Patent ID: 6024228
Filing Date: 2000-02-15
Classification: B01D,B07B,E21B

Abstract:
A bypass diverter box for use with solids control equipment of a drilling rig, comprising a housing, a drilling mud separation apparatus mounted within said housing, said apparatus including a continuous-loop scalper screen having means for driving said screen in a continuous loop to separate, convey and discharge solids from drilling mud or drilling fluid and discharge said solids at one end of said housing remote from another end of said housing at which said drilling mud or drilling fluid is introduced to said housing, a diverter plate adjustably mounted within said housing on an axle extending between opposed side walls of said housing and adjacent said another end of said housing for regulating amounts of said drilling mud or drilling fluid introduced to said housing selectively to said separation apparatus and to bypass said separation apparatus, means for rotating said diverter plate selectively between a first position at which said diverter plate is in a first horizontal position at which said diverter plate diverts all of said drilling mud or drilling fluid to said separation apparatus and a second position at which said diverter plate is in a vertical position and diverts all of said drilling mud or drilling fluid under a fixed baffle plate extending beneath said axle and between said opposed side walls of said housing to define an opening between a lower end of said fixed baffle plate and bottom of said housing so that said drilling mud or drilling fluid bypasses said separation apparatus.