Conveyor with integrated dust collector system

• US 9,932,183 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2017
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• 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:
  US15/497,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20170247208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 342 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 system for capturing proppant dust particles when positioned at a fracking operation site, the system comprising:

a proppant delivery assembly supporting one or more containers having proppant stored therein, the one or more containers dispensing proppant to a conveying surface which moves the proppant to a chute that directs the dispensed proppant to a desired location; and

a dust collection assembly integrated with the proppant delivery system to capture dust particles released by movement and settling of the proppant when being dispensed and directed from the chute to the desired location, the dust collection assembly including an air mover positioned at a proximal end of the proppant delivery assembly and being positioned to draw a volume of air containing dust particles proximate the desired location at a distal end of the proppant delivery assembly away from the desired location to reduce the risk of dust exposure to personnel near the desired location.

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

a cradle having a top surface to receive and support the one or more containers and to at least partially support the dust collection assembly;

a proppant mover positioned below the top surface of the cradle to receive the proppant from the one or more containers, the proppant mover directing the proppant toward the desired location; and

a chute arranged at a distal end and pivotally coupled to the cradle, the chute positioned proximate the proppant mover to receive the dispensed proppant.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the dust collection assembly further includes:

a hood assembly positioned over the desired location, the hood assembly having at least one dust receptacle extending through the hood assembly such that the dust receptacle is in fluid contact with the volume of air containing the dust particles;

the air mover fluidly coupled to the hood assembly, the air mover generating a vacuum force to draw the volume of air away from the desired location and through the at least one dust receptacle; and

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

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a catch box arranged beneath the proppant mover and downstream of the chute to catch proppant and dust particles from the proppant mover as the proppant is transferred to the chute.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the catch box is coupled to the conduit such that proppant and dust particles received in the catch box are carried toward the dust collection assembly as the dust collection assembly draws a vacuum force on the catch box.