Actuated arm for use with a shaker

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9869145-B2
Application number	US-201213678810-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2012
Priority date	Nov 16, 2012
Publication date	Jan 16, 2018
Grant date	Jan 16, 2018

Abstract

A system and method include a shaker configured to separate solids from a drilling fluid, the shaker having a screen assembly, and an actuated arm operatively coupled to the shaker, the actuated arm configured to interact with the screen assembly of the shaker. The actuated arm is configured to interact with the screen assembly of the shaker, with the actuated arm configured to remove, to inspect, to clean, to repair, or to replace the screen assembly of the shaker.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a shaker configured to separate solids from a drilling fluid, the shaker having a screen assembly located therein; and
an actuated arm operatively coupled to the shaker and located outside the shaker,
wherein the actuated arm is configured to interact with the screen assembly of the shaker by at least one selected from extending and retracting the actuated arm with respect to the shaker,
wherein an end of the actuated arm is movable to a position with respect to the screen assembly such that the actuated arm is interactable with the screen assembly when the end of the actuated arm is located in the position with respect to the screen assembly, and
wherein the actuated arm further comprises at least one selected from:
a plurality of gripping members movable with respect to each other that are configured to grasp the screen assembly of the shaker;
an engagement member disposed on the end of the actuated arm configured to fit into a cavity formed within the screen assembly of the shaker;
a sampling and measuring device configured to sample and take measurements of the drilling fluid or solids within the shaker;
a sealant or a plug configured to repair the screen assembly therewith or wherein
the actuated arm is configured to replace the screen assembly of the shaker with a replacement screen assembly.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuated arm configured to interact with the screen assembly of the shaker comprises the actuated arm configured to remove, to inspect, or to clean the screen assembly of the shaker.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuated arm further comprises a camera configured to inspect the screen assembly of the shaker and a light source configured to emit light therefrom.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuated arm further comprises a nozzle configured to emit a cleaning fluid therefrom.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the shaker is disposed on a floor of a drilling rig, and wherein the actuated arm is disposed on the floor of the drilling rig or is connected to a rail disposed above the floor of the drilling rig.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of shakers, each shaker having a screen assembly; and
the actuated arm is configured to interact with each of the screen assemblies of each of the plurality of shakers.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the screen assembly of the shaker comprises a first screen assembly, a second screen assembly, and a third screen assembly; and
the actuated arm is configured to interact with the first screen assembly, the second screen assembly, and the third screen assembly of the shaker.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuated arm is electrically actuated, mechanically actuated, hydraulically actuated, or pneumatically actuated.

9. A method comprising:
actuating an actuated arm operatively coupled to a shaker and located outside the shaker, the shaker configured to separate solids from a drilling fluid and having a screen assembly;
removing the screen assembly from the shaker using the actuated arm, the actuated arm having an end that is movable to a position with respect to the screen assembly such that the actuated arm is interactable with the screen assembly when the end of the actuated arm is located in the position with respect to the screen assembly; and
inspecting the screen assembly of the shaker using a camera of the actuated arm,
wherein the actuated arm further comprises at least one selected from:
a plurality of gripping members movable with respect to each other that are configured to grasp the screen assembly of the shaker;
an engagement member disposed on the end of the actuated arm configured to fit into a cavity formed within the screen assembly of the shaker;
a sampling and measuring device configured to sample and take measurements of the drilling fluid or solids within the shaker;
a sealant or a plug configured to repair the screen assembly therewith or wherein

the actuated arm is configured to replace the screen assembly of the shaker with a replacement screen assembly.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein based upon the inspection of the screen assembly, the method further comprises one of:
cleaning the screen assembly of the shaker using cleaning fluid emitted from a nozzle of the actuated arm;
repairing the screen assembly of the shaker with the sealant or the plug using the actuated arm; and
replacing the screen assembly of the shaker with the replacement screen assembly using the actuated arm.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein inspecting the screen assembly of the shaker comprises:
determining if the screen assembly comprises defects above a predetermined amount;
repairing the screen assembly if the defects of the screen assembly are below the predetermined amount; and
replacing the screen assembly with the replacement screen assembly if the defects of the screen assembly are above the predetermined amount.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
determining a drilling fluid load on the screen assembly using the actuated arm; and
adjusting a parameter of the shaker to modify the drilling fluid load on the screen assembly.

13. A system comprising:
a plurality of shakers configured to separate solids from a drilling fluid, each of the plurality of shakers having a screen assembly; and
a plurality of replacement screen assemblies disposed in proximity of the plurality of shakers; and
an actuated arm operatively coupled to the plurality of shakers, the actuated arm having an end that is movable to a position with respect to the screen assembly of each of the plurality of shakers such that the actuated arm is interactable with the screen assembly when the end of the actuated arm is located in the position with respect to the screen assembly,
wherein the actuated arm further comprises at least one selected from:
a plurality of gripping members movable with respect to each other that are configured to grasp the screen assembly of each of the plurality of shakers;
an engagement member disposed on a movable end of the actuated arm configured to fit into a cavity formed within the screen assembly of each of the plurality of shakers;
a sampling and measuring device configured to sample and take measurements of the drilling fluid or solids within each of the plurality of shakers;
a sealant or a plug configured to repair the screen assembly of each of the plurality of shakers or wherein
the actuated arm is configured to replace the screen assembly of each of the plurality of shakers with at least one replacement screen assembly of the plurality of replacement screen assemblies.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein actuated arm further comprises a diagnostic device comprising
a camera configured to inspect the screen assembly of each of the plurality of shakers and a light source configured to emit light therefrom; and
wherein the actuated arm further comprises an engagement device comprising
a nozzle configured to emit a cleaning fluid therefrom.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of shakers are interconnected with each other such that, when the actuated arm is interacting with one of the plurality of shakers, the drilling fluid is redistributed amongst the remainder of the plurality of shakers.

Assignees

• M-I L L C

Inventors

• Jones Bradley N
• Geehan Thomas

Classifications

• B25J11/00

  Manipulators not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B07B1/55

  with fluid jets · CPC title

• B07B13/16

  Feed or discharge arrangements · CPC title

• B07B1/4627

  Repairing of screening surfaces · CPC title

• B07B1/46 Primary

  Constructional details of screens in general; Cleaning or heating of screens · CPC title