Shale shakers and screens with identification apparatuses

Abstract

A screen apparatus, which in certain aspects is a screen apparatus having a support, screening material on the support, a mass member connected to the screen apparatus, and energizable identification apparatus connected to (exteriorly, interiorly, and/or within) the mass member for identifying the screen apparatus; a vibratory separator with such a screen apparatus; and a vibratory separator or shaker with energizable identification apparatus.

1 . A screen apparatus for use on a vibratory separator, the screen apparatus comprising
 a support,   screening material on the support, and   energizable identification apparatus in a mass member connected to the support for identifying the screen apparatus.   
   
   
       2 . The screen apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the mass member with the energizable identification apparatus is within the support. 
   
   
       3 . The screen apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the support is a frame. 
   
   
       4 . The screen apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the frame includes a plurality of interconnected hollow members and the energizable identification apparatus is within a hollow member. 
   
   
       5 . The screen apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the frame has an exterior and an interior and the energizable identification apparatus is on the interior. 
   
   
       6 . The screen apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the support is connected to side mounting structure and the energizable identification apparatus is contacting the side mounting structure. 
   
   
       7 . The screen apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the energizable identification apparatus is within the side mounting structure. 
   
   
       8 . The screen apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the screening material is non-flat and the energizable identification apparatus is under screening material. 
   
   
       9 . The screen apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the screening material has open ends, a plug plugs off each open end, and the energizable identification apparatus is in a plug. 
   
   
       10 . The screen apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the mass member is rigid. 
   
   
       11 . The screen apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the mass member is flexible. 
   
   
       12 . The screen apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the mass member is shaped for receipt within a space within the screen apparatus. 
   
   
       13 . The screen apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the mass member has an opening for insertion of the energizable identification apparatus into the mass member. 
   
   
       14 . The screen apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the mass member is made from material from the group consisting of plastic, epoxy, fiberglass, gel, aerogel, silica aerogel, nonmagnetic metal, ceramic, cermet, polytetrafluoroethylene, wood, metal, composite. 
   
   
       15 . The screen apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising
 encasement structure encasing the energizable identification apparatus, the encasement structure comprising at least one layer of heat resistant material.   
   
   
       16 . The screen apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the encasement structure further comprises
 at least one layer of impact resistant material.   
   
   
       17 . The screen apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the energizable identification apparatus is radio frequency identification apparatus with integrated circuit apparatus and antenna apparatus. 
   
   
       18 . The screen apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the vibratory separator is a shale shaker. 
   
   
       19 . A method for sensing an energizable identification apparatus of a screen assembly, the screen assembly comprising a support, screening material on the support, a mass member connected to the screen apparatus, energizable identification apparatus connected to the mass member, the method including
 energizing the energizable identification apparatus by directing energizing energy thereto,   the energizable identification apparatus upon being energized producing a signal,   positioning the screen assembly adjacent sensing apparatus, and   sensing with the sensing apparatus the signal produced by the energizable identification apparatus.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the sensing apparatus is in communication with and is controlled by control apparatus, the method further comprising
 controlling the sensing apparatus with the control apparatus, and   wherein the signal is an identification signal identifying the screen assembly and the sensing apparatus produces and conveys a corresponding signal to computer apparatus, the computer apparatus including a programmable portion programmed to receive and analyze the corresponding signal, and the computer apparatus for producing an analysis signal indicative of accepting or rejecting the screen assembly based on said analysis, the method further comprising   the energizable identification apparatus producing an identification signal received by the sensing apparatus,   the sensing apparatus producing a corresponding signal indicative of identification of the screen assembly and conveying the corresponding signal to the computer apparatus, and   the computer apparatus analyzing the corresponding signal and producing the analysis signal, and the method further comprising   producing the analysis signal prior to vibrating the screen assembly.