Patent ID: 7179374

Claim:
Device to be used in connection with thickening and clarifying apparatuses comprising: a. a shear-thinning apparatus; b. a first conduit sized for feeding a material to be shear-thinned, wherein said material is a mud, thick slurry or other solids-containing material, and said first conduit has a first end connected to a thickening device and a second end connected to said shear-thinning apparatus; and c. a second conduit for returning shear-thinned material to said thickening apparatus from the shear-thinning apparatus, said second conduit having a first end connected to said thickening device and a second end connected to said shear-thinning apparatus, wherein one of said first ends has a smaller external dimension than the other, and said smaller first end is positioned essentially concentrically within said other first end.