Device for the quantitative analysis of debris

Abstract

A device for the quantitative analysis of debris preferably produced while drilling, comprising means for the progressive collection of debris, means for the progressive weighing of collected debris, means for unloading the same preferably in a discharge channel, and a support structure for the device wherein said means for the collection of the debris comprise a collection tray which is capable of performing two types of movement: a rotation movement around an axis which allows alternate loading and unloading of debris and a backward movement which is simultaneous with the rotation movement, thereby allowing for a decisive reduction in the overall vertical dimension of the structure.

1 . A device for the quantitative analysis of debris preferably produced while drilling, comprised of
 means for the progressive collection of debris which comprise at least one collection tray,   means for moving the at least one collection tray,   means for the progressive weighing of the debris collected,   means for unloading the same, preferably in a discharge channel, and   a structure for support of the device,   
       wherein said means for moving the at least one collection tray comprise
 at least one rotating body, 
 the at least one collection tray being restrained by known means to the at least one rotating body to perform, as a result of the rotation of said rotating body, a movement composed by a rotation and a simultaneous translation resulting from an offset between the plain of the collection tray and the axis of rotation of said rotating body, in order to allow said tray to make two simultaneous movements, such as a rotation for loading and unloading and a translation. 
 
     
     
         2 . The device for the quantitative analysis of debris preferably produced while drilling according to  claim 1 , wherein the simultaneity of said rotary movement and said translational movement enables the height of the at least one collection tray to be located preferably to about 15 cm from the support surface. 
     
     
         3 . The device for the quantitative analysis of debris preferably produced while drilling according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for weighing the debris comprise at least four sensing elements positioned in such a way as to take a direct measurement of the weight force. 
     
     
         4 . The device for the quantitative analysis of debris preferably produced while drilling according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one rotating body is a shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The device for the quantitative analysis of debris preferably produced while drilling according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for moving the at least one collection tray comprise at least one assembly for pneumatic actuation of said rotating body. 
     
     
         6 . The device for the quantitative analysis of debris preferably produced while drilling according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one collection tray is restrained to that rotating body by means of at least one forks surface. 
     
     
         7 . The device for the quantitative analysis of debris preferably produced while drilling according to  claim 6 , wherein said forks surface is integral yet misaligned in relation to said rotating body. 
     
     
         8 . The device for the quantitative analysis of debris preferably produced while drilling according to  claim 3 , wherein said at least four sensing elements are four load cells and are attached to said forks surface. 
     
     
         9 . The device for the quantitative analysis of debris preferably produced while drilling according to  claim 5 , wherein said assembly for pneumatic actuation comprehends at least one pneumatic piston, at least one spherical joint, and at least one rod. 
     
     
         10 . The device for the quantitative analysis of debris preferably produced while drilling according to  claim 9 , wherein the actuation of said pneumatic piston causes a rotation of said rotating body pushing or pulling the at least one rod by means of the at least one spherical joint. 
     
     
         11 . The device for the quantitative analysis of debris preferably produced while drilling according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one collection tray is provided with two lateral fins capable of preventing the lateral leakage of the debris. 
     
     
         12 . The device for the quantitative analysis of debris preferably produced while drilling according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one collection tray is provided with rear discharge ports which allow the seeping of the more liquid part of the drilling slurry, so as to retain the solid fraction of said slurry inside said tray. 
     
     
         13 . The device for the quantitative analysis of debris preferably produced while drilling according to  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises nozzles for the washing of the at least one collection tray. 
     
     
         14 . The device for the quantitative analysis of debris preferably produced while drilling according to  claim 13 , wherein said nozzles for the washing of the at least one collection tray are placed on a horizontal pipe with a length equal to that of said tray, said pipe being attached by means of a system having an adjustable slant. 
     
     
         15 . The device for the quantitative analysis of debris preferably produced while drilling, according to  claim 1 , wherein the device can operate both in manual and automatic mode. 
     
     
         16 . The device for the quantitative analysis of debris preferably produced while drilling, according to  claim 15 , wherein said automatic mode precedes the setting of work parameters via a workstation in a remote position. 
     
     
         17 . The device for the quantitative analysis of debris preferably produced while drilling according to  claim 3 , wherein each one of said four sensing elements generates an output electronic signal with an electronic circuit part for the acquisition and processing of said output signals.