A conveyor sled assembly is utilized to supply proppant in support of oilfield hydraulic fracturing operations. The conveyor sled assembly includes precisely positioned components where tolerances between components are so small as to prevent significant spillage at component junction boundaries. This manner of fitting proppant pods onto the conveyor sled assembly increases predictability of which pods will discharge their proppant load first. This enhances reliability of the overall proppant delivery system.

A conveyor sled assembly is utilized to supply proppant in support of oilfield hydraulic fracturing operations. The conveyor sled assembly includes precisely positioned components where tolerances between components are so small as to prevent significant spillage at component junction boundaries. This manner of fitting proppant pods onto the conveyor sled assembly increases predictability of which pods will discharge their proppant load first. This enhances reliability of the overall proppant delivery system.

A dust control device for preventing dust and debris from escaping into the atmosphere during the process of loading rail cars with grain or other granular commodities/products. The dust control device generally includes a dust hood that is moveably supported on a pair of stationary elongated support rails via wheels. The support rails are attached to a delivery spout of an elevator and extend over the path of travel of a rail car to be loaded. An elongated pivotable engagement arm connected to the dust hood extends downwardly into the path of the rail car and is engaged as the car passes beneath the dust hood. The dust hood moves with the rail car from a ready position to an operational position in close proximity to the delivery spout to capture the dust and debris generated during the loading process. When the rail car disengages from the engagement arm, the dust hood returns to the ready position automatically and without a power source under the force exerted by a spring-biased positioning assembly.

A material supply assembly includes a valve assembly having an outer valve member and an inner valve member rotatable relative to the outer valve member. A base assembly includes an base structure and an actuator. An engagement structure is operative between the outer valve member and the actuator to prevent relative movement between the outer valve member and the actuator. A locking structure is operative between the inner valve member and the base structure to prevent relative movement between the inner valve member and the base structure. Movement of the actuator relative to the base structure moves the outer valve member relative to the inner valve member to operate the valve assembly.

Controlling the dust emissions from the discharge of bulk materials from a container provides many benefits. A support structure may include a plurality of outlets or chutes for discharging the bulk material. A dust control damper coupled to the outlets not currently in use for the discharge of bulk material may prevent dust from escaping into the surrounding air. The dust control dampers may automatically transition between a closed position and an open position. A flexibly collapsible shroud may also be coupled to a discharge gate of a container. The shroud may expand to seal against the outlet when bulk material is discharge. A vacuum system at or near an outlet may reclaim any dust that escapes during discharge of the bulk material.

Controlling the dust emissions from the discharge of bulk materials from a container provides many benefits. A support structure may include a plurality of outlets or chutes for discharging the bulk material. A dust control damper coupled to the outlets not currently in use for the discharge of bulk material may prevent dust from escaping into the surrounding air. The dust control dampers may automatically transition between a closed position and an open position. A flexibly collapsible shroud may also be coupled to a discharge gate of a container. The shroud may expand to seal against the outlet when bulk material is discharge. A vacuum system at or near an outlet may reclaim any dust that escapes during discharge of the bulk material.

A system for contained sterile/aseptic transfer of materials comprises a coupler assembly (6) including an active valve assembly (9) having an active valve and docking part and a passive valve assembly (7) which comprises a passive valve and a complimentary docking part, the two docking parts enabling the two valve assemblies to be secured together in a first position with a void formed between the two facing surfaces of the closed valves. A sterilisation device (20) including a UV emitter assembly is arranged to emit UV light into the void such that the exposed outer surfaces of at least the passive valve and active valve are exposed to UV light emitted by the emitter assembly after the two docking parts are secured together in the first position, and prior to moving of the passive/active valve to a second position where material may transfer through the opened valves.

A method of reducing silicosis caused by inhalation of silica-containing proppant, such as silica sand and resin-coated silica sand, and apparatus therefor. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading Abstract of the Disclosure. The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

A method of reducing silicosis caused by inhalation of silica-containing proppant, such as silica sand and resin-coated silica sand, and apparatus therefor. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading Abstract of the Disclosure. The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Apparatus and method for reducing airborne proppant adjacent a fracking material handling system. In some embodiments, a proppant storage chamber is configured to store a volume of proppant. A blow-in adapter mates with a first port of the chamber to facilitate a flow of proppant into the chamber at an inlet pressure. A filter assembly covers and filter a first aperture of the chamber to reduce an emission of airborne proppant during the transfer of the proppant into the proppant storage chamber. A vacuum adapter mates with a second port of the chamber to supply a negative pressure to the chamber during the filling process to maintain an internal pressure within the chamber below a predetermined pressure threshold.