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Portable modular windscreen

Portable modular windscreen description/claims

1. Field of the Invention

This patent relates to a windscreen. More particularly, this patent relates to a portable, modular windscreen for use with a system for evaporating wastewater left over from oil or gas drilling, fracturing, or production operations or the like in which water is evaporated by spraying it through nozzles located on or near a wastewater pond.

2. Description of the Related Art

Oil and gas drilling operations often create excess water that is stored in artificially created ponds until the water can be evaporated, typically by spraying it into the air. The problem with many water evaporation systems (a.k.a. abatement systems) is that overspray can contaminate the surrounding environment. This problem can be exacerbated by wind and by the local topography. Thus there is a need for a windscreen (a.k.a. overspray abatement screen) that can be quickly packed, transported, unloaded, set up and taken down by a single individual, and can be sized and shaped to fit any size pond or location.

Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide a man portable windscreen for use in water abatement systems from oil and gas drilling operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a windscreen that is modular in design so that individual windscreen sections have freedom of individual movement to ensure that one weak section does not compromise the entire system.

Still another object of the invention is to provide windscreen sections that can be connected to each other so the windscreen system can be form fitted around any size pond or location.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a windscreen that can be set up and taken down by a single individual with standard tools.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a windscreen in which the windscreen frames and screen sizes can be modified.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

The present invention is a windscreen system comprising two or more windscreen sections which can be transported and set in the ground independently of one another. Each windscreen section comprises a one or more mesh screens secured to a rigid frame which is then secured to the ground by various means. A relatively narrow screen extends between the vertical side poles of adjacent windscreen sections to form a continuous windscreen system.

Each rigid frame comprises top and bottom horizontal poles having a length of at least about eight feet and extending between a pair of vertical side poles. Each vertical side pole is at least about ten feet high measured from the ground and is secured to the ground by various means. Preferably each windscreen section also has a middle horizontal pole extending between the vertical side poles between the top and bottom horizontal poles.

The mesh screen or screens are secured to the frame and extend between the vertical side poles and between the horizontal poles. In one embodiment a top screen extends between the vertical side poles and between the top and middle horizontal poles, and a second, bottom screen extends between the vertical side poles and between the middle and bottom horizontal poles.

One means for securing the vertical poles to the ground involves using rear support braces. Each rear support brace has a top end attached to the vertical side pole and a bottom end secured to the ground by a stake inserted through a hole located in the rear support brace near its bottom end and then further inserted into the ground.

The windscreen sections can also be secured to the ground by providing vertical side poles with hollow bottom sections so they can be slid over ground stakes driven into the ground.

The windscreen sections can be further secured to the ground with guy lines attached to each vertical side pole above the middle horizontal pole and to a second stake inserted into the ground about ten to twelve feet behind the vertical side poles.

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a windscreen system according to the present invention.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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