MXPA06000958A - Apparatus and method for making screen assemblies for vibratory separators - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for making a screen assembly. The method comprises the steps of placing a screen, a heat activated adhesive and a screen support in or on a heated apparatus to melt said heat activated adhesive, wherein the screen, heat activated adhesive and screen support combination are placed on or in a cooling platen provided with a heat exchanger to facilitate maintenance of the temperature of the cooling platen for cooling said heat activated adhesive. The apparatus comprises a platen (31, 41, 32, 42) and a heat exchanger (62, 67) for removing heat from said platen. A plurality of elements (22h) through which electric current flows are provided for heating said platen (21, 22). At least one sensor (27a-f) is provided for measuring the temperature of said platen (21, 22). The platen (21, 22) has zones and a plurality of elements (22h) through which electric current flows. Said elements (22h) are independently controllable for independently controlling the temperature of said zones.

Description

PuMlsbcd: For two-lener codes and oifier abbrevialiorcs. refine / lie "Guid- - wilh iniernadonal search repon ance Notes on Codes and Abbre.viutians" appearing alihe.beg i ?? - - befare the expiratisn of lite lime liinil for amending ihe ntng qfeach regular issue ofthe. PCT Gazetle. claims and to be republished in the evaU of receipt of? nen? nf.ntí (88) Date I saw publication ot the International search report; 2 & April 2005 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING CRIBA ASSEMBLIES FOR VIBRATORY SEPARATORS Field of the Invention This invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing screen assemblies for vibratory separators and methods for manufacturing these screen assemblies.

Background of the Invention In drilling a borehole in the construction of an oil or gas well, a drill bit is fixed at the end of a drill string and rotated to drill the borehole. A drilling fluid known as "drilling mud" is pumped through the drill string to the drill bit to lubricate the drill bit. The drilling mud is also used to transport the cuts produced by the drill bit and other solids to the surface through a ring formed between the drill string and the borehole. Drilling mud contains synthetic and expensive oil-based lubricants, and therefore, it is normal to recover and reuse used mud REF: 169722 drilling, but requires solids to be renewed from drilling mud. This is achieved by processing the drilling fluid. The first part of the process is to separate the solids from the drilling mud loaded with solids. This is achieved at least partially with a vibratory separator, such as those schistose shakers described in US 5,265,730, WO 96/33792 and WO 98/16328. The schist agitators generally comprise an open bottom basket having an open discharge end and a solid wall feed end. Several rectangular screens are arranged, which are retained on C-channel rails located on the walls of the basket, such as those described in GB-A-2, 176.42. The basket is arranged in springs above a receiver to 'receive * the recovered drilling mud. A cube or channel is provided below the open discharge end of the basket. A motor is attached to the basket, which has a drive motor provided with an eccentric step weight. In use, the motor rotates the rotor and the eccentric step weight, which causes the basket to be agitated and the screens fixed thereto. The mud loaded with solids is introduced into the feed end of the basket on the screens. The stirring motion induces the solids to move along the screens to the open discharge end. The drilling mud passes through the screens. The recovered drilling mud is received in the receiver for further processing and the solids pass over the discharge end of the basket to the channel or bucket. The screens in general are of two types: hook-strip and pre-tensioned. The type of hook-strip screen comprises several rectangular layers of mesh in an interlayer, which usually comprises one or two layers of fine-grade mesh and a support mesh having larger mesh holes and a thicker gauge wire. . The layers of the mesh are joined at each side edge by a strip that is in the shape of an elongated hook. In use, the elongated hook is hooked into a tensioning device arranged along each side of a schistose agitator. The schist agitator further comprises a crowned assembly of support members, which run along the length of the agitator basket, on which the layers of the mesh are tensioned. An example of this type of screen is described in GB-A-1, 526, 663. The support mesh can be provided with, or replace by, a panel that has openings in it. The type of pre-tensioned screen comprises several rectangular mesh layers, usually comprising one or two layers of fine-grade mesh and a support mesh having larger mesh holes and thicker gauge wire. The layers of the mesh are prestressed in a rigid support comprising an iron frame of rectangular angle and adhere to it. The screen is then inserted into C-channel rails arranged in a basket of a schist stirrer. GB-A-1, 578, 948 describes an example of this type of screen. A further example of a known rigid support is described in PCT Publication No. WO 01/76719, which discloses among other things, a flat panel-like portion having openings therein and fin portions that are folded to form a structure. support, which can be made from an individual sheet of material. This rigid support has been assigned the trademark "U IBODY" by the applicants. The mesh layers in the screens wear frequently and therefore need to be easily replaced. Shaky agitators are generally in the order of 1.52 meters (5 feet) wide by 3.04 meters (10 feet) long. A screen measuring 1.22 meters (4 feet) wide by 3.04 meters (10 feet) long is difficult to handle, replace and transport. It is known to use two, three, four or more sieves on an individual shale agitator. A normal screen size currently used is in the order 1.22 meters (4 feet) by 0.91 meters (3 feet). US-A-6, 450, 345, issued September 17, 2002 and United States Patent Applications Nos. 10 / 037,474; 10 / 087,025; and 10 / 210,891 [all patents and applications are hereby incorporated in full for all purposes] describe, inter alia, methods for manufacturing glued screen assemblies for vibrating separators and screen assemblies manufactured by these methods. In certain aspects, the glue used is hot melt glue that is allowed to cool to room temperature to complete the manufacturing process of the screen assembly. In many cases, it takes up to twenty minutes for the glue in the screen assembly to cool, so that the screen assembly can then be stored or packaged and shipped. WO 03/033102 describes a method for manufacturing a screen, the method comprising the steps of unwinding a first layer of the screening material from a first roll and applying glue to the first layer of the screening material, and developing at least one second layer of screening material and applying the second layer of screening material to the first layer of screening material with an apparatus, characterized in that the apparatus is heated. Preferably, the apparatus comprises a top member arranged above the first and second layers of screening material and a bottom member arranged below the first and second layers of screening material, the method further comprising the step of heating the upper member. Advantageously, the upper member is a roller that forms a separation with the bottom member. Preferably, the roller comprises a reservoir for a hot fluid. Advantageously, the bottom member is cooled. Preferably, the bottom member is a roll that forms a gap with the top member. WO 03/033102 also describes a method for manufacturing a screen, the method comprising the steps of unrolling a first layer of screening material from a first roll and applying glue to the first layer of screening material, and unrolling the less a second layer of screening material and applying the second layer of screening material to the first layer of screening material to form a screen, characterized in that the screen has a coolant applied thereto. Preferably, the refrigerant is water. Advantageously, the refrigerant is sprayed onto the screen. Preferably, the refrigerant is applied to the top of the screen. Advantageously, the refrigerant is applied to the side of the screen to which at least the second layer of the screening material was applied. Preferably, the screen is wound onto a rewinding apparatus to form a roll.

Advantageously, the roller comprises a reservoir for a cold fluid. Once the screen is manufactured, having been made by any of the methods described in WO 03/033102, it is placed in a frame and the screen in a heated stage. The currently semi-cured powder epoxy is heated to a fluid state (eg, 140 ° C (300 ° F) to 260 ° C (500 ° F)). The area of the screen material adjacent to the frame is thus encapsulated in the powder epoxy. After approximately 5 to 10 minutes of heat and pressure (eg, approximately 155 Bars (2250 psi) to 27.6 Bars (400 psi)) the screen and frame are removed and allowed to cool to room temperature. The cured epoxy powder encapsulates the screen material adjacent to the frame and the frame forming a unitary structure. The coating thickness to achieve good encapsulation, in certain aspects, is between 0.508 and 1.016 mm (20 and 40 thousandths of an inch). In certain particular methods known for making a glued screen assembly, two or more layers of screening material are placed in a heated platen apparatus. One or more layers have a quantity of hot melt glue therein and heating and compression of the layers together with the apparatus, glue them together with heat from the heated platen apparatus which heats the glue. There has been a need, recognized by the present inventors, to facilitate the cooling of the glued screen assemblies. There has been a need, recognized by the present inventors, to reduce the time needed to process a glued screen assembly for packaging and shipping. There has been a need, recognized by the present inventors, for a method for uniformly heating the components of the screen assembly used to make a screen assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention an apparatus is provided for the. use in the manufacture of a screen assembly, the apparatus comprising a stage and a heat exchanger to remove heat from the stage. The stage is preferably a flat metal stage and has a substantially flat surface, approximately the same or slightly larger than the size of a screen. Preferably, the heat exchanger comprises at least one channel through which a coolant can flow. Advantageously, the heat exchanger comprises a multiplicity of channels through which a refrigerant can flow. The multiplicity of channels may diverge from a manifold in the heat exchanger and may converge in the heat exchanger to and from an individual source of refrigerant. Advantageously, the refrigerant is a liquid. The apparatus may comprise a pump for pumping the refrigerant and the system may circulate the same refrigerant in a sealed system continuously or intermittently. A cooling apparatus, comprising a fan, an additional heat exchanger, a cooler, a radiator or an ambient temperature cooled, can be used. Advantageously, the apparatus comprises an additional platen, the stage and the additional stage having mutually opposite surfaces between which a screen can be arranged. Preferably, the additional stage comprises a heat exchanger for passing heat therefrom. Advantageously, the additional stage can be moved relative to the stage, preferably in a piston and cylinder to allow the screen, the adhesive and the support to be placed on the stage and for the additional stage to move through the stage. the piston and the cylinder, which can be pneumatic or hydraulic to apply coupling and / or apply pressure on the screen, adhesive and screen support. The moving stage can provide a compressive force, in the screen, heat activated adhesive and screen support so that the heat activated adhesive flows in a, two, three or more of the layers of screening material that can form the screen. Preferably, the platen and / or the additional platen is arranged in springs, such that the springs press a screen in use, in one aspect, to facilitate uniform pressure through the screen. The present invention also provides an arrangement for use in the manufacture of a screen assembly, the arrangement comprising the apparatus of the present invention, the arrangement further comprising a heating apparatus for heating the heat activated adhesive "in a combination Screen and Screen Support Preferably, the array further comprises an additional cooling apparatus of the invention Multiple adjacent and separate cooling apparatuses of a heated platen apparatus are used so that as a screen assembly co-mounted together The hot plate, or combination of screens, is available from the heated platen apparatus, can be removed from it, and placed in a cooling apparatus For example, in some aspects, it takes three to four minutes to process a screen assembly together on the heated platen apparatus, but from a minute and a half to two minutes to cool the heated glue; and two cooling apparatuses are used in conjunction with the individual heated platen apparatus so that each jointly mounted screen assembly can be quickly removed from the heated platen apparatus and processed by an available cooling apparatus. Preferably, the heating apparatus and the cooling apparatus (s) of the invention are mounted in a frame. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a screen assembly, the method comprising the steps of placing a screen, a heat activated adhesive and a screen support in or on a heated apparatus for melting the heat activated adhesive, characterized wherein the method further comprises the steps of placing the screen combination, heat activated adhesive or screen support on or in a cooling plate provided with a heat exchanger to facilitate maintenance of the temperature of the cooling plate for cooling the adhesive activated by heat. In one embodiment, the screen can be placed first, heated, then the adhesive and the screen support are placed on top of the preheated screen. Preferably, the screen comprises at least one layer of the fine screening material. Advantageously, the screen is made up of at least two layers of screening material. The at least two layers of screening material can be bonded together using the method described in WO 01/39861, the description of which is shown in FIG.

It is incorporated herein for all purposes and is owned by the applicant for the present application. Preferably, the heated apparatus comprises a heated plate. Advantageously, the screen support comprises a frame. The frame may comprise an array of tubular members. The frame may be coated with a heat activated adhesive material to adhere the frame to the screen. The frame preferably prevents the screen from curling or rolling and advantageously prevents the screen from bending and more preferably retains the pressure in the screen. Preferably, the screen support comprises a thick layer of support mesh. Alternatively or additionally, the screen support comprises a perforated plate. Preferably, the cold stage is maintained at substantially ambient temperature. Or it may be at or near the coolant temperature. Advantageously, the at least one layer of screening material is a layer of coarse mesh. Preferably, the heat-activated adhesive is applied in a pattern in at least one layer of the screening material and is cured glue before the placement of at least one layer of the screening material in the heating apparatus. Advantageously, the hot-melt adhesive is hot-melt, moisture-cure adhesive. Advantageously, the at least one layer of screening material is heated sufficiently to soften the heat-activated glue. Preferably, the screening support is heated sufficiently so that at least some of the adhesive material flows over the screen to adhere together the screen support and the screen. Advantageously, the heat activated adhesive material is epoxy powder material. Advantageously, the method further comprises the steps of placing a second screen combination, heat activated adhesive and screen support in the heating apparatus, and heating the heat activated adhesive and placing the screen combination, heat activated adhesive. and screen support on or in a second cooling stage provided with a heat exchanger to facilitate maintenance of the temperature of the cooling stage to cool the heat activated adhesive. Preferably, the method further comprises the steps of placing a third screen combination, heat activated adhesive and screen support in the heating apparatus, and heating the heat activated adhesive. The present invention also provides an apparatus for use in the manufacture of a screen assembly, the apparatus comprising a stage and a plurality of elements through which electric current flows to heat the stage, characterized in that the stage also comprises at least one sensor to measure the temperature of the stage. Preferably, the apparatus further comprises at least one additional sensor, each sensor for measuring the temperature of a portion of the stage. Advantageously, the stage comprises a plurality of sensors, each for measuring the temperature of a portion, area or area of the stage. This allows a temperature reading to be obtained for each section of the stage, each element independently activatable and controllable so that the different zones, areas or portions of the combination of screen and screen support can be heated differently. The temperature sensors measure the temperature for each zone or area so that an operator or an automatic controller can adjust the heat supplied to each zone or area. For example, the outer edges of a screen combination often tend to lose heat more rapidly than the inner portions thereof and a heated platen apparatus as described above can be used to supply additional heat to these outer edges so that it is warm the full screen combination (and cooled down, using the apparatus of the first aspect of the invention) uniformly. Preferably, the apparatus includes a means for individually controlling the heat generated by each element, such as an electronic control circuit, resistive control, etc. Advantageously, the apparatus further comprises a feedback control circuit for analyzing the data received from the sensors and controlling the heat emitted by the elements, for example, by controlling the current flow to each element individually or in groups of two, three or more elements. This allows the heat applied to a screen and screen support combination to be applied uniformly to areas where heat is needed. This is particularly important when a screen support having many openings in it is used, where the heat conductance in air and conductive metal areas where heat conductance is high and form the bonding surface is low. In this way, this allows heat to be applied uniformly to the areas in which the heat activated adhesive is located precisely and thus the resulting screen assembly will be much more consistent, and of higher quality. In this way, a zone-controlled heating apparatus is provided to facilitate the application of a uniform and / or effective, adequate amount of heat to each and every one of the areas of a screen or screen assembly combination that is going away. to heat and / or to facilitate uniform cooling thereof. The present invention also provides an apparatus for use in the manufacture of a screen assembly, the apparatus comprising a stage having zones and a plurality of elements through which electric current flows to heat the stage, characterized in that elements are controlled independently to independently control the temperature of the zones on the stage.

Brief Description of the Figures For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made by way of example to the appended figures, in which: Figure IA is a top view of an apparatus according to the present invention; Figure IB is a side view of the apparatus shown in Figure IA in a first stage of operation; Figure 1C is a final view of the apparatus shown in Figure IA in a second stage of operation; Figure ID is a terminal view of the apparatus shown in Figure IA; Figure 1E is a. I saw it in cross section to the length of line 1E - 1E of the Figure IB; Figure IF is a cross-sectional view along the line of Line 1F-1F of Figure IB; Figures 2A and 2B are schematic views of preferred parts of the apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a fluid circulation system for use in apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 4A is a view of a first side of an apparatus according to the present invention, similar to that shown in Figure IB, indicating an enlarged portion shown in Figure 4C; Figure 4B is a view of a second side of an apparatus according to the present invention, similar to the apparatus shown in Figure IB indicating an enlarged portion shown in Figure 4D; Figure 4C shows an enlarged portion of Figure 4A; and Figure 4D shows an enlarged portion of Figure 4B. Detailed Description of the Invention Figures IA to 1F show an apparatus 10 according to the present invention. The apparatus 10 has a central heated platen apparatus 20 flanked on either side by cooling apparatuses 30 and 40. An upper platen 21 of the heated platen apparatus 20 can be moved downwardly to compress together the layers of the screening material and a combination 12 (shown schematically) of the screen support on a base platen 22 so that the melt-over hot in or on at least one of the layers is heated and flows to the adjacent layers to glue together the layers of the screening material to the screen support (or, in other aspects, a frame coated with powder adhesive is placed over a or more of the layers of screening material) and in a further aspect a perforated platen, which may also be powder coated. The movable upper platen 21 is connected to a moving apparatus 23 having a piston and cylinder assembly 24 with a movable piston 25 to which the upper platen 21 is connected. The hydraulic pump apparatus 26 connected to a holder 20a provides Selective hydraulic fluid under pressure to the piston assembly 24 to move the upper platen 21. As shown in Figure 1C, the upper platen 21 has moved downward to cover the layers 12 of screening material within the heated platen apparatus. The electric heating system 27 with heating elements (for example rods or wires) 21h in the upper stage and 22h in the base stage are interconnected via a series of wires 28a, 28b. The elements 21h and 22h heat the upper stage 21 and the base 22. In a particular aspect, the upper stage is heated to more than 204 ° Celsius (400 ° F) (in an aspect at approximately 232 ° Celsius (450 ° F)). )) and the base plate 22 is heated to approximately 38 ° Celsius (100 ° F) to heat the glue in the layer (s) 12 of screening material. In another aspect, both the upper plate and the base are heated to more than 204 ° Celsius (400 ° F) (in one aspect at approximately 232 ° Celsius (450 ° F)). As shown in Figure 4C, the wires 28a and the wires for the temperature sensors 27a-f for the base board 22 lead to a box 70 enclosing parts of the lower heating apparatus 27 and the wires 28b and the wires for the temperature sensors 27a-c for the upper stage 21 lead to a junction box 29. A lower part 21a of the upper plate 21 is connectedoptionally with a plurality of springs 21c to an upper part 21b of the upper platen 21. These springs 21c facilitate the application of uniform pressure on the articles on the base platen 22. Similarly, springs interconnect a part optionally superior to a bottom part of an upper stage of the cooling devices 30 and 40, as described below. Upon lifting the mobile stage 21, the bonded layers together and the screen support combination 12 are removed from the base stage 22 and placed on a base stage 32 or 42 of the cooling apparatus 30 or 40. The base plates 32 and 42 are substantially planar surfaces that can be made from any suitable material that conducts heat well, such as steel, copper, brass, copper alloys or steel. Moving upper plate 41 is moved downward to cover plates 12 of screening material. In a particular aspect, the cooling apparatus 30, 40 [even in an environment with an ambient temperature above 32 degrees Celsius (90 ° F)] cools, with the upper stage 31, 41 and the base stage 32, 42 a about 18 ° Celsius (65 ° F), the heated layers 12 of screening material at about 31 ° Celsius (88 ° F) in about 2 to 4 minutes. Cooled fluid is continuously provided to cool the heated layers of the screening material by a cooling system 50 including a cooling system 56 (eg, a chiller unit) and the pump apparatus 55. In one particular aspect, this cooling system is a PCP 500. A commercially available model of Filtrins Mfg. Company Chilled fluid is pumped (The cooling fluid can be chilled water or antifreeze) (shown schematically in Figure 3) from system 50 on a line 51, to lines 51A and 51B, and from these to base plates 42 and 32 , respectively, of the cooling apparatus 40 and 30. The fluid (eg warmer water or antifreeze) leaves the base 42 through a line 53B and the base 32 through the line 53A which are in communication for fluids with a return line 53 connected to and in communication for Fluids with the 50 system. The returned fluid is re-cooled and then pumped back to the devices , 40 for cooling by the pumping apparatus 55. A cooled fluid is provided to the upper plates 31, 41 from a line 52 and lines 52A, 52B. The fluid that has flowed through the upper plates 31, 41 flows back into system 50 via lines 54A, 54B, respectively, and a line 54. Once the original layers of screening material and screen support combination 12 have been moved from the heating apparatus 20, another set of these layers is placed in the base 22, the upper stage 21 is lowered and the new layers of screening material are heated. When then the upper stage 21 is lifted, the heated layers of screening material and the screen support combination 12 are located in the base 32 of the cooling apparatus 30. For the time being, yet another third set of layers of screening material has been heated by the heating apparatus 20, the original layers of screening material and the screen support combination 12 have been cooled in the cooling apparatus 40 and the The third set of heated layers of screening material is moved from the heating apparatus 20 to the cooling apparatus 40 for cooling. Figure 1C illustrates the three apparatuses 20, 30, 40 simultaneously in use with the upper platens in the lower positions. The upper platens 21, 31 and 41 can be moved independently with their respective cylinders and pistons. Two sets of layers of the combination of screening material and screen support, each set previously heated by the heating apparatus 20, are cooled, one in the cooling apparatus 30 and one in the cooling apparatus 40. A third set of combination layers of screening material and screen support is being heated, at the same time, in the heating apparatus 20. Figure 2A shows an embodiment of a flow system for flowing cooling fluid through a base plate such as base plate 32, 42 shown in Figures 1A-F or to flow cooling fluid through a plate upper 31, 41 of a cooling apparatus 30, 40. As shown in Figure 2A, the cooled fluid from a cooled fluid system 60 (e.g., enunciatively and without limitation, the system described above or any known system suitable for providing cooled fluid) flows out to a line. 61 and then from line 61 to sub-line 62 that pass through a member 63 (eg, a base plate or top plate as described above). By circuit ends 64 (which may be outside member 63 as shown or within member 63) the fluid flows back to a return line 65. Return line 65 is in fluid communication with system 60 and fluid from member 63 flows back to system 60 via return line 65 for re-cooling and re-introduction on line 61. Figure 2B illustrates an alternative flow scheme in which the cooled fluid from the cooled fluid system 60 flows in a line 66 to a manifold 66a. The fluid 0 flows in the sub-line 67 that are in fluid communication with the collector 66a through the member 63 to a return manifold 68. From the return manifold 68 the fluid flows to a return line 69 and then back to the system 60 for re-cooling and re-use. Figure ID illustrates a control panel 70 with controls for controlling the heating apparatus 20. The control panel 70 is interconnected via lines in the conduits 27K (shown schematically, Figure ID) with the heating devices 27 and the temperature sensors and includes controls for adjusting and controlling the temperature of the upper platen 21 and the base 22. 0 Figure 4C shows the heated platen apparatus 20 (see Figure IA - 1C). Both the upper plate 21 and the base 22 have a series of thermal rods in channels through them from one side to the other marked with the numbers from 1 to 11 in Figure 4C in which the heating elements are placed. 9pm, 22h ... Six thermal sensors, 213.-21'f, in the upper stage 21 (27a-27c). and the base 22 (27d-27f) provide temperature measurements for the edges and the intermediate portion of a screen layer combination in the base 22 during heating of the combination of screen layers. Each sensor 27a-27f is in communication with the control apparatus 27g of the heater system 27 and with the controls of the control panel 70. Sensing a temperature of a combination of screen layers by one of the sensors 27a-27f, the heating system 27 can increase, if needed (or decrease), the temperature in the area or area corresponding to the particular sensor to ensure that That area or area of the combination of screen layers is heated appropriately (and in particular cases uniformly). For example, in a particular situation, if one or both outer edges (as seen in Figure 4C) of the combination of screen layers adjacent to channels 1, 2 and 10, 11 cools too quickly or heats up very slowly (as indicated by one or all of the sensors 27a, 27c, 27d and / or 27f) additional heat is supplied through the corresponding channels so that the combination of screen layers is uniformly heated. It is also within the scope of the present invention to use the heating apparatus 20 to heat the different zones or areas of a combination of screen layers differently.

Figure 4D shows part of the system 10 in detail. The hydraulic pump apparatus 26 provides power for the movement apparatus 23, which, in one aspect, applies approximately 31 Bars (450 pounds / in2) to the articles in the base plate 22. The pneumatic apparatus 71 and 73 move the plates superiors 31 and 41, respectively. Air under pressure is supplied to pneumatic apparatuses 71 and 73 by an air compressor apparatus 72 (shown schematically) or other suitable air supply system. In certain particular aspects of the methods according to the present invention, the temperature of the base 22 is adjusted to approximately 32 ° Celsius (100 ° F) and the temperature of the upper stage 21 is adjusted to approximately 232 ° Celsius (450 °). F). An individual layer of mesh-thick screen (for example 10 to 20 mesh) with a pattern of separate lines therein of hot-melt glue for curing or moisture (which may or may not have been cured previously for several hours or days) is treated in apparatus 20 (screen on base, top plate down) for 30 seconds to one minute to soften the hot melt glue and the wire mesh. The upper stage is then lifted and a frame is placed (for example, without limitation, a Unibody frame or an elaborate framework of tubular or channel members, or rod) and placed on top of the mesh layer gross. The frame is coated with a powder adhesive, for example, known epoxy powder material. The top plate is then lowered and the powder adhesive, after heating, flows over the wire of the coarse screen layer. After approximately six to eight minutes, the upper plate rises and the heavy-grid-frame combination remains in the heated base until substantially all of the epoxy material "settles" or hardens. When lifting the upper platen after a certain period of time (eg, six to eight minutes or whatever if required) the hot melt glue is not allowed to heat to a level that degrades or burns. Therefore, the upper plate is raised so that the epoxy material can continue to be heated to a point at which a good encapsulation of the wires of the coarse mesh layer is achieved, but without or with minimal degradation of the fusion adhesive in hot in the thick mesh layer. In another aspect, instead of a single coarse mesh layer, initially a combination of two, three or more coats of coats (either described or preferred herein, for example, with coats bonded together with hot melt glue) is initially placed. moisture cure) at the base of the heating apparatus 20. The resulting screen assembly can be cooled in one of the cooling devices. In another aspect, a coarse mesh layer with a pattern (any described or referred to herein) of hot melt glue in moisture cure placed on the base 22, is heated for about 30 seconds, then one or two layers Fine screening mesh are placed on top of the coarse mesh layer and the upper stage is lowered to heat the • combination of the three layers. The top plate then rises, the screen layer combination moves to one of the cooling apparatuses, and the heating apparatus starts treating another combination of screen layers. In a particular embodiment of a method according to the present invention, a layer of coarse mesh (10 to 20 mesh) with hot melt glue thereon is placed in a fine mesh layer (38-400 mesh) which is in a thin mesh layer (30 to 325 mesh). Either or both layers of fine mesh may also have hot melt glue therein. This multi-layer combination is placed on a base of a heating apparatus according to the present invention with the base at a temperature between 204.4 ° C to 226.6 ° C (400 ° F to 440 ° F) (in one aspect in one). base as shown in Figure 4C, the heating elements for channels 1, 2, 10 and 11 are heated between 212.7 and 226.6 ° C (415 and 440 ° F) and the remaining heating elements are heated between 204.4 and 226.6 ° C (400 and 440 ° F) ). The upper stage is lowered over the multilayer combination that is heated for approximately 3 to 5 minutes. The upper stage then rises and the jointly bonded combination moves to one of the cooling apparatuses and in one aspect, another combination of multiple layers is placed simultaneously in the base of the heating apparatus. Any screen assembly fabricated in accordance with the present invention may be a screen assembly for use in a vibratory separator and in a particular aspect, a 0 screen assembly for use in a shale agitator used to treat drilling fluid with perforated cuts, debris, and / or contaminants therein, this screen assembly allows to resist vibratory forces imparted thereto by the vibration separator vibration apparatus or schistoso agitator. The present invention, therefore, in at least some of the embodiments, but not essentially all, provides a method for manufacturing a screen assembly (in one aspect, a jointly bonded screen assembly) for use in a separator. vibratory, the method which includes producing at least one layer of screening material with a pattern of glue (or adhesive) on the surface thereof, placing at least one layer of screening material in a heating apparatus, heating at least a layer of the screening material with the heating apparatus, optionally placing a secondary member in at least one layer of the screening material, heating together at least one layer of the screening material (when this is more than one layer) and / or the secondary member (when present) for combining at least one layer of screening material and at least one secondary member forming a first screen assembly. This method may include one or some, in any possible combination, of the following: wherein at least one layer of screening material is or includes a layer of coarse mesh; wherein the pattern is glue and the pattern glue in at least one layer of cured ex-glue screening material before placement of at least one layer of screening material in the heating apparatus; wherein the pattern glue is hot melt glue for cure in moisture; wherein at least one layer of the screening material is heated sufficiently to soften the glue pattern glue; wherein the secondary member is at least one layer of secondary screening material; wherein the secondary screening material includes a fine fine; wherein at least one layer of secondary screening material is two layers of the secondary screening material; wherein the two layers of secondary screening material are bonded together; wherein the secondary member is a frame for a screen assembly; wherein the frame is an array of tubular members; wherein the frame is coated with adhesive material; wherein the frame (or a frame and a secondary member) is subsequently heated so that at least some of the adhesive material flows over at least one layer of screening material to adhere together the secondary member and at least one layer of material of screening; wherein the adhesive material is epoxy powder material; removing the first screen assembly from the heating apparatus, placing the first screen assembly in a first cooling apparatus adjacent to the heating apparatus, and cooling the first screen assembly with the cooling apparatus; while the first screen assembly is cooling, forming a second screen assembly as described above; removing the second screen assembly from the heating apparatus, placing the second screen assembly in a second cooling apparatus, and cooling the second screen assembly with the second cooling apparatus; while the second screen assembly is cooling, forming a third screen assembly as described above; and / or wherein the screen assembly is capable of resisting vibratory forces imparted to a screen assembly by the vibrating apparatus of a vibratory separator or schistor stirrer. The present invention, therefore, in at least some embodiments, but essentially not all, provides a method for manufacturing a jointly mounted screen assembly for use in a vibratory separator, the method which includes gluing together at least two layers of Screening material with heated glue producing a jointly bonded screen combination, placing the combination of screen jointly stuck in the cooling apparatus, and cooled the glue heated with the cooling apparatus. This method can include one or some, in any possible combination, of the various aspects referred to in the previous paragraph. Therefore, the present invention in at least some, but not necessarily in all embodiments, provides a screen assembly fabricated by any of the methods described above. Therefore, the present invention in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all, provides a method for manufacturing a screen assembly for use in a vibratory separator, the method which includes producing at least one layer of screening material with adhesive or glue thereon, place at least one layer of screening material in the heating apparatus, heat at least one layer of screening material with the heating apparatus, place a frame in at least one layer of screening material in the heating apparatus, heating together the at least one layer of screening material and the frame to combine the at least one layer of screening material and the frame forming a screen assembly. This method may include placing a secondary member in the frame that becomes part of the screen assembly.

Preferably, the heated platen has a surface that is approximately 1 meter by 1.2 meters, that is, the same size as a screen. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the present invention is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (33)

1. CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, it is claimed as property contained in the following claims: 1. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of a screen assembly, the apparatus is characterized in that it comprises a stage and a heat exchanger to remove heat of the stage.
2. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat exchanger comprises at least one channel through which a refrigerant can flow.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the heat exchanger comprises a multiplicity of channels through which a refrigerant can flow.
4. 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the refrigerant is a liquid.
5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it further comprises an additional stage, the stage and the additional stage 0 having mutually opposing surfaces between which a screen can be arranged.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the additional stage comprises a heat exchanger.
7. 7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the additional platen can be moved relative to the platen preferably in a piston and cylinder.
8. 8. Apparatus, characterized in that the additional stage or plate is arranged in springs such that the springs press a screen in use.
9. 9. Arrangement for use in the manufacture of a screen assembly, the arrangement is characterized in that it comprises the apparatus as claimed in accordance with any preceding claim, the arrangement further comprising a heating apparatus for heating the heat activated adhesive in a combination of sieve and screen support.
10. 10. Arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that it further comprises an additional apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8.
11. 11. Arrangement according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the apparatus and the heating device are mounted on a frame.
12. 12. Method for manufacturing a screen assembly, the method comprising the steps of placing a screen, a heat activated adhesive and a screen support in or on a heated apparatus for melting the heat activated adhesive, characterized in that the method further comprises the steps of placing the combination of screen, heat activated adhesive and screen support on or in a cooling stage provided with. an internal heat exchanger to facilitate the maintenance of the temperature of the cooling plate to cool the heat-activated adhesive.
13. 13 Method according to claim 12, characterized in that the screen is at least one layer of fine screening material.
14. 14 Method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the screen is at least two layers of screening material. fifteen .
15. Method according to any of claims 12, 13 or 14, characterized in that the heated apparatus comprises a heated stage 5.
16. 16. Method according to any of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the screen support comprises a frame.
17. 17 Confidence method with any of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that the screen support comprises a thick layer of support mesh.
18. 18 Method according to any of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that the sieve support comprises a perforated plate.
19. 19. Method according to claims 12 to 18, characterized in that the cold stage is maintained at a substantially ambient temperature. twenty .
20. Method according to any of claims 13 to 19, characterized in that at least one layer of screening material is a layer of coarse mesh. twenty-one .
21. Method according to any of claims 13 to 20, characterized in that the The heat activated glue is applied in a pattern in at least one layer of screening material and is cured glue before the placement of at least one layer of screening material in the heating apparatus.
22. 22 Method according to any of claims 13 to 21, characterized in that the hot-melt adhesive 5 is hot-melt glue in moisture. 2. 3 .
23. Method according to any of claims 13 to 22, characterized in that at least one layer of screening material is heated sufficiently to soften the glue softened by heat.
24. 24 Method according to any of claims 13 to 23, characterized in that the screen support is suitably heated so that at least some of the adhesive material fills the screen to adhere together the screen support and the sieve.
25. 25. Method according to any of claims 13 to 23, characterized in that the heat-activated adhesive material is epoxy powder material.
26. Method according to any of claims 13 to 25, characterized in that it further comprises the steps of placing a second screen combination, heat activated adhesive and screen support in the heating apparatus, and heating the heat activated adhesive and placing the combination of screen, heat activated adhesive and screen support on or in a second cooling stage provided with a heat exchanger to facilitate maintenance of the temperature of the cooling stage to cool the heat activated adhesive.
27. 27. Method according to claim 26, characterized in that it further comprises the steps of placing a third screen combination, heat activated adhesive and screen support in the heating apparatus, and heating the heat activated adhesive.
28. 28. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of a screen assembly, the apparatus comprising a stage and a plurality of elements through which electric current flows to heat the stage, characterized in that the stage also comprises at least one sensor for measure the temperature 'of the stage.
29. 29. Apparatus according to claim 28, characterized in that it also comprises at least one additional sensor, each sensor for measuring the temperature of a portion of the stage.
30. Apparatus according to claim 28 or 29, characterized in that the stage comprises a plurality of sensors each for measuring the temperature of a portion of the stage.
31. Apparatus according to claim 28 or 30, characterized in that it includes a means for individually controlling the heat generated by each element.
32. 32. Apparatus according to claim 31, characterized in that it further comprises a feedback control circuit for analyzing the data received from the sensors and controlling the flow of current through each element.
33. 33. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of a screen assembly, the apparatus comprising a stage having zones and a plurality of elements through which electric current flows to heat the stage, characterized in that the elements can be controlled from independently to independently control the temperature of the zones on the deck.