Apparatus, system and method for fastening a screen on a gyratory sifter with an integrated screen seal

An apparatus, system and method have a rod attached to and extending across a screen to engage with a receptacle. A box is positioned beneath the filtration screen. An air bag is activated to inflate the filtration screen to compress against a plate. A junction extends from the plate, and the air bag rises to move the junction toward the receptacle to compress the rod against the receptacle to hold the rod. The filtration screen may be constructed from mesh material sized to permit materials to flow through the filtration screen. A vibratory element in the box vibrates to assist filtration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sifters and vibratory separators are used in a variety of applications for separating materials by size. For example, sifters and vibratory separators may be used to separate sized particles or to separate solids from liquids. These devices may be used to screen materials in various industries for industrial sorting, manufacturing operations, oil and gas drilling and production operations, etc.

Gyratory sifters are used in a variety of applications for separating solids by size. These applications include separating particles of sugar, flour, sand and various chemical powders. Further, gyratory sifters may be used for both wet and dry screening and include aligned decks of screens or perforated plates, sloping from the head end and/or a feed end to the tail end and/or discharge end of the sifter. The screens may be disposed in a screen basket. The screen basket may be suspended by a set of hangers that allow the basket to move on a horizontal plane.

An eccentric drive mechanism, e.g., a belt driven eccentric weight, or other motive force may be coupled to the screen basket to provide a circular motion substantially across a horizontal plane of the gyratory sifter. Also, various dimensions and/or specifications of the gyratory sifter may be adjusted to accomplish specific separation and/or sifting goals. Devices described herein may be utilized to retain a screen within a gyratory sifter during operation as used in the oilfield and/or related industries.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments disclosed herein are applicable to separation devices that may be utilized in numerous industries. While specific embodiments may be described as utilized in the oilfield services and related industries, such as use with shale shakers, the device may be applicable in other industries where separation of liquid-solid, solid-solid and other mixtures may be separated. The embodiments may be utilized in the mining, pharmaceutical, food, medical or other industries to separate such mixtures.

In the following detailed description, reference is made to accompanying figures, which form a part hereof. In the figures, similar symbols or identifiers typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described herein are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. It will be understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, may be arranged, substituted, combined and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, which are explicitly contemplated and form part of this disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 1, a side view of a screen fastening system10with a rod20attached to and extending across a filtration screen34is shown. In an embodiment, the screen fastening system10may be referred to as “a receptacle”. The filtration screen34may filter and/or sift a solid-solid mixture flowing through the filtration screen34. The filtration screen34may be generally rectangular in shape with parallel edges. Further, the rod20may enclose an interior18. The filtration screen34may be constructed from mesh material sized to permit materials to flow and/or to pass through the filtration screen34. For example, the filtration screen34may trap and/or collect solid materials while permitting liquid to flow through the filtration screen34.

A box36may be positioned generally beneath the filtration screen34and may assist in the vibration and/or gyration of the filtration screen34during use to separate solids from liquid flowing through the filtration screen34. The box36may be referred to as a “ball box” in the separation industry and or vibratory separation industries. Although shown in a specific orientation inFIG. 1, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, shape, layout and/or orientation of the box36should not be limited to such an embodiment. An underside38of the box36may partially enclose an inflatable bladder26. In an embodiment, other types of mechanisms and/or devices may be used to apply force to and/or upon the box, including pneumatic pumps and electric and/or hydraulic lifts, for example. Upon activation and/or actuation, the inflatable bladder26may inflate and/or rise generally in the direction B as shown inFIG. 1.

Expansion and/or rising of the inflatable bladder26in the direction B may cause the inflatable bladder26to contact and/or compress against a holding plate24that may extend from and/or be integrally formed with the underside38. While the inflatable bladder26may be deactivated, the holding plate24along the underside38and/or the box36may hold the inflatable bladder26within the screen fastening system10. The inflatable bladder26, upon activation, may receive air and/or other gas to expand and/or inflate to rise in a direction B to cause an intermediate junction22to likewise rise and/or move. Movement of the intermediate junction22toward an outer edge12of the screen fastening system may compress and seal a sealing gasket48embedded in the filtration screen34against a protrusion28extending from a cross-member32extending lengthwise from the outer edge12itself as shown inFIG. 1. In an embodiment, the sealing gasket48may be removable and/or removed from the filtration screen34. The intermediate junction22and/or the holding plate may force the rod20to pull and/or apply tension to the filtration screen34. Compression of the rod20against the protrusion28and/or the outer edge12due to movement of the intermediate junction22in the direction B may retain the rod20during filtration operations.

The rod20may extend across an edge of the filtration screen34and may be substantially enclosed by the screen34that may wrap around the rod20. In an embodiment, the rod20may be constructed from a flexible conduit and/or similar material. In an embodiment, the rod20may be removed from the filtration screen34to allow the filtration screen34to be rolled, folded and/or compressed as needed to facilitate transport and/or storage. A sealing region F may include the sealing gasket48with a top surface30that may be positioned adjacent to the outer edge12from the rod20. The top surface30of the sealing gasket48may compress against the protrusion28. The sealing gasket48may be surrounded by the filtration screen34and may rest upon the intermediate junction22. Upward movement of the inflatable bladder26may shift the intermediate junction22which may, in turn, move the top surface30of the sealing gasket48. The top surface30may compress against protrusion28to hold the filtration screen34against the protrusion28and/or the intermediate junction22. In an embodiment, compression of the sealing gasket48against the protrusion28and/or the intermediate junction22may be referred to as forming an integrated screen seal.

At the outer edge12of the screen fastening system10may be an edge and/or rod region E that has the rod20abutted against and/or otherwise in contact with the protrusion28and/or the intermediate junction22. In an embodiment, the rod20may have an adhesive resin layer16that may substantially surround the rod20to assist in attachment of the rod20with the protrusion28and/or the intermediate junction22. Further, the adhesive resin layer16may be generally referred to as “bond tite” in the oilfield services industry.

The screen fastening system10may operate by activation of the inflatable bladder26that may expand to cause the intermediate junction22to rise toward the rod20. Specifically, movement of the intermediate junction22may push the rod20and/or the sealing gasket48toward the outer edge12of the screen fastening system10in the direction A as shown inFIG. 1. Movement of the rod20in the direction A may apply tension of the filtration screen34in the direction A that may ensure uniform positioning of the filtration screen34on the box36. Vibration and/or vibratory gyration of the box36may vibrate elements in the box36to assist in filtration of slurry passing through the filtration screen34.

Referring toFIG. 2, the filtration screen34with the sealing gasket48and a tube40with a hollow interior42is shown. In an embodiment, the tube40may be substantially similar to the rod20shown inFIG. 1. The tube40may be made from a relatively rigid material, such as plastic, steel and/or a composite, and have circular ridges44that may surround an interior circumference of the tube40. In an embodiment, the circular ridges44may assist in grasping and/or transporting the tube40and/or may provide guidance toward materials entering into the hollow interior42of the tube40. The filtration screen34may coil and/or wrap around the tube40to create a loop46that attaches with the filtration screen34at a region D. A region H may be positioned adjacent to the region D where the filtration screen34may enclose the sealing gasket48. In an embodiment, the filtration screen34may surround the tube40to form the loop46and may extend to a region I where the filtration screen may be substantially flat. Liquid may be separated from solids in slurry flowing through the filtration screen10in a direction C across the region I.

Although the preceding description has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, it extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods, and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.