Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
Powdered Material Metering Apparatus
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a powdered material
metering apparatus and, more particularly, such an apparatus
suitable for use in adding powdered chemicals to drilling
fluids.
1o BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Drilling fluids are pumped down oil and gas wells as a
control mechanism to prevent "blow outs". A "blow out" is an
uncontrolled release of fluids from a well. It is important
that the weight of the column of drilling fluid exceed
l5formation pressure. When drilling oil and gas wells,
specialized engineers are employed to perform calculations and
provide instructions to the drilling crew as to the weight and
viscosity of the drilling fluid that is to be used in order to
provide a necessary margin of safety.
The most common manner of increasing the viscosity and
adding weight to drilling fluids is by adding weight enhancing
chemicals, such as barite, to the drilling fluid. Barite comes
in powdered form. The directions from the engineer indicate
the number of bags that are to be added to the drilling fluid
per hour. Due to human error, barite is not being added to the
drilling fluid in a consistent fashion. This results in
undesirable variations in the viscosity and weight of the
drilling fluid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is a powdered materal metering apparatus
capable of consistently delivering powdered chemical additive,
such as barite, to drilling fluids.
According to the present invention there is provided a
powdered material metering apparatus which includes a container
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adapted to hold powdered material and a ramp having a first end
and a second end. The first end of the ramp communicates with
the container. A continuous loop metering chain is supported
by the ramp. The metering chain has a plurality of links each
of which has an aperture. Means is provided for driving the
metering chain. The chain passes through powdered material in
the container to the first end of the ramp and along the ramp
with powdered material trapped in each aperture of each link
of the metering chain being delivered to the second end of the
to ramp .
The powdered material metering apparatus, as described
above, delivers powdered material as the metering chain
rotates.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the
use of the powdered material metering apparatus, as described
above, in order to obtain an even greater degree of accuracy,
it is preferred that a wiper be positioned above the metering
2o chain. This ensures that any excess powdered material is wiped
from each aperture of each link of the metering chain.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the
use of the powdered material metering apparatus, as described
above, even more beneficial results may be obtained when the
angle of the ramp is adjustable. This allows the apparatus to
be adapted to different sizes of drilling rigs.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the
3o use of the powdered material metering apparatus, as described
above, even more beneficial results may be obtained when a)
a flexible delivery chute is positioned at the second end of
the ramp. The flexible delivery chute enables powdered
material to be directed, as required, by merely bending the
chute to the desired discharge point.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the
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use of the powdered material metering apparatus, as described
above, even more beneficial results may be obtained when a bag
support with bag cutting knives is positioned within the
container. This enables the drilling crew to toss bags of
powdered chemical onto the bag support, where the bags are cut
open by the bag cutting knives.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the
use of the powdered material metering apparatus, as described
to above, even more beneficial results may be obtained when the
means for driving the metering chain is a variable speed motor.
The variable speed motor permits the speed of movement of the
metering chain to be either increased or decreased as desired
to deliver a required number of bags per minute.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TH8 DRAWI1~TGS
These and other features of the invention will become more
apparent from the following description in which reference is
made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose
ao of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit
the scope of the invention to the particular embodiment or
embodiments shown, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of a powdered material
metering apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings of
the present invention.
FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view, in section, of the
powdered material metering apparatus illustrated in FIGUR$ 1.
FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the container of the
powdered material metering apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1
3o FIGURE 4 is a detailed side elevation view, in section,
of the container illustrated in FIGURE 3.
FIGURE 4 is a detailed side elevation view, in section,
of the container illustrated in FIGITRB 3.
FIGURE 5 is a detailed end elevation view, in section, of
the container illustrated in FIGURE 3, with the cradle in an
operational cutting position relative to cutting knife.
FIGURE 6 is a detailed end elevation view, in section, of
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the container illustrated in FIGURE 3, with the cradle in the
safety position with cutting knife shielded.
FIGURE 7 is a detailed end elevation view, in section, of
the container illustrated in FIGURE 3, with a pyramid knife
s installed.
FIGURE 8 is a detailed top plan view, of a metering chain
of the powdered material metering apparatus illustrated in
FIGURE 1.
1o DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment, a powdered material metering
apparatus generally identified by reference numeral 10, will
now be described with reference to FIGURES 1 through 8.
1s Structure and Relationship of Parts:
Referring to FIGURE l, there is illustrated a powdered
material metering apparatus 10 which includes a hopper
container 12. Referring to FIGURE 2, container 12 is adapted
to hold powdered material 14. In the illustrated embodiment,
2o container 12 has open top 16, a tapered bottom 18 and interior
sidewalls 20. An exit opening 22 is provided in bottom 18. It
will be appreciated that container 12 could have a different
configuration than illustrated and still function. Referring
to FIGURE 3, a cross bar 24 extends between sidewalls 20 of
2s container 12. Referring to FIGURE 5, a cutting knife 26 is
mounted to cross bar 24 within container 12.
Referring to FIGURE 4, a cradle 28 is provided that is
adapted to hold a bag 30 containing powdered material 14.
3o Generally bags 30 intended for cradle 28 weighing approximately
40 kilograms (88 1b) each. Referring to FIGURE 3, guide tracks
32 extend across open top 16 of container 12. Referring to
FIGURES 5 and 6, cradle 28 has rollers 34 that are adapted to
engage with guide tracks 32 such that cradle 28 can be moved
s5 across open top 16 of container 12 from an operational cutting
position illustrated in FLGURE 5 to a safety position
illustrated in FIGURE 6. Referring to FIGURE 6, in the safety
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position, cradle 28 positioned such that knife 26 is hidden
within a shield 36 provided on cradle 28 so that operators will
not inadvertently cut themselves on knife 26. Cradle 28 has
downwardly sloping sidewalls 29 which ensure that bag 30 always
s sags into path of knife 26. As cradle 28 moves from the safety
position illustrated in FIGURE 6 to the operational cutting
position illustrated in FIGURE 5, bag 30 is dragged across
knife 26, cutting bag 30 and thereby releasing the contents of
bag 30 into container 12.
to
Referring to FIGURE l, a ramp 38 is provided that has a
first end 40 and a second end 42. First end 40 communicates
with container 12 at exit opening 22. A flexible delivery chute
44 is positioned at second end 42 of ramp 38. Referring to
15 FIGURE 2, a continuous loop metering chain 46 is supported by
ramp 38. A manual jack 39 is provided for selectively varying
the angle of inclination of ramp 38
Referring to FIGURE 8, metering chain 46 has a plurality
20 of links 48 each of which has apertures 50. Referring to FIGURE
2, a variable speed motor 52 drives metering chain 46, such
that metering chain 46 passes through powdered material 14 in
container 12 at first end 40 of ramp 38 and travels along ramp
38 to second end 42 with powdered material 14 trapped in each
25 of apertures 50 of each link 48 of metering chain 46
illustrated in FIGURE 8. Referring to FIGURE 2, variable speed
motor 52 permits the speed of movement of metering chain 46 to
be either increased or decreased as desired to deliver a
required number of bags 30 of powdered material 14 per minute.
3o Referring to FIGURE 4, a wiper 54 is positioned on container
12 above metering chain 46, such that excess powdered material
14 is wiped from apertures 50 of each link 48 of metering chain
46, thereby preventing variations in the amount of powdered
material 14 carried by each aperture 50 of each link 48 of
35 metering chain 46. This ensures that the delivery of powdered
material by metering chain 46 is consistent.
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Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, a pivotally mounted cover
56 is provided on container 12 which can be pivoted to an open
position when apparatus 10 is in use as illustrated in FIGURE
2, or to a closed position when apparatus 10 is not in use as
illustrated in FIGURE 1. Referring to FIGURE l, a locking
engagement 58 is provided for locking cover 56 in the closed
position. In the illustrated embodiment, container 12 is
supported on a skid 60 by several supporting legs 62. For ease
of transportation, skid 60 has wheels 64 and is adapted to
to hitched to a towing vehicle. A trailer jack 66 is provided on
skid 60 and is used to support skid 60 when skid 60 is not
hitched to a towing vehicle. Both wheels 64 and trailer jack
66 can be removed in the event that skid 60 is to be moved with
a lifting fork. Referring to FIGURE 2, standing platforms 68
i5 are provided on skid 60 between supporting legs 62 to provide
an elevated surface on which to stand when placing bags 30 on
cradle 28 or when servicing apparatus 10. Platforms 68 can be
removed or pivoted to a storage position during transportation
of skid 60. A guide rail 70 is provided on skid 60 which also
2o supports a control box 72. Control box 72 contains the controls
for activating and adjusting the speed of speed variable drive
motor 52. Referring to FIGURE 2, a length of cord 74 is
connected to control box 74 which allows an operator 75 to shut
down variable speed drive motor 52 from a distance if required.
Operation:
The use and operation of powdered material metering
apparatus generally identified by reference numeral 10, will
3o now be described with reference to FIGURES 1 through 4.
Referring to FIGURE 1, powdered material metering apparatus 10,
as described above, can be used to consistently deliver
powdered chemical additives such as barite, to drilling fluids
at a drilling rig site.
Referring to FIGURE l, to use apparatus 10, manual jack
39 is manually adjusted to selectively vary the angle of
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inclination of ramp 38 depending on the size and configuration
of the drilling rig with which it is being used. Flexible
delivery chute 44 that is positioned at second end 42 of ramp
38 is bent to direct it toward a drilling fluids receptacle 76.
s Referring to FIGURE 2, cover 56 is disengaged from locking
engagement 58 and pivoted to the open position to allow access
to cradle 28. Variable speed drive motor 52 is activated to
begin driving continuous loop of metering chain 46. Speed of
variable speed drive motor 52 is either increased or decreased
io to adjust the speed of movement of metering chain 46, depending
on the desired number of bags 30 of powdered material 14
illustrated in FIGURE 4, that axe to be delivered per minute.
Referring of FIGURE 4, bag 30 of powdered material 14 is
15 then placed on cradle 28. Cradle 28 is then moved from the
safety position illustrated in FIGURE 6, to the operational
cutting position illustrated in FIGURE 5, so that bag 30 is
dragged across cutting knife 26 to cut open bag 30 so that
powdered material 14 contained within bag 30 is released and
2oflows into container 12. Referring to FIGURE 2, powdered
material 14 flows by force of gravity down tapered bottom 18
of container 12 to exit opening 22. Continuous loop metering
chain 46 rotates below exit opening 22 such that metering chain
46 passes through accumulating powdered material 14. As
2s metering chain 46 passes through powdered material 14, powdered
material 14 becomes trapped in apertures 50 of each link 48 of
metering chain 46. Referring to FIGURE 4, wiper 54 that is
positioned above metering chain 46 wipes excess powdered
material 14 from each aperture 50 of each link 48 to ensure
3o that a consistent amount of powdered material 14 is contained
within each aperture 50 of each link 48 of metering chain 46.
Referring to FIGURE 2, powdered material 14 in apertures 50 of
each link 48 travels with metering chain 46 from first end 40
of ramp 38 to second end 42 of ramp 38. Powdered material 14
35 trapped in metering chain 46 is dumped from metering chain 46
at second end 42 of ramp 38 into flexible delivery chute 44.
Powdered material 14 travels along flexible delivery chute 44
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by force of gravity until it exits flexible delivery chute 44
into drilling fluid receptacle 76.
Referring to FIGURE 2, as length of cord 74 is connected
to control box 72, operator 75 is able to move away from
apparatus to get more bags 30, and yet operator 75 is able to
shut apparatus 10 down from a distance if an emergency occurs,
rather than running back to apparatus 10.
1o Alternative Embodiment
Referring to FIC3UR8 7, as an alternative, cradle 28 can
be disengaged from open top 16 of container 12 and cutting
knife 26 can be removed from cross bar 24 inside of container
12. A pyramidal knife 78 can then be mounted on cross bar 24.
Pyramidal knife 78 has four sharp edged supports 80 which
converge to form a sharp point 82 that extends above open top
16 of container 12. Pyramidal knife 78 is suitable for use with
large bags 30 of powered material 14 such as those weighing
approximately 1.36 metric tonnes (3000 1b). These large bags
30 are placed on point 82 to cut them open to release powdered
material 14 into container 12. These large bags are used were
the number of bags per minute required makes feeding the
machine with individual 88 pound bags too onerous.
Powdered material metering apparatus 10 provides a number
of advantages:
- it is environmentally friendly and avoids spillage which
formerly occurred when attempting to dump bags of powdered
chemicals;
- it is provides a safe working environment regarding bag
handling and knives;
- it will continue to work as conditions change, extreme
heat, extreme cold, extreme wet or extreme dry;
- it delivers powdered product with remarkable accuracy;
- it permits the speed of delivery of the product to be
controlled, increased or decreased as desired;
- it is labour saving and, as such, cost effective;
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- it can handle large or small jobs and works with large
or small drilling rigs.
In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in
s its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word
are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not
excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article
"a" does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the
element is present, unless the context clearly requires that
to there be one and only one of the elements.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
15 hereinafter defined in the Claims.
