Conveyor with integrated dust collector system

• US 10,065,816 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2017
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• 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:
  US15/463,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20170190525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 406113, 406117, 406118, 406151, 406152, 406153, 414291
• 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 system for capturing proppant dust particles when positioned at a fracking operation site, the system comprising:

a proppant delivery assembly to receive one or more containers having proppant stored therein, dispense the proppant from the one or more containers, and deliver the proppant through a chute outlet to other fracking operation equipment; and

a dust collection assembly positioned proximate to and fluidly connected 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 positioned to include a plurality of dust receptacles each with a vacuum connection positioned above a distal end of the proppant delivery assembly so as to direct an air flow in flow paths overlying the chute outlet 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.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the proppant delivery system comprises:

a cradle having a top surface to receive and support the one or more containers and being positionable at a fracking operations well site to facilitate dispensing and movement of the proppant from the container to a blender hopper located at the fracking operations well site; and

a proppant mover positioned to underlie the top surface of the cradle and direct dispensed proppant away from the container.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the proppant delivery assembly includes a chute positioned along a distal end thereof through which proppant flows therefrom during operation of the proppant delivery assembly, and wherein the dust collection system comprises:

a hood assembly connected to the chute of the proppant delivery assembly, the plurality of dust receptacles extending through the hood assembly to direct the dust particles away from the proppant;

an air mover in fluid communication with the hood assembly to generate movement of the air flow so as to capture the dust particles, the air flow being sufficient to collect the dust particles and significantly reduce the risk of lifting the proppant; and

conduit extending between the hood assembly and the air mover to carry the collected dust particles away from the hood assembly and toward the air mover.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the suction pressure generated by the air flow is less than approximately 3 Pascals (Pa) above a static pressure of the system.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the suction pressure generated by the air flow is within a range of approximately 3 Pa to 9 Pa above a static pressure of the system.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the other fracking operation equipment includes a blender hopper positioned to receive the proppant from the chute, and the hood assembly overlies an opening of the blender hopper to capture the dust particles as they are formed by the settling and collection of proppant in the blender hopper.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the dust collection assembly further comprises a catch box arranged on the proppant delivery assembly downstream of the chute, the catch box receiving dust particles as the proppant is delivered from a conveyor to the chute.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the conduit is coupled to the catch box to carry the collected dust particles away from the catch box and toward the air mover, the air mover drawing a vacuum on the catch box to pull the dust particles out of the catch box.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the conduit is supported along a length of the proppant delivery assembly to reduce the footprint of the dust collection assembly.

10. The system of claim 3, wherein the hood assembly comprises:

a first hood section positioned to substantially surround the chute outlet to direct dust particles to the air mover via plurality of dust receptacles;

a second hood section region adjacent the first hood section and comprising at least one dust receptacle of the plurality of dust receptacles positioned above a planar bottom surface of the hood assembly; and

a third hood section region adjacent the first hood section and opposite the second hood section, the third hood section comprising at least one dust receptacle of the plurality of dust receptacles positioned above the planar bottom surface of the hood assembly, the second and third hood sections being substantially symmetrical about the first hood section.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein the proppant mover is a conveyor that receives the proppant on a surface of the conveyor and moves the proppant away from the one or more containers, the conveyor extending beyond a length of the cradle and having an inclined portion to carry the proppant above the top surface of the cradle.

12. The system of claim 3, comprising a curtain disposed about a perimeter of the hood assembly, the curtain extending in a downward direction and at least partially defining the flow path.