US 6,135,171 A · Passive enclosure dust control system

Abstract

A material handling transfer system which utilizes passive dust control methods for containing and controlling fugitive dust emissions generated during a transfer operation. The present system includes an enclosure containment structure which houses a specially designed transfer chute for vectoring a stream of moving material from a first elevated transfer location to a second lower transfer location, the chute being constructed to reduce fugitive dust emissions at the second transfer location, an adjustable deflector mechanism for containing and funneling the bulk material onto the transfer chute structure, and a stilling zone positioned downstream from the second transfer location for impeding the propagation of any fugitive dust emissions through the exit area of the enclosure structure. The present enclosure structure is specifically designed to allow for recirculation of the induced air flow generated within the enclosure structure to both relieve any pressure build up formed therewithin, particularly, in the vicinity of the second transfer location, and to facilitate the agglomeration of dust particles within the enclosure. The present system is adaptable for use in a wide variety of different material handling transfer applications including applications which involve a belt-to-belt transfer operation, a belt-to-bin transfer operation, a bin-to-belt transfer operation, a crusher-to-belt transfer operation, and both in-line and angular transfer operations. The present system therefore provides a more cost effective and less complicated system for achieving a safe work environment in areas where fugitive dust emissions must be controlled and contained.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A material transfer system for controlling dust emissions generated during a transfer operation for bulk material when material is being moved from a first location to a second location and wherein the first and second locations are spaced from each other, the system comprising,

a conveyor system having at least one end portion associated with the first location for moving bulk material which generates fugitive dust emissions to the second location;
a chute member having opposed end portions and being positioned between the first and second locations for receiving the material from the one end portion of the said conveyor system and delivering the material to the second location, one end portion of said chute member being positioned adjacent the first location and the opposed end portion of said chute member being positioned adjacent the second location, said chute member being configured to eliminate direct impact of the material at the second location;
a deflector member spaced from said chute member and positioned in the area adjacent the one end portion of said conveyor system, said deflector member being shaped and dimensioned so as to direct the material from the one end portion of said conveyor system onto to said chute member;
and
an enclosure member enclosing at least the one end portion of said conveyor system, said chute member, and said deflector member, said enclosure member being further positioned at least adjacent to the second location and having sufficient volume to allow for recirculation of the induced air flow associated with the moving material as such material is moved from said conveyor system to the second location, said enclosure member including increased volume in the area adjacent to said chute member, said deflector member, and in the vicinity where the material is delivered to the second location wherein fugitive dust emissions generated during the transfer of bulk material between first and second locations are substantially contained within the enclosure member.

2 more elements

A material transfer system for controlling dust emissions generated during a transfer operation when material is being moved from a first location to a second location, the system comprising:

a first conveyor system having at least one end portion associated with the first location for moving the material to the second location
a second conveyor system having at least a portion thereof associated with the second location for receiving the material from said first conveyor system, said first conveyor system being spaced from said second conveyor system
a chute member having opposed end portions positioned between said first and second conveyor systems for receiving the material from said first conveyor system and delivering such material to said second conveyor system, one end portion of said chute member being positioned adjacent the one end portion of said first conveyor system and the opposite end portion of said chute member being positioned adjacent a portion of said second conveyor system, said chute member being configured to eliminate direct impact of the material unto said second conveyor system and constructed so as to position the opposite end portion thereof at an acute angle with respect to the direction of movement of said second conveyor system so as to substantially align a trajectory of the moving material at the second location with the direction of movement of said second conveyor system;
a deflector member spaced from said chute member and positioned in the area adjacent the one end portion of a said first conveyor system, said deflector member being constructed to direct the material onto said chute member;
an enclosure member enclosing at least the one end portion of said first conveyor system, said chute member, said deflector member, and at least a portion of said second conveyor system, said enclosure having sufficient volume to allow for recirculation of the induced air flow associated with the material as such material is moved from the first conveyor system to the second conveyor system;
and
a stilling zone formed within said enclosure downstream from the location where the material is received onto said second conveyor system, said stilling zone extending over at least a portion of said second conveyor system and having means associated therewith for impeding any dust laden air flow through said zone.

4 more elements

A material transfer system for controlling dust emissions generated during transfer operation when material is being moved from a first location to a second location, the first and second locations being spaced from each other, the system comprising:

a conveyor system having at least a portion thereof associated with the second location for receiving the material from the first location;
a chute member having opposed end portions positioned between the first and second locations for receiving the material from the first location and delivering the material to the conveyor system associated with the second location, a first end portion of said chute member being positioned adjacent the first location and a second end portion of said chute member being positioned adjacent a portion of said conveyor system, said chute member being cradle-like in shape and having one end portion thereof positioned such that the trajectory of the material leaving said chute member forms an acute angle with the direction of movement of said conveyor system so as to eliminate direct impact of the material unto said conveyor system;
a deflector member positioned in the area adjacent the first location, said deflector member being constructed to direct the material onto said chute member;
an enclosure positioned adjacent the first location and enclosing said chute member, said deflector member, and at least a portion of said conveyor system, said enclosure having sufficient volume to allow for recirculation of induced air flow associated with the material as the material is moved from the first location to said conveyor system;
and
a stilling zone formed within said enclosure downstream from the location where the material is received onto said conveyor system, said stilling zone extending over at least a portion of said conveyor system and having means associated therewith for impeding any dust laden air flow through said zone.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Passive enclosure dust control system

Life of this patent

Passive enclosure dust control system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29