Patent ID: 8201693

Claim:
A method for separating solids from a mixture of drilling mud and solids, the method comprising introducing the mixture of drilling mud and solids to a first side of a screen having a first length, wherein the mixture is introduced to a wet zone located at a first end of the screen, passing drilling mud from the mixture through the screen, wherein said drilling mud passes from the first side of the screen to a second side of the screen, and said separated solids substantially remain on the first side of the screen, and positioning a tray having a second length that is less than the first length proximate to the wet zone and spaced apart from the second side of the screen, wherein the length of the tray substantially defines a length of the wet zone, and oscillating the tray to impart motion to the mixture to facilitate screening thereof, wherein oscillating the tray comprises moving the tray relative to the screen.