Conveyor with integrated dust collector system

• US 9,919,882 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2017
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• 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:
  US15/398,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20170190524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 406113, 406117, 406118, 406151, 406152, 406153, 414291, 414332, 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 dust collection assembly to collect and remove dust particles in a volume of air when positioned at a fracking operation site, the dust particles formed by the movement and settling of proppant at the fracking operation site, the dust collection assembly comprising:

a hood assembly that connects to and substantially surrounds a chute that directs proppant to a desired location at the fracking operation site and being positioned proximate the volume of air having the dust particles, the hood assembly directing at least a portion of the volume of air toward a plurality of dust receptacles extending through the hood assembly, the hood assembly defining at least a portion of the volume of air, the dust receptacles being positioned to direct at least a portion of the volume of air away from the hood assembly; and

a vacuum air unit fluidly coupled to the hood assembly at the plurality of dust receptacles, the vacuum air unit generating suction pressure to draw at least a portion of the volume of air out of the hood assembly through the plurality of dust receptacles and remove the dust particles from the hood assembly.

2. The dust collection assembly of claim 1, the chute being coupled to an angled back side of the shell of the hood assembly such that proppant flows through the chute and hood assembly as it is directed to the desired location.

3. The dust collection assembly of claim 1, comprising a catch box arranged on a bottom surface of a shroud covering a proppant mover that directs proppant toward the hood assembly from one or more containers, the catch box positioned under the proppant mover to catch proppant and dust particles from the proppant mover after the proppant mover has directed the proppant toward the hood assembly.

4. The dust collection assembly of claim 3, wherein the catch box comprises a body forming an interior volume to catch and store the proppant and dust particles, the body having an angled side that directs the proppant and dust particles to a bottom portion proximate an outlet, the outlet being fluidly coupled to the vacuum air unit to remove the proppant and dust particles from the catch box via the suction pressure.

5. The dust collection assembly of claim 1, wherein the hood assembly comprises a curtain arranged about a perimeter of the hood assembly, the curtain extending downward and away from the plurality of dust receptacles to at least partially define the volume of air and to block the dust particles from dispersing away from the hood assembly.

6. The dust collect assembly of claim 1, wherein the air vacuum unit comprises a discharge to remove the collected dust particles and proppant for disposal, the discharge being coupled to a drum for storage and removal of the dust particles and proppant.