CONVEYOR WITH INTEGRATED DUST COLLECTOR SYSTEM

• US 20170190523A1
• Filed: 01/05/2017
• Published: 07/06/2017
• 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: Massalone, Thomas, Oren, Joshua, Boros, Marty, Berveiler, Pete, Hansen, Dave, Campbell, Colin, Edwards, Mike
• Granted Patent: US 9,845,210 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A method of capturing proppant dust particles when positioned at a fracking operation site, the method comprising:

delivering proppant stored in one or more containers to fracking operation equipment via a proppant delivery assembly;

capturing proppant dust particles formed by the movement and settling of the proppant at the fracking operation equipment via an air flow directed in a flow path overlying the dust particles; and

removing the proppant dust particles from the fracking operation equipment by directing the air flow away from the fracking operation equipment.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of delivering proppant comprises:

positioning the one or more containers on a top surface of a cradle;

opening a gate arranged at a respective bottom of the one or more containers, the gate being moveable between an open position and a closed position to enable proppant to flow out of the one or more containers; and

moving the proppant away from the one or more containers via a proppant mover positioned below the one or more containers such that the proppant is fed from the one or more containers to the proppant mover using gravity feed.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising arranging a hood assembly proximate the fracking operating equipment to direct the air flow toward the flow path, the hood assembly being fluidly coupled to an air mover generating the air flow to draw a vacuum in the flow path to capture the dust particles.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising collecting the captured proppant dust particles away from the fracking operation equipment for disposal.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising catching dust particles downstream of the fracking operation equipment in a catch box positioned between a proppant mover that carries proppant away from the one or more containers and the fracking operation equipment, the catch box arranged below an inclined portion of the proppant mover to catch proppant and dust particles as they are transferred to a chute arranged at a distal end of the proppant delivery assembly.

18-25. -25. (canceled)