Vibratory screening machine for earth drilling installation

Abstract

An oil and gas drilling installation having a drill rig with a bell nipple having an outlet at a predetermined elevation, a screening machine having a feeder and an angularly adjustable vibratory frame, a weir positioned between the feeder and the vibratory frame, the weir having an elevation which is lower than the predetermined elevation of the outlet of the bell nipple but immediately above the portion of the screen frame adjacent to the weir, and a downwardly inclined conduit between the bell nipple conduit and the feeder. A vibratory screening machine and feeder combination including an angularly adjustable vibratory frame on the vibratory screening machine, and a weir and flexible seal between the feeder and the vibratory frame at an elevation which is immediately above the portion of the vibratory frame which is adjacent to the weir.

1 . An oil and gas drilling installation having a drill rig with a bell nipple having an outlet at a predetermined elevation, and a conduit, the installation comprising: 
 a screening machine;    a feeder for said screening machine;    said conduit between said bell nipple and said feeder, said conduit being downwardly inclined toward said feeder;    said screening machine having an angularly adjustable vibratory frame;    a weir positioned between said feeder and said vibratory frame, said weir having an elevation which is lower than said predetermined elevation of said outlet of said bell nipple;    said vibratory frame having a portion adjacent said weir; and    a seal between said weir and said portion of said adjustable vibratory frame.    
   
   
       2 . The oil and gas drilling installation of  claim 1 , wherein said seal is flexible.  
   
   
       3 . The oil and gas drilling installation of  claim 2 , wherein said flexible seal is separate from said weir, said seal having first and second edges, a first clamping bar securing said first edge to said weir, and a second clamping bar securing said second edge to said vibratory frame.  
   
   
       4 . The oil and gas drilling installation of  claim 3 , wherein said first edge comprises a first bead and said second edge comprises a second bead, said feeder having a first channel, said vibratory frame having a second channel, and wherein said first clamping bar presses said first bead into said first channel and said second clamping bar presses said second bead into said second channel.  
   
   
       5 . The oil and gas drilling installation of  claim 4 , wherein said second clamping bar is molded into said second bead.  
   
   
       6 . The oil and gas drilling installation of  claim 2 , wherein said flexible seal is of U-shaped configuration.  
   
   
       7 . The oil and gas drilling installation of  claim 2 , wherein said flexible seal is part of said weir.  
   
   
       8 . The oil and gas drilling installation of  claim 7 , wherein said flexible seal includes a flexible web, said flexible seal having first and second edges, said first and second edges having first and second beads, respectively, a first connection between said first bead and said feeder, and a second connection between said second bead and said vibratory frame.  
   
   
       9 . The oil and gas drilling installation of clam  8 , wherein said first connection comprises a first channel on said feeder and a first clamping bar pressing said first bead into said first channel, and wherein said second connection comprises a second channel on said vibratory frame and a second clamping bar pressing said second bead into said second channel.  
   
   
       10 . The oil and gas drilling installation of  claim 8 , wherein said seal with said flexible web is separate from said weir, and further comprising a first clamping bar securing said first bead to said weir and a second clamping bar securing said second bead to said vibratory frame.  
   
   
       11 . The oil and gas drilling installation of  claim 10  including a first channel on said weir, a second channel on said vibratory frame, and wherein said first clamping bar presses said first bead into said first channel and said second clamping bar presses said second bead into said second channel.  
   
   
       12 . The oil and gas drilling installation of  claim 1 , wherein said bell nipple and said screening machine are mounted on substantially even surfaces.  
   
   
       13 . The oil and gas drilling installation of  claim 1 , wherein said weir is less than ten inches above said portion of said vibratory frame that is adjacent to said weir.  
   
   
       14 . The oil and gas drilling installation of  claim 1 , wherein said weir is less than five inches above said portion of said vibratory frame that is adjacent to said weir.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus for screening material comprising: 
 a frame;    a motor mounted to said frame and adapted for supplying vibration to said frame;    a screen bed supported by said frame, wherein said screen bed is angularly adjustable;    a feeder;    a weir positioned between said feeder and said frame, wherein said weir is connected to said frame via a flexible connection, said weir having an elevation lower than an outflow source of said material; and    wherein said weir is immediately above a portion of said frame that is adjacent to said weir.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said flexible connection comprises a seal.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein a first edge of said seal sealingly engages a first channel located on the weir, and a second edge of said flexible seal sealingly engages a second channel located on the vibratory frame.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said weir is less than ten inches above said portion of said frame that is adjacent to said weir.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said weir is less than five inches above said portion of said frame that is adjacent to said weir.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said outflow source is a drilling rig bell nipple having a predetermined elevation, and wherein a downwardly inclined conduit is positioned between said feeder and said bell nipple.