Mobile distribution station with aisle walkway

• US 10,494,251 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2018
• Issued: 12/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fuel Automation Station, LLC (Simon Group Holdings I, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Fuel Automation Station, LLC (Simon Group Holdings I, LLC)
• Inventors: Shock, Ricky Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnett, Nicolas A
• Application Number:
  US15/890,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20180229998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/035 for transporting reel units
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 63/08 Component parts or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/04 for transferring fuels, lubricants or mixed fuels and lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/145 by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/348 by interrogating an information transmitter, e.g. a transponder B67D7/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/40 Suspending, reeling or storing devices supports for storing lengths of hoses, in general B65H75/34
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/62 power operated
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/78 Arrangements of storage tanks, reservoirs or pipe-lines
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/845 Trolleys or like movable supports
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2607 Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations

Abstract

A distribution station includes a mobile trailer, a pump, first and second manifolds fluidly connected with the pump, reels, hoses, valves, fluid level sensors, and a controller. Each hose is connected with a different one of the reels. A portion of the reels are connected to be fed from the first manifold and another portion of the reels are connected to be fed from the second manifold. Each valve is situated between one of the first or second manifolds and a respective different one of the reels. Each fluid level sensor is associated with a different one of the hoses. The controller is configured to individually open and close the valves responsive to the fluid level sensors.

Claims

1. A distribution station comprising:

a mobile trailer;

a pump on the mobile trailer;

first and second manifolds on the mobile trailer and fluidly connected with the pump;

a plurality of reels on the mobile trailer;

a plurality of hoses, each said hose connected with a different one of the reels, wherein a portion of the reels are connected to be fed from the first manifold and another portion of the reels are connected to be fed from the second manifold;

a plurality of valves on the mobile trailer, each said valve situated between one of the first or second manifolds and a respective different one of the reels;

a plurality of fluid level sensors, each said fluid level sensor being associated with a different one of the hoses; and

a controller configured to individually open and close the valves responsive to the fluid level sensors.

2. The distribution station as recited in claim 1, wherein the reels are arranged on first and second opposed sides in the mobile trailer.

3. The distribution station as recited in claim 2, further comprising an aisle walkway down the middle of the mobile trailer between the reels on the first and second opposed sides in the mobile trailer.

4. The distribution station as recited in claim 3, further comprising a floor pan in the mobile trailer.

5. The distribution station as recited in claim 1, wherein the reels on each of the first and second opposed sides are arranged in upper and lower rows of reels.

6. The distribution station as recited in claim 1, further comprising a register configured to measure an amount of fluid from the pump.

7. The distribution station as recited in claim 6, wherein the register is in communication with the controller.

8. The distribution station as recited in claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to track the amount of fluid provided from the pump over a selected time interval.

9. The distribution station as recited in claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to trigger generation of an invoice for the amount of fluid.

10. The distribution station as recited in claim 8, wherein the register is an electronic register that has a resolution of about 0.1 gallons.

11. A distribution station comprising:

a mobile trailer;

at least one pump on the mobile trailer;

at least one manifold on the mobile trailer and fluidly connected with the at least one pump;

a plurality of reels on the mobile trailer, each said reel individually connected with the at least one manifold;

a plurality of hoses, each said hose connected with a different one of the reels;

a plurality of valves on the mobile trailer, each said valve situated between the at least one manifold and a respective different one of the reels;

a plurality of fluid level sensors, each said fluid level sensor connectable to an end of a different one of the hoses; and

a controller configured to individually open and close the valves responsive to the fluid level sensors.

12. The distribution station as recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one pump includes two pumps.

13. The distribution station as recited in claim 12, wherein the two pumps are arranged in fluid series.

14. The distribution station as recited in claim 11, further comprising a register configured to measure an amount of fluid from the pump.

15. The distribution station as recited in claim 14, wherein the register is in communication with the controller.

16. The distribution station as recited in claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to track the amount of fluid provided from the pump over a selected time interval.

17. The distribution station as recited in claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to trigger generation of an invoice for the amount of fluid.

18. The distribution station as recited in claim 16, wherein the register is an electronic register that has a resolution of about 0.1 gallons.

19. A distribution station comprising:

a mobile trailer;

at least one pump on the mobile trailer;

at least one manifold on the mobile trailer and fluidly connected with the at least one pump;

a register between the at least one pump and the at least one manifold;

a plurality of reels on the mobile trailer and connected with the at least one manifold;

a plurality of hoses, each said hose connected with a different one of the reels;

a plurality of valves on the mobile trailer, each said valve situated between the at least one manifold and a respective different one of the reels;

a plurality of fluid level sensors, each said fluid level sensor being associated with a different one of the hoses; and

a controller configured to individually open and close the valves responsive to the fluid level sensors.

20. The distribution station as recited in claim 19, wherein the register is configured to generate measurement data representative of an amount of fluid provided from the at least one pump, and the register is in communication with the controller to send the measurement data to the controller.