[0001 ] The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No.

2014901384 titled "A DUST SUPPRESSION SYSTEM AND APPARATUS" and filed on 15 April 2014, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

[0002] The following publications are referred to in the present application and their contents are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety:

AU2013202369 titled "A DUST SUPRESSION SYSTEM FOR LOADING SHIP HOLDS" and filed on 3 April 2013; and

PCT/AU2014/00075 1 titled "A MISTING APPARATUS AND DUST SUPPRESSION

SYSTEM EMPLOYING THE SAME" and filed on 25 July 2014.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure relates to the suppression of dust from dusting materials. Throughout the specification "dusting materials" is a term used to refer to material which contains a significant amount of dust, or which releases a dust when agitated such as by movement.

[0004] In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to suppression of dusting materials during loading aboard, or unloading these from, a vessel.

BACKGROUND

[0005] The loading and unloading of ships with dusting materials creates a significant amount of dust. Depending on the nature of the material, this dust is at least messy and therefore undesirable, and at worst it is dangerous.

[0006] It is against this background and the problems and difficulties associated therewith that the present disclosure has been developed.

[0007] Certain objects and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present disclosure is disclosed. SUMMARY

[0008] According to a first aspect, there is provided a dust suppression system for use in a container for a dusting material which creates a dust when agitated, the container comprising an uppermost opening, the system comprising a means for drawing a fluid from a supply thereof and feeding the fluid to at least one dust suppression apparatus positioned in or about the opening to the container, the or each dust suppression apparatus comprising a fluid conduit, at least two fluid dispensers which depend directly from the conduit, and which recei ve fluid for dispensing directly from the fluid conduit, and wherein in use, the fluid dispensers are at least vertically spaced apart.

[0009 ] In one form, the system comprises a plurality of the dust suppression apparatus spaced apart around the opening to the container.

[00101 In one form, the supply of fluid comprises a tank. In an alternati ve, the supply of fluid is any one of a reticulated (or mains) supply, a source of seawater, a lake, a river, a reservoir, or a dam.

[001 1 1 In one form, the means of drawing and feeding the fluid comprises a pump, and fluid

transmission lines (i.e. hoses and/or pipes) extending from the pump to the fluid supply, and from the pump to the or each of the dust suppression apparatus. In one form, this means still further comprises filters, fittings, one or more fluid control valves and a system control means.

[0012] In one form, the container is a hold of a ship. The disclosure is not so limited in application however, and may find use in other large containers for bulk materials.

[0013] In a further aspect, the disclosure may be said to reside in a dust suppression apparatus for a dust suppression system, the apparatus comprising a fluid conduit, at least two fluid dispensers which depend directly from the fluid conduit, and which receive fluid for dispensing directly from the fluid conduit, and wherein in use, the fluid dispensers are at least vertically spaced apart.

[0014] In one form, the conduit is elongate, and comprises a plurality of the fluid dispensers spaced apart lengthwise along the conduit.

[0015] In one form, the fluid dispensers are substantially equi-spaced lengthwise along the conduit.

[ 0016] In one form, in use, the conduit of the or each dust suppression apparatus is suspended substantially vertically and lowered via the opening into the container. [0017] In one form, in an alternative, the conduit of the or each dust suppression apparatus is suspended at an angle from the vertical. This can be effected by suspending the conduit from a pair of tethers of unequal length. This way, the fluid dispensers are horizontally spaced apart in addition to being vertically spaced apart.

[0018] In one form, the conduit is a rigid conduit. In one form, in an alternative, the fluid conduit is a flexible conduit. If the conduit is flexible, it may be rolled or folded for ease of storage.

[ 0019] In one form, the fluid dispensers emit the fluid as a mist.

[0020] In one form, the fluid dispensers are nozzles.

[0021 ] In one form, the dust suppression apparatus further comprises a plurality of stabiliser elements spaced lengthwise along the conduit.

[0022] In one form, the fluid conduit comprises a means for connecting this to the dust suppression system, at or toward one end thereof.

[0023] In one form, the length of the dust suppression apparatus is adjustable. In one form, the length of the fluid conduit is adjustable. In one form, the fluid conduit is comprised of two or more portions which are adapted to at least partially telescope with respect to one another.

[0024] In one form the fluid conduit is adapted for end-to-end connection with a further fluid conduit. In one form, the fluid conduit is so adapted by way of comprising connector fittings. In this way, the length of the dust suppression apparatus is adjustable.

[0025] In one form, fluid dispensers are directed/angled so as to create a fanning effect.

[0026] In one form, fluid dispensers at or near an upper end of the conduit produce droplets of a larger size than do fluid dispensers at or near a lower end of the conduit. In this way, the system and apparatus comprise a means for forming an upper mist layer for preventing escape of the dust from the container, and a means for forming a lower mist layer below the upper mist layer for settling the dust into the container. This principle is explained in detail in AU2013202369, along with the merits thereof.

[0027] In one form, the fluid dispensers plug or screw into the conduit.

[0028] In one form, one or more of the dust suppression apparatus' of the present disclosure can be used in the system disclosed in either of AU2013202369, and/or PCT/AU2014/000751 . Conversely, one or more of the misting apparatus' of AU2013202369 and/or PCT/AU2014/000751 can be used in the system according to the present disclosure.

[0029] A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosure is provided below along with accompanying Figures that illustrate by way of example the principles of the disclosure. While the disclosure is described in connection with such embodiments, it should be understood that the disclosure is not l imited to any embodiment. On the contrary, the scope of the disclosure is l imited only by the appended claims and the disclosure encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents. For the purpose of example, numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure.

[0030 ] The present disclosure may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the disclosure has not been described in detail so that the present disclosure is not unnecessarily obscured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[00311 Embodiments of the present disclosure will be discussed with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0032 ] Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a dust suppression system in use in a ship hold; and

[00331 Figure 2 is a front view of a dust suppression apparatus for the dust suppression system of Figure 1.

[ 0034] In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the figures.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0035] Referring now to Figure 1, where there is illustrated a bulk storage ship 100 having a hold 1 10 with an uppermost hatch 120, via which a dusting material can be loaded and unloaded. During loading and unloading operations, a dust suppression system 1 may be employed to prevent dust created by the resultant agitation of the dusting material, from escaping the hatch 120. [0036] The dust suppression system 1 comprises a means for drawing a fluid from a supply thereof and feeding the fluid to a plurality of dust suppression apparatus 10 suspended in the hold 1 10 via the hatch 120 and spaced apart about the perimeter of the hold 1 10.

[0037] In the case of the illustrated embodiment, the fluid is fresh water drawn from a supply in the form of a tank 2 or a mains water pipe, via a pump 4. The pump 4, draws the water through a series of water filters, and supplies the filtered water under constant pressure to the dust suppression apparatus 10 via hoses 6. A pump station comprising the pump 4 may be any one of fixed in position, portable, positioned on the wharf or jetty or mounted on a truck (i.e. a tanker, which also provides the water supply).

[0038] Each dust suppression apparatus 10 comprises a fluid conduit 12, which, in the case of the embodiment illustrated comprises a length rigid fluid conduit (i.e. a pipe) 12, which is connected via a 'quick-fit' type connection with one of the hoses 6.

[0039] Each dust suppression apparatus 10 further comprises a plurality (or array) of fluid dispensers 20, which depend directly from, and receive fluid directly from the fluid conduit 12, and which are spaced apart lengthwise along the conduit 12. In the case of the illustrated embodiment, each fluid dispenser 20 is a misting nozzle, these terms being used interchangeably hereinafter in the specification.

[0040] In use, each dust suppression apparatus 10 is suspended substantially vertically and lowered via the hatch 120 into the hold 1 10. In the embodiment illustrated, each dust suppression apparatus 10 is suspended via its supply hose 6 from one end, and a height of each dust suppression apparatus 10 above a bottom or floor of the hold 1 10 can be adjusted by feeding (such as via a reel) more hose 6 into the hold 1 10 to lower the dust suppression apparatus 10, or retracting hose 6 from the hold 1 10 to raise the dust suppression apparatus 10. In this way each dust suppression apparatus 10 can be positioned near to a floor of the hold during the early stages of loading, and then lifted as the level of dusting material in the hold 1 10 rises.

[0041] If the dust suppression apparatus 10 is deemed to be too heavy to be suspended via its supply hose 6, then a separate tether, such as a chain or the like, can be used to bear the weight of the dust suppression apparatus 10.

[0042] The conduit 12 comprises an array of threaded sockets spaced apart lengthwise there along. Each socket is threaded so that a misting nozzle 20 can be screwed (or plugged) into the conduit 12. The misting nozzles 20 screw into the sockets in the conduit 12 so that these may be changed if droplets of a different size are required to suppress dust of a different material , or for any other reason. [0043] Each dust suppression apparatus 10 further comprises at least one, but preferably a plurality of stabiliser elements 30, which in use, prevent the fluid dispensers 20 from becoming directed into the side of the hold 1 10, but instead keep the fluid dispensers 20 directed out into the hold 1 10. These stabilisers 30 depend from and are spaced apart lengthwise along the conduit 12. In the case of the illustrated embodiment, each stabiliser 30 comprises an elongate bumper of elastomeric material, which is secured with respect to the conduit 1 1 via a collar 40 so that the stabiliser 30 extends in a direction which is substantially normal to the conduit 1 1. A stabiliser 30 of an elastomeric material such as rubber will absorb energy from impacts between the dust suppression apparatus 10 and the side of the hold 1 10, and minimises the likelihood of damage to either of these resulting from normal use.

[ 0044] As can be seen in Figure 2, some misting nozzles 20 are directed in a direction which is normal to the direction of elongation of the stabiliser 30. Other misting nozzles 20 are angled to one side or the other of these normally directed misting nozzles 20 to create a fanning effect of mist produced by dust suppression apparatus 10. The nozzle spacing shown in Figure 2 is illustrative and adjustable, such as by blanking off some sockets to vary spacing.

[ 0045] In a non-illustrated alternative embodiment, the fluid conduit 12 comprises a flexible hose, which can be coiled and/or rolled onto a reel when this is not in use. The threaded sockets for the fluid dispensers 20 may be moulded into the hose at manufacture, or inserted into the hose post its

manufacture, and appropriate water sealing provided around these. Alternatively, the fluid dispensers may be inserted and sealed directly into the hose, eliminating the threaded sockets, and thus sacrificing the capability to swap out fluid dispensers.

[0046] Tiiroughout the specification and the claims that follow, unless the context requires othenvise, the words "comprise" and "include" and variations such as "comprising" and "including" will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers, but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

[0047] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement of any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

[00481 It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the disclosure is not restricted in its use to the particular application described. Neither is the present disclosure restricted in its preferred embodiment with regard to the particular elements and/or features described or depicted herein. It will be appreciated that the disclosure is not limited to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the disclosure as set forth and defined by the following claims.

[0049] Please note that the following claims are provisional claims only, and are provided as examples of possible claims and are not intended to limit the scope of what may be claimed in any future patent applications based on the present application. Integers may be added to or omitted from the example claims at a later date so as to further define or re-define the disclosure.