Patent ID: 8202415

Claim:
A system capable of processing a mixture of drilling fluid and solid material to separate at least one component from the mixture, the system comprising: a hydrocyclone that is adapted to receive a drilling fluid mixture, the hydrocyclone comprising: a housing; an inner chamber in said housing; an inlet comprising an inlet flow channel that is adapted to allow the drilling fluid mixture to flow into the inner chamber; and an adjustment apparatus mounted adjacent the inlet, wherein the adjustment apparatus is adapted to adjust flow of the drilling fluid mixture through the inlet flow channel and into the inner chamber, the adjustment apparatus comprising: a movable closure member that is adapted to be moved so as to adjust an effective size of the inlet flow channel; and a flexible bar comprising a first end that is secured to the movable closure member and a second end that is located within and free to move with respect to a recess in said housing, wherein the flexible bar is adapted to be flexed by a flow of said drilling fluid mixture through the inlet so as to move the movable closure member in response to said flow of said drilling fluid mixture.