Patent ID: 6220445
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: B01D,B07B

Abstract:
In a drilling mud separation system wherein drilling fluid and drilling mud is conducted from a well bore to solids control equipment such as shale shakers and vibratory screens; a self-cleaning drilling mud separation unit for separating large particles from said drilling fluids and drilling mud, comprising:a generally rectangular frame having a front frame member having a front end, a back end, and laterally opposed sides connected by a transverse cross member;a rear frame member having a front end, a back end, and laterally opposed sides connected by a transverse cross member;said front and rear frame members being telescopically connected for sliding movement relative to one another along a longitudinal axis;said rotary drive means is rotatably mounted on said front frame front end, and said rotary means is rotatably mounted on said rear frame back end;said rotary drive means being rotatably mounted on said frame front end to rotate about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of said generally rectangular frame;rotary means rotatably mounted on said frame back end to rotate about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of said generally rectangular frame;a self-leaning continuous foramanous belt extending around said front rotary drive means and said rear rotary means in a continuous loop, said foramanous belt engaged with said rotary drive means and driven thereby in a continuous path moving along the longitudinal axis of said generally rectangular frame; andtensioning means connected between said front and rear frame members for moving said frame members relative to one another and thereby moving said rotary drive means and said rotary means relative to one another along the longitudinal axis of said frame to adjust tension in said foramanous belt; wherebydrilling fluid and drilling mud are conducted from the well bore and onto said moving foramanous belt and liquids and particles smaller than the openings in said foramanous belt pass through the openings in said foramanous belt and particles larger than said openings are transported on said foramanous belt and are discharged as said foramanous belt passes around said rotary drive means.