Abstract: A proppant discharge system has a container with an outlet formed at a bottom thereof and a gate slidably affixed at the outlet so as to be movable between a first position covering the outlet and a second position opening the outlet, and a support structure having an actuator thereon. The container is removably positioned on the top surface of the support structure. The actuator is engageable with gate so as to move the gate from the first position to the second position. A conveyor underlies the container so as to receive proppant as discharged from the container through the outlet. The actuator and conveyor can be controlled remotely.

Abstract: A proppant delivery assembly receives and supports a plurality of containers having proppant stored therein. A cradle has a top surface which receives and supports the plurality of containers when positioned thereon. The cradle enables the plurality of containers to dispense the proppant stored therein. A proppant mover is positioned to underlie and extend along the top surface of the cradle aligned with the plurality of containers to receive proppant from the plurality of containers. The proppant mover carries proppant away from the plurality of containers. A chute is coupled to the cradle for receiving proppant from the proppant mover and directing the proppant to a blender hopper. A hood assembly is disposed at an end of the chute opposite the proppant mover for directing a vacuum air flow that removes a volume of air containing proppant dust particles directed from the chute.

Abstract: A proppant discharge system has a container with an outlet formed at a bottom thereof and a gate slidably affixed at the outlet so as to be movable between a first position covering the outlet and a second position opening the outlet, and a support structure having an actuator thereon. The container is removably positioned on the top surface of the support structure. The actuator is engageable with gate so as to move the gate from the first position to the second position. A conveyor underlies the container so as to receive proppant as discharged from the container through the outlet. The actuator and conveyor can be controlled remotely.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering proppant to a well site includes a plurality of proppant containers. The apparatus also includes a support structure having a bed and a structural framework extending down from the bed. The plurality of proppant container are structurally supported on top of the bed. A bin is disposed within the structural frame work below the bed. A conveyor cooperates with the bin for transporting proppant from the bin to a desired location at the well site. Proppant discharged from one or more of the plurality of proppant containers positioned on the bed above the bin is received in the bin and delivered to the well site by the conveyor.

Abstract: Method of handling proppant at a well site using a plurality of modular proppant containers in which first and second modular proppant container in a filled state are removed from delivery transport vehicles and transferred to first and second cradle positions on a support structure using one or more heavy-duty handlers. Proppant is discharged by gravity feed from the outlet of the first and second modular proppant containers and directed to a hopper until the modular proppant containers are in an empty state.

Abstract: A proppant delivery assembly receives and supports a plurality of containers having proppant stored therein. A cradle has a top surface which receives and supports the plurality of containers when positioned thereon. The cradle enables the plurality of containers to dispense the proppant stored therein. A proppant mover is positioned to underlie and extend along the top surface of the cradle aligned with the plurality of containers to receive proppant from the plurality of containers. The proppant mover carries proppant away from the plurality of containers. A chute is coupled to the cradle for receiving proppant from the proppant mover and directing the proppant to a blender hopper. A hood assembly is disposed at an end of the chute opposite the proppant mover for directing a vacuum air flow that removes a volume of air containing proppant dust particles directed from the chute.

Abstract: An apparatus to support a proppant container includes a frame to receive and support the proppant container. The frame has a top surface that receives and positions the proppant container in an elevated position. The apparatus also includes a box guide assembly positioned on the top surface a box guide assembly connected to the top surface of the frame for defining a cradle section having four corners. The box guide assembly including a box guide positioned at each of the corners. Each box guide has a corner member extending upwardly from the top surface along a peripheral edge of the frame and a guide member extending adjacent the corner member. The guide member include an inclined face for aligning the proppant container in the cradle section. The box guide assembly guides the proppant container into the cradle section when loaded onto the frame in the elevated position.

Abstract: A proppant delivery assembly receives and supports a plurality of containers having proppant stored therein. A cradle has a top surface which receives and supports the plurality of containers when positioned thereon. The cradle enables the plurality of containers to dispense the proppant stored therein. A proppant mover is positioned to underlie and extend along the top surface of the cradle aligned with the plurality of containers to receive proppant from the plurality of containers. The proppant mover carries proppant away from the plurality of containers. A chute is coupled to the cradle for receiving proppant from the proppant mover and directing the proppant to a blender hopper. A hood assembly is disposed at an end of the chute opposite the proppant mover for directing a vacuum air flow that removes a volume of air containing proppant dust particles directed from the chute.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes obtaining sensor data from a sensor, the sensor data corresponding to an image frame, and the sensor data including a first portion that corresponds to a portion of the image frame. The method includes pipelining the first portion of the sensor data into a machine-learned model before the sensor data corresponding to the entire image frame is transferred from the sensor to a memory device, to perform one or more inference operations on the first portion of the sensor data. The method includes generating as an output of the machine-learned model, in response to pipelining the sensor data corresponding to each portion of the image frame into the machine-learned model, a detection or classification of the one or more objects indicated within the sensor data.

Abstract: A proppant delivery assembly receives and supports a plurality of containers having proppant stored therein. A cradle has a top surface which receives and supports the plurality of containers when positioned thereon. The cradle enables the plurality of containers to dispense the proppant stored therein. A proppant mover is positioned to underlie and extend along the top surface of the cradle aligned with the plurality of containers to receive proppant from the plurality of containers. The proppant mover carries proppant away from the plurality of containers. A chute is coupled to the cradle for receiving proppant from the proppant mover and directing the proppant to a blender hopper. A hood assembly is disposed at an end of the chute opposite the proppant mover for directing a vacuum air flow that removes a volume of air containing proppant dust particles directed from the chute.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for conveying proppant from a container to fracking operation equipment. The system includes a proppant delivery assembly having a frame supporting the container adjacent a proppant mover having a conveyor, a shroud enclosing a portion of the conveyor, a proppant chamber coupled to the shroud and a chute coupled to the proppant chamber. The system also includes a dust collection assembly fluidly coupled to the proppant mover to collect the dust particles contained therein. The dust collection assembly includes an air mover, a hood with a dust receptacle, and ductwork coupling the air mover to the dust receptacle. An air flow is generated along a flow path through the dust receptacle and the ductwork to the air mover such that a suction pressure generated by the air mover is sufficient to only capture and remove the dust particles, thus reducing a risk of capturing the proppant.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering proppant to a well site includes a plurality of proppant containers. The apparatus also includes a support structure having a bed and a structural framework extending down from the bed. The plurality of proppant container are structurally supported on top of the bed. A bin is disposed within the structural frame work below the bed. A conveyor cooperates with the bin for transporting proppant from the bin to a desired location at the well site. Proppant discharged from one or more of the plurality of proppant containers positioned on the bed above the bin is received in the bin and delivered to the well site by the conveyor.

Abstract: Method of handling proppant at a well site using a plurality of modular proppant containers in which first and second modular proppant container in a filled state are removed from delivery transport vehicles and transferred to first and second cradle positions on a support structure using one or more heavy-duty handlers. Proppant is discharged by gravity feed from the outlet of the first and second modular proppant containers and directed to a hopper until the modular proppant containers are in an empty state.

Abstract: Image processing systems can include one or more cameras configured to obtain image data, one or more memory devices configured to store a classification model that classifies image features within the image data as including or not including detected objects, and a field programmable gate array (FPGA) device coupled to the one or more cameras. The FPGA device is configured to implement one or more image processing pipelines for image transformation and object detection. The one or more image processing pipelines can generate a multi-scale image pyramid of multiple image samples having different scaling factors, identify and aggregate features within one or more of the multiple image samples having different scaling factors, access the classification model, provide the features as input to the classification model, and receive an output indicative of objects detected within the image data.

Abstract: An apparatus to support a proppant container includes a frame to receive and support the proppant container. The frame has a top surface that receives and positions the proppant container in an elevated position. The apparatus also includes a box guide assembly positioned on the top surface a box guide assembly connected to the top surface of the frame for defining a cradle section having four corners. The box guide assembly including a box guide positioned at each of the corners. Each box guide has a corner member extending upwardly from the top surface along a peripheral edge of the frame and a guide member extending adjacent the corner member. The guide member include an inclined face for aligning the proppant container in the cradle section. The box guide assembly guides the proppant container into the cradle section when loaded onto the frame in the elevated position.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for delivering proppant to a well site has a trailer with a bed thereon and at least one track of rollers extending in parallel relationship to the longitudinal axis of the trailer. The track of rollers extend substantially for an entire length of the bed of the trailer. At least one proppant container is translatably positioned on the track of rollers. The proppant container is movable along the array of rollers from one end of the bed to an opposite end of the bed. A bin can be removably positioned below the bed of the trailer in a position rearward of the front end of the trailer and forward of a rear end of the trailer so as to allow the proppant container to discharge into the bin. A conveyor is cooperative with the bin so as to move proppant from the bin to a location at the well site.

Abstract: An apparatus for the transport and storage of proppant has a container with a top wall, a pair of end walls and a pair of side walls. The pair of side walls extend between the pair of end walls. The container has a bottom discharge opening. The container includes a funnel extending from the pair of side walls and from the pair of and walls toward the bottom discharge opening. The funnel has sides extending in an angle of greater than 25° with respect to horizontal. The funnel includes a pair of side plates extending respectively from the pair of side walls toward the bottom discharge opening and a pair of end plates extending respectively from the pair of end walls toward the bottom discharge opening. Each of the side plates and the end plates is formed of a stainless steel material.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include an apparatus to support a proppant container including a frame to receive and support the proppant container, the frame having a top surface that receives and positions the proppant container above a conveyor to carry proppant disposed thereon away from the proppant container. The apparatus also includes a box guide assembly positioned on the top surface including a corner assembly having two wall segments, and a guide member extending upwardly and positioned adjacent the corner assembly, the guide member including tapered portion of the guide member, the taper having a first width at a top portion of the guide member smaller than a second width at a bottom portion of the guide member. The tapered portion contacts and directs the proppant container to a desired location.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for conveying proppant from a container to fracking operation equipment. The system includes a proppant delivery assembly having a frame supporting the container adjacent a proppant mover having a conveyor, a shroud enclosing a portion of the conveyor, a proppant chamber coupled to the shroud and a chute coupled to the proppant chamber. The system also includes a dust collection assembly fluidly coupled to the proppant mover to collect the dust particles contained therein. The dust collection assembly includes an air mover, a hood with a dust receptacle, and ductwork coupling the air mover to the dust receptacle. An air flow is generated along a flow path through the dust receptacle and the ductwork to the air mover such that a suction pressure generated by the air mover is sufficient to only capture and remove the dust particles, thus reducing a risk of capturing the proppant.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure a system for capturing proppant dust particles when positioned at a fracking operation site including a proppant delivery assembly to receive one or more containers having proppant stored therein. The system dispenses the proppant from the one or more containers and delivers the proppant to other fracking operation equipment. Moreover, the system includes a dust collection assembly positioned proximate and associated with the proppant delivery assembly to capture dust particles released by movement and settling of the proppant when being dispensed and delivered by the proppant delivery assembly. The dust collection assembly is positioned to direct an air flow in a flow path overlying the dust particles to capture the dust particles and move the dust particles away from the proppant thereby reducing risk of dust exposure to fracking operation site personnel.