Systems and methods for controlling particulate release from large equipment

Abstract

A containment system for reducing the release of harmful respirable particles through surface openings in equipment that carries sand includes a filter-receiving member configured to be coupled over an opening in a surface of the equipment and a filter member configured to be coupled to the filter-receiving member. The filter-receiving member can have a first side, a second side, and a passageway extending from the first side to the second side. The filter can have a porosity that permits air to flow through the filter member and restricts the flow of solid particulates.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A containment system for reducing the release of harmful respirable particles through surface openings in equipment that carries sand, the system comprising:
 a filter-receiving member configured to be coupled over an opening in a surface of the equipment, the filter-receiving member having a first side, a second side, and a passageway extending from the first side to the second side; and   a filter member configured to be coupled to the filter-receiving member, the filter member having a porosity that permits air to flow through the filter member and restricts the flow of solid particulates.   
     
     
         2 . The containment system of  claim 1 , wherein the passageway of the filter-receiving member transitions from a first profile on the first side to a second profile on the second side. 
     
     
         3 . The containment system of  claim 2 , wherein the first profile is a square profile and the second profile is a round profile. 
     
     
         4 . The containment system of  claim 1 , further comprising a base plate secured to the filter-receiving member, the base plate comprising a plurality of securing mechanisms that are moveable between a first unsecured position and a second secured position. 
     
     
         5 . The containment system of  claim 4 , wherein the base plate comprises a compressible member on a lower surface for engagement with the surface of the equipment that surrounds the opening, the plurality of securing mechanisms being configured to apply pressure to the base plate when in the second secured position and compress the compressible member. 
     
     
         6 . The containment system of  claim 1 , wherein the filter member has an open end that is sized to be coupled to the second side of the filter-receiving member. 
     
     
         7 . The containment system of  claim 1 , wherein the filter member comprises an elastic member at the open end, the elastic member having a non-stretched diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the second end of the filter-receiving member, and
 wherein the filter-receiving member comprises a recessed portion spaced away from the second end, the recessed portion being sized to receive the elastic member at the open end of the filter member.   
     
     
         8 . The containment system of  claim 7 , further comprising an external attachment member, the external attachment member being configured to secure the open end of the filter member to an external surface of the filter-receiving member. 
     
     
         9 . The containment system of  claim 6 , wherein the filter member comprises a flexible bag filter. 
     
     
         10 . The containment system of  claim 6 , wherein the filter member comprises an accordion-style member that has an interior coiled spring to permit the filter member to collapse in a generally consistent and predictable manner. 
     
     
         11 . The containment system of  claim 10 , wherein the filter-receiving member comprises a hatch positioned at the second end of the filter-receiving member, and wherein the passageway of the filter-receiving member is sized to receive the filter member when in a collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The containment system of  claim 1 , wherein the filter-receiving member comprises a gate member that is operable between an open position that permits air to flow into the filter member and a closed position that restricts the flow of air into the filter member. 
     
     
         13 . The containment system of  claim 1 , wherein the filter-receiving member comprises a strikeplate for causing vibrations in the filter-receiving member. 
     
     
         14 . A method of securing a particle containment system on a top surface of a truck containing sand, the method comprising:
 securing a filter-receiving member to an opening in the top surface of the truck, the filter-receiving member comprising a first side, a second side, and a passageway extending from the first side to the second side; and   attaching a filter member to the filter-receiving member, the filter member having a porosity that permits air to flow through the filter member and restricts the flow of solid particulates.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the passageway of the filter-receiving member transitions from a first profile on the first side to a second profile on the second side and the act of securing the filter-receiving member causes the opening in the top surface of the truck to change from the first profile to the second profile. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first profile is a square profile and the second profile is a round profile. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the act of attaching the filter member to the filter-receiving member comprises positioning an open end of the filter member over the second side of the filter-receiving member. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the filter member comprises an elastic member at the open end and the filter-receiving member comprises a recessed portion, and the act of attaching the filter member to the filter-receiving member comprises stretching the elastic member to a diameter that can fit over the second end of the filter-receiving member and positioning the elastic member into the recessed portion. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the act of attaching the filter member to the filter-receiving member comprises securing an external attachment member to the open end of the filter member and an external surface of the filter-receiving member. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising collapsing the filter member into the filter-receiving member and closing a hatch over the filter-receiving member. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising opening a gate member on the filter-receiving member to restrict air flow to the filter member. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising striking a strikeplate on the filter-receiving member to vibrate the filter-receiving member and reduce buildup of materials on the filter-receiving member. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the act of attaching the filter member comprises providing a hanging attachment that extends above the filter member and suspending the filter member from the hanging attachment. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the act of securing the filter-receiving member comprises:
 positioning a plurality of securing mechanisms inside of the opening in the top surface of the truck; and   moving the plurality of securing mechanisms from a first unsecured position to a second secured position, the secured position increasing an amount of pressure on a compressible member associated with a base plate secured to the filter-receiving member.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of securing mechanisms are rotated from the first unsecured position to the second secured position.