The present disclosure relates to a containment trough and system for collecting machine fluids from pump assemblies or other machinery used in various industrial processes, such as hydraulic fracturing and the like.
Conventional grease or oil overflow or catch trays for pump assemblies used in various industrial processes, such as hydraulic fracturing and the like, cause large messes and slipping hazards for workers. Each conventional grease or oil catch tray presently requires cleaning up to six to eight times per day and hence is labor intensive and time consuming to clean and maintain in the work environment. During operation of the pump assembly in various industrial processes (e.g., hydraulic fracturing), grease oozes between the pump end and the fluid end of the fracturing pump. A shallow conventional grease tray catches some grease while other grease seeps over the sides of the tray. The seeping grease creates a hazardous slippery walking or working surface for the worker in the work environment.
A further problem with conventional grease or oil trays is that they inadequately protect the ground beneath the pump assembly or other machinery thus leading to ground contamination or pollution. Much of the equipment used in various industrial processes is deployed in outdoor environments and exposed to various weather conditions. When precipitation occurs, the rain water intermingles with the grease residue remaining in the catch trays. Some of the hydrocarbons from the grease float to the top of the water and create water with an oily sheen. As precipitation continues, this water with an oily sheen runs out of the grease tray and onto the ground creating further ground contamination.
The present disclosure describes a containment trough and system directed to solving at least some of the problems described above.
In a first aspect, there is provided herein a system for collecting machine fluid expelled from a pump. The system includes a frame having a first end, a second end, and a trough that extends from the first end to the second end. The frame is configured to fit under a pump assembly and collect machine fluid that is expelled from the pump assembly. A mass of extendible fabric is positioned proximate to the first end of the frame and is configured to be drawn across the trough to the second end. A holder is configured to secure a portion of the mass of extendible fabric proximate to the first end.
In certain embodiments, the mass of extendible fabric includes a carrying roll and the holder includes a rod configured to receive and secure the carrying roll.
In certain embodiments, the carrying roll of extendible fabric may be configured with a cover to protect the extendible fabric from the elements.
In certain embodiments, the system further includes a sliding or fixed cutter positioned proximate to the second end, wherein the sliding or fixed cutter is configured to receive the extendible fabric and includes a knife that may be extended across the fabric to cut the fabric.
In certain embodiments, the system further includes a scraper positioned proximate to the second end and positioned to receive the fabric and remove the machine fluid from the fabric as the fabric is drawn across the scraper.
In certain embodiments, the system further includes a roller positioned proximate to the second end and beyond the scraper, wherein the roller is configured to receive the fabric after it has passed through the scraper and hold the fabric about a carrying roll.
In certain embodiments, the system further includes an oil-water separator positioned under the trough and configured to catch fluid that may flow out of the trough. The separator includes a base layer and a berm that collect portions of the fluid that include lubricant fluid while passing portions of the fluid that comprise water.
In certain embodiments, the trough is semi-circular and comprised of plastic, tarp, or metal.
In certain embodiments, the fabric comprises a textured surface.
In certain embodiments, the fabric comprises needle-punched polypropylene and/or a woven material or a combination of suitable woven materials.
In certain embodiments, the system further includes one or more hold-down arms positioned over the trough between the first end and the second end and configured to retain the fabric in the trough.
In certain embodiments, the system further includes a first and second longitudinal drip edge secured to a first outer side and a second outer side of the trough between the first end and the second end of the frame such that the drip edge serves as a guide for the extendible fabric.
In certain embodiments, the extendible fabric may be configured as a folded fabric, a dispenser of sheets, or as a perforated fabric at appropriate lengths.
In certain embodiments, the extendible fabric may be secured to the trough at the second end of the frame by a suitable securing mechanism.
In certain embodiments, the frame includes a plurality of foldable legs with corresponding joints such that the frame is collapsible for storage.
In certain embodiments, the plurality of foldable legs is articulated at each joint with a coated fabric material such as aluminum or fiberglass.
In certain embodiments, the frame includes a first side supporting member and a second side supporting member each connected to the trough such that the frame is configured to be hung from an upper supporting surface.
In a second aspect, there is provided herein a system for collecting machine fluid expelled from a pump. The system includes a frame having a first end, a second end, and a trough that extends from the first end to the second end. The frame further has a first side supporting member and a second side supporting member each connected to the trough such that the frame is configured to be hung from an upper supporting surface to enable the trough to collect machine fluid that is expelled from the pump assembly. A mass of extendible fabric is positioned proximate to the first end of the frame and is configured to be drawn across the trough to the second end. A holder is configured to be connected to the upper supporting surface and extends downwardly therefrom for securing a portion of the mass of extendible fabric proximate to the first end.
In certain embodiments, the frame is hung from the upper supporting surface by at least one or more connecting members.
In certain embodiments, the system further includes an oil-water separator positioned under the trough and configured to catch fluid that may flow out of the trough. The separator includes a base layer and a berm that collect portions of the fluid that include lubricant fluid while passing portions of the fluid that comprise water.
This disclosure is not limited to the particular systems, methodologies or protocols described, as these may vary. The terminology used in this description is for the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope.
As used in this document, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. All sizes recited in this document are by way of example only, and the disclosure is not limited to structures having the specific sizes or dimensions recited below. As used in this document, the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to.”
In consideration of the figures, it is to be understood for purposes of clarity certain details of construction and/or operation are not provided in view of such details being conventional and well within the skill of the art upon disclosure of the document described herein.
The frame is configured to fit under a pump assembly and collect machine fluid that is expelled from the pump assembly. Returning to
As shown, the frame also includes a frame 106 that supports the side support members 113, 115 and from which the holder 116 upwardly extends. The frame may include one or more legs 146, which may be rigid or collapsible. For example, each leg may include an articulating joint and/or a telescoping structure so that the device may be collapsed for storage.
In embodiments such as that shown in
It is also contemplated in accordance with some embodiments that the fabric may be temporarily secured to the trough 112 at the second end 110 of the frame 106 by a suitable securing mechanism, such as Velcro®, push tabs, drop chain, and the like.
In some embodiments, the trough 112 is semi-circular or arc-shaped and comprised of plastic, tarp, or metal. For example, the trough may be made of any woven or non-woven fabric suitable for carrying heavy grease and other viscous materials. Example trough materials also include PET, polyethylene, polypropylene and other thermoplastics that are spun bond, spun laced, needle punched or otherwise formed. In one embodiment, the trough 112 is fabricated of a 40 ounce coated fabric tarp. Other materials may be used. It should be understood that the trough may be fabricated of any suitable shape designed to fit underneath the pump assembly and any suitable material durable enough to contain the seeping machine fluid during operation of the industrial process, such as hydraulic fracturing.
It should be understood that the dimensions of the trough and fabric may vary based on the available space under the pump or other machinery. In some applications, the trough may be about 18 inches wide. For example, in some embodiments, the trough may be 18 inches wide by 52 inches long and 18 inches wide by 64 inches long. Optionally, although not a requirement, the trough may be configured such that there is no more than 20 pounds of grease or fluid in the trough at any one time to ensure ease of removal of the used fabric from the trough by a worker.
In some embodiments, the frame may be set on a level surface such that when the trough fills with machine fluid the used fabric is removed and new fabric is dispensed, unfolded, or rolled out. In other embodiments, the frame may hang from an upper supporting structure.
In some embodiments, the fabric includes a textured surface that provides friction so that the machine fluid, such as grease, oil, or other lubricant, does not easily slip around. In some embodiments, the fabric may be formed of needle-punched polypropylene and/or a woven material or a combination of suitable woven materials. For example, the fabric may be formed of a woven, needle-punched polypropylene such as that used in weed block fabrics. It should be understood that the fabric may be fabricated of any suitable textured surface for use with the system of the present disclosure.
In further embodiments, the extendible fabric may be configured as a folded fabric, a dispenser of sheets, or as a perforated fabric at appropriate lengths. If the fabric is configured as a perforated roll, a cutter is not necessary for use with the system.
In one optional embodiment of the present disclosure, the frame includes a plurality of foldable legs with corresponding joints such that the frame is collapsible for convenient storage. One or more of the plurality of foldable legs may include an articulating joint with a coated fabric material such as aluminum or fiberglass or the like.
Referring now to
In some embodiments, the system includes a scraper (not shown) positioned proximate to the second end and positioned to receive the fabric and remove the machine fluid from the fabric as the fabric is drawn across the scraper. It should be understood that the scraper can be fabricated of any suitable material, shape, and size, in accordance with the system 100 of the present disclosure.
In further embodiments, the system includes a roller positioned proximate to the second end and beyond the scraper, wherein the roller is configured to receive the fabric after it has passed through the scraper and hold the fabric about a receiving roll. It should be understood that the roller can be fabricated of any suitable material, shape, and size, in accordance with the system of the present disclosure. The used fabric rolled about the receiving roll can be appropriately cleaned with detergent and washed for re-use or recycling.
The collection surface 150 may be formed of an impermeable base layer 156 made of plastic, vinyl, polyethylene, urethane-coated polyester or canvas, or other material on which a permeable fabric layer 158 retains a layer of fibrous polypropylene material. The fabric layer may be a water- and oil-permeable plastic woven or non-woven textile material and such same material is suitable for use in forming the fabric tubular structure of the berm 152.
In some embodiments, the berm 152 may be formed of a core, with an oleophilic material wrapped around the core and a permeable supporting fabric (such as netting) formed around the oleophilic material to retain the oleophilic material in place. The core may be made of an open cell foam that allows water to pass through, such as quantum foam, polyurethane foam or foam rubber, extruded polystyrene (XPS) foams, phenolic foam and the like. In other embodiments, the berm 152 may be formed of alternating layers of oleophilic material and supporting material, rolled about a central axis. The central axis may be a foam core, or it may simply be an end of one or both of the layers of material.
The machine fluid or oil saturated collection surface 150 may be regenerated by passing the collection surface, or the entire oil-water separator, between rollers. Machine fluid is then collected and disposed. The oil-water separator may be mechanically squeezed, centrifuged, dry cleaned with mineral spirits or washed with detergent and water to remove any residual machine fluid and to ready it for re-use.
In some embodiments, the oil permeable material forming the base layer 172 includes a felt material with a fabric cover. The felt material may be fabricated of any suitable oil permeable material, including oleophilic/hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fibers. The oleophilic material forming the walls 170 may be fabricated of fibers of an oily plastic material, such as polyolefin. The hydrophobic fibers may be formed from suitable polymers set forth above or as a fiber coating, by plasma deposition, surface modification, or by a sol-gel process.
The features and functions described above, as well as alternatives, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements may be made by those skilled in the art, each of which is also intended to be encompassed by the disclosed embodiments.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/095,915, filed Dec. 23, 2014, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/157,029, filed May 5, 2015, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62157029 | May 2015 | US | |
62095915 | Dec 2014 | US |