Apparatus and methods for assisting in controlling the discharge of material onto a conveyor from a dispenser
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsBrent Naizer, Ronnie Hughes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In some embodiments, apparatus useful for assisting in controlling the discharge of material onto a conveyor from a material dispenser includes a carrier, first and second side restrictors extending downwardly from the carrier and at least one wiper extending downwardly from the carrier and transverse to the side restrictors. The side restrictors are configured to assist in preventing at least some material from overflowing off the sides of the conveyor, while the wiper is configured to level the top of at least some of the material dispensed on the conveyor.
Claims20
Apparatus useful for assisting in controlling the discharge of material onto a conveyor belt from a material dispenser, the apparatus comprising:
- a carrier slideably engaged with the material dispenser and being movable relative thereto into at least one open-flow position below the material dispenser and above the conveyor belt, said carrier in said at least one open-flow position being configured to allow material to flow from the material dispenser onto the conveyor belt;
- first and second side restrictors mounted to said carrier and moveable therewith relative to the material dispenser, said side restrictors extending downwardly from said carrier and longitudinally at least partially along opposing sides thereof, said first and second side restrictors being configured to assist in preventing at least some material from overflowing off a respective corresponding side of the conveyor belt when said carrier is in said at least one open-flow position and the material is being discharged from the material dispenser onto the conveyor belt;
- and
- at least one wiper mounted to said carrier and moveable therewith relative to the material dispenser, said at least one wiper extending downwardly from said carrier and transverse to said first and second side restrictors, said at least one wiper being configured to level the top of at least some of the material dispensed on the conveyor belt as the conveyor belt moves relative to the material dispenser.
Apparatus useful for assisting in controlling the discharge of at least one among sand and proppant onto a movable conveyor from a mobile sand storage unit at a hydrocarbon well drilling site, the apparatus comprising:
- a carrier slideably engaged with the mobile sand storage unit and being movable relative thereto into at least one open-flow position between the mobile sand storage unit and conveyor, said carrier in said at least one open-flow position being configured to allow material to flow from the mobile sand storage unit onto the conveyor;
- first and second side restrictors mounted to said carrier and moveable therewith relative to the mobile sand storage unit, said side restrictors extending downwardly from said carrier and longitudinally at least partially along opposing sides thereof, said first and second side restrictors being configured to assist in preventing material from overflowing off a respective corresponding side of the conveyor when said carrier is in said at least one open-flow position as the material is being discharged from the mobile sand storage unit onto the conveyor;
- and
- at least one wiper mounted to said carrier and moveable therewith relative to the mobile sand storage unit, said at least one wiper extending downwardly from said carrier and transverse to and between said first and second side restrictors, said at least one wiper being configured to level the top of the material dispensed on the conveyor as the conveyor moves relative to the mobile sand storage unit.
Method of assisting in controlling the discharge of material from a material dispenser onto a conveyor belt located below the material dispenser with the use of a discharge control device, the material dispenser having a discharge opening and a gate slideably moveable relative thereto between gate-open and gate-closed positions, the discharge control device being engaged with the gate and extending off the front end thereof, the method comprising:
- moving the gate into a gate-open position, causing the discharge control device to move relative to the material dispenser into a position below the discharge opening of the material dispenser;
- allowing material to be discharged from the material dispenser, through the discharge opening and at least one opening formed in the discharge control device and onto the conveyor belt;
- first and second spaced-apart side restrictors mounted to the discharge control device and extending downwardly therefrom moving with the discharge control device relative to the material dispenser to a position that prevents at least some material from overflowing off the respective sides of the conveyor belt as material is being discharged onto the conveyor belt from the material dispenser;
- and
- at least one wiper mounted to the discharge control device and extending downwardly therefrom transverse to the side restrictors moving with the discharge control device relative to the material dispenser to a desired height above the conveyor belt to level off the height of the at least some of the material that is discharged onto the conveyor belt as the conveyor belt moves in a direction forward of the at least one wiper.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.