Abstract:
A recirculation bin, a drill tailings handling apparatus, and a method of handling drill tailings is disclosed. The recirculation bin has a moveable plate member, which advantageously may be positioned, when excess tailings are being delivered to the recirculation bin, to deflect such excess tailings into a second containment bin, for subsequent re-delivery to the recirculation bin when capacity to process such drill tailings is then available. The handling apparatus contemplates a second container, which is disposed immediately adjacent the recirculation bin, to receive deflected tailings, and is open at one end thereof to permit entry of a front-end loader therein, and thereby permit excess tailings deflected into the second container to be scooped up and delivered to the recirculation bin, when the moveable plate member is positioned to then allow the recirculation bin to accept such delivery, at a time when processing capability for such drill tailings is available. A method for handling drill tailings is further disclosed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to apparatus for handling drill cuttings or tailings, and more particularly to a tailings handling and containment apparatus useful in drill tailings cleaning operations, having deflector means to handle overflow conditions. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    Drill tailings and cuttings covered with drilling mud and/or oil and which emanate from an oil derrick, are typically conveyed from the drilling derrick via shaker tables or powered conveyor belts to an interim recirculation bin or temporary storage vessel, prior to being supplied to tailings cleaning apparatus mounted on portable skids. 
         [0003]    Due to highway load carrying restrictions [currently for some roads a tri-axle limitation of 55,000 pounds (21,653 kg) for trucks which transport tailings equipment cleaning apparatus to a drill site], the size of recirculation bins and as well the tailings cleaning skids (which possess such cleaning equipment as centrifuges or conical cyclone separators) is typically limited due to such load restriction placed on such trucks, as to is the size of such equipment which can be transported on such trucks. Accordingly, due to the necessary compact size of such equipment, the processing capacity of such equipment is often seriously limited. 
         [0004]    Frequently, when rapidly drilling, or when entering a “pay” zone where oil is encountered, a drilling derrick may for a relatively short period of time generate a large quantity of drill tailings and/or tailings which may be very “dirty” or oily. 
         [0005]    In such circumstances, the capacity of a recirculation bin and associated cleaning equipment to rapidly handle and clean a deluge of dirty tailings becomes seriously compromised and may, at least temporarily, be exceeded. 
         [0006]    In such circumstances, in order to allow the tailings cleaning equipment to “catch up”, such requires drilling to be temporarily halted. 
         [0007]    Halting of drilling operations, even for temporary periods, is extremely undesirable, as it results in additional expenses to the well owner considering that drilling operations are typically conducted by rented service rigs, all of which are rented at daily rates. In addition, time may be a factor, considering that drilling operations are typically conducted during winter, when transporting equipment to a site can be done over frozen ground, and removing such equipment from a site need be done before spring thaw. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, for the above reasons, stoppage of drilling operations on an operative drilling rig is extremely undesirable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In order to overcome the problems of the prior art where temporary stoppage of drilling operations is presently necessary where cleaning equipment becomes temporarily overwhelmed in capacity, and to provide a recirculation bin and tailing handling system adapted to handle “overflow” conditions with respect to drill cuttings and tailings being directed to such recirculation bin and thereby allow continuous drilling, in a first aspect of the present invention such invention comprises a recirculation bin for drill tailings which is useful and particularly adapted for use in a drill tailings handling apparatus of the present invention for handling temporary “overflow” conditions and allowing drilling to continue without stoppage. 
         [0010]    In this regard, a recirculation bin of the present invention comprises: 
         [0011]    (i) a container for drill tailings comprising a bottom wall and side walls; 
         [0012]    (ii) helical auger means, situated in an interior of said container proximate said bottom wall and substantially spanning a lower region of said interior of said container, adapted for transporting tailings which settle in said lower region of said container out of said container; and 
         [0013]    (iii) a moveble plate member, slidably engaged with or pivotably coupled to said container, moveable from a first position for diverting tailings, to a second position allowing tailings to enter said interior of said container. 
         [0014]    In a broader aspect of the present invention, the invention more broadly relates to a drill tailings handling apparatus, which allows continued drilling despite temporary “overflow” conditions, which makes use of the above recirculation bin. 
         [0015]    Accordingly, in this further broader aspect of the invention, the invention comprises an apparatus for handling drill cuttings during cleaning operations, comprising: 
         [0016]    (i) a first rectangular container for receiving drill tailings, comprising a bottom wall and side walls; 
         [0017]    (ii) helical auger means, situated in an interior of said first container proximate said bottom wall and substantially spanning a lower region of said interior of said first container, adapted for transporting tailings which settle in said lower region of said first container out of said container; 
         [0018]    (iii) a moveble plate member, slidably engaged with or pivotably coupled to said first container, moveable from a first position for deflecting and diverting tailings, to a second position allowing tailings to enter said interior of said first container; and 
         [0019]    (iv) a second rectangular container, positionable adjacent said first container, adapted to receive drill tailings from said first container which have been deflected by said moveable plate member when said first container is full or is unable to deliver said drill tailings at a sufficient rate to downstream processing equipment; 
         [0020]    wherein said second container is open at one end thereof to allow entry of a front-end loader vehicle therein; and 
         [0021]    wherein said moveable plate member is moveable from said first position in which it directs and/or deflects drill tailings to said second container, to said second position so as to allow said first container to receive and retain drill cuttings that are delivered to said first container. 
         [0022]    The second rectangular container is typically (although not necessarily) larger than the recirculation bin, and may be assembled from various sub-components which may be individually transported by truck. This is typically not the case in respect of the recirculation bin, which as noted above, is typically assembled with a screw-type auger located in the bottom thereof and which is not conducive to easy dis-assembly, and thus is typically of a smaller size than the second container which may be easily assembled into a large containment vessel from smaller transportable sub-components. 
         [0023]    In operation, in an “overflow” where drill tailings are being delivered to the recirculation bin for temporary storage (for subsequent delivery to skid-mounted tailings cleaning equipment) and the cleaning capacity of the tailings cleaning equipment is temporarily insufficient to keep up with the rate of “dirty” tailings being delivered from the recirculation bin, moveable plate members as noted above on the recirculation bin may be positioned to temporarily deflect tailings which otherwise would have been delivered to the recirculation bin (and thus to the cleaning equipment) to the adjacent second container. Upon the resumption of the ability of the recirculation bin and associated drillings cleaning equipment to then further process (ie clean) such tailings, a front-end loader may enter one end of the second container, scoop up the diverted tailings, and re-supply them to the recirculation bin, which can then deliver such tailings to the tailings cleaning equipment. 
         [0024]    Accordingly, in another aspect of the present invention, such invention comprises a method for cleaning drill tailings from an oil well being drilled, comprising delivering said tailings to a recirculation bin for subsequent delivery to, and cleaning by, cleaning apparatus, 
         [0025]    wherein if said cleaning apparatus has adequate capacity to receive tailings from said recirculation bin, then operating a deflector plate on said recirculation bin to permit additional tailings to be delivered to such recirculation bin/holding bin; and 
         [0026]    wherein if the cleaning apparatus has inadequate capacity to receive tailings from said recirculation bin, then operating said deflector plate to cause tailings that are being delivered to said recirculation bin to be deflected and instead be directed to an adjacent second container. 
         [0027]    The tailings delivered to the second container, in a preferred embodiment where the second container is open at one end to allow access by a front-end loader vehicle, may then be delivered at a later time (when the capacity of the cleaning equipment is no longer exceeded) by the front end loader to the recirculation bin for subsequent cleaning. 
         [0028]    With regard to recirculation bin, the moveable plate member thereof is preferably moveable from the first position, namely a closed position for preventing said tailings from entering the interior of the container and diverting said tailings away from said container to the adjacent second container, to the second position being an open position allowing tailings to enter said interior of said container. 
         [0029]    In a first embodiment the moveable plate member is slideably moveable along top edges of said container, from said first position, to said second position. In a preferred embodiment, powered means, such as hydraulic cylinder(s) or electrically operated chain or belt drives, may further be used to effect the slidable movement of the plate member in the manner above-described. 
         [0030]    In an alternative embodiment with regard to the recirculation bin and moveable plate member, the moveable plate member is pivotably coupled to the container, and is pivotably moveable from said first position, to the second position. In a preferred embodiment of this further refinement, the plate member has an axis of rotation passing through a centre of gravity of said plate member; and the plate member is rotatably pivotable about such axis of rotation. 
         [0031]    Preferably, in all embodiments, the moveable plate member is inclined and sloped. 
         [0032]    In a further refinement of the recirculation bin of the present invention, such receptacle bin has a substantially rectangular-shaped top surface, and the plate member spans substantially a width of said top surface but only a fraction of a length of said top surface, and preferably only ½ of the length of the top surface. 
         [0033]    The recirculation bin preferably in all embodiments has at least one of the bottom or side walls having an inclined surface which extends from an upper region to a lower region of said container, and the inclined surface is adapted to ensure tailings within said recirculation bin which fall or slide from said upper region to said lower region by gravity along the inclined surface are directed toward said auger means, for subsequent delivery to tailings cleaning equipment. Preferably a side wall, or a front wall, or both, has an inwardly-inclined surface which is inwardly inclined from an upper region to a lower region of said container, to ensure tailings within said recirculation bin which fall or slide from said upper region to said lower region by gravity are directed toward said auger means. 
         [0034]    In a further embodiment of the recirculation bin of the present invention, such may possess two slidable plate members, a first upper plate member having an inclined surface adapted, when said plate member is in said first position, to diverts tailings from one side of said container to another. A second lower plate member may further be provided, which has an inclined surface, inclined along a slop disposed 90° to the first slidable plate member, which is adapted to direct any tailings which may fall thereon away from the recirculation bin, and when a second containment bin (container) is placed in juxtaposed relationship with the recirculation bin, to direct such tailings into such second container. 
         [0035]    Accordingly, in yet a further refinement and embodiment of the recirculation bin apparatus of the present invention, such recirculation bin comprises:
       (i) a first container for receiving drill tailings, comprising a bottom wall and side walls;   (ii) helical auger means, situated in an interior of said first container proximate said bottom wall and substantially spanning a lower region of said interior of said container, adapted for transporting tailings which settle in said lower region of said container out of said first container;   (iii) a first moveble plate member, slidably engaged with said first container, having an inclined surface, moveable from a first position for diverting tailings from a first side of said first container to a second side of said first container, to a second position for allowing tailings to enter said interior of said first container via said first side of said first container; and   (iv) a second movable plate member, slidably engaged with said first container, having an inclined surface, slidable from a first position for diverting tailings from a first side of said first container away from said first container, and a second position for allowing tailings to enter said interior of said first container via said first side of said container.       
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0040]    Further advantages and permutations and combinations of the invention will now appear from the above and from the following detailed description of the various particular embodiments of the invention taken together with the accompanying drawings, each of which are intended to be non-limiting, in which: 
           [0041]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the recirculation bin of the present invention, such recirculation bin having a pair of pivotable plate members which may act as deflector means for diverting flow of drilling tailings from, or allowing flow of drill tailings into, said recirculation bin; 
           [0042]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a drill tailings handling apparatus of the present invention, showing the recirculation bin of  FIG. 1  having two deflector plates, with the receptacle bin operatively disposed to receive drill tailings from two shaker conveyors, and situated adjacent a second container accessible at one end by a front-end loader; 
           [0043]      FIG. 3 . is a view on arrow “A” of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0044]      FIG. 4  is a side (partial cut-away) perspective view of another embodiment of the recirculation bin of the present invention, having a single pivotable plate member, adapted for use with only one shaker table or vibratory conveyor, with said plate member shown in the pivoted (closed) position; 
           [0045]      FIG. 5  is a side (partial cut-away) perspective view of the embodiment of the recirculation bin of the present invention, having the single pivotable plate member pivoted to the open position and thereby allowing provision of drill tailings to both the left and right sides of the recirculation bin 
           [0046]      FIG. 6  is a side (partial cut-away) perspective view of a second embodiment of the recirculation bin of the present invention, having a slidable plate member, with said plate member allowing provision of drill tailings to a left side of said recirculation bin, but preventing provision of drill tailings to a right side of said recirculation bin; 
           [0047]      FIG. 7  is a rear view of the recirculation bin shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0048]      FIG. 8  is a side perspective view of a third embodiment of the recirculation bin of the present invention, having a slidable plate member (deflector)) slidable to respectively cover or uncover a right top side of said recirculation bin; 
           [0049]      FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a drill tailings handling apparatus of the present invention, employing the recirculation bin of  FIG. 8  and employed where only one shaker conveyor is used, with the plate member on the recirculation bin positioned in a position to allow provision of tailings to a right had side of the recirculation bin; 
           [0050]      FIG. 9B  is a view of the same drill tailings handling apparatus of  FIG. 8 , with the plate member on the recirculation bin repositioned to prevent further drill tailings from being supplied to the recirculation bin and instead diverting such drill tailings to a second container which accessible at one end by a front-end loader; 
           [0051]      FIG. 10  is a side perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the recirculation bin of the present invention, having a pair of independently moveable slideable deflector plates; 
           [0052]      FIG. 11A  is the first of a series of four (4) views of the recirculation bin of  FIG. 10 , with the upper deflector plate positioned on a right-hand side of the recirculation bin and positioned above the lower deflector plate, adapted to deflect tailings into a left-hand side of the recirculation bin; 
           [0053]      FIG. 11B  is the second of a series of four (4) views of the recirculation bin of  FIG. 10 , with the upper deflector plate positioned on a left—hand side of the recirculation bin, and the lower deflector plate positioned on the right-hand side of the recirculation bin, wherein the recirculation bin is then adapted to deflect drill tailings into the second adjacent container; 
           [0054]      FIG. 11C  is the third of a series of four (4) views of the recirculation bin of  FIG. 10 , with the upper deflector plate positioned on the right-hand side of the recirculation bin, and the lower deflector plate positioned on the left—hand side of the recirculation bin, wherein the recirculation bin is then adapted to deflect drill tailings into the second adjacent container at a different location than depicted in  FIG. 11B ; 
           [0055]      FIG. 11D  is the fourth of a series of four (4) views of the recirculation bin of  FIG. 10 , with the upper deflector plate positioned on the left-hand side of the recirculation bin, and the lower deflector plate similarly positioned on the left—hand side of the recirculation bin beneath the upper deflector plate, wherein the recirculation bin is then adapted to accept drill tailings into the right-hand side thereof; 
           [0056]      FIG. 12  is a schematic of the drill tailings apparatus of the present invention comprising the recirculation bin and the second container, showing a first configuration for placing the recirculation bin relative to a second container; 
           [0057]      FIG. 13  is a schematic of an alternative arrangement of the drill tailings handling apparatus of the present invention, showing a second configuration for placing the recirculation bin relative to the second container; and 
           [0058]      FIG. 14  is a schematic of an alternative arrangement of the drill tailings handling apparatus of the present invention, showing a third configuration for placing the recirculation bin relative to the second container. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0059]    In the present description, identical reference numbers for various components in each of the various figures are intended to depict similar components of similar function. 
         [0060]      FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of the recirculation bin  10  of the present invention, which is useful in association with drill tailings handling apparatus  25  as shown in  FIG. 2 , in the manner hereinafter described. 
         [0061]    In the embodiment of the recirculation bin  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , such bin, in a preferred embodiment, comprises a substantially rectangular vessel  12 , having an inwardly-inclined front side  14 , which slopes inwardly from an upper region to a lower region, as best seen in  FIG. 3 , for the purpose of better directing tailings or drill cuttings  5  to a helical screw auger  16 , which is located in a bottom region  4  of the recirculation bin  10 , as best shown in  FIG. 2 , and  FIGS. 4-6 . Helical auger  16 , which is powered by hydraulic, pneumatic, or electrical means  20 , is adapted when rotated to deliver drill cuttings  5  (see FIGS.  2 , 3 ) which settle to a bottom  18  of recirculation bin  10 , to tailings cleaning equipment (not shown) via aperture  22  in recirculation bin  10 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 2  shows one embodiment of the drill tailings handling apparatus  25  of the present invention, including the recirculation bin  10  of  FIG. 1  and  FIGS. 4-6 . In such embodiment recirculation bin  10  is adapted to be positioned adjacent a generally larger containment bin  27 . Recirculation bin  10  may be positioned at one end thereof opposite an open end  28  thereof, as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  9 A,  9 B,  11 A- 11 D, and  FIG. 12 . Alternatively, recirculation bin  10  may be positioned relative to the larger (second) containment bin  27  proximate a mid-region thereof, as shown in  FIG. 13 , or perpendicularly disposed opposite an open end  28  thereof, as shown in  FIG. 14 , all for the advantageous purposes as hereinafter described. 
         [0063]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , drill tailings  5  produced and emanating from a drilling derrick (not shown) are delivered by two(2) shaker tables  30  (typically vibratory conveyors-only a portion of which being shown in  FIG. 2 ) to recirculation bin  10 . Recirculation bin  10 , as shown in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 , is provided with a pair of independently rotatable pivotable plate members  40   a ,  40   b , each pivotable about a rotational axis  42 , which axis  42  in a preferred embodiment passes through a center of gravity  44  of each plate member  40  in order to reduce the force needed to rotate plate member about rotational axis  42 . In an embodiment where only one shaker table  30  is used to provide drill tailings  5  (eg  FIGS. 9A ,  9 B), recirculation bin  10  need only possess one pivotable plate member  40 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 &amp; 5 . 
         [0064]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , left pivotable plate member  40   a  is pivoted in the “open” position, so as to allow delivery of drill tailings  5  to the interior of recirculation bin  10 , and thence to auger  16  and thereafter to tailings cleaning equipment (not shown) via aperture  22  in recirculation bin  10 . In contrast, right plate member  40   b  is shown in the closed position, thereby temporarily diverting a portion (approximately ½ of drill tailings  5 , if the delivery rate of tailings  5  from each of shaker tables  30  is approximately equal) delivered to recirculation bin  10  is approximately equal. In such manner the flow rate of tailings to recirculation bin  10  may be reduced, (or indeed even stopped if both plate members  40   a ,  40   b  are rotated to the “closed” position) in order to allow cleaning equipment (not shown) to “catch up” during periods when the drilling derrick (not shown) may be shut down for servicing or when tailings are less dirty and can be processed (ie cleaned) quicker. 
         [0065]    In the preferred embodiment plate members  40   a ,  40   b  (collectively referred to hereinafter as plate members  40 ) may be individually rotated by powered means, such as a hydraulic piston  20  provided on each side of bin  10 , which piston  20  is coupled to a lever arm  50  and when extended or contracted causes rotation of plate members  40  about rotational axis  44 . 
         [0066]    Advantageously, due to the proximity of second container bin  27  to recirculation bin  10 , deflected drill tailings which are deflected and prevented from entering bin  10  will be deflected into second container bin  27 . Thereafter, due to second containment bin  27  being open at one end  28  and of a sufficient width to allow entrance of a front-end loader vehicle (not shown), a front-end loader can then enter second container bin  27 , scoop up drill tailings  5  therein, and when one or both of plate members  40  are pivotably rotated by hydraulic piston  52  and lever arm  50  to an open position, re-deliver such scooped-up excess drill tailings  5  to recirculation bin  10  at a time when the capacity of the tailings cleaning apparatus (not shown) may then be better able to handle such tailings  5  for cleaning. 
         [0067]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 &amp; 5 , where the drill tailings handling apparatus comprises only a single shaker table, the recirculation bin  10  may simply comprise a single plate member  40 , which may extend to rotatably cover an entire top surface of recirculation bin  10 , or only a portion thereof, as shown in  FIGS. 4 &amp; 5 . 
         [0068]      FIGS. 6-9B  show a further alternative embodiment of the recirculation bin  10 , wherein the plate member  40  covers, in the “closed” position, approximately ½ of the length of the recirculation bin  10 , and is slidably coupled to frame  11  of bin  10  in one of the various manners more fully described below, so as to permit slidable movement from a left hand side to a right hand side of bin  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 9A &amp; 9B , so as to, when closed, deflect a stream of drill tailings  5  from shaker table  30  to second container bin  27  ( FIG. 9B ), or when “open” to allow delivery of drill tailings  5  to an interior of recirculation bin  10  ( FIG. 9A ). 
         [0069]    In the embodiment of bin  10  shown in  FIGS. 6-9B , plate member  40  may be slidably coupled to recirculation bin  10  via a pair of roller wheels  90  which pass along a grooved track  54 , located on a front top edge  60  and rear top edge  61  of recirculation bin  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 8 &amp; 7  respectively. Other means of slildeably engaging plate member  40  to frame  11  of bin  10  may be used, and many other means will now occur to a person of skill in the art. 
         [0070]    In a further embodiment of the recirculation bin  10  of the present invention, as shown in FIGS.  10  &amp;  11 A- 11 D, such bin  10  possesses an upper plate member  95 , and a lower plate member  40 . 
         [0071]    Upper plate member  95  is sloped so as to direct drill tailings  5  from one side of recirculation bin  10  to another. Lower plate member  40 , while also sloped, is sloped in a direction disposed 90° to the direction in which plate member  95  is sloped, with plate member  40  sloped in a direction to deflect drill tailings which land on plate member  40  into second container  27  so as to prevent such drill tailings  5  from entering recirculation bin  10 . 
         [0072]    Each of upper plate member  95  and lower plate member  40  are independently slideable, so as to alternatively permit coverage of a left half, or a right half, of recirculation bin  10 , with four(4) various permutations shown in  FIGS. 11A to 11D  being obtainable. 
         [0073]    Specifically, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11A , upper plate member  95  is disposed above lower plate member  40 , and both are slidably positioned, in the matter disclosed for a single slidable plate member or as may now occur to persons of skill in the art, on the right-hand side of retainer bin  10 . In such manner drill tailings  5  delivered to recirculation bin  10  by shaker table  30  will be deflected by upper plate member  95  to the left hand side of recirculation bin  10 , and via auger  16  may thereafter be delivered to cleaning equipment (not shown) for cleaning. 
         [0074]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11C , lower plate member  40  may be slidably repositioned from the right-hand side of bin  10  to the left-hand side of bin  10 , where it receives drill tailings  5  delivered from upper plate member  95 , and deflects such tailings  5  into a mid-region of second container  27 . 
         [0075]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11D , each of upper plate member  95  and lower plate member  40  may be positioned on the left-hand side of recirculation bin  10 , thereby allowing shaker table  30  to deliver drill tailings to the interior of recirculation bin  10 . 
         [0076]    In the particular permutation of arranging plate members  95 ,  40  shown in  FIG. 11B , lower plate member  40  may be positioned over the right-hand side of recirculation bin  10 , with upper plate member  95  remaining on the left-hand side of recirculation bin  10 , thereby permitting lower plate member  40  to deflect drill tailings, in an “overflow” situation, to an end of second container  27  opposite open end  28 . 
         [0077]    Advantageously, in an “overflow” condition, plate members  40 ,  95  may be consecutively positioned in the configurations shown in  FIGS. 11B &amp; 11C , to uniformly distribute excess drill tailings within second container  27 , thereby permitting greater filling of second container  27  without spillage. 
         [0078]    Similarly, and equally advantageously, in an “underflow” or “sufficient capacity” situation, plate members  40 ,  95  may be consecutively positioned in the configurations shown in  FIGS. 11A &amp; 11D , to thereby permit uniform distribution of drill tailings within recirculation bin  10 , thereby permitting greater filling of recirculation bin  10  without spillage, for subsequent delivery to cleaning apparatus. 
         [0079]    The foregoing description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Specifically, various modifications to those embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular, such as by use of the article “a” or “an” is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more”. 
         [0080]    Moreover, no element of any of the claims appended to this application is to be construed under the provisions of 35 USC §112, sixth paragraph, unless the claim element is expressly recited using the exact phrase “means for” or “step for”. 
         [0081]    For a complete definition of the invention and its intended scope, reference is to be made to the summary of the invention and the appended claims read together with and considered with the disclosure and drawings herein.