Drilling mud cleaning and recirculating system and vehicle formed therewith

Abstract

A drilling mud cleaning and recirculating apparatus includes a vehicle that has a platform mounted with a chassis, and a drilling mud processor for cleaning dirty drilling mud, a generator, a spoil dump bed, a dirty drilling mud inlet, and a clean drilling mud outlet, all mounted with the platform. The drilling mud processor is coupled in fluid communication to receive dirty drilling mud from the dirty drilling mud inlet for cleaning and to deliver clean drilling mud to the clean drilling mud outlet, the spoil dump bed is coupled to receive debris generated by the drilling mud processor from the cleaning of dirty drilling mud, and the generator is coupled to power the drilling mud processor.

Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same, the invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drilling mud cleaning and recirculating apparatus, comprising:
 a vehicle having a platform mounted with a chassis;   a drilling mud processor for cleaning dirty drilling mud, a generator, a spoil dump bed, a dirty drilling mud inlet, and a clean drilling mud outlet, all mounted with the platform;   the drilling mud processor coupled in fluid communication to receive dirty drilling mud from the dirty drilling mud inlet for cleaning, and to deliver clean drilling mud to the clean drilling mud outlet;   the spoil dump bed coupled to receive debris generated by the drilling mud processor from the cleaning of dirty drilling mud; and   the generator coupled to power the drilling mud processor.   
     
     
         2 . The drilling mud cleaning and recirculating apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising operator controls mounted with the platform for operating the drilling mud processor and the generator. 
     
     
         3 . The drilling mud cleaning and recirculating according to  claim 1 , wherein the spoil dump bed is mounted to the platform for movement between a storage position to receive debris from the drilling mud processor and a dumped position to eject debris from the spoil dump bed. 
     
     
         4 . The drilling mud cleaning and recirculating apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 the platform has a leading end and a trailing end;   the generator is located near the leading end;   the spoil dumb bed is located near the trailing end;   the drilling mud processor is located between the generator and the spoil dump bed; and   the spoil dump bed to eject debris from the trailing end of the platform in the dumped position of the spoil dump bed.   
     
     
         5 . The drilling mud cleaning and recirculating apparatus according to  claim 3 , a drive assembly coupled between the spoil dump bed and the platform for moving the spoil dump bed between the storage and dumped positions. 
     
     
         6 . The drilling mud cleaning and recirculating apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the vehicle further comprises a motorized wheeled vehicle having an operator cab mounted with the chassis, the leading end of the platform is located forward toward the operator cab, and the trailing end of the of platform is located rearward away from the operator cab. 
     
     
         7 . A drilling mud cleaning and recirculating apparatus, comprising:
 a drilling mud processor for cleaning dirty drilling mud, a generator, a spoil dump bed, a dirty drilling mud inlet, and a clean drilling mud outlet, all mounted to a platform;   the drilling mud processor coupled in fluid communication to receive dirty drilling mud from the dirty drilling mud inlet for cleaning, and to deliver clean drilling mud to the clean drilling mud outlet;   the spoil dump bed coupled to receive debris generated by the drilling mud processor from the cleaning of dirty drilling mud; and   the generator coupled to power the drilling mud processor.   
     
     
         8 . The drilling mud cleaning and recirculating apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising operator controls mounted with the platform for operating the drilling mud processor and the generator. 
     
     
         9 . The drilling mud cleaning and recirculating apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the spoil dump bed is mounted to the platform for movement between a storage position to receive debris from the drilling mud processor and a dumped position to eject debris from the spoil dump bed. 
     
     
         10 . The drilling mud cleaning and recirculating apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 the platform has a leading end and a trailing end;   the generator is located near the leading end;   the spoil dumb bed is located near the trailing end;   the drilling mud processor is located between the generator and the spoil dump bed; and   the spoil dump bed to eject debris from the trailing end of the platform in the dumped position of the spoil dump bed.   
     
     
         11 . The drilling mud cleaning and recirculating apparatus according to  claim 9 , a drive assembly coupled between the spoil dump bed and the platform for moving the spoil dump bed between the storage and dumped positions. 
     
     
         12 . A drilling mud cleaning and recirculating apparatus, comprising:
 a vehicle having a platform mounted with a chassis;   a drilling mud processor for mixing clean drilling mud and for cleaning dirty drilling mud, a premixer, a generator, a water holding reservoir, a spoil dump bed, a dirty drilling mud inlet, and a clean drilling mud outlet, all mounted with the platform;   the premixer for premixing drilling mud components and applying premixed drilling mud components to the drilling mud processor;   the drilling mud processor coupled in fluid communication to receive water from the water holding reservoir for mixing with premixed drilling mud components to form drilling mud for use in drilling operations;   the drilling mud processor coupled in fluid communication to receive dirty drilling mud from the dirty drilling mud inlet for cleaning, and to deliver clean drilling mud to the clean drilling mud outlet;   the spoil dump bed coupled to receive debris generated by the drilling mud processor from the cleaning of dirty drilling mud; and   the generator coupled to power the drilling mud processor and the premixer.   
     
     
         13 . The drilling mud cleaning and recirculating apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising operator controls mounted with the platform for operating the drilling mud processor, the premixer, and the generator. 
     
     
         14 . The drilling mud cleaning and recirculating apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising an intake manifold coupled to deliver water to the water holding reservoir. 
     
     
         15 . The drilling mud cleaning and recirculating apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the spoil dump bed is mounted to the platform for movement between a storage position to receive debris from the drilling mud processor and a dumped position to eject debris from the spoil dump bed. 
     
     
         16 . The drilling mud cleaning and recirculating apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 the platform has a leading end and a trailing end;   the generator is located near the leading end;   the spoil dumb bed is located near the trailing end;   the drilling mud processor is located between the generator and the spoil dump bed; and   the spoil dump bed to eject debris from the trailing end of the platform in the dumped position of the spoil dump bed.   
     
     
         17 . The drilling mud cleaning and recirculating apparatus according to  claim 15 , a drive assembly coupled between the spoil dump bed and the platform for moving the spoil dump bed between the storage and dumped positions. 
     
     
         18 . The drilling mud cleaning and recirculating apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the vehicle further comprises a motorized wheeled vehicle having an operator cab mounted with the chassis, the leading end of the platform is located forward toward the operator cab, and the trailing end of the of platform is located rearward away from the operator cab. 
     
     
         19 . A drilling mud cleaning and recirculating apparatus, comprising:
 a drilling mud processor for mixing clean drilling mud and for cleaning dirty drilling mud, a premixer, a generator, a water holding reservoir, a spoil dump bed, a dirty drilling mud inlet, and a clean drilling mud outlet, all mounted with a platform;   the premixer for premixing drilling mud components and applying premixed drilling mud components to the drilling mud processor;   the drilling mud processor coupled in fluid communication to receive water from the water holding reservoir for mixing with premixed drilling mud components to form drilling mud for use in drilling operations;   the drilling mud processor coupled in fluid communication to receive dirty drilling mud from the dirty drilling mud inlet for cleaning, and to deliver clean drilling mud to the clean drilling mud outlet;   the spoil dump bed coupled to receive debris generated by the drilling mud processor from the cleaning of dirty drilling mud; and   the generator coupled to power the drilling mud processor and the premixer.   
     
     
         20 . The drilling mud cleaning and recirculating apparatus according to  claim 19 , further comprising operator controls mounted with the platform for operating the drilling mud processor, the premixer, and the generator. 
     
     
         21 . The drilling mud cleaning and recirculating apparatus according to  claim 19 , further comprising an intake manifold coupled to deliver water to the water holding reservoir. 
     
     
         22 . The drilling mud cleaning and recirculating apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the spoil dump bed is mounted to the platform for movement between a storage position to receive debris from the drilling mud processor and a dumped position to eject debris from the spoil dump bed. 
     
     
         23 . The drilling mud cleaning and recirculating apparatus according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 the platform has a leading end and a trailing end;   the generator is located near the leading end;   the spoil dumb bed is located near the trailing end;   the drilling mud processor is located between the generator and the spoil dump bed; and   the spoil dump bed to eject debris from the trailing end of the platform in the dumped position of the spoil dump bed.   
     
     
         24 . The drilling mud cleaning and recirculating apparatus according to  claim 22 , a drive assembly coupled between the spoil dump bed and the platform for moving the spoil dump bed between the storage and dumped positions.