Patent ID: 8584518

Claim:
A gas trap apparatus for liberating gas from drilling mud, comprising: an elongate, vertically-downwardly extending shaft, having stirring means thereon to stimulate and cause circulation of drilling mud when extended into and rotated within drilling mud; motor means for rotating said downwardly-extending shaft, a top member, situated below said motor means, said shaft passing vertically downwardly through and extending below said top member, having a gas collection port in said top member for allowing gas liberated from said drilling mud to be collected and withdrawn for analysis; a bottom member extending around said shaft; and quick-release coupling means, releasably coupling said upper portion of said bottom member to said lower portion of said top member to permit rapid detachment of said bottom member from said top member to thereby allow access to said downwardly-extending shaft and stirring means for servicing or replacement said quick release coupling means comprising a “U” shaped locking member removably insertable into apertures in each of said top member and said bottom member.