Support apparatus for moving proppant from a container in a proppant discharge system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system to move proppant from a plurality of proppant containers, the system comprising:
- a frame having a surface suitable to receive the plurality of proppant containers thereon when one or more of the plurality of proppant containers has proppant stored therein, the frame including a pair of spaced apart and substantially parallel rails extending from a first end of the frame to a second end of the frame and having a plurality of container cradles to enable the plurality of containers to be arranged in a side-by-side configuration on the surface;
one or more receptacles engageable with a preselected portion of each of the plurality of proppant containers when one or more of the plurality of proppant containers is positioned on the frame, the receptacle having a body with an opening, the body engaging the preselected portion of the container above the surface of the frame;
one or more hoppers affixed to the frame and positioned below the surface of the frame, each of the one or more hoppers having an opening adjacent a lower end thereof and outer surfaces of the one or more hoppers being visible externally to the frame through void spaces positioned between legs of the frame, the one or more hoppers suitable for receiving proppant from one or more of the plurality of proppant containers;
one or more receptacle actuators operably connected to the receptacle to drive movement of the receptacle thereby to allow discharging of the proppant from the one or more of the plurality of proppant containers into the one or more hoppers;
one or more metering gates translatably positioned adjacent the opening of the one or more hoppers;
one or more metering gate actuators operably connected to each of the one or more metering gates to move the one or more metering gates between a closed position and an open position, the closed position configured to retain proppant in the one or more hoppers, the open position configured to allow discharge of proppant from the one or more hoppers; and
a conveyor having a surface positioned below the opening of each of the one or more hoppers, the surface of the conveyor suitable for receiving proppant from the one or more hoppers.
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Abstract
An apparatus for moving proppant from a container has a frame with a surface for suitable for receiving a container thereon, a hopper affixed to the frame, and a conveyor having a surface positioned below the hopper. The hopper has an opening at or adjacent to a lower end thereof. The hopper is suitable for receiving proppant from the container. The surface of the conveyor is suitable for receiving the proppant a discharged through the opening of the hopper. A receptacle is translatably positioned at the surface of the frame. A metering gate is translatably positioned adjacent to the opening of the hopper.
481 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system to move proppant from a plurality of proppant containers, the system comprising:
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a frame having a surface suitable to receive the plurality of proppant containers thereon when one or more of the plurality of proppant containers has proppant stored therein, the frame including a pair of spaced apart and substantially parallel rails extending from a first end of the frame to a second end of the frame and having a plurality of container cradles to enable the plurality of containers to be arranged in a side-by-side configuration on the surface; one or more receptacles engageable with a preselected portion of each of the plurality of proppant containers when one or more of the plurality of proppant containers is positioned on the frame, the receptacle having a body with an opening, the body engaging the preselected portion of the container above the surface of the frame; one or more hoppers affixed to the frame and positioned below the surface of the frame, each of the one or more hoppers having an opening adjacent a lower end thereof and outer surfaces of the one or more hoppers being visible externally to the frame through void spaces positioned between legs of the frame, the one or more hoppers suitable for receiving proppant from one or more of the plurality of proppant containers; one or more receptacle actuators operably connected to the receptacle to drive movement of the receptacle thereby to allow discharging of the proppant from the one or more of the plurality of proppant containers into the one or more hoppers; one or more metering gates translatably positioned adjacent the opening of the one or more hoppers; one or more metering gate actuators operably connected to each of the one or more metering gates to move the one or more metering gates between a closed position and an open position, the closed position configured to retain proppant in the one or more hoppers, the open position configured to allow discharge of proppant from the one or more hoppers; and a conveyor having a surface positioned below the opening of each of the one or more hoppers, the surface of the conveyor suitable for receiving proppant from the one or more hoppers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for moving proppant from a container, the system comprising:
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a frame having a surface suitable for receiving a container thereon when the container has proppant stored therein, the surface formed at least in part by a pair of spaced apart rails; a hopper affixed to the pair of spaced apart rails and closely arranged below the surface, the hopper including an opening adjacent a lower end thereof and outer surfaces of the hopper being visible through void spaces positioned between legs of the frame, the hopper suitable for receiving proppant from the container; a conveyor having a surface positioned below the opening of the hopper, the surface of the conveyor suitable for receiving the proppant from the hopper; a receptacle to engage a preselected portion of the container when the container is positioned on the frame; and a receptacle actuator connected to the receptacle to move a gate coupled to the container between a first position and a second position, the first position suitable for retaining the proppant in the container, the second position suitable for discharging the proppant from the container into the hopper. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A system to move proppant from a plurality of proppant containers, the system comprising:
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a frame having a surface suitable to receive the plurality of proppant containers thereon when one or more of the plurality of proppant containers has proppant stored therein, the frame including a pair of spaced apart and substantially parallel rails extending from a first end of the frame to a second end of the frame and having a plurality of container cradles to enable the plurality of containers to be arranged in a side-by-side configuration on the surface; one or more receptacles engageable with a preselected portion of each of the plurality of proppant containers when one or more of the plurality of proppant containers is positioned on the frame, the receptacle having a body with an opening, the body engaging the preselected portion of the container above the surface of the frame, wherein the preselected portion of the one or more of the plurality of proppant containers comprises a gate pin associated with a gate of the one or more of the plurality of proppant containers so that the one or more receptacles receive the gate pin at a position adjacent the surface of the frame; one or more hoppers affixed to the frame and positioned below the surface of the frame, each of the one or more hoppers having an opening adjacent a lower end thereof, the one or more hoppers suitable for receiving proppant from one or more of the plurality of proppant containers; one or more receptacle actuators operably connected to the receptacle to drive movement of the receptacle thereby to allow discharging of the proppant from the one or more of the plurality of proppant containers into the one or more hoppers; one or more metering gates translatably positioned adjacent the opening of the one or more hoppers; one or more metering gate actuators operably connected to each of the one or more metering gates to move the one or more metering gates between a closed position and an open position, the closed position configured to retain proppant in the one or more hoppers, the open position configured to allow discharge of proppant from the one or more hoppers; and a conveyor having a surface positioned below the opening of each of the one or more hoppers, the surface of the conveyor suitable for receiving proppant from the one or more hoppers.
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Specification