Conveyor with integrated dust collector system

• US 10,035,668 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2017
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SandBox Enterprises LLC (U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Oren Technologies LLC (U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Oren, Joshua, Boros, Marty, Berveiler, Pete, Hansen, Dave, Campbell, Colin, Edwards, Mike, Massalone, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): DILLON JR, JOSEPH A
• Application Number:
  US15/497,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20170247209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 406113, 406117, 406118, 406151, 406152, 406153, 414291, 414332, 198637, 454 56
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/5021 the vehicle being self-propelled, e.g. truck mounted, provided with a motor, driven by tracks B01F33/5022 - B01F33/5027 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 11/00 Manually-controlled or manually-operable label dispensers, e.g. modified for the application of labels to articles special furniture, fittings, or accessories for shops, storehouses, bars, or the like A47F; for paper napkins, for toilet paper A47K; for playing cards A63F; movable-strip writing or reading apparatus B42D19/00; adhesive tape dispensers B65H35/002; dispensers for tickets G07B; coin-operated dispensers for stamps G07F ; dispensing devices for pamphlets from vehicles G09F21/22
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 11/00 Chutes used as storage devices B65G1/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 15/00 Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to which tractive effort is transmitted by means other than endless driving elements of similar configuration having load-conveying surfaces formed by interconnected longitudinal links B65G17/06
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 53/24 Gas suction systems
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 53/26 operating with fluidisation of the materials
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 65/42 using belt or chain conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 69/181 by means of sealed systems
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 69/182 with aspiration means
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2607 Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/267 reinforcing fractures by propping

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure a system for capturing proppant dust particles when positioned at a fracking operation site including a proppant delivery assembly to receive one or more containers having proppant stored therein. The system dispenses the proppant from the one or more containers and delivers the proppant to other fracking operation equipment. Moreover, the system includes a dust collection assembly positioned proximate and associated with the proppant delivery assembly to capture dust particles released by movement and settling of the proppant when being dispensed and delivered by the proppant delivery assembly. The dust collection assembly is positioned to direct an air flow in a flow path overlying the dust particles to capture the dust particles and move the dust particles away from the proppant thereby reducing risk of dust exposure to fracking operation site personnel.

Claims

1. A proppant delivery assembly to receive and support a plurality of containers having proppant stored therein, the proppant delivery assembly comprising:

a cradle having a top surface to receive and to support the plurality of containers when positioned thereon, the cradle enabling the plurality of containers to dispense the proppant stored therein;

a proppant mover positioned to underlie and extend along the top surface of the cradle and aligned with the plurality of containers having proppant stored therein to receive the proppant from the plurality of containers, the proppant mover carrying the proppant away from the plurality of containers;

a directable chute that receives the proppant from the proppant mover and directs the proppant to a desired location, the chute being coupled to the cradle and movable in at least a lateral direction with respect to the proppant mover to change the location where the proppant is dispensed; and

a vacuum assembly connected to the directable chute to capture dust particles released by movement and settling of the proppant when being dispensed and directed from the chute.

2. The proppant delivery assembly of claim 1, further comprising conduit supports coupled to a shroud positioned to surround the proppant mover, the shroud arranged around an inclined portion of the proppant mover to block dust particles from escaping to the atmosphere while the proppant is being moved along the proppant mover.

3. The proppant delivery assembly of claim 1, wherein the proppant mover comprises an endless conveyor that receives proppant on a surface thereof and extends beyond a length of the cradle and having an inclined portion that moves the proppant above the top surface of the cradle, the conveyor dispensing the proppant into the chute as the conveyor turns over on a set of rollers to return to the plurality of containers.

4. The proppant delivery assembly of claim 1, further comprising one or more actuators that align with plurality of gates arranged adjacent a bottom of each of the plurality of containers, the one or more actuators arranged to move the one or more gates between an open position to enable proppant to flow out of the one or more containers and a closed position to block the proppant from exiting the containers.