A proppant delivery assembly receives and supports a plurality of containers having proppant stored therein. A cradle has a top surface which receives and supports the plurality of containers when positioned thereon. The cradle enables the plurality of containers to dispense the proppant stored therein. A proppant mover is positioned to underlie and extend along the top surface of the cradle aligned with the plurality of containers to receive proppant from the plurality of containers. The proppant mover carries proppant away from the plurality of containers. A chute is coupled to the cradle for receiving proppant from the proppant mover and directing the proppant to a blender hopper. A hood assembly is disposed at an end of the chute opposite the proppant mover for directing a vacuum air flow that removes a volume of air containing proppant dust particles directed from the chute. The hood assembly includes a curtain extending about a perimeter of the hood assembly and downward therefrom to at least partially define the volume of air being removed by the hood assembly.

A proppant delivery assembly receives and supports a plurality of containers having proppant stored therein. A cradle has a top surface which receives and supports the plurality of containers when positioned thereon. The cradle enables the plurality of containers to dispense the proppant stored therein. A proppant mover is positioned to underlie and extend along the top surface of the cradle aligned with the plurality of containers to receive proppant from the plurality of containers. The proppant mover carries proppant away from the plurality of containers. A chute is coupled to the cradle for receiving proppant from the proppant mover and directing the proppant to a blender hopper. A hood assembly is disposed at an end of the chute opposite the proppant mover for directing a vacuum air flow that removes a volume of air containing proppant dust particles directed from the chute. The hood assembly includes a curtain extending about a perimeter of the hood assembly and downward therefrom to at least partially define the volume of air being removed by the hood assembly.

A method and system for trans-loading solid particulates from a hopper to a storage container, by clamping a trough to a discharge gate of the hopper, the trough having an open top, sides, and a bottom, a vacuum pipe extending into the trough, and at least one aerator located on the trough, to which is provided an aerating gas. The method further comprises at least partially evacuating the storage container to cause at least a partial vacuum therein and drawing a vacuum through a conveyor hose connected to the trough.

A material handling apparatus is described comprising a material press body having an inlet and an outlet; a power source for generating an airstream into the inlet of the material press body and through the outlet of the material press body, wherein the airstream captures and feeds a supply material into the material press body; a plurality of press augers for capturing and manipulating the supply material into the material handling apparatus; and a drive system connected to drive and control the plurality of augers.

A bulk cargo blending hopper has a hollow interior volume that is selectively communicated with a source of vacuum pressure. A first conduit has a first end that is connected to the housing of the hopper and communicates with the interior volume of the housing of the hopper. An opposite second end of the first conduit is configured for communication with a source of bulk cargo that is separate from the hopper. A second conduit has a first end that is also connected to a portion of the housing of the hopper and communicates with the interior portion of the housing. A second end of the second conduit is also connected to a portion of the housing of the hopper and communicates with the interior volume of the housing of the hopper.

An additive manufacturing powder handling system includes a powder container and at least two of: an overflow powder collector system configured to collect overflow additive manufacturing powder from the additive manufacturing printer and pass the overflow additive manufacturing powder into the powder container; a vacuum system configured to receive by vacuum force additive manufacturing powder from an additive manufacturing printer and pass the additive manufacturing powder into the powder container; a sieve system configured to filter the additive manufacturing powder; and a powder container moving apparatus configured to move the powder container between any two of the additive manufacturing printer, the overflow powder collector system, the vacuum system, and the sieve system. The powder container includes a powder container coupling. Each of the overflow powder collector system, the vacuum system, and the sieve system includes at least one coupling element configured to receive the powder container coupling.

An additive manufacturing powder handling system includes a powder container and at least two of: an overflow powder collector system configured to collect overflow additive manufacturing powder from the additive manufacturing printer and pass the overflow additive manufacturing powder into the powder container; a vacuum system configured to receive by vacuum force additive manufacturing powder from an additive manufacturing printer and pass the additive manufacturing powder into the powder container; a sieve system configured to filter the additive manufacturing powder; and a powder container moving apparatus configured to move the powder container between any two of the additive manufacturing printer, the overflow powder collector system, the vacuum system, and the sieve system. The powder container includes a powder container coupling. Each of the overflow powder collector system, the vacuum system, and the sieve system includes at least one coupling element configured to receive the powder container coupling.

Method and apparatus for pneumatically conveying granular material from a supply thereof through a conduit to a plurality of receivers for temporary storage of the material prior to molding or extrusion thereof by drawing vacuum in the conduit using a vacuum pump and controlling the vacuum pump in response to sensed vacuum level in the conduit.

Method and apparatus for pneumatically conveying granular material from a supply thereof through a conduit to a plurality of receivers for temporary storage of the material prior to molding or extrusion thereof by drawing vacuum in the conduit using a vacuum pump and controlling the vacuum pump in response to sensed vacuum level in the conduit.

A vacuum operated wood pellet management apparatus, systems and methods thereof, capable of handling, transferring, dispensing and filtering wood pellets. The pellet management apparatus and systems comprising a housing having a motor and a vacuum fan, a power supply, wherein the power supply controls an output of the motor, a pellet chamber connected to the housing, wherein the pellet chamber includes an inlet port configured to receive a plurality of wood pellets from a source of wood pellets and an outlet port regulated by a self-closing hinge.