Screen assembly for vibratory separator

Abstract

A screen assembly for a vibratory separator, the screen assembly including screening material with opposed spaced-apart sides including a first side and a second side, a side mount on each of the opposed spaced-apart sides, each side of the opposed spaced-apart sides having an edge portion, and each edge portion held within a side mount; a vibratory separator with such a screen assembly; and methods of their use.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A vibratory separator comprising 
 container apparatus,    screen assembly apparatus removably secured in the container apparatus, p 1  vibratory apparatus connected to the container apparatus for vibrating the container apparatus and the screen assembly apparatus,    the screen assembly apparatus comprising 
 screening material with opposed spaced-apart sides including a first side and a second side,  
 a side mount on each of the opposed spaced-apart sides,  
 each side of the opposed spaced-apart sides of screening material having an edge portion,  
 each edge portion held within a side mount,  
 seal structure on an exterior of each side mount for sealing a side mount/screen holding apparatus interface, 
 wherein the screening material comprises a plurality of layers of screening material flexibly connected so that the screen assembly is foldable,  
 wherein the side mount has a lower part with a plurality of spaced-apart holes for receiving a corresponding plurality of spaced-apart members which are part of screen mounting apparatus of the vibratory separator,  
 
 the screening material comprising at least two layers of screening material including at least a first layer and a second layer, 
 the first layer made of metal and comprising a first metal mesh through which liquid in the fluid is passable and having a first metal mesh pattern with an amount of hot melt glue in a glue pattern on the first layer of screening material,  
 the second layer adjacent and in contact with the first layer glued together with the first layer by the hot melt glue, the second layer made of metal and comprising a second metal mesh through which liquid in the fluid is passable, wherein the glue pattern is different from the first metal mesh pattern, and  
 handling apparatus on the screen assembly apparatus for facilitating handling of the screen assembly apparatus.  
 
   
     
     
         2 . The vibratory separator of  claim 1  wherein the vibratory separator is a shale shaker and the screen assembly's screening material is suitable for treating drilling fluids.  
     
     
         3 . The vibratory separator of  claim 1  wherein the seal member includes the handling apparatus.  
     
     
         4 . The vibratory separator of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the side mounts includes handling apparatus.  
     
     
         5 . A screen assembly for a vibratory separator, the screen assembly comprising 
 screening material with opposed spaced-apart sides including a first side and a second side,    a side mount on each of the opposed spaced-apart sides,    each of the first side and the second side of the opposed spaced-apart sides having a screening material edge portion,    each screening material edge portion having part thereof extending into and held within a corresponding side mount.    
     
     
         6 . The screen assembly of  claim 5  further comprising 
 seal structure on an exterior of each side mount for sealing a side mount/screen holding apparatus interface.  
 
     
     
         7 . The screen assembly of  claim 6  wherein the seal structure includes a hollow portion.  
     
     
         8 . The screen assembly of  claim 6  wherein the seal structure is positioned for location between the screen assembly and screen assembly mounting structure of the vibratory separator.  
     
     
         9 . The screen assembly of  claim 5  wherein the screening material comprises a plurality of layers of screening material.  
     
     
         10 . The screen assembly of  claim 5  wherein the layers of screening material are glued together with cured hot melt glue.  
     
     
         11 . The screen assembly of  claim 9  wherein the screening material comprises 
 a first layer of screening material made of metal and comprising a first metal mesh through which liquid in the fluid is passable and having a first metal mesh pattern with an amount of hot melt glue in a glue pattern on the first layer of screening material,  
 a second layer of screening material adjacent and in contact with the first layer glued together with the first layer by the hot melt glue, the second layer of screening material made of metal and comprising a second metal mesh through which liquid in the fluid is passable, and  
 wherein the glue pattern is different from the first metal mesh pattern.  
 
     
     
         12 . The screen assembly of  claim 11  wherein the screening material has a length and a width and the hot melt glue is in continuous lines of glue extending across the length and the width of the screening material.  
     
     
         13 . The screen assembly of  claim 11  wherein the hot melt glue is in discrete amounts spaced-apart across the screening material.  
     
     
         14 . The screen assembly of  claim 13  wherein the hot melt glue is in at least one line across the screening material.  
     
     
         15 . The screen assembly of  claim 5  wherein the side mount has a lower part with a plurality of spaced-apart holes for receiving a corresponding plurality of spaced-apart members which are part of screen mounting apparatus of the vibratory separator.  
     
     
         16 . The screen assembly of  claim 5  wherein the vibratory separator is a shale shaker and the screen assembly's screening material is suitable for treating drilling fluids.  
     
     
         17 . The screen assembly of  claim 5  wherein an edge of the screening material passes between two opposed parts of the side mount, said two opposed parts secured together.  
     
     
         18 . The screen assembly of  claim 17  wherein the two opposed parts of the side mount are welded together.  
     
     
         19 . The screen assembly of  claim 5  wherein an edge of the screening material passes between two first opposed parts of each side mount and an end of the screening material is secured between two second opposed parts of each side mount.  
     
     
         20 . The screen assembly of  claim 5  wherein each side mount has two spaced-apart openings, said openings sealed off with seal material.  
     
     
         21 . The screen assembly of  claim 5  wherein the screening material is generally flat.  
     
     
         22 . The screen assembly of  claim 5  wherein at least part of the screening material in cross-section is undulating.  
     
     
         23 . The screen assembly of  claim 5  wherein the screening material comprises material flexible so that the screen assembly is foldable.  
     
     
         24 . The screen assembly of  claim 6  wherein the seal structure includes handling structure.  
     
     
         25 . The screen assembly of  claim 24  wherein the handling structure is T shaped.  
     
     
         26 . The screen assembly of  claim 24  wherein the handling structure is at least one handle.  
     
     
         27 . The screen assembly of  claim 24  wherein the handling structure is at least one hole through the seal structure.  
     
     
         28 . The screen assembly of  claim 5  wherein each side mount has an upper inwardly directed edge.  
     
     
         29 . The screen assembly of  claim 28  wherein each side mount is made of a single piece of material.  
     
     
         30 . The screen assembly of  claim 5  further comprising 
 at least one rigid handling apparatus formed of or connected to at least one of the side mounts.  
 
     
     
         31 . A screen assembly for a vibratory separator, the screen assembly comprising 
 screening material with opposed spaced-apart sides including a first side and a second side,    a side mount on each of the opposed spaced-apart sides,    each side of the opposed spaced-apart sides of screening material having an edge portion,    each edge portion held within a side mount,    seal structure on an exterior of each side mount for sealing a side mount/screen holding apparatus interface, 
 wherein the screening material comprises a plurality of layers of screening material flexibly connected so that the screen assembly is foldable, and  
 wherein the side mount has a lower part with a plurality of spaced-apart holes for receiving a corresponding plurality of spaced-apart members which are part of screen mounting apparatus of the vibratory separator.  
   
     
     
         32 . A screen assembly for a vibratory separator, the screen assembly comprising 
 screening material with opposed spaced-apart sides including a first side and a second side,    screen mounting apparatus on each of the opposed spaced-apart sides,    each of the first side and the second side of the opposed spaced-apart sides having a screening material edge portion,    each screening material edge portion having part thereof extending into and held within a side mount, and    the screening material comprising flexible material so that the screen assembly is foldable.    
     
     
         33 . The screen assembly of  claim 32  wherein the screening material comprises 
 a first layer of screening material made of metal and comprising a first metal mesh through which liquid in the fluid is passable and having a first metal mesh pattern with an amount of hot melt glue in a glue pattern on the first layer of screening material,  
 a second layer of screening material adjacent and in contact with the first layer glued together with the first layer by the hot melt glue, the second layer of screening material made of metal and comprising a second metal mesh through which liquid in the fluid is passable, and  
 wherein the glue pattern is different from the first metal mesh pattern.  
 
     
     
         34 . The screen assembly of  claim 33  wherein the screening material has a length and a width and the hot melt glue is in continuous lines of glue extending across the length and the width of the screening material.  
     
     
         35 . The screen assembly of  claim 33  wherein the hot melt glue is in discrete amounts spaced-apart across the screening material.  
     
     
         36 . The screen assembly of  claim 35  wherein the hot melt glue is in at least one line across the screening material.  
     
     
         37 . The screen assembly of  claim 32  wherein the screen mounting apparatus comprises hookstrip apparatus.  
     
     
         38 . A mount for a screen assembly for a vibratory separator, the mount for holding screening material of the screen assembly, the mount comprising a body with 
 a bottom part,    a side part extending up from and connected to the bottom part,    a top part connected to the side part,    a top lip formed by overlapping portions of the body,    a bottom lip formed by overlapping portions of the top part and bottom part,    a space defined between the top part, the side part, and the bottom part, said space suitable for the passage therethrough of a portion of screening material,    the overlapping portions of the bottom lip spaced-apart for the passage therethrough of a portion of the screening material,    seal structure on an exterior of each side mount for sealing a side mount/screen holding apparatus interface, wherein the seal structure is positioned for location of at least a portion of the seal structure between the screen assembly and screen assembly mounting structure of the vibratory separator.    
     
     
         39 . The mount of  claim 38  further comprising 
 the body having two sealed spaced-apart end openings.  
 
     
     
         40 . The mount of  claim 38  wherein the top lip includes a space therebetween suitable for holding a portion of the screening material.  
     
     
         41 . The mount of  claim 38  wherein the seal structure includes a hollow portion, and the hollow portion is positioned for location above the top part of the mount.  
     
     
         42 . The mount of  claim 38  wherein each side mount has an upper inwardly directed edge.  
     
     
         43 . The mount of  claim 38  wherein the mount is made of a single piece of material.  
     
     
         44 . The mount of  claim 38  further comprising 
 at least one rigid handling apparatus formed of or connected to the body.  
 
     
     
         45 . A mount for a screen assembly for a vibratory separator, the mount for holding screening material of the screen assembly, the mount comprising 
 a body with a bottom part,    a side part extending up from and connected to the bottom part,    a top part connected to the side part,    a top lip formed by overlapping portions of the body,    a bottom lip formed by overlapping portions of the top part and bottom part,    a space defined between the top part, the side part, and the bottom part, said space suitable for the passage therethrough of a portion of screening material,    the overlapping portions of the bottom lip spaced-apart for the passage therethrough of a portion of the screening material,    seal structure on an exterior of each side mount for sealing a side mount/screen holding apparatus interface, and    handle apparatus formed of the seal structure.    
     
     
         46 . The mount of  claim 45  wherein the handle apparatus comprises at least one cut out portion of the seal structure.  
     
     
         47 . The mount of  claim 45  wherein the handle apparatus comprises an upwardly projecting portion of the seal structure formed integrally of or connected to the seal structure.  
     
     
         48 . The mount of  claim 45  further comprising the body having two sealed spaced-apart end openings.  
     
     
         49 . A mount for a screen assembly for a vibratory separator, the mount for holding screening material of the screen assembly, the mount comprising 
 a body with a bottom part,    a side part extending up from and connected to the bottom part, the side part made of side part material,    a top part connected to the side part,    a top lip formed by overlapping portions of the body,    a bottom lip formed by overlapping portions of the top part and bottom part,    a space defined between the top part, the side part, and the bottom part, said space suitable for the passage therethrough of a portion of screening material,    the overlapping portions of the bottom lip spaced-apart for the passage therethrough of a portion of the screening material, and    handle apparatus formed of the side part, the handle apparatus made of side part material and formed integrally of the side part.    
     
     
         50 . The mount of  claim 49  further comprising 
 the body having two sealed spaced-apart end openings.  
 
     
     
         51 . A mount for a screen assembly for a vibratory separator, the mount for holding screening material of the screen assembly, the mount comprising 
 a body with a bottom part and a side part,    the side part extending up from the bottom part,    the body and the side part made of rigid material,    handle apparatus on the side part, the handle apparatus made of rigid material and rigidly connected to or formed integrally of the side part.    
     
     
         52 . The mount of  claim 51  wherein the handle apparatus comprises at least one handle formed of the body.  
     
     
         53 . The mount of  claim 51  wherein the handle apparatus comprises at least one cut out portion of the body.  
     
     
         54 . The mount of  claim 51  wherein the handle apparatus comprises at least one projection projecting from the body.  
     
     
         55 . A method for making a screen assembly for a vibratory separator, the method comprising 
 connecting together a plurality of layers of screening material,    securing each of two opposed edge portions of the screening material within a side mount, each side mount comprising a bottom part, a side part extending up from and connected to the bottom part, a top part connected to the side part, a top lip formed by overlapping portions of the body, a bottom lip formed by overlapping portions of the top part and bottom part, a space defined between the top part, the side part, and the bottom part, said space suitable for the passage therethrough of screening material, and the overlapping portions of the bottom lip spaced-apart for the passage therethrough of a portion of the screening material.    
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the layers of screening material are flexible and are glued together with hot melt glue.  
     
     
         57 . A seal for installation on a screen assembly for sealing a screen-assembly/screen-holder interface in a vibratory separator, the seal comprising 
 a body with a portion thereof connectible to the screen assembly, and    handling apparatus on or through the body for facilitating handling of the screen assembly.    
     
     
         58 . Any and every invention disclosed herein.