ROOF ACCESSIBLE WEAR PANEL FOR AGGREGATE DELIVERY UNIT

Abstract

A housing for inspecting and replacing a wear plate maintained within the interior of the delivery unit compartment without entering the confined space compartment.

Claims

1. A wear panel housing for a proppant delivery unit compartment, comprising: a housing adapted to be positioned through the exterior roof wall of a proppant delivery unit compartment, and having side walls, each of the side walls having a top edge, two side edges, and an inward-facing surface with a receiving ridge parallel to the top edge of the respective each of the side walls, and such that the side edges of each of the side walls are spaced apart and are fixably joined in series such that the inward-facing surfaces of each of the side walls face inward and define a first space and the top edge of each of the side walls is joined and forms a first plane and the receiving ridge on each of the side walls forms a second plane, and having a mounting lip with an exterior surface and a planar underside, for positioning upon the exterior roof wall of the proppant delivery unit compartment, such that the top edge of each side wall, and the first plane formed thereby is fixably joined to the planar underside of the mounting lip, and a support plate, shaped to fit within the second plane formed by the receiving ridge on each of the side walls, with a rectangular opening to the interior of the proppant delivery unit compartment for accommodating a wear panel, and a peripheral edge, so that the peripheral edge of the support plate is affixed to the receiving ridge of the inward-facing surface of each of the side walls of the housing, and a wear panel, shaped to fit within the plane of the receiving ridge of the housing, with the plane of the wear panel parallel to the plane of the exterior roof wall, and a pressure plate, shaped to fit within the plane of the receiving ridge of the housing and be removably placed on the wear panel, having a handle on the top side of said pressure plate.

2. A wear panel housing for a proppant delivery unit compartment as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing is adapted to be positioned upon an exterior surface of the exterior roof wall of a proppant delivery unit compartment.

3. A wear panel housing for a proppant delivery unit compartment as recited in claim 1, further comprising an openable and closable door mounted to the exterior of the housing.

4. A wear panel housing for a proppant delivery unit compartment as recited in claim 3, further comprising a latch mechanism for selectively latching the openable and closable door.

5. A wear panel housing for a proppant delivery unit compartment as recited in claim 3, wherein the openable and closeable door covers the outwardly-facing planar surface of the support plate.

6. A wear panel housing for a proppant delivery unit compartment as recited in claim 3, wherein the openable and closable door has a sealable periphery, and the mounting lip further comprises an exterior channel for receiving at least a portion of the sealable periphery of the openable and closeable door.

7. A wear panel housing for a proppant delivery unit compartment as recited in claim 7, further comprising a hinge mechanism hingedly connecting the openable and closable door to the exterior of the mounting lip.

8. A wear panel housing for a proppant delivery unit compartment as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for permitting the attachment of the housing to the exterior roof wall of the proppant delivery unit compartment.

9. A wear panel housing for a proppant delivery unit compartment as recited in claim 1, wherein the wear panel is constructed of high strength rubber.

10. A wear panel housing for a proppant delivery unit compartment, comprising: a housing, adapted to be positioned through the exterior roof wall of a proppant delivery unit compartment, and having side walls, each of the side walls having a top edge, two side edges, and an inward-facing surface with a receiving ridge parallel to the top edge of the respective each of the side walls, and such that the side edges of each of the side walls are spaced apart and are fixably joined in series such that the inward-facing surfaces of each of the side walls face inward and define a first space, and the top edge of each of the side walls is joined and forms a first plane, and the receiving ridge on each of the side walls forms a second plane, and having a mounting lip for positioning upon the exterior roof wall of the proppant delivery unit compartment, such that the top edge of each side wall, and the first plane formed thereby is fixably joined to the planar underside of the mounting lip, and a support plate, shaped to fit within the second plane formed by the receiving ridge on each of the side walls, with a rectangular opening to the interior of the proppant delivery unit compartment for accommodating a wear panel, and a peripheral edge, so that the peripheral edge of the support plate is affixed to the receiving ridge of the inward-facing surface of each of the side walls of the housing, and an openable and closable door, with a latching means, mounted to the exterior of the housing to cover the outwardly-facing planar surface of the support plate, and attached to the exterior of the mounting lip by a hinge mechanism, and a wear panel, shaped to fit within the plane of the receiving ridge of the housing, with the plane of the wear panel parallel to the plane of the exterior roof wall, constructed of high strength rubber, and a pressure plate, shaped to fit within the plane of the receiving ridge of the housing and be removably placed on the wear panel, having a handle on the top side of said pressure plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the proppant delivery unit in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the prior art exterior roof wall of a proppant delivery unit.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a side cross sectional view of the prior art proppant compartment of the proppant delivery unit.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the wear panel housing, door, latch element, and hinge mechanism in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the door and latch element in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the exterior roof wall containing a wear panel housing with the lift pipe guide attached to the lift pipe in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the exterior roof wall of a proppant delivery unit with doors to wear panel housings in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the wear panel housing's support plate and mounting lip in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the pressure plate in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of the wear panel in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] The present invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments described in the following description.

[0027] Referring to the figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 and 2 generally show a proppant delivery unit (50). Maintained on the chassis of the proppant delivery unit are a plurality of proppant compartments (52). Each compartment (52) has a roof wall (54), bottom wall (56) and side walls (58).

[0028] As the proppant delivery unit (50) is commonly delivered to the well site empty, each compartment (52) is equipped with a fill port (60) for filling the compartments (52) with proppant (62). The fill port (60) is located at a lower portion of each compartment (52). The proppant (62) is pneumatically fed into the compartments (52) by conventional means, through the fill port (60).

[0029] Referring to FIG. 3, once the proppant (62) is fed into the compartment (52), the proppant (62) is dispensed through a lift pipe (64) toward the roof wall (54) of the compartment (52).

[0030] To avoid the proppant (62) impacting directly upon the roof wall (54) and to eliminate the need for an individual to enter the compartment (52) and change a wear panel attached to the interior of the roof wall (54), a wear panel housing (72) is installed on the roof wall (54) of the compartment (52).

[0031] As illustrated in FIG. 8, the housing (72) is positioned to intrude through an opening on the exterior roof wall (54) of a compartment (52). Referring to FIG. 6, the housing (72) consists of side walls (74), such that each of the side walls (74) has a top edge (76), two side edges (78), and an inward-facing surface (80). The side walls (74) define an interior volume within the roof wall (54).

[0032] The mounting lip (82) is located on the top of the housing (72). The top edges (76) of the side walls (74) of the housing (72) are attached to the underside of the mounting lip (82). The underside of the mounting lip (82) is planar for mounting upon the exterior roof wall (54). In the preferred embodiment, hinge mechanisms (84) are located on the upper side of the mounting lip (82) for attaching an openable and closable door (86). On the upper side of the mounting lip (82) but on the side opposite the location the hinge mechanisms (84) is a latch element (88).

[0033] The mounting lip (82) is for mounting the apparatus upon the exterior roof wall (54). In the preferred embodiment, the mounting lip (82) is weldedly attached to the exterior roof wall (54). In alternative embodiments, the attachment means may include bolts or glue.

[0034] A support plate (90), which is flat and with a shape configured to be located in the plane of the receiving ridge (92) of the housing (72), is attached at its edges to the receiving ridge (92) on the interior walls (74) of the housing (72). The plane of the support plate (90) is, preferably, parallel to the plane of the exterior roof wall (54). The support plate (90) has a rectangular opening (94) to the interior of the compartment (52) for accommodating a wear panel (96).

[0035] Referring to FIG. 7, an openable and securably closable door (86) is mounted on the exterior of the housing (72) to one side of the mounting lip (82). The openable and closable door (86) prevents proppant from escaping the compartment (52) and assists in maintaining the wear panel (96) in its desired location. The door covers a space bounded on the top by the mounting lip (82) that overlies the top edges of the side walls (74), on the sides by the side walls (74) between the receiving ridge and the mounting lip (82), and on the base by the outwardly-facing planar surface of the support plate (90).

[0036] The openable and closable door (86) has, optionally, a sealable periphery and the mounting lip (82) has an exterior channel (not shown) for receiving the sealable periphery of the closable door (86). Additionally, the openable and closable door (86) is attached to the exterior of the mounting lip (82) by hinge mechanisms (84). The first side of the hinge mechanism (84) is attached to the mounting lip (82), while the second side of the hinge mechanism (84) is affixed to the side of the openable and closable door (86) opposite the latch mechanism. In the preferred embodiment, the door is held securably closed by a latching mechanism (88).

[0037] Removably maintained within the housing (72) is a wear panel (96). The wear panel (96) is flat and with a shape configured to be located in the plane of the receiving ridge (92) of the housing (72). The plane of the wear panel (96) is, preferably, parallel to the plane of the exterior roof wall (54). The wear panel (96), in the preferred embodiment, is constructed of high strength rubber. In alternative embodiments, the wear panel (96) may be constructed of steel or other material capable of withstanding continuous proppant impact.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 9, the wear panel (96) is maintained in its desired location by means of a pressure plate (98). The pressure plate (98) is flat and with a shape configured to be located in the plane of the receiving ridge (92) of the housing (72). A handle (100) is fixedly attached to the top side (102) of the pressure plate (98). The handle (100) assists in the removal of the pressure plate (98) from the housing (98) and, when the door (86) is in the closed position, makes contact with the interior of the door (86), thereby causing the pressure plate (98) to press downward on the wear panel (96).

[0039] In use, referring to FIG. 7, an individual would access the exterior of the roof wall (54) and proceed to the door (86) of a wear panel housing (72). The latch element (88) is moved to the unlatched position and the door (86) moved to the open position. After opening the door (86), the pressure plate (98) and wear panel (96) are removed. The wear panel (96) is then inspected to determine if it is in need of replacement.

[0040] As illustrated in FIG. 6, when the wear panel (96) is removed, the lift pipe (64) can be inspected and, if necessary, realigned to insure the proppant comes into contact with the wear panel (96) and not the interior roof wall (54) of the compartment (52). Upon completing the replacement of the wear panel (96), the wear panel (96) and pressure plate (98) are placed upon the support plate (90) of the wear panel housing (72). The door (86) is placed in the closed position and the latch element (88) is moved to the latched position.

[0041] This description of the various embodiments of the present invention are presented to illustrate the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and other inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed. The description is intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.

TABLE-US-00001 Index of Elements 50 Proppant Delivery Unit 52 Proppant Compartment 54 Roof Wall 56 Bottom Wall 58 Side Walls 60 Fill Port 62 Proppant 64 Lift Pipe 66 68 70 72 Wear Panel Housing 74 Side Walls 76 Top Edge 78 Side Edges 80 Inward Facing Surface 82 Mounting Lip 84 Hinge Mechanism 86 Door 88 Latch Element 90 Support Plate 92 Receiving Edge 94 Rectangular Opening 96 Wear Panel 98 Pressure Plate 100 Handle 102 Top Side