Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Sifters and vibratory separators are used in a variety of applications for separating materials by size. For example, sifters and vibratory separators may be used to separate sized particles or to separate solids from liquids. These devices may be used to screen materials in various industries for industrial sorting, manufacturing operations, oil and gas drilling and production operations, etc. 
         [0002]    Gyratory sifters are used in a variety of applications for separating solids by size. These applications include separating particles of sugar, flour, sand and various chemical powders. Further, gyratory sifters may be used for both wet and dry screening and include aligned decks of screens or perforated plates, sloping from the head end and/or a feed end to the tail end and/or discharge end of the sifter. The screens may be disposed in a screen basket. The screen basket may be suspended by a set of hangers that allow the basket to move on a horizontal plane. 
         [0003]    An eccentric drive mechanism, e.g., a belt driven eccentric weight, or other motive force may be coupled to the screen basket to provide a circular motion substantially across a horizontal plane of the gyratory sifter. Also, various dimensions and/or specifications of the gyratory sifter may be adjusted to accomplish specific separation and/or sifting goals. Devices described herein may be utilized to retain a screen within a gyratory sifter during operation as used in the oilfield and/or related industries. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of an integrated screen seal mounted in a gyratory sifter in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a screen with a tube extending across the screen in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0006]    Embodiments disclosed herein are applicable to separation devices that may be utilized in numerous industries. While specific embodiments may be described as utilized in the oilfield services and related industries, such as use with shale shakers, the device may be applicable in other industries where separation of liquid-solid, solid-solid and other mixtures may be separated. The embodiments may be utilized in the mining, pharmaceutical, food, medical or other industries to separate such mixtures. 
         [0007]    In the following detailed description, reference is made to accompanying figures, which form a part hereof. In the figures, similar symbols or identifiers typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described herein are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. It will be understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, may be arranged, substituted, combined and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, which are explicitly contemplated and form part of this disclosure. 
         [0008]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a side view of a screen fastening system  10  with a rod  20  attached to and extending across a filtration screen  34  is shown. In an embodiment, the screen fastening system  10  may be referred to as “a receptacle”. The filtration screen  34  may filter and/or sift a solid-solid mixture flowing through the filtration screen  34 . The filtration screen  34  may be generally rectangular in shape with parallel edges. Further, the rod  20  may enclose an interior  18 . The filtration screen  34  may be constructed from mesh material sized to permit materials to flow and/or to pass through the filtration screen  34 . For example, the filtration screen  34  may trap and/or collect solid materials while permitting liquid to flow through the filtration screen  34 . 
         [0009]    A box  36  may be positioned generally beneath the filtration screen  34  and may assist in the vibration and/or gyration of the filtration screen  34  during use to separate solids from liquid flowing through the filtration screen  34 . The box  36  may be referred to as a “ball box” in the separation industry and or vibratory separation industries. Although shown in a specific orientation in  FIG. 1 , a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, shape, layout and/or orientation of the box  36  should not be limited to such an embodiment. An underside  38  of the box  36  may partially enclose an inflatable bladder  26 . In an embodiment, other types of mechanisms and/or devices may be used to apply force to and/or upon the box, including pneumatic pumps and electric and/or hydraulic lifts, for example. Upon activation and/or actuation, the inflatable bladder  26  may inflate and/or rise generally in the direction B as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0010]    Expansion and/or rising of the inflatable bladder  26  in the direction B may cause the inflatable bladder  26  to contact and/or compress against a holding plate  24  that may extend from and/or be integrally formed with the underside  38 . While the inflatable bladder  26  may be deactivated, the holding plate  24  along the underside  38  and/or the box  36  may hold the inflatable bladder  26  within the screen fastening system  10 . The inflatable bladder  26 , upon activation, may receive air and/or other gas to expand and/or inflate to rise in a direction B to cause an intermediate junction  22  to likewise rise and/or move. Movement of the intermediate junction  22  toward an outer edge  12  of the screen fastening system may compress and seal a sealing gasket  48  embedded in the filtration screen  34  against a protrusion  28  extending from a cross-member  32  extending lengthwise from the outer edge  12  itself as shown in  FIG. 1 . In an embodiment, the sealing gasket  48  may be removable and/or removed from the filtration screen  34 . The intermediate junction  22  and/or the holding plate may force the rod  20  to pull and/or apply tension to the filtration screen  34 . Compression of the rod  20  against the protrusion  28  and/or the outer edge  12  due to movement of the intermediate junction  22  in the direction B may retain the rod  20  during filtration operations. 
         [0011]    The rod  20  may extend across an edge of the filtration screen  34  and may be substantially enclosed by the screen  34  that may wrap around the rod  20 . In an embodiment, the rod  20  may be constructed from a flexible conduit and/or similar material. In an embodiment, the rod  20  may be removed from the filtration screen  34  to allow the filtration screen  34  to be rolled, folded and/or compressed as needed to facilitate transport and/or storage. A sealing region F may include the sealing gasket  48  with a top surface  30  that may be positioned adjacent to the outer edge  12  from the rod  20 . The top surface  30  of the sealing gasket  48  may compress against the protrusion  28 . The sealing gasket  48  may be surrounded by the filtration screen  34  and may rest upon the intermediate junction  22 . Upward movement of the inflatable bladder  26  may shift the intermediate junction  22  which may, in turn, move the top surface  30  of the sealing gasket  48 . The top surface  30  may compress against protrusion  30  to hold the filtration screen  34  against the protrusion  28  and/or the intermediate junction  22 . In an embodiment, compression of the sealing gasket  48  against the protrusion  28  and/or the intermediate junction  22  may be referred to as forming an integrated screen seal. 
         [0012]    At the outer edge  12  of the screen fastening system  10  may be an edge and/or rod region E that has the rod  20  abutted against and/or otherwise in contact with the protrusion  28  and/or the intermediate junction  22 . In an embodiment, the rod  20  may have an adhesive resin layer  16  that may substantially surround the rod  20  to assist in attachment of the rod  20  with the protrusion  28  and/or the intermediate junction  22 . Further, the adhesive resin layer  16  may be generally referred to as “bond tite” in the oilfield services industry. 
         [0013]    The screen fastening system  10  may operate by activation of the inflatable bladder  26  that may expand to cause the intermediate junction  22  to rise toward the rod  20 . Specifically, movement of the intermediate junction  22  may push the rod  20  and/or the sealing gasket  48  toward the outer edge  12  of the screen fastening system  10  in the direction A as shown in  FIG. 1 . Movement of the rod  20  in the direction A may apply tension of the filtration screen  34  in the direction A that may ensure uniform positioning of the filtration screen  34  on the box  36 . Vibration and/or vibratory gyration of the box  36  may vibrate elements in the box  36  to assist in filtration of slurry passing through the filtration screen  34 . 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the filtration screen  34  with the sealing gasket  48  and a tube  40  with a hollow interior  42  is shown. In an embodiment, the tube  40  may be substantially similar to the rod  20  shown in  FIG. 1 . The tube  30  may be made from a relatively rigid material, such as plastic, steel and/or a composite, and have circular ridges  44  that may surround an interior circumference of the tube  40 . In an embodiment, the circular ridges  44  may assist in grasping and/or transporting the tube  40  and/or may provide guidance toward materials entering into the hollow interior  42  of the tube  40 . The filtration screen  34  may coil and/or wrap around the tube  40  to create a loop  46  that attaches with the filtration screen  34  at a region D. A region H may be positioned adjacent to the region. D where the filtration screen  34  may enclose the sealing gasket  48 . In an embodiment, the filtration screen  34  may surround the tube  40  to form the loop  46  and may extend to a region I where the filtration screen may be substantially flat. Liquid may be separated from solids in slurry flowing through the filtration screen  10  in a direction C across the region I. 
         [0015]    Although the preceding description has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, it extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods, and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Category: b