US 12,157,646 B2Granted

Storage silo apparatus with an integrated vertical conveyor

AssigneeJDL Canada Inc.

InventorLonny James Thiessen

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Abstract

A secondary silo on a second portable frame is independently portable relative to a primary silo and a vertical conveyor on a first portable frame. The vertical conveyor conveys flowable proppant material from an intake hopper below the primary silo into either one of the silos. The silos have gravity discharge chutes that are gravity fed directly into a proppant blender unit. An unloader on wheels is self-propelled and steerable relative to the silos. The unloader can be lowered relative to the wheels to sit on the ground to allow vehicles to drive over the unloader for discharge. Intake hoppers of the unloader can be raised up against the vehicle to form a closed duct discharging from the vehicles into the unloader. A discharge of the unloader forms a closed passage with the intake hopper of the vertical conveyor.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A storage silo apparatus for flowable material, the apparatus comprising:

a base frame;
a storage silo supported above the base frame;
a vertical conveyor mounted on the storage silo;
the vertical conveyor being arranged to convey the flowable material from an intake hopper of the vertical conveyor below the storage silo to a discharge arrangement of the vertical conveyor;
and
the discharge arrangement of the vertical conveyor being operable in a first configuration discharging the flowable material into the storage silo and in a second configuration discharging the flowable material externally of the storage silo;
wherein the discharge arrangement comprises (i) a discharge housing defining an outlet duct receiving material from the vertical conveyor, (ii) a first discharge duct in communication with the storage silo, (iii) a second discharge duct directed externally of the storage silo, and (iv) a discharge gate operable within the discharge housing between a first position directing the outlet duct to communicate with the first discharge duct according to the first configuration of the discharge assembly and a second position directing the outlet duct to communicate with the second discharge duct according to the second configuration of the discharge assembly;
wherein the discharge gate is situated above the storage silo and the discharge gate is fully contained within a perimeter boundary defined by upright perimeter walls of the storage silo in the first and second configurations;
and
wherein the base frame, the storage silo, the vertical conveyor, and the discharge housing locating the discharge gate therein are all transportable together as a singular, integral structure.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/862,649Filed 12 Jul 2022 · us provisional application
Priority: 14 Jul 2021
Published: US 2023/0013683 A119 Jan 2023
Granted: 3 Dec 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

B65D 88/32
Hoppers, i.e. containers having funnel-shaped discharge sections: in multiple arrangement
B65G 65/42
Devices for emptying otherwise than from the top: using belt or chain conveyors
B65D 88/26
Large containers: hoppers, i.e. containers having funnel-shaped discharge sections
B65D 88/30
Hoppers, i.e. containers having funnel-shaped discharge sections: specially adapted to facilitate transportation from one utilisation site to another