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

• US 9,725,234 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2015
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• 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:
  US14/831,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20150360857A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 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 method for delivering proppant to a fracturing site, the method comprising:

filling an interior volume of a container with proppant, the container structured to include a plurality of support braces positioned peripherally about the sidewalls and positioned between respective uprights of a frame that supports the container, the plurality of support braces enhancing structural support of the sidewalls, a top substantially rectangular section at least partially defined by the sidewalls, and a bottom funnel-shaped section coupled to the top substantially rectangular section at a bottom of the top substantially rectangular section to thereby position the bottom funnel-shaped section at a lower elevation than the top substantially rectangular section, the bottom funnel-shaped section being structurally strengthened by a plurality of lower supports;

transporting the container to the fracturing site when the container is filled with the proppant;

positioning the container on a support structure over a conveyor;

moving a gate positioned proximate an outlet to an open position to enable the proppant to flow out of the interior volume and into a hopper; and

moving a metering gate positioned adjacent to an opening of the hopper to enable the proppant to flow out of the hopper and onto the conveyor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the support braces are connected to an exterior surface of the sidewalls to provide structural support for the sidewalls, and wherein the container is a ten foot ISO container.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising arranging a gap between adjacent pairs of the plurality of support braces, the plurality of support braces extending from a top of the container and terminating in a region positioned above ramps defining the bottom funnel-shaped section, the ramps forming a downwardly inclined surface to direct the proppant out of the container and to the conveyor.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising positioning the container on a surface of the frame, the frame having openings proximate the ramps and extending between the plurality of lower supports, the openings granting access to exterior surfaces of the ramps, and wherein the proppant comprises particles that have a substantially spherical shape.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning the hopper between the container and the conveyor, the hopper having the metering gate at an opening to enable the proppant to flow out of the hopper and onto the conveyor, and wherein the plurality of lower supports extend inwardly toward the ramps from an outer periphery of the container.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of support braces are positioned below a top of the container and above ramps defining the bottom funnel-shaped section, the ramps forming a downwardly inclined surface to direct the proppant out of the container and to the conveyor.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising arranging the plurality of lower supports peripherally about the bottom funnel-shaped section.