Patent ID: 7556106

Claim:
A drilling fluid monitoring system comprising: A) an inlet fluid conduit having an inlet end in fluid connection with a system being monitored and an outlet end; B) a return fluid conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end in fluid connection with the system being monitored; C) a fluid container in fluid connection with the outlet end of the inlet fluid conduit and with the inlet end of the return fluid conduit so that fluid flows into and out of the fluid container via the inlet fluid conduit and the return fluid conduit; D) a scale unit which includes (1) a weighing scale, and (2) a first fluid coil and a second fluid coil on the weighing scale, the fluid coils being in fluid communication with the fluid container so fluid flows through the fluid coils from and to the fluid container; E) a first fluid connection conduit fluidically connecting the first fluid coil with the inlet fluid conduit; and F) a second fluid connection conduit fluidically connecting the second fluid coil with the return fluid conduit; G) the weighing scale weighing the fluid coils with fluid contained therein to measure fluid characteristics of fluid being circulated through the fluid container.