Dust control systems for bulk material containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11066259-B2
Application number	US-201616319539-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 24, 2016
Priority date	Aug 24, 2016
Publication date	Jul 20, 2021
Grant date	Jul 20, 2021

Abstract

Controlling the dust emissions from the discharge of bulk materials from a container provides many benefits. A container engages a support structure that includes a frame. The frame includes a dust control enclosure coupled to an outlet or a hopper at the top of the frame and the container or a discharge gate of the container. The dust control enclosure comprises a collapsible and flexible material so that a tight seal is formed between the container and the hopper or the outlet of the frame. Dust from the discharged of the bulk material from the container is contained within the support structure. A dust control panel may also be disposed at the top of the frame to prevent any dust from migrating through the frame. The container may comprise a plurality of dust enclosure panels to further prevent the escape of dust during discharge of the bulk material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A container system, comprising:
a support structure, wherein the support structure comprises a frame;
an outlet coupled to the frame;
a dust control enclosure coupled to the outlet, wherein the dust control enclosure comprises a flexible and collapsible material;
a container disposed on the frame, wherein the container stores bulk material, and wherein the dust control enclosure forms a seal between the container and the outlet;
a discharge gate of the container for discharging the bulk material from the container, wherein the dust control enclosure forms a seal between the container and the outlet, and wherein the dust control enclosure is configured to control dust emissions associated with the discharge of the bulk material; and
one or more actuators disposed on the support structure, wherein the one or more actuators are configured to actuate the discharge gate.

2. The container system of claim 1 , wherein the dust control enclosure comprises an accordion shape.

3. The container system of claim 1 , wherein the dust control enclosure comprises a spring.

4. The container system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a hopper disposed between the outlet and the dust control enclosure.

5. The container system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a vacuum system, wherein the vacuum system reclaims dust generated when the bulk material is discharged from the container.

6. The container system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a dust control panel disposed about the outlet and coupled to a top portion of the frame, wherein the dust control panel prevents a portion of the discharged bulk material from falling from the top portion of the frame through the frame, wherein an opening of the dust control panel fits securely about the outlet.

7. The container system of claim 1 , wherein a top portion and a bottom portion of the container are enclosed by a plurality of dust enclosure panels.

8. The container system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a dust seal coupled to the bottom portion of the container, wherein the dust seal is configured to seal the container to the frame.

9. The container system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a vacuum system disposed at least in one or more of the frame and a bottom portion of the container, wherein the vacuum system reclaims dust from a discharge of the bulk material.

10. The container system of claim 1 , wherein the dust control enclosure is permanently coupled to the outlet.

11. A dust control method, comprising:
discharging a bulk material of a container via a discharge gate of the container, wherein the container is disposed on a frame of a support structure, and wherein the bulk material is discharged via an outlet coupled to the frame, wherein one or more actuators are disposed on the support structure, wherein the one or more actuators are configured to actuate the discharge gate; and
controlling dust emissions associated with the discharge of the bulk material via a dust control enclosure disposed on the frame, wherein the dust control enclosure forms a seal between the container and the outlet, and wherein the dust control enclosure comprises a flexible and collapsible material.

12. The dust control method of claim 11 , wherein the dust control enclosure comprises an accordion shape.

13. The dust control method of claim 11 , wherein the dust control enclosure comprises a spring.

14. The dust control method of claim 11 , further comprising:
conveying the discharged bulk material to a hopper, wherein the hopper is disposed between the outlet and the dust control enclosure.

15. The dust control method of claim 11 , further comprising:
reclaiming dust generated when the bulk material is discharged from the container via a vacuum system.

16. The dust control method of claim 11 , further comprising:
preventing a first portion of the discharged bulk material from falling from a top portion of the frame through the frame via a dust control panel disposed about the outlet and coupled to the top portion of the frame.

17. The dust control method of claim 11 , further comprising:
preventing a second portion of the discharged bulk material from falling from a top portion of the frame through the frame via a plurality of dust enclosure panels, wherein the plurality of dust enclosure panels enclose a top portion and a bottom portion of the container.

18. The dust control method of claim 17 , further comprising:
preventing a third portion of the discharged bulk material from falling from a top portion of the frame through the frame via a dust seal coupled to the bottom portion of the container, wherein the dust seal is configured to seal the container to the frame.

19. The dust control method of claim 17 , further comprising:
reclaiming dust from a discharge of the bulk material via a vacuum system, wherein the vacuum system is disposed within the frame.

20. The dust control method of claim 11 , wherein the dust control enclosure is permanently coupled to the outlet.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Warren Wesley John
• Schaffner Austin Carl
• Fisher Chad Adam
• Lucas Bryan Chapman

Classifications

• B65D88/26 Primary

  Hoppers, i.e. containers having funnel-shaped discharge sections (B65D88/34 - B65D88/78 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65D90/54

  Gates or closures · CPC title

• B65G69/181 Primary

  by means of sealed systems · CPC title

• B60P1/56

  the load-transporting element having bottom discharging openings · CPC title

• B65D90/52

  Anti-slosh devices (vehicle fuel tanks with means modifying or controlling distribution or motion of fuel, e.g. to prevent noise, surge, splash or fuel starvation B60K15/077) · CPC title