Systems and methods for removing particulate material

A material removal system for removing particulate material, comprising:

• a collection conduit having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal f said collection conduit being positionable adjacent the particulate material;
• a primary cyclone separator having an inlet, an outlet, and a material discharge port, the inlet of said primary cyclone separator being operatively connected to the proximal end of said collection conduit, said primary cyclone separator having a first particle size cut point so that said primary cyclone separator separates quantities of particulate material entrained in an air stream entering the inlet of said primary particle separator system having particle sizes that are generally larger than the first particle size cut point;
• a secondary cyclone separator having an inlet, an outlet, and a material discharge port, the inlet of said secondary cyclone separator being operatively connected to the outlet of said primary cyclone separator, said secondary particle separator system having a second particle size cut point that is smaller than the first particle size cut point of said primary cyclone separator so that said secondary cyclone separator separates additional quantities of particulate material entrained in an air stream exiting the outlet of said primary particle separator system having particle sizes that are generally larger than the second particle size cut point;
• a particulate filter having an inlet operatively connected to the outlet of said secondary cyclone separator
• an air pump having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of said air pump being operatively connected to an outlet of said particulate filter;
• a conveyor system operatively associated with the material discharge ports of said primary and secondary cyclone separators, said conveyor system collecting separated particulate material from the material discharge ports of said primary and secondary cyclone separators and transporting the separated particulate material to a material discharge end of said conveyor system;
• and
• a removable container operatively associated with the material discharge end of said conveyor system, said removable container holding a defined quantity of separated particulate material discharged by the material discharge end of said conveyor system.

A material removal system for removing particulate material, comprising:

• a collection conduit having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of said collection conduit being positionable adjacent the particulate material;
• a primary particle separator system having an inlet, an outlet, and a material discharge port, the inlet of said primary particle separator system being operatively connected to the proximal end of said collection conduit, said primary particle separator system separating quantities of particulate material entrained in an air stream entering the inlet of said primary particle separator system;
• a secondary particle separator system having an inlet, an outlet, and a material discharge port, the inlet of said secondary particle separator system being operatively connected to the outlet of said primary particle separator system, said secondary particle separator system separating additional quantities of particulate material entrained in an air stream exiting the outlet of said primary particle separator system;
• an air pump having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of said air pump being operatively connected to the outlet of said secondary particle separator system;
• and
• a conveyor system operatively associated with the material discharge ports of said primary and secondary particle separator systems, said conveyor system collecting separated particulate material from the material discharge ports of said primary and secondary particle separator systems and transporting the separated particulate material to a material discharge end of said conveyor system.