the body having an exterior surface and two spaced-apart ends,

wave energizable identification apparatus on the exterior surface of the body, the wave energizable identification apparatus wrapped in fabric material, the fabric material comprising heat-resistant non-conducting material, and

the wave energizable identification apparatus wrapped and positioned on the body so that the wave energizable identification apparatus does not contact the body

screening material on the support, the screening material having a top and a bottom, fluid with solids therein for treatment introducible to the vibratory separator onto the top of the screening material so that fluid from the fluid with solids therein is flowable down through the screening material, and

the wave energizable identification apparatus for identifying the screen apparatus.

2. The screen apparatus of claim 1 further comprising

the screening material having an exit end from which solids separated from the fluid with solids therein are flowable off the screening material.

3. The screen apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support is a frame.

4. The screen apparatus of claim 3 wherein the frame includes a plurality of interconnected hollow members and the energizable identification apparatus is within a hollow member.

5. The screen apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wave energizable identification apparatus is radio frequency identification apparatus with integrated circuit apparatus and antenna apparatus.

6. The screen apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vibratory separator is a shale shaker and the fluid with solids therein is drilling fluid with solids therein.

7. A method for sensing an energizable identification apparatus of a screen assembly, the screen assembly for use in a vibratory separator and comprising a support mountable on a vibratory separator, the support comprising a body,

the body having an exterior surface and two spaced-apart ends,

wave energizable identification apparatus on the exterior surface of the body, the wave energizable identification apparatus wrapped in fabric material, the fabric material comprising heat-resistant non-conducting material, and

the wave energizable identification apparatus wrapped and positioned on the body so that the wave energizable identification apparatus does not contact the body

screening material on the support, the screening material having a top and a bottom, fluid with solids therein for treatment introducible to the vibratory separator onto the top of the screening material so that fluid from the fluid with solids therein is flowable down through the screening material, and

the wave energizable identification apparatus for identifying the screen apparatus,

the method including

wave energizing the energizable identification apparatus by directing energizing energy thereto,

the wave energizable identification apparatus upon being energized producing a signal,

positioning the screen assembly adjacent sensing apparatus, and

sensing with the sensing apparatus the signal produced by the wave energizable identification apparatus.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the sensing apparatus is in communication with and is controlled by control apparatus, the method further comprising

controlling the sensing apparatus with the control apparatus.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the signal is an identification signal identifying the screen assembly and the sensing apparatus produces and conveys a corresponding signal to computer apparatus, the computer apparatus including a programmable portion programmed to receive and analyze the corresponding signal, and the computer apparatus for producing an analysis signal indicative of accepting or rejecting the screen assembly based on said analysis, the method further comprising

the wave energizable identification apparatus producing an identification signal received by the sensing apparatus,

the sensing apparatus producing a corresponding signal indicative of identification of the screen assembly and conveying the corresponding signal to the computer apparatus, and

the computer apparatus analyzing the corresponding signal and producing the analysis signal.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising

producing the analysis signal prior to vibrating the screen assembly.