Automatic vibratory separator
First Claim
18. A method for automatically boosting acceleration of a basket of a vibratory separator, the method comprisingintroducing material to a vibratory separator, the vibratory separator comprising a base, a basket movably mounted on the base and for supporting screen apparatus for treating material introduced into the vibratory separator, screen apparatus supported by the basket, the material flowing onto the screen apparatus for treatment, motor apparatus connected to the basket for vibrating the basket and the screen apparatus, drive apparatus for selectively driving the motor apparatus at a selected speed so that a desired force is applied to the screen apparatus to facilitate treatment of the material, sensor apparatus connected to the vibratory separator for sensing a parameter indicative of force applied by the motor apparatus, the sensor apparatus for providing a signal corresponding to a level of said force, control apparatus for receiving signals from the sensor apparatus, for controlling the vibratory separator based on said signals, and for automatically signalling the drive apparatus to control the speed of the motor apparatus to control said force,sensing with the sensor apparatus the parameter indicative of said force and providing a signal indicative of a level of said force to the control apparatus, andwith the control apparatus determining if the level of said force is at least at a preset level and, if said force is not at said preset level, increasing the speed of the motor apparatus to change said force so that said preset level is met or exceeded, said increasing of said force resulting in a corresponding automatic increase in acceleration of the basket.
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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, 37 CFR 1.72(b).
111 Citations
25 Claims
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18. A method for automatically boosting acceleration of a basket of a vibratory separator, the method comprising
introducing material to a vibratory separator, the vibratory separator comprising a base, a basket movably mounted on the base and for supporting screen apparatus for treating material introduced into the vibratory separator, screen apparatus supported by the basket, the material flowing onto the screen apparatus for treatment, motor apparatus connected to the basket for vibrating the basket and the screen apparatus, drive apparatus for selectively driving the motor apparatus at a selected speed so that a desired force is applied to the screen apparatus to facilitate treatment of the material, sensor apparatus connected to the vibratory separator for sensing a parameter indicative of force applied by the motor apparatus, the sensor apparatus for providing a signal corresponding to a level of said force, control apparatus for receiving signals from the sensor apparatus, for controlling the vibratory separator based on said signals, and for automatically signalling the drive apparatus to control the speed of the motor apparatus to control said force, sensing with the sensor apparatus the parameter indicative of said force and providing a signal indicative of a level of said force to the control apparatus, and with the control apparatus determining if the level of said force is at least at a preset level and, if said force is not at said preset level, increasing the speed of the motor apparatus to change said force so that said preset level is met or exceeded, said increasing of said force resulting in a corresponding automatic increase in acceleration of the basket.
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19. A method for automatically controlling a vibratory separator, the method comprising
introducing material to a vibratory separator, the vibratory separator comprising a base, a basket movably mounted on the base and for supporting screen apparatus for treating material introduced into the vibratory separator, the screen apparatus supported by the basket, the material flowing onto the screen apparatus for treatment, motor apparatus connected to the basket for vibrating the basket and the screen apparatus, drive apparatus for selectively driving the motor apparatus at a selected speed so that a desired force is applied to the screen apparatus to facilitate treatment of the material, sensor apparatus connected to the vibratory separator for sensing a state parameter associated with operation of the vibratory separator, the sensor apparatus for providing a signal corresponding to a measured level of said state parameter, control apparatus for receiving signals from the sensor apparatus, for controlling the vibratory separator based on said signals, and for automatically signalling the drive apparatus to control the speed of the motor apparatus to control said force, sensing with the sensor apparatus a level of the state parameter and providing a signal indicative of said level to the control apparatus, and with the control apparatus and based on said level signalling the drive apparatus to change the speed of the motor apparatus, said state parameter comprising at least one of a vibratory separator parameter or a material parameter, said material parameter comprising a drilling fluid parameter when said material is drilling fluid, including viscosity, temperature, flow rate, fluid level in the basket, specific gravity, solids content level, and solids stickiness level, said vibratory separator parameter comprising a parameter associated with a shale shaker when the vibratory separator is a shale shaker, including acceleration amplitude, motion profile, basket angle, angle of attack, vibration frequency, and screen mesh of the screen apparatus.
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20. A method for automatically controlling acceleration of a basket of a vibratory separator, the method comprising
introducing material to a vibratory separator, the vibratory separator comprising a base, a basket movably mounted on the base and for supporting screen apparatus for treating material introduced into the vibratory separator, screen apparatus supported by the basket, the material flowing onto the screen apparatus for treatment, motor apparatus connected to the basket for vibrating the basket and the screen apparatus, the motor apparatus applying force to the basket to accelerate the basket, drive apparatus for selectively driving the motor apparatus at a selected speed so that a desired acceleration is applied to the screen apparatus to facilitate treatment of the material, sensor apparatus connected to the vibratory separator for sensing a parameter indicative of acceleration applied by the motor apparatus, the sensor apparatus for providing a signal corresponding to a level of said acceleration, control apparatus for receiving signals from the sensor apparatus, for controlling the vibratory separator based on said signals, and for automatically signalling the drive apparatus to control the motor apparatus, sensing with the sensor apparatus the parameter indicative of said acceleration and providing a signal indicative of said level to the control apparatus, and with the control apparatus controlling the motor apparatus to automatically control said acceleration.
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22-1. The method of claim 20 wherein the material is drilling fluid and the method further comprising
controlling the acceleration to be constant under varying drilling fluid conditions.
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25. A vibratory separator for treating fluid introduced thereto, the vibratory separator comprising
a base, a basket movably mounted on the base, screen apparatus on the basket for treating material introduced into the vibratory separator, the screen apparatus supported by the basket, the material flowable onto the screen apparatus for treatment, motor apparatus connected to the basket for vibrating the basket and the screen apparatus, drive apparatus for selectively driving the motor apparatus at a selected speed, sensor apparatus connected to the vibratory separator for sensing a state parameter associated with operation of the vibratory separator, the sensor apparatus for providing signals corresponding to a level of said parameter, control apparatus for receiving signals from the sensor apparatus, for controlling the vibratory separator based on said signals, the sensor apparatus for sensing the state parameter and providing a signal indicative of a level of said parameter to the control apparatus, and the control apparatus for automatically signalling the drive apparatus to control the motor apparatus based on a value of said state parameter.
Specification