Conveyor with integrated dust collector system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017190523-A1
Application number	US-201715398835-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 5, 2017
Priority date	Jan 6, 2016
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

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.

First claim

That claimed is:

1 .- 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 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Oren Tech Llc

Inventors

• Oren Joshua
• Boros Marty
• Berveiler Pete
• Hansen Dave
• Campbell Colin
• Edwards Mike
• Massalone Thomas

Classifications

• E21B43/2607

  Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations · CPC title

• B65G11/00

  Chutes (used as storage devices B65G1/02) · CPC title

• B65G69/181 Primary

  by means of sealed systems · CPC title

• E21B43/267

  reinforcing fractures by propping · CPC title

• B65G65/42

  using belt or chain conveyors · CPC title