Abstract:
A splash guard designed to prevent drilling fluid from splashing onto walkways and working surfaces around a shale shaker. The splash guard is equipped with frame assemblies and vertical panels that are positioned so that any fluid splashing out of the shale shaker strikes the panels and then drains back into the shale shaker.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority from provisional patent application No. 61/941,822, filed on Feb. 19, 2014. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject invention relates to splash guards for shale shakers. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Shale shakers are components of drilling equipment used in many industries, such as the oil and gas industry. Shale shakers are typically used to remove large solids from a fluid. For example, during oil and gas drilling operations, drilling fluid is pumped from a pit into the well through the drill string. As the drilling fluid is pumped down the drill string, it is eventually sprayed through nozzles in the drill bit. The drilling fluid cleans and cools the drill bit and then carries the crushed or cut rock (“cuttings”) up the annular space existing between the drill string and the walls of the hole that is being drilled. Once the drilling fluid reaches the surface of the well, it is fed into a shale shaker to remove the cuttings from the drilling fluid. 
     Shale shakers typically consist of several parts, including a hopper, a feeder, a screen basket, and a vibrator. The hopper serves as a platform for the shale shaker. The feeder is essentially a collection pan for the drilling fluid before it is fed to the screen basket. The screen basket separates the cuttings from the drilling fluid. The vibrator is typically a specialized motor built for the purpose of vibrating the screen basket. As the screen basket vibrates, the drilling fluid containing the cuttings travels along the screen basket. The drilling fluid seeps through the screen basket, while the cuttings continue to vibrate along the screen basket until they reach a point of discharge. 
     The vibrating action of the screen basket causes the drilling fluid to splash. Some of the drilling fluid is splashed out of the shale shaker onto surrounding walk spaces and work areas, potentially causing safety and environmental hazards. The present invention is designed to prevent drilling fluid from splashing onto walkways and working surfaces around the shale shaker. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a splash guard designed to prevent drilling fluid from splashing onto walkways and working surfaces around a shale shaker. The splash guard is equipped with frame assemblies and vertical panels that are supported by vertical legs rising from base plates attached to the shale shaker. The vertical panels are positioned so that any fluid splashing out of the shale shaker strikes the panels and then drains back into the shale shaker. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The accompanying drawings are provided for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention. The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the left and right frame assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the left and right frame assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the left and right frame assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the left and right sides of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the left and right sides of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a left side perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a right side perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a left side view of the present invention installed on a shale shaker. 
         FIG. 9  is a right side view of the present invention installed on a shale shaker. 
         FIG. 10  is a left side perspective view of the present invention installed on a shale shaker. 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of the present invention installed on a shale shaker. 
         FIG. 12  is a front perspective view of the left side of the present invention installed on a shale shaker. 
         FIG. 13  is a front perspective view of the right side of the present invention installed on a shale shaker. 
         FIG. 14  is a top perspective view of the right side of the present invention installed on a shale shaker. 
         FIG. 15  is a top perspective view of the right side of the present invention installed on a shale shaker. 
         FIG. 16  is a front view of the left side of the present invention installed on a shale shaker. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the base plates on the left side of the present intention installed on a shale shaker. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the present invention will be described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments (and legal equivalents thereof) falling within the scope of the appended claims. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention  10  is designed to fit on a shale shaker  11  similar to the one shown in  FIGS. 8 through 17 . A shale shaker  11  is typically equipped with a shaker basket  13 . The present invention  10  is preferably attached to a shale shaker  11  using base plates  21  and  31 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 11 . The particular shale shaker  11  shown in  FIGS. 8, 9, 16, and 17  is equipped with side beams  12  upon which base plates  21  and  31  can be placed. Base plates  21  and  31  are preferably made of metal and can be attached to the shale shaker  11  with bolts, or by welding, or by using some other method known to those skilled in the art, as shown in  FIGS. 8 through 11 and 16 and 17 . 
     Base plates  21  and  31  are preferably equipped with vertical sockets  29  and  39  for receiving legs  22  and  32 , respectively, as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 11 and 16 and 17 . Sockets  29  and  39  are preferably hollow, metal, and tubular, with inner dimensions slightly larger than the outer dimensions of legs  22  and  32 , so that legs  22  and  32  fit snugly into sockets  29  and  39 , respectively. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 , the present invention preferably includes a left frame assembly  20  and a right frame assembly  30  (discussed below). Left frame assembly  20  has a set of legs  22  that rise vertically from base plates  21 . Legs  22  are preferably hollow, metal, and tubular, with outer dimensions slightly smaller than the inner dimensions of sockets  29 , so that legs  22  fit snugly and securely into vertical sockets  29 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 , left frame assembly  20  can also include a side support frame  23  attached to legs  22 . Side support frame  23  is preferably made of hollow, metal, tubular members, and can be attached to legs  22  with bolts, or by welding, or by using some other method known to those skilled in the art. Side support frame  23  provides the framework for supporting angled support arms  25  and side panel  27 , as discussed in more detail below. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 , back support frame  24  can be attached to side support frame  23  to provide the framework for supporting back panel  28 , as discussed in more detail below. Back support frame  24  is preferably made of hollow, metal, tubular members, and can be attached to side support frame  23  with bolts, or by welding, or by using some other method known to those skilled in the art. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7 , side panel  27  is attached to side support frame  23  to provide a planar surface to prevent fluid from splashing out of the left side of shaker basket  13 . Side panel  27  is preferably made of metal and can be attached to side support frame  23  with bolts, or by welding, or by using some other method known to those skilled in the art. Legs  22  preferably rise vertically from sockets  29  to a height where the fluid splashing out of the left side of shaker basket  13  strikes side panel  27  and then drains back into said the shale shaker  11 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, angled support arms  25  are placed between side support frame  23  and side panel  27  to create additional space between side support frame  23  and the lower edge  40  of side panel  27  to ensure that any fluid splashing out of shaker basket  13  onto inner surface of side panel  27  drains back into shale shaker  11 . Angled support arms  25  are preferably made of metal and can be attached between side support frame  23  and side panel  27  with bolts, or by welding, or by using some other method known to those skilled in the art. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a horizontal bar  26  can be extended between angled support arms  25  to provide additional stability for angled support arms  25  and to provide additional support for side panel  27 . Horizontal bar  26  is preferably made of metal and can be attached to angled support arms  25  with bolts, or by welding, or by using some other method known to those skilled in the art. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4, 5, and 10 through 15 , back panel  28  can be attached to back support frame  24  to provide a planar surface to prevent fluid from splashing out of the back left side of shaker basket  13 . Back panel  28  is preferably positioned at a height where the fluid splashing out of the back left side of shaker basket  13  strikes back panel  28  and then drains back into said shale shaker  11 . Back panel  28  is preferably made of metal and can be attached to back support frame  24  with bolts, or by welding, or by using some other method known to those skilled in the art. 
     Referring back to  FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 , right frame assembly  30  has a set of legs  32  that rise vertically from base plates  31 . Legs  32  are preferably hollow, metal, and tubular, with outer dimensions slightly smaller than the inner dimensions of sockets  39 , so that legs  32  fit snugly and securely into vertical sockets  39 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 , right frame assembly  30  also can include a side support frame  33  attached to legs  32 . Side support frame  33  is preferably made of hollow, metal, tubular members, and can be attached to legs  32  with bolts, or by welding, or by using some other method known to those skilled in the art. Side support frame  33  provides the framework for supporting angled support arms  35  and side panel  37 , as discussed in more detail below. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 , back support frame  34  can be attached to side support frame  33  to provide the framework for supporting back panel  38 , as discussed in more detail below. Back support frame  34  is preferably made of hollow, metal, tubular members, and can be attached to side support frame  33  with bolts, or by welding, or by using some other method known to those skilled in the art. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7 , side panel  37  is attached to side support frame  33  to provide a planar surface to prevent fluid from splashing out of the right side of shaker basket  13 . Side panel  37  is preferably made of metal and can be attached to side support frame  33  with bolts, or by welding, or by using some other method known to those skilled in the art. Legs  32  preferably rise vertically from sockets  39  to a height where the fluid splashing out of the right side of shaker basket  13  strikes side panel  37  and then drains back into shale shaker  11 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, angled support arms  35  are placed between side support frame  33  and side panel  37  to create additional space between side support frame  33  and the lower edge  41  of side panel  37  to ensure that any fluid splashing out of shaker basket  13  onto inner surface of side panel  37  drains back into shale shaker  11 . Angled support arms  35  are preferably made of metal and can be attached between side support frame  33  and side panel  37  with bolts, or by welding, or by using some other method known to those skilled in the art. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a horizontal bar  36  can be extended between angled support arms  35  to provide additional stability for angled support arms  35  and to provide additional support for side panel  37 . Horizontal bar  36  is preferably made of metal and can be attached to angled support arms  35  with bolts, or by welding, or by using some other method known to those skilled in the art. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4, 5, and 10 through 15 , back panel  38  can be attached to back support frame  34  to provide a planar surface to prevent fluid from splashing out of the back right side of shaker basket  13 . Back panel  38  is preferably positioned at a height where the fluid splashing out of the back right side of shaker basket  13  strikes back panel  38  and then drains back into shale shaker  11 . Back panel  38  is preferably made of metal and can be attached to back support frame  34  with bolts, or by welding, or by using some other method known to those skilled in the art. 
     It is understood that one embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed by way of example and that other modifications and alterations may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.