Shale shakers

Abstract

A shale shaker or vibratory separator which, in one aspect, has a base, vibration isolation apparatus on the base, a basket, mount apparatus for mounting the basket on the base, and at least one of the base, basket, and the mount apparatus made of, encased in, or coated with composite material which, in certain aspects, is all or part flexible composite material; and methods of using such separators and shakers.

Description

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention[0002] This invention is directed to vibratory separators and, in certain particular aspects, to shale shakers and to shale shakers with structural members made of composite material.[0003] 2. Description of Related Art[0004] Many typical vibratory separators and shale shakers have a container, carrier, housing, or basket to which is secured one or more screens used for separating components of material fed to the vibratory separator or shale shaker. Vibrating apparatus connected to the container, etc. vibrates the container, etc. and the vibrations are imparted to the screen or screens secured to the container, etc.[0005] Typically it is desirable to maximize vibration of the screen(s) while isolating equipment, objects, and structures adjacent the vibratory separator from the intense vibrations produced by the vibrating apparatus. Such isolation is effected by using springs, rubber or rubber-like or resilient members or cushions, isolator apparatus,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015] Such machines in which the screen(s) used for separating material components are effectively vibrated while objects adjacent the machines are not detrimentally vibrated or such vibration is reduced by employing isolator apparatus parts, components and structural members made of composite material and, in one particular aspect, such parts, etc. made of relatively flexible composite material;

Problems solved by technology

In many environments in which vibratory separators and shale shakers are used, these steel parts are subjected to harsh conditions that result in wear, erosion, rust, and corrosion of the steel.

Both the salt environment and the chemicals in drilling fluids processed by the shale shakers can contribute to the deterioration of steel parts.

In the past parts of screen assemblies and decks for such screens have been made of composite materials; but no prior art suggests that parts of a shale shaker such as the basket, base, or spring mounts be made of composite material, nor does any prior art provide the motivation to do so.

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