Conveyor with integrated dust collector system

• US 9,868,598 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2017
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• 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:
  US15/463,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20170190527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 302 Days
• Field of Search: 406113, 406117, 406118, 406151, 406152, 406153, 414291, 198637
• 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 hood assembly to direct a vacuum air flow that removes a volume of air containing proppant dust particles after a proppant has been transported to a desired fracking operation well site location from a flow path, the hood assembly comprising:

a first hood section that substantially surrounds and receives an outlet of a chute that directs the proppant to the desired fracking operation well site location, the first hood section comprising at least one dust receptacle extending through a body of the first hood section to enable the volume of air to exit the first hood section;

a second hood section positioned adjacent the first hood section and comprising at least one dust receptacle to receive the volume of air; and

a third hood section positioned adjacent the first hood section and opposite the second hood section, the third hood section comprising at least one dust receptacle to receive the volume of air and being substantially symmetrical to the second hood section about the first hood section.

2. The hood assembly of claim 1, wherein the second and third hood sections each comprise an open area adjacent the respective at least one dust receptacle, the respective open areas surrounding the respective at least one dust receptacle.

3. The hood assembly of claim 1, comprising a curtain extending about a perimeter of the hood assembly, the curtain extending downward from the first, second, and third hood sections to at least partially define the volume of air being removed by the hood assembly.

4. The hood assembly of claim 1, wherein the chute outlet is coupled to a back wall of the hood assembly, the back wall at least partially defining the volume of air with sidewalls and a front wall, the back wall being closer to the conveyor than the front wall.