What I claim is:
1. Spray paint can mixer apparatus comprising in combination:
a base;
a panel extending upwardly from the base;
means for holding a spray paint can for mixing; and
a motor connected to the panel and to the means for holding a spray paint can for rotating the means for holding a spray paint can for mixing the paint in the spray paint can at a relatively low RPM.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 which further includes a housing secured to the base for enclosing the motor, and the panel is part of the housing.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the means for holding a spray paint can includes means for holding spray paint cans of different lengths.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which the means for holding a spray paint can includes a clamp.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 which further includes a ring adjacent to the clamp and secured to the panel secured to the base.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 which further includes a recess in the panel adjacent to the clamp.
7. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the means for holding a spray paint can further includes a back panel and a top panel and a bottom panel.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 which further includes spring elements on the top and bottom panels for holding spray paint cans of different lengths.
9. Apparatus for mixing paint in a spray paint can comprising in combination;
means for holding the can of spray paint;
a motor connected to the means for holding the spray paint can for rotating the spray paint can at a relatively low RPM; and
means for supporting the means for holding the spray paint can and the motor.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 in which the means for supporting the means for holding a spray paint can and the motor includes a base, and a panel extending upwardly from the base for supporting the motor.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 in which the means for holding the spray paint can includes a clamp secured to the motor.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 which further includes a ring secured to the panel and disposed adjacent to the clamp.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 which further includes a circular recess in the panel adjacent to the clamp.
14. The apparatus of claim 10 in which the means for holding the spray paint can includes platform means rotatably secured to the motor.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 in which the platform means includes
a back panel,
a bottom panel secured to the back panel and extending outwardly from the back panel,
a top panel secured to the back panel remote from the bottom panel, and
the spray paint can is disposed between the bottom and top panels.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the platform means further includes clamp elements secured to the back panel between the bottom and top panels for holding the spray paint can.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 in which the platform means further includes spring elements connected to the bottom and top panels for holding spray paint cans of different lengths.
18. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the platform means further includes a first spring element secured to the bottom panel for holding spray paint cans of different lengths.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 in which the platform means further includes a second spring element secured to the top panel for holding spray paint cans of different lengths.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 in which the first and second spring elements extend towards each other to hold spray paint cans of one length and retract to their respective bottom and top panels to hold spray paint cans of another length.
21. The apparatus of claim 10 which further includes a housing secured to the base for enclosing the motor.
22. The apparatus of claim 21 in which the motor includes a shaft connected to the means for holding the spray paint can, and the shaft rotates between about thirty five and sixty five revolutions per minute.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 in which the motor is an electric motor.
24. The apparatus of claim 9 in which the means for holding the spray paint can includes element means secured to the motor and having a first area and a second area.
25. The apparatus of claim 24 in which the element means includes a first arm and a second ann.
26. The apparatus of claim 24 in which the first and second arms of the element means are spring arms.
27. The apparatus of claim 24 in which the first and second arms are fixed, and the element means further includes a strap for securing the spray paint can to the first and second arms.
28. The apparatus of claim 24 in which the first and second arms are fixed, and the element means further includes a first magnet secured to the first arm and a second magnet secured to the second arm for securing the spray paint can to the first and second arms.
29. The apparatus of claim 11 in which the means for supporting the means for holding a spray paint can and the motor includes a top secured to the panel, and a handle is secured to the top.
30. The apparatus of claim 29 in which the handle is removably secured to the top.
31. The apparatus of claim 30 in which the clamp includes a pair of slots, and the handle includes a pair of flanges which extend into the pair of slots when the handle is disposed against the clamp.
32. The apparatus of claim 9 in which the means for supporting the means for holding the spray paint can and the motor includes a housing and a handle secured to the housing.
33. The apparatus of claim 32 in which the means for holding a spray paint can includes a clamp for holding a spray paint can having a first diameter.
34. The apparatus of claim 33 in which the handle is removable from the housing and securable to the clamp for holding a spray paint can having a second diameter.
35. The apparatus of claim 34 in which the clamp includes a pair of slots and the handle includes a pair of arm elements which extend in to the pair of slots in the clamp to secure the handle to the clamp.
36. The apparatus of claim 35 in which the housing includes
a base,
a front panel extending generally upwardly from the base for supporting the motor, and
a ring secured to the front panel adjacent to the clamp.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. In a subterranean drilling operation of the type where earthen cuttings are produced, a method for the temporary storage of the cuttings, the method comprising:
receiving the cuttings into a tank, the tank being positioned above a feeder, the feeder having an outer wall and an inner wall, a substantially flat floor having a first floor portion extending outwardly, a powered rotation member extending through the first floor portion, central sweep members, peripheral sweep members, a weir, an and a substantially flat second floor portion positioned about the first floor portion and extending to the outer wall, the second floor portion having a discharge port, the tank being configured such that cuttings received within the tank substantially cover the first floor portion, the accumulated cuttings forming a primary column above the first floor portion;
sweeping the first floor portion with the central sweep members, the central sweep members being affixed to the powered rotation member, the powered rotation member positioning the sweep members proximate the first floor portion, the rotation of the central sweep members displacing cuttings toward and beyond the perimeter of the first floor portion onto the second floor portion;
regulating the amount of cuttings being displaced from the first floor portion onto the second floor portion by alternatively lowering and raising the weir, the weir and the inner wall cooperating such that the lowered weir and the inner wall restrain sufficient cuttings above the first floor portion for formation of the primary column;
sweeping the second floor portion with the peripheral sweep members, the peripheral sweep members being rotated by the powered rotation member and positioned proximate the second floor portion such that the peripheral sweep members displace cuttings along the second floor portion;
discharging cuttings through the discharge port as the cuttings are displaced along the second floor portion; and
receiving the discharged cuttings into a transportation device for transport away from the feeder, the receipt of cuttings being alternately terminated and started.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the discharged cuttings received into the transportation device are wet, the method further comprising:
receiving the transported wet cuttings in a first additional temporary storage in accordance with the method of claim 1:
metering the wet cuttings discharged from the first additional temporary storage;
routing the metered wet cuttings to a drying process wherein the wet cuttings are at least partially dried;
routing at least part of the at least partially dried cuttings for second additional temporary storage in accordance with the method of claim 1;
optionally, routing at least part of the at least partially dried cuttings from the drying process to storage on a floating vessel;
metering the at least partially dry cuttings discharged from the second additional temporary storage;
blending wet cuttings discharged from the additional temporary storage with the at least partially dried cuttings discharged from the second additional temporary storage;
optionally, discharging the at least partially dried cuttings for overboard disposal; and
routing the blend to the drying process.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the discharged cuttings received into the transportation device are wet, the method further comprising:
receiving the transported cuttings on a floating vessel;
transporting the wet cuttings from the floating vessel using a transportation device for second additional second temporary storage in accordance with claim 1;
metering the discharged wet cuttings from the first additional temporary storage;
routing the metered wet cuttings to a drying process wherein the wet cuttings are at least partially dried;
routing at least part of the at least partially dried cuttings for second additional temporary storage in accordance with the method of claim 1;
optionally, routing at least part of the at least partially dried cuttings from the drying process to onshore disposal;
metering the discharged at least partially dry cuttings from the second additional temporary storage;
blending wet cuttings discharged from the additional temporary storage with the at least partially dried cuttings discharged from the second additional temporary storage;
optionally, discharging the at least partially dried cuttings for onshore disposal; and
routing the blend to the drying process.
4. In a subterranean drilling operation of the type where earthen cuttings are produced, a method for the temporary storage of the cuttings, the method comprising:
receiving the cuttings into a tank, the tank being positioned above a feeder, the feeder having an outer wall and an inner wall, a substantially flat floor having a first floor portion extending outwardly, a powered rotation member extending through the first floor portion, central sweep members, peripheral sweep members, a weir, an and a substantially flat second floor portion positioned about the first floor portion and extending to the outer wall, the second floor portion having a discharge port, the tank being configured such that cuttings received within the tank substantially cover the first floor portion;
sweeping the first floor portion with the central sweep members, the central sweep members being affixed to the powered rotation member, the powered rotation member positioning the sweep members proximate the first floor portion, the rotation of the central sweep members displacing cuttings toward and beyond the perimeter of the first floor portion onto the second floor portion;
regulating the amount of cuttings being displaced from the first floor portion onto the second floor portion by alternatively lowering and raising the weir, the weir and the inner wall cooperating such that the lowered weir and the inner wall restrain substantially all the cuttings above the first floor portion;
sweeping the second floor portion with the peripheral sweep members, the peripheral sweep members being rotated by the powered rotation member and positioned proximate the second floor portion such that the peripheral sweep members displace cuttings along the second floor portion;
discharging cuttings through the discharge port as the cuttings are displaced along the second floor portion; and
receiving the discharged cuttings into a transportation device for transport away from the feeder, the receipt of cuttings being alternately terminated and started.
5. In a subterranean drilling operation of the type where earthen cuttings are produced, a system for receiving and temporarily storing the cuttings, the system comprising:
a transportation device for moving cuttings;
a tank for receiving the cuttings moved by the transportation;
a feeder beneath the tank, the feeder having an outer wall and an inner wall, a substantially flat floor having a first floor portion extending outwardly, a powered rotation member extending through the first floor portion, central sweep members, peripheral sweep members, a weir, an and a substantially flat second floor portion positioned about the first floor portion and extending to the outer wall, the second floor portion having a discharge port, the tank being configured such that cuttings received within the tank substantially cover the first floor portion, the accumulated cuttings forming a primary column above the first floor portion;
the feeder being further configured such that the central sweep members sweep the first floor portion, the central sweep members being affixed to the powered rotation member, the powered rotation member positioning the sweep members proximate the first floor portion, the rotation of the central sweep members displacing cuttings toward and beyond the perimeter of the first floor portion onto the second floor portion;
the weir being further configured for regulating the amount of cuttings being displaced from the first floor portion onto the second floor portion by alternatively being moved between lower and higher positions, the weir and the inner wall cooperating such that the lowered weir and the inner wall restrain sufficient cuttings above the first floor portion for formation of the primary column;
the feeder being further configured such that the peripheral sweep members sweep the second floor portion, the peripheral sweep members being rotated by the powered rotation member and positioned proximate the second floor portion such that the peripheral sweep members displace cuttings along the second floor portion;
the feeder being further configured such that cuttings are discharged through the discharge port as the cuttings are displaced along the second floor portion; and
a second transportation device for receiving the discharged cuttings for transport away from the feeder, the receipt of cuttings being alternately terminated and started.
6. In a subterranean drilling operation of the type where earthen cuttings are produced, a method for the temporary storage of the cuttings, the method comprising:
receiving the cuttings into a tank, the tank being positioned above a feeder, the feeder having an outer wall and an inner wall, a substantially flat floor having a first floor portion extending outwardly, a powered rotation member extending through the first floor portion, central sweep members, peripheral sweep members, a weir, an and a substantially flat second floor portion positioned about the first floor portion and extending to the outer wall, the second floor portion having a discharge port, the tank being configured such that cuttings received within the tank substantially cover the first floor portion, the accumulated cuttings forming a primary column above the first floor portion;
sweeping the first floor portion with the central sweep members, the central sweep members being affixed to the powered rotation member, the powered rotation member positioning the sweep members proximate the first floor portion, the rotation of the central sweep members displacing cuttings toward and beyond the perimeter of the first floor portion onto the second floor portion;
regulating the amount of cuttings being displaced from the first floor portion onto the second floor portion by adjusting the rotational speed of the central sweep members, the weir and the inner wall cooperating such that the lowered weir and the inner wall restrain sufficient cuttings above the first floor portion for formation of the primary column;
sweeping the second floor portion with the peripheral sweep members, the peripheral sweep members being rotated by the powered rotation member and positioned proximate the second floor portion such that the peripheral sweep members displace cuttings along the second floor portion;
discharging cuttings through the discharge port as the cuttings are displaced along the second floor portion; and
receiving the discharged cuttings into a transportation device for transport away from the feeder, the receipt of cuttings being alternately terminated and started.