Rotatable Bin or Like Object

• US 20120024738A1
• Filed: 02/09/2010
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Herman, Alvin, Herman, Erin
• Granted Patent: US 8,961,096 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/459.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/486 using pivoted arms shifting the load-transporting element in a crosswise direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/6463 fitted with articulated beams for longitudinal displacement of the container
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/16 for carrying mixed concrete, e.g. having rotatable drums concrete-mixing apparatus specially adapted for being mounted on vehicles with provision for mixing during transport B28C5/42
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/30 specially adapted to facilitate transportation from one utilisation site to another collapsible hoppers B65D88/52
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 414/132 Vehicle-carried storage member, e.g. portable silo and means for erecting member from attitude during transport to position of intended use

Abstract

A transportable apparatus has a main body configured to be transported in a horizontal orientation, and then raised to a vertical orientation in a working position. A base is mounted on the bottom end of the main body such that the main body rests on the base in the working position, and such that the base is carried at a rear end of the main body when the main body is in a horizontal transport position supported on. The base is rotatable about a vertical base axis such that the main body can be rotated with respect to the base about the base axis. A frame and wheels can be pivotally attached to the main body to transport the main body and then be stored in a vertical orientation along a wall of the man body in the working position.

Claims

1. A transportable apparatus comprising:

a main body configured to be transported in a substantially horizontal orientation, and configured to be raised to a substantially vertical orientation in a working position; and

a base mounted on the bottom end of the main body such that the main body rests on the base when in the working position, and such that the base is carried at a rear end of the main body when the main body is in a horizontally oriented transport position supported on wheels for movement along the ground;

wherein the base is rotatable about a substantially vertical base axis such that the main body can be rotated with respect to the base about the base axis when in the working position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein main body comprises a container and an outlet port defined in a lower portion of a sidewall of the container, and wherein the container can be rotated about the base axis to move the outlet port to desired location.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the base is mounted to the container by a weight sensing mechanism such that a weight of the container can be determined to determine a weight of contents of the container.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the weight sensing mechanism comprises a plurality of load cells.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the base comprises a circular rail mounted to a bottom portion of the base by a plurality of load cells, and comprising a plurality of roller assemblies extending from the bottom end of the container and engaging the rail.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the main body is supported by a trailer mounted on wheels when in the transport position.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the main body can be rotated 180 degrees with respect to the base.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a frame pivotally attached at a bottom end thereof to a lower portion of the main body about a substantially horizontal pivot axis located above a bottom end of the base, the frame oriented in an upright stored position substantially aligned with a first side of the main body when the main body is in the working position;

an actuator operative to pivot the frame from the stored position downward about the pivot axis to a lowered transport position where the frame extends substantially horizontally away from the main body and wherein wheels rotatably attached to the frame support the frame for movement along the ground; and

a hitch at a top end of the frame adapted for connection to a tow vehicle when the frame is in the transport position;

wherein, when the frame is connected to a tow vehicle, the actuator can be operated to pivot the main body downward about the pivot axis to a lowered transport position where the first side of the main body rests on the frame and the base is above the ground.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the main body has a weight sufficient to maintain the main body in the working position when the actuator is operated to move the frame downward to the lowered transport position.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the main body is configured to be anchored in the working position to maintain the main body in the working position when the actuator is operated to move the frame downward to the lowered transport position.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the actuator comprises at least one extendable cylinder pivotally attached at a first end to the main body and pivotally attached at an opposite second end to the frame.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the cylinder is extended to pivot the frame downward to the lowered transport position, and the cylinder is retracted to pivot the main body downward to the lowered transport position.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the main body comprises one of a tank, a bin, and a silo.

14. A method of transporting a container and orienting an outlet port on the container at a dispensing location, the method comprising:

rotatably mounting a base on a bottom end of the container;

supporting the container and base on wheels in a substantially horizontally orientated transport position and transporting the container to a work site;

raising the container to a substantially vertically orientated working position with the container resting on the base; and

rotating the container with respect to the base about a substantially vertical base axis to locate the outlet port at the dispensing location.

15. The method of claim 14 comprising providing a weight sensing mechanism and determining a weight of the container to determine a weight of contents of the container.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the weight sensing mechanism is provided by a plurality of load cells mounted between the container and a bottom of the base.

17. The method of claim 14 comprising supporting the container and base on a trailer mounted on wheels and transporting the trailer to the work site.

18. The method of claim 14 comprising:

when the container is in the working position, pivotally attaching a rear end of a frame to a lower portion of the container about a substantially horizontal pivot axis located above a bottom of the base, and supporting the frame on wheels in a substantially horizontal transport position extending substantially horizontally away from the container;

providing a hitch at a front end of the frame and connecting a tow vehicle to the hitch when the frame is in the transport position;

operating an actuator to pivot the container from the working position downward about the pivot axis to the transport position where the container and base are supported on the frame;

towing the frame to the work site and maneuvering the trailer to locate the base at a desired location;

operating the actuator to pivot the container upward about the pivot axis to the substantially vertical working position with the container resting on the base;

disconnecting the tow vehicle and operating the actuator to pivot the frame upward about the pivot axis to a stored position substantially vertically aligned with a first side of the container; and

rotating the container and attached frame with respect to the base about the base axis to locate the outlet port at the dispensing location.

19. The method of claim 18 comprising configuring the container, base, and frame such that the container and base have a weight sufficient to maintain the container in the working position when the actuator is operated to move the frame upward and downward about the pivot axis.

20. The method of claim 18 comprising anchoring the base and container in the working position to maintain the container in the working position when the actuator is operated to move the frame upward and downward about the pivot axis.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the actuator comprises at least one extendable cylinder pivotally attached at a first end to the container and pivotally attached at an opposite second end to the frame.

22. A transportable apparatus comprising:

a main body configured to be transported in a substantially horizontal orientation, and configured to be raised to a substantially vertical orientation in a working position;

a base rotatably mounted on a bottom end of the main body such that the main body rests on the base and can be rotated with respect to the base about a substantially vertical base axis when in the working position;

a frame pivotally attached at a bottom end thereof to a lower portion of the main body about a substantially horizontal pivot axis located above a bottom end of the base, the frame oriented in an upright stored position substantially aligned with a first side of the main body when the main body is in the working position;

an actuator operative to pivot the frame from the stored position downward about the pivot axis to a lowered transport position where the frame extends substantially horizontally away from the main body and wherein wheels rotatably attached to the frame support the frame for movement along the ground; and

a hitch at a top end of the frame adapted for connection to a tow vehicle when the frame is in the transport position;

wherein, when the frame is connected to a tow vehicle, the actuator can be operated to pivot the main body downward about the pivot axis to a lowered transport position where the first side of the main body rests on the frame and the base is above the ground; and

wherein the actuator can be operated to pivot the main body upward about the pivot axis to the working position.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein main body comprises a container and an outlet port defined in a lower portion of a sidewall of the container, and wherein the container can be rotated about the base axis to move the outlet port to desired location.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the base is mounted to the container by a weight sensing mechanism such that a weight of the container can be determined to determine a weight of contents of the container.