Patent ID: 8763684
Filing Date: 2014-07-01
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A mechanical mud bucket comprising: a first shell member having a side wall extending from an upper shoulder to a lower shoulder and from a forward surface to a rearward surface, said first shell member including a fluid outlet extending through said side wall, each of the upper and lower shoulders having an external surface, an internal surface, and an interconnecting side surface; a forward rail attached to the forward surface of the first shell member; a rearward rail attached to the rearward surface of the first shell member; a second shell member pivotally associated with the first shell member, said second shell member having a side wall extending from an upper shoulder to a lower shoulder and from a forward surface to a rearward surface, each of the upper and lower shoulders of the second shell member having an external surface, an internal surface, and an interconnecting side surface; a forward rail attached to the forward surface the second shell member; a rearward rail attached to rearward surface of the second shell member; a seal mechanism including an upper seal, a lower seal, a forward seal, and a rearward seal a mechanical locking component operatively associated with said first and second shell members, wherein in an engaged position said mechanical locking component locks said first and second shell members in a closed position such that said seal mechanism seals an inner space defined by said first and second shell members and said upper and lower seals; a pressure control operatively associated with said first shell member or said second shell member such that said pressure control maintains an atmospheric pressure within the inner space with said first and second shell members in the closed position; wherein each of the upper and lower seals includes a first end seal and a second end seal, the first end seal having a plate member, a central sealing component with an annular sealing section shaped to receive a tubular string, and two L-shaped sealing sections positioned at opposite ends of the first end seal, each L-shape sealing section including a horizontal extending portion and a vertically extending portion with a projection extending the length thereof, and the second end seal having a plate member, a central sealing component with an annular sealing section, and two sealing end sections positioned at opposite ends of the second end seal, each sealing end section containing a groove shaped to receive in mating arrangement the projection of the horizontally extending portion of one of the L-shaped sealing sections of the first end seal; wherein the first end seal of the upper seal affixed to the external surface of the upper shoulder of the first shell member, and the second of the second shell member; wherein the first end seal of the lower seal is affixed to the external surface of the lower shoulder of the first shell member, and the second end seal of lower seal is affixed the external surface of the lower shoulder of the second shell member; wherein an upper end of each of the forward and rearward rails of the first shell member receives in cooperating arrangement the vertically extending portion of one of the L-shaped sealing sections of the first end seal of the upper seal; wherein a lower end of each of the forward and rearward rails of the first shell member receives in cooperating arrangement the vertically extending portion of one of L-shaped sealing of the first end seal of the lower seal.