Proppant discharge system and a container for use in such a proppant discharge system

• US 9,669,993 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2015
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2012
• 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, Oren, Joshua
• Primary Examiner(s): SNELTING, JONATHAN D
• Application Number:
  US14/948,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20160075507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 414328, 414329, 414502-505, 414518, 414528, 414406, 414407, 414411, 166 791, 166 7515, 222163, 2221811, 221174, 232 431, 206540
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/56 the load-transporting element having bottom discharging openings
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2231/008 integral with the container wall
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2547/04 Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2588/12 specially adapted for transport
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2590/664 actuating mechanism other than manual, e.g. pneumatic, electropneumatic, hydraulic, electromagnetic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 7/00 Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, components made wholly or mainly of metal specially constructed to be opened by cutting, piercing, or tearing of wall portions B65D17/00; pallets B65D19/00; tanks for domestic water storage heaters F24H1/181
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/06 for dispensing powdered or granular material B65D83/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/02 rigid B65D88/34 - B65D88/78 take precedence; hoppers B65D88/26; special vessels for collecting or storing rain-water for use in the household E03B3/03; cesspools E03F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/022 in multiple arrangement, e.g. stackable, nestable, connected or joined together side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/12 specially adapted for transport associated with vehicles, see the relevant subclasses of B60 - B64
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/121 ISO containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/129 Transporter frames for containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/26 Hoppers, i.e. containers having funnel-shaped discharge sections B65D88/34 - B65D88/78 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/28 Construction or shape of discharge section
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/30 specially adapted to facilitate transportation from one utilisation site to another collapsible hoppers B65D88/52
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/32 in multiple arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/38 with surface water receiver, e.g. drain
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/54 characterised by means facilitating filling or emptying filling or emptying features for flexible large containers B65B69/0075; construction or shape of discharge section of hoppers B65D88/28; gates or closures B65D90/54; filling or emptying bunkers, hoppers, or like containers B65G65/30
• 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 90/20 Frames or nets, e.g. for flexible containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/54 : Gates or closures for manholes B65D90/10; covers or similar closure members, for pressure vessels in general F16J13/00; valves per se F16K; doors for containers B65D90/008
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/58 : having closure members sliding in the plane of the opening
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/587 : having a linear motion
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/66 : Operating devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/042 : Granular material
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2814/0319 : through a closable or non-closable outlet opening
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2814/032 : using a belt or chain conveyor in or beneath the opening
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 65/30 : Methods or devices for filling or emptying bunkers, hoppers, tanks, or like containers, of interest apart from their use in particular chemical or physical processes or their application in particular machines, e.g. not covered by a single other subclass devices for tilting and emptying containers B65G65/23; such containers having means facilitating filling or emptying B65D88/54
• 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 discharge system has a container with an outlet positioned in a bottom thereof and a gate affixed adjacent the outlet so as to be movable between a first position covering the outlet to 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 container can be a ten foot ISO container.

Claims

1. A container to transport and store proppant, the container comprising:

a top having an inlet substantially centered to enable proppant to flow into the container;

a bottom, having an outlet formed therein;

sidewalls coupled to the top to define a lateral periphery of the container so as to form at least a portion of an interior volume of the container to store the proppant therein;

a plurality of support braces positioned about the lateral periphery of the container, the support braces being positioned external to the sidewalls and between structural uprights including corner posts positioned at intersections of the sidewalls and below horizontal members positioned at intersections of the top and sidewalls to provide structural support to the sidewalls when proppant is positioned within the container;

ramps downwardly inclined and extending inwardly from the sidewalls to direct the proppant toward the outlet when the proppant is stored therein, the ramps being arranged at a lower elevation than a vertical extent of the sidewalls and the plurality of support braces; and

a gate positioned proximate the outlet, the gate being moveable between open and closed positions.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of support braces extend in a substantially vertical position between the top and the ramps, the plurality of support braces being positioned in a spaced-apart relation as to one or more adjacent support braces such that the sidewalls are visible therebetween.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein a frame is formed about an exterior of the container, the frame having the corner posts and horizontal members positioned along peripheries of the top and the bottom, the horizontal members abutting the corner posts.

4. The container of claim 3, wherein the frame has openings positioned peripherally about the ramps such that exterior surfaces of the ramps are visible through the openings when the container is positioned within the frame.

5. The container of claim 1, comprising ramp supports positioned below respective outer surfaces of the ramps, the ramp supports providing support for the ramps when the container is filled with proppant.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of support braces surround the container in a cage-like configuration, the plurality of support braces enhancing support of the sidewalls when the container is filled with the proppant.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein ramp supports are positioned between the ramps and the bottom, the ramp supports being substantially aligned with the plurality of support braces.