Patent ID: 6193076
Filing Date: 2001-02-27
Classification: B04B

Abstract:
A mud cleaning apparatus for removing well borehole particles from a wellbore hole carried in drilling fluid which is comprised of a solvent and a weight material in the solvent, the apparatus comprising:(a) a rotatable elongate housing having an axis of rotation. two ends , an inside and a plurality of axially oriented slots through the housing the plurality of axially oriented slots being oriented parallel to said axis of rotation;(b) a flow pipe for introducing drilling fluid with particles in one end of said rotatable housing;(c) an elongate screw having a flite extending therearound wherein said flite defines an outer edge and the outer edge is sized to fit inside said housing and rotate so that the flite is in contact with the inside of said housing; and(d) a housing outlet at a second end thereof for removing the particles from the drilling fluid wherein the outlet is elevated with respect to drilling fluid in said housing, and said elevated location is positioned so that the particles in the drilling fluid are scrolled to the outlet.