Patent ID: 6241098
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: B01D,B07B

Abstract:
A method for screening drilling fluid with particles suspended therein flowing to a vibratory shaker, the method comprisingflowing the drilling fluid with particles suspended therein to a screen assembly on a vibratory shaker, the screen assembly comprising a screen assembly mounted on the vibratory shaker in a generally horizontal disposition, a flat panel with a plurality of spaced-apart holes therethrough, the panel having a first end spaced-apart from a second end by two spaced-apart sides, the first end parallel to the second end and the two spaced-apart sides parallel to each other, a plurality of flat strips spaced-apart across the panel, each of the plurality of strips in a first flat plane, the strips of the plurality of strips parallel to each other and extending from the first end to the second end of the panel, a plurality of crossmembers each of which has two ends, one end connected to one of the strips and the other end connected to another strip, each of the crossmembers having a major portion in a second flat plane different from the first flat plane of the plurality of strips, each crossmember contacting only two of the strips of the plurality of strips, no crossmember contacting another crossmember, the crossmembers of the plurality of crossmembers parallel to each other and parallel to the ends of the panel, the strips and crossmembers defining the plurality of spaced-apart holes through the panel, and screening material on the plurality of strips covering the plurality of holes for screening the drilling fluid with particles suspended therein, the screening material having a top and a bottom so that the drilling fluid with suspended particles therein flows onto the top of the screening material which is vibrated by the vibratory shaker and fluid flows downwardly through the screening material from top to bottom while suspended particles unable to move through the screen are separated from fluid and move across the top of the screen for collection, andflowing the drilling fluid through the screening material.