Dust control apparatus and method of transferring dust laden discrete solid particles

Claim 1

Dust control apparatus for minimizing dust evolution in transferring dust laden solid discrete particles from a first source to a series of receiving containers which comprises, in combination: A. a normally limp transfer hose in communication with a first source, B. a hood for covering the outer rim of a receiving container including, 1. a top portion, 2. a depending wall portion, 3. a rim portion for registry over the open top of a receiving container, 4. a dip pipe opening into the top portion of said hood and extending downwardly to a discharge end near the top of said receiving container, 5. a gas inlet and 6. a gas outlet C. exhaust means including: 1. a gas outlet line connected to said gas outlet and 2. a fan in communication with said gas outlet line D. dust collecting means in operative relation with said gas outlet line and said fan.

Claim 15

A method of transferring dust laden discrete solid particles from a first source to a series of smaller containers through a normally limp transfer hose in operative relation to said first source, the improvement of minimizing the evolution of dust within the transfer area and of transferring evolved dust via an outlet hose and fan to a dust collector away from said transfer area, which comprises the steps of: A. placing a hood over the open top of the first of a series of smaller containers, said hood comprising: 1. a top portion, wall portions and a rim portion, in which: a. said wall portion depends from said top portion and terminates in a rim portion, b. said rim portion fits over the top rim of the smaller container; c. a dip pipe opening in the top portion of said hood and connected to said normally limp transfer hose and extending downwardly to terminate as a discharge end; d. a gas inlet, e. a gas outlet for connection to said outlet hose and fan; B. loading said discrete particles from said first source into smaller containers through said limp transfer hose and said dip pipe, C. drawing a gas stream through said gas inlet and across said hood to selectively entrain dust in said gas stream, D. drawing gas and entrained dust from said hood and from said receiving container through said outlet hose to said dust collector and collecting dust in said dust collector, E. constricting said normally limp transfer hose at a point above the dip pipe as said transfer hose becomes rigid from the transferred solid discrete particles contained therein; F. lifting the entire hood and connected hoses and allowing the collected solid discrete particles in the dip pipe and in the transfer hose past the point of clamping constriction to fall into the filled container without overfilling said container; G. placing the hood onto a waiting empty container and fitting the depending skirt over the upper rim thereof; H. releasing the constriction pressure from the transfer hose to resume the transfer operation.

Claim 16

A method of transferring dust laden discrete solid particles from a first source to a series of smaller containers through a normally limp transfer hose in operative relation to said first source, the improvement of minimizing the evolution of dust within the transfer area and of transferring evolved dust via an outlet hose and fan to a dust collector away from said transfer area, which comprises the steps of: A. placing a hood over the open top of the first of a series of smaller containers, said hood comprising: 1. a top portion, wall portions and a rim portion, in which: a. said wall portion depends from said top portion and terminates in a rim portion, b. said rim portion fits over the top rim of the smaller container; c. a dip pipe opening in the top portion of said hood and connected to said normally limp transfer hose and extending downwardly to terminate as a discharge end; d. a gas inlet, e. a gas outlet for connection to said outlet hose and fan; B. loading said discrete particles from said first source into smaller containers through said limp transfer hose and said dip pipe, C. drawing a gas stream through said gas inlet and across said hood to selectively entrain dust in said gas stream, D. drawing gas and entrained dust from said hood and from said receiving container through said outlet hose to said dust collector and collecting dust in said dust collector, E. constricting said normally limp transfer hose at a point above the dip pipe as said transfer hose becomes rigid from the transferred solid discrete particles contained therein; F. lifting the entire hood and connected hoses and allowing the collected solid discrete particles in the dip pipe and in the transfer hose past the point of clamping constriction to fall into the filled container without overfilling said container; G. placing the hood onto a waiting empty container and fitting the depending skirt over the upper rim thereof; H. releasing the constriction pressure from the transfer hose to resume the transfer operation.

Claim 17

A method of transferring dust laden discrete solid particles from a first source to a series of smaller containers through a normally limp transfer hose in operative relation to said first source, the improvement of minimizing the evolution of dust within the transfer area and of transferring evolved dust via an outlet hose and fan to a dust collector away from said transfer area, which comprises, the steps of: A. placing a hood over the open top of two or more of a series of smaller containers, each of said hoods comprising: 1. a top portion, wall portions and a rim portion, in which: a. said wall portion depends from said top portion and terminates in a rim portion, b. said rim portion fitting over the top rim of a smaller container; c. a dip pipe opening in the top portion of said hood and extending downwardly to terminate as a discharge end; d. a gas inlet, e. a gas exhaust for connection to said exhaust hose and fan; B. placing said transfer hose into the dip pipe of the first of said hoods; C. loading said discrete particles from said first source into smaller containers through said limp transfer hose and said dip pipe; D. drawing a gas stream through said gas inlet and across said hood to selectively entrain dust in said gas stream, E. drawing gas and entrained dust from said hood and from said receiving container through said exhaust hose to said dust collector and collecting dust in said dust collector. F. constricting said normally limp transfer hose at a point above the dip pipe as said transfer hose becomes rigid from the transferred solid discrete particles contained therein; G. lifting the transfer hose out of said dip pipe and allowing the collected solid discrete particles in the transfer hose past the point of constriction to fall into the filled container without overfilling said container; H. placing the transfer hose into the dip pipe of a hood on a waiting empty container. I. releasing the constricting pressure on the transfer hose to resume the transfer operation.

Claim 18

A method of transferring dust laden discrete solid particles from a first source to a series of smaller containers through a normally limp transfer hose in operative relation to said first source, the improvement of minimizing the evolution of dust within the transfer area and of transferring evolved dust via an outlet hose and fan to a dust collector away from said transfer area, which comprises, the steps of: A. placing a hood over the open top of two or more of a series of smaller containers, each of said hoods comprising: 1. a top portion, wall portions and a rim portion, in which: a. said wall portion depends from said top portion and terminates in a rim portion, b. said rim portion fitting over the top rim of a smaller container; c. a dip pipe opening in the top portion of said hood and extending downwardly to terminate as a discharge end; d. a gas inlet, e. a gas exhaust for connection to said exhaust hose and fan; B. placing said transfer hose into the dip pipe of the first of said hoods; C. loading said discrete particles from said first source into smaller containers through said limp transfer hose and said dip pipe; D. drawing a gas stream through said gas inlet and across said hood to selectively entrain dust in said gas stream, E. drawing gas and entrained dust from said hood and from said receiving container through said exhaust hose to said dust collector and collecting dust in said dust collector. F. constricting said normally limp transfer hose at a point above the dip pipe as said transfer hose becomes rigid from the transferred solid discrete particles contained therein; G. lifting the transfer hose out of said dip pipe and allowing the collected solid discrete particles in the transfer hose past the point of constriction to fall into the filled container without overfilling said container; H. placing the transfer hose into the dip pipe of a hood on a waiting empty container. I. releasing the constricting pressure on the transfer hose to resume the transfer operation.

Claim 22

A method of transferring dust laden discrete particles of highly pyrophoric materials, which comprises the steps of: A. loading said pyrophoric material through a transfer hose to a container closed with a dust control hood; B. establishing a plenum chamber between said hood and said container; C. circulating an inert gas through plenum, out of said hood to a closed gas loop comprising in a series; 1. a filter; 2. a fan; 3. a source of make up gas; 4. and thence back to said hood. D. collecting said pyrophoric dust in said filter beneath a blanket of inert gas; the improvement which comprises: E. providing a second plenum outside said dust control hood; F. drawing ambient air through said plenum to an exhaust line; G. drawing said air from said plenum through a second filter; H. lifting said hood from said container when filled; I. entraining any excess pyrophoric dust in said stream of ambient air drawn into said plenum; J. oxidizing said excess pyrophoric dust in said second plenum and in said filter system; K. disipating excess heat of oxidation through the use of excess volumes of air throughout the plenum and filtration system.

Claim 23

A method of transferring dust laden discrete particles of highly pyrophoric materials, which comprises the steps of: A. loading said pyrophoric material through a transfer hose to a container closed with a dust control hood; B. establishing a plenum chamber between said hood and said container; C. circulating an inert gas through plenum, out of said hood to a closed gas loop comprising in a series; 1. a filter; 2. a fan; 3. a source of make up gas; 4. and thence back to said hood. D. collecting said pyrophoric dust in said filter beneath a blanket of inert gas; the improvement which comprises: E. providing a second plenum outside said dust control hood; F. drawing ambient air through said plenum to an exhaust line; G. drawing said air from said plenum through a second filter; H. lifting said hood from said container when filled; I. entraining any excess pyrophoric dust in said stream of ambient air drawn into said plenum; J. oxidizing said excess pyrophoric dust in said second plenum and in said filter system; K. disipating excess heat of oxidation through the use of excess volumes of air throughout the plenum and filtration system.