Apparatus and method for detecting breaks in screens

1. An apparatus for detecting a break in a screen of a vibratory separator, wherein the vibratory separator comprises a screen secured with in a housing and having a plurality of openings sized for separating material deposited thereon, and a throughs outlet located below the screen for removing material that passes through the screen from the housing, the apparatus comprising:

an infeed section coupled to the housing such that at least a portion of the material passing through the screen and directed from the housing is directed through the infeed section;

a detector screening element receiving material from the infeed section, wherein the detector screening element has a plurality of openings having a size equal to or slightly larger than the opening size of the screen in the vibratory separator; and

a level sensor positioned above the detector screening element, wherein the level sensor is positioned to detect material build up on the detector screening element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

an orifice plate located in the infeed section, wherein material passes through the orifice plate before reaching the detector screening element.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:

at least one cleaning element located under the orifice plate to prevent material from building up on the orifice plate.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one cleaning element located under the detector screening element to prevent material from building up on the screening element.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the level sensor is a proximity sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a baffle fin located in the throughs outlet for directing material to the infeed section.

7. A vibratory separator comprising:

a base;

a housing elastically mounted to the base;

a vibration generator for imparting motion to the housing at an advantageous frequency and amplitude;

a screen secured within the housing and having a plurality of openings sized for separating material deposited thereon;

a throughs outlet located below the screen for removing material that passes through the screen from the housing; and

a break detector coupled to the housing below the screen for receiving at least a portion of material that passes through the screen in the housing, wherein the break detector comprises:

an infeed section coupled to the housing to receive at least a portion of the material passing through the screen;

a detector screening element receiving material from the infeed section, wherein the detector screening element has a plurality of openings having a size equal to or slightly larger than the opening size of the screen in the vibratory separator; and

a level sensor positioned above the detector screening element, wherein the level sensor is positioned to detect material backup on the detector screening element.

8. The vibratory separator of claim 7 , wherein the break detector further comprises:

an orifice plate located in the infeed section, wherein material passes through the orifice plate before reaching the detector screening element.

9. The vibratory separator of claim 8 , wherein the break detector further comprises:

at least one cleaning element located under the orifice plate to prevent material from building up on the orifice plate.

10. The vibratory separator of claim 7 , wherein the break detector further comprises:

at least one cleaning element located under the detector screening element to prevent material from building up on the screening element.

11. The vibratory separator of claim 7 , wherein the level sensor is a proximity sensor.

12. The vibratory separator of claim 7 , further comprising:

a baffle fin located in the throughs outlet for directing at least a portion of the material that passed through the screen to the infeed section.

13. A method for detecting a break in a screen of a vibratory separator, wherein the vibratory separator comprises a screen secured with in a housing and having a plurality of openings sized for separating material deposited thereon, a vibration generator for imparting motion to the housing, and a throughs outlet located below the screen for removing material that passes through the screen from the housing, the method comprising:

directing at least a portion of material that passes through the screen to a detector screening element having a plurality of openings having a size equal to or slightly larger than the opening size of the screen in the vibratory separator;

detecting when the material directed to the detector screening element builds up to a predetermined level; and

sending a signal in response to the detection of material build up to the predetermined level.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein detecting the material build up on the detector screening element comprises using a level sensor to determine when the material builds up to the predetermined level.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein detecting the material build up on the detector screening element comprises using a proximity sensor to determine when the material builds up to the predetermined level.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

throttling the flow of material onto the detector screening element.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein sending the signal in response to the detection of material build up to the predetermined level comprises:

audibly alerting an operator when material has backed up on the detector screening element to the predetermined level.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein sending the signal in response to the detection of material build up to the predetermined level comprises:

stopping the vibration generator imparting motion to the housing when material has backed up on the detector screening element to the predetermined level.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein sending the signal in response to the detection of material build up to the predetermined level comprises:

visually alerting an operator when material has backed up on the detector screening element to the predetermined level.