PROPPANT STORAGE VESSEL AND ASSEMBLY THEREOF

• US 20140246341A1
• Filed: 07/24/2013
• Published: 09/04/2014
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 9,296,518 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/221
• 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 container having a first end wall, a second end wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall. The first and second end walls extend between opposite ends of the first and second side walls. The walls define an interior volume of the container. The walls have a rigidity suitable for retaining no less than 30,000 pounds of proppant therein. A top hatch is formed centrally on the top wall and is movable between an open position and a closed position. A bottom hatch is formed generally centrally on the bottom wall of the container and is movable between an open position and a closed position.

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 and second side walls and first and second end walls having a rigidity suitable for retaining no less than 30,000 pounds of proppant therein;

a top hatch formed generally centrally on said top wall, said top hatch movable between an open position and a closed position; and

a bottom hatch formed generally centrally on said bottom wall of said container, said bottom hatch being movable between an open position and a closed position.

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

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; and

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

3. The proppant storage vessel of claim 2, each of said first and second end walls and said first and second side walls having 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, said first support brace extending across said interior volume of said container; and

a second support brace affixed to said first and second side walls and extending therebetween, said second support brace extending across said interior volume of said container.

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

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.

6. The proppant storage vessel of claim 2, each of said first inclined surface and second inclined surface and third inclined surface and fourth inclined surface having a bottom edge positioned adjacent a perimeter of said bottom hatch.

7. 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.

8. A storage apparatus 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;

a top hatch formed on or adjacent to said top wall, said top hatch movable between an open position and a closed position; and

a bottom hatch formed on or adjacent to said bottom wall of said container, said bottom hatch being movable between an open position and a closed position; and

proppant material received within said interior volume of said container, said proppant material being dischargable from said interior volume of said container through said bottom hatch.

9. The storage apparatus of claim 8, said proppant material being no more than 100,000 pounds of proppant.

10. The storage apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

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; and

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

11. The storage apparatus of claim 10, each of said first and second end walls and said first and second side walls having 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.

12. The storage apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a first support brace affixed to said first and second end walls and extending therebetween, said first support brace extending across said interior volume of said container; and

a second support brace affixed to said first and second side walls and extending therebetween, said second support brace extending across said interior volume of said container.

13. The storage apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

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.

14. The storage apparatus of claim 10, each of said first inclined surface and second inclined surface and third inclined surface and fourth inclined surface having a bottom edge positioned adjacent a perimeter of said bottom hatch.

15. The storage apparatus of claim 8, said bottom hatch being hingedly affixed to said bottom wall, said bottom hatch residing against said bottom wall when in said closed position.

16. 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;

a bottom hatch formed on or adjacent to said bottom wall of said container, said bottom hatch being movable between an open position and a closed position;

a first support brace affixed to one of the walls and extending to the wall opposite thereof, said first support brace extending across said interior volume of said container; and

a second support brace affixed to another of the walls and extending to another wall opposite thereof, said second support brace extending across said interior volume of said container.

17. The proppant storage vessel of claim 16, further comprising:

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; and

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

18. The proppant storage vessel of claim 17, each of said first and second end walls and said first and second side walls having 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.

19. The proppant storage vessel of claim 16, further comprising:

a top hatch formed generally centrally on said top wall, said top hatch being movable between an open position and a closed position.

20. The proppant storage vessel of claim 17, each of said first inclined surface and said second inclined surface and said third inclined surface and said fourth inclined surface having a bottom edge positioned adjacent a perimeter of said bottom hatch, said bottom hatch being hingedly affixed to said bottom wall, said bottom hatch residing against said bottom wall when in said closed position.