Automatic vibratory separator
First Claim
1. A vibratory separator, comprising:
- a basket assembly comprising a screen apparatus, wherein said basket assembly is adapted to be vibrated so as to facilitate separation of a material to be separated that is introduced to said screen apparatus;
a vibratory apparatus operatively coupled to said basket assembly, wherein said vibratory apparatus is adapted to vibrate said basket assembly;
at least one sensor apparatus that is adapted to sense a state of said material that has been introduced to said screen apparatus; and
a control apparatus, wherein said control apparatus is adapted to adjust said vibratory separator to vibrate said basket assembly at a first vibratory separator setting when said sensed state of said material is at a first sensed state by adjusting an acceleration of said basket assembly to a first preselected acceleration level based on said first sensed state, wherein said control apparatus is further adapted to adjust said vibratory separator to vibrate said basket assembly at a second vibratory separator setting when said sensed state of said material is at a second sensed state that is different than said first sensed state by adjusting said acceleration of said basket assembly to a second preselected acceleration level based on said second sensed state, and wherein said second vibratory separator setting is different than said first vibratory separator setting and said second preselected acceleration level is different than said first preselected acceleration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for automatically controlling a vibratory separator, e.g., but not limited to a shale shaker for processing drilling fluid, the methods in certain aspects including: introducing material to a vibratory separator; sensing with sensor apparatus a state parameter indicative of operation of the vibratory separator; providing a signal indicative of a value of said state parameter to control apparatus; and, with the control apparatus, automatically controlling the vibratory separator based on the level of the state parameter. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vibratory separator, comprising:
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a basket assembly comprising a screen apparatus, wherein said basket assembly is adapted to be vibrated so as to facilitate separation of a material to be separated that is introduced to said screen apparatus; a vibratory apparatus operatively coupled to said basket assembly, wherein said vibratory apparatus is adapted to vibrate said basket assembly; at least one sensor apparatus that is adapted to sense a state of said material that has been introduced to said screen apparatus; and a control apparatus, wherein said control apparatus is adapted to adjust said vibratory separator to vibrate said basket assembly at a first vibratory separator setting when said sensed state of said material is at a first sensed state by adjusting an acceleration of said basket assembly to a first preselected acceleration level based on said first sensed state, wherein said control apparatus is further adapted to adjust said vibratory separator to vibrate said basket assembly at a second vibratory separator setting when said sensed state of said material is at a second sensed state that is different than said first sensed state by adjusting said acceleration of said basket assembly to a second preselected acceleration level based on said second sensed state, and wherein said second vibratory separator setting is different than said first vibratory separator setting and said second preselected acceleration level is different than said first preselected acceleration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A vibratory separator, comprising:
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a basket assembly comprising a screen apparatus, wherein said basket assembly is adapted to be vibrated so as to facilitate separation of a mixture comprising drilling fluid and solids that is introduced to said screen apparatus; a vibratory apparatus operatively coupled to said basket assembly, wherein said vibratory apparatus is adapted to vibrate said basket assembly; at least one sensor apparatus that is adapted to sense a state of said mixture that has been introduced to said screen apparatus; and a control apparatus, wherein said control apparatus is adapted to operate said vibratory separator at a first separator setting so as to separate said drilling fluid from said solids by vibrating said basket assembly at a first acceleration level and automatically adjusting an excitation force applied to said basket assembly to substantially maintain said first acceleration level based on said sensed state of said mixture, and wherein said control apparatus is further adapted to automatically adjust said operation of said vibratory separator to a second separator setting that is different than said first separator setting when said sensed state of said mixture exceeds a predetermined state by automatically increasing said acceleration of said basket assembly to a predetermined second acceleration level that is greater than said first acceleration level. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification