The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 13, 2002
Filed:
Jul. 21, 2000
Gary L. Hensley, Kingwood, TX (US);
Lee Hilpert, Livingston, TX (US);
Hutchison-Hayes International, Inc., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for receiving the solids discharge of a centrifuge, shaker, or other clarification system and further drying the solids discharge. The influent into the apparatus of the invention is in the form of a slurry, such as for example the solids discharge of a shaker or centrifuge in a drilling mud clarification system. The apparatus comprises a horizontal screen rotated at a high rate of speed to remove liquid from the slurry by centrifugal force. The horizontal screen is retained by a squirrel cage rotor so that high G-forces can be obtained. Within the horizontal screen is a screw conveyor which rotates at a speed slightly slower than the horizontal screen to define a controllable conveyor speed. In this way, the residence time of the solids in contact with the horizontal screen can be controlled to provide a drier solids discharge from the apparatus. The solids and liquids are provided with separate discharge ports.