Proppant storage vessel and assembly thereof

• US 8,827,118 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SandBox Enterprises LLC (U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Oren Technologies LLC (U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Oren, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Durand, Paul R
• Assistant Examiner(s): LONG, DONNELL ALAN
• Application Number:
  US13/332,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20130161211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 222/185.1, 222/145.1, 222/143, 222/145.2, 222/145.5, 222460-462, 206/221, 220/565
• US Class Current: 222/185.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/08 with provisions for removing or destroying, e.g. to facilitate mixing of contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/022 in multiple arrangement, e.g. stackable, nestable, connected or joined together side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/32 in multiple arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/542 Ramps forming part of the container ramps per se B65G69/28; for ambulances A61G3/061; for vehicles in general B60P1/43
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/10 Manholes; Inspection openings; Covers therefor safety features B65D90/22; covers or similar closure members, for pressure vessels in general F16J13/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/12 Supports
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/14 Legs, e.g. detachable
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 65/40 Devices for emptying otherwise than from the top
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 65/42 using belt or chain conveyors

Abstract

A proppant storage vessel has a first container with an interior volume, and a second container supported in spaced relation above the first container. The first container has a bottom hatch affixed to a bottom wall thereof. The bottom hatch is movable between an open position and a closed position. The first container has an opening at a top wall thereof. The second container has bottom hatch formed on a bottom wall thereof. The bottom hatch of the second container is aligned with the opening of the first container such that a proppant in the second container can flow through the hatch thereof into the interior volume of the first container. Each of the containers includes first, second, third and fourth inclined surfaces positioned in the interior volume and extending from the respective side walls and end walls thereof toward the bottom hatch.

Claims

1. A proppant storage vessel comprising:

a container having a first end wall and a second end wall and a first side wall and a second side wall and a top wall and a bottom wall, said first and second end walls extending between opposite ends of said first and second side walls, said first and second end walls and said first and second side walls and said top and bottom walls defining an interior volume of said container, said first end wall and said second end wall and said first side wall and said second side wall and said top wall and said bottom wall being fixedly and rigidly connected together;

a bottom hatch formed generally centrally on said bottom wall of said container, said bottom hatch swingably movable between an open position and a closed position, said hatch extending transverse to said bottom wall when in said open position;

a first inclined surface positioned in said interior volume, said first inclined surface extending from said first end wall toward said bottom hatch;

a second inclined surface positioned in said interior volume, said second inclined surface extending from said second end wall toward said bottom hatch;

a third inclined surface positioned in said interior volume, said third inclined surface extending from said first side wall toward said bottom hatch;

a fourth inclined surface positioned in said interior volume, said fourth inclined surface extending from said second side wall toward said bottom hatch;

a first support member having one end affixed to said bottom wall and extending angularly upwardly therefrom, said first support member having an opposite end affixed centrally to said first inclined surface; and

a second support member having one end affixed to said bottom wall and extending angularly upwardly therefrom, said second support member having an opposite end affixed centrally to said second inclined surface.

2. The proppant storage vessel of claim 1, further comprising:

a top hatch formed on said top wall, said top hatch swingably movable between an open position and a closed position, said top hatch extending transverse to said top wall in said open position.

3. The proppant storage vessel of claim 1, each of said first and second end walls and said first and second side walls have a middle, said first inclined surface having an upper end affixed to said first end wall below the middle thereof, said second inclined surface having an upper end affixed to said second end wall below the middle thereof, said third inclined surface having an upper end affixed to said first side wall below the middle thereof, said fourth inclined surface having an upper end thereof affixed to said second side wall below the middle thereof.

4. The proppant storage vessel of claim 1, further comprising:

a first support brace affixed to said first and second end walls and extending therebetween; and

a second support brace affixed to said first and second side walls and extending therebetween.

5. The proppant storage vessel of claim 1, each of said first and second and third and fourth inclined surfaces having a bottom edge positioned adjacent a perimeter of said bottom hatch.

6. The proppant storage vessel of claim 1, said bottom hatch being hingedly affixed to said bottom wall, said bottom hatch residing against said bottom wall when in said closed position.

7. A proppant storage assembly comprising:

a first container having an interior volume, said first container having a bottom wall, said bottom wall having a bottom hatch affixed thereto, said bottom hatch being movable between an open position and a closed position, said first container having an opening at a top wall thereof; and

a second container supported in spaced relation above said first container, said second container having bottom hatch formed on a bottom wall thereof, said bottom hatch being swingably movable between an open position and a closed position, said bottom hatch extending transverse thereof said bottom wall in said open position, said bottom hatch of said second container being aligned with said opening of said first container such that a proppant in said second container can flow through said bottom hatch thereof into said interior volume of said first container when said bottom hatch of said second container is in said open position, said first container having a top hatch hingedly affixed at said opening thereof, said top hatch of said first container movable between a closed position and an open position, said bottom hatch of said second container having a length dimension, said length dimension being slightly less than a distance between said top wall of said first container and said bottom wall of said second container, said top hatch of said first container extending in parallel relation to said bottom hatch of said second container when each of said top hatch of said first container and said bottom hatch of said second container are in the open position, each of said first and second containers comprising a first end wall and a second end wall and a first side wall and a second side wall, said first and second end walls extending between opposite ends of said first and second side walls, said first and second end walls and first and second side walls and said top and bottom walls defining the interior volume of said container, each of said first and second containers having a first inclined surface positioned in the interior volume so as to extend from the first end wall toward the bottom hatch and a second inclined surface positioned in the interior volume and extending from the second end wall toward the bottom hatch and a third inclined surface positioned in the interior volume and extending from the first side wall toward the bottom hatch and a fourth inclined surface positioned in the interior volume and extending from the second side wall toward the bottom hatch, said first end wall and said second end wall and said first side wall and said second side wall and said top wall and said bottom wall being fixedly and rigidly connected together.

8. The proppant storage assembly of claim 7, further comprising:

a first spacer positioned on said top wall of said first container and extending upwardly therefrom, said first spacer abutting said bottom wall of said second container; and

a second spacer positioned on said top wall of said first container and extending upwardly therefrom, said second spacer abutting said bottom wall of said second container, said first spacer being in spaced relation to said second spacer.

9. The proppant storage assembly of claim 7, further comprising:

a pad positioned against said bottom wall of said first container, said pad supporting said bottom wall of said first container in spaced relationship above an underlying surface.

10. The proppant storage assembly of claim 9, said bottom hatch of said first container having a length dimension, said length dimension being less than a distance between said bottom wall and the underlying surface.

11. The proppant storage assembly of claim 9, further comprising:

a portable conveyor having a surface positioned between said bottom wall of said first container and the underlying surface, said surface of said portable conveyor being directly below said bottom hatch of said first container.

12. The proppant storage assembly of claim 7, further comprising:

a third container supported in spaced relation above said second container, said second container having a top hatch formed on a top wall thereof, said third container having a bottom hatch formed on a bottom wall thereof, said bottom hatch of said third container being aligned with said top hatch of said second container.

13. The proppant storage assembly of claim 7, each of said first and second containers being of an ocean freight container shape.

14. The proppant storage assembly of claim 7, said first container having a first side wall and a second side wall and a first end wall and second end wall each hingedly mounted to said bottom wall thereof.

15. The proppant storage assembly of claim 13, said first container having a first slot and a second slot affixed to said bottom wall thereof, said first and second slots suitable for receipt of forks of a forklift therein.