System for storing, transporting and dispensing wet sand to a hydraulic fracturing operation at a well site

A system for conveying wet sand, the system comprising:

• a plurality of containers having wet sand stored therein, each of the containers comprising:
• a plurality of side walls forming the container;
• an interior surface having a slip coating thereon;
• a bottom portion for storing the wet sand, the bottom portion having an outlet formed therein to facilitate removal of the wet sand from the container;
• and
• a top portion terminating at the plurality of side walls and forming an inlet to the interior surface;
• a conveyor system comprising:
• a conveyor belt, the conveyor belt formed to receive wet sand and carry the wet sand away from the conveyor system;
• a conveyor support structure;
• a hopper assembly, comprising:
• a hopper comprising a pair of end walls, a pair of side walls, an interior wall extending from a top of the hopper to a bottom of the hopper, and an outlet, wherein the hopper receives the wet sand from one or more of the plurality of containers,
• wherein the interior wall extends at an angle such that an area of the outlet is reduced;
• a flow gate configured over the outlet and movable in a direction for controlling discharge of wet sand from the hopper onto the conveyor belt
• one or more vibration systems coupled to an exterior surface of the hopper assembly for generating a shaking force that is transmitted to the hopper assembly;
• and
• a discharge assembly located at an end of the conveyor system for directing the wet sand from the conveyor belt;
• wherein the conveyor belt comprises a corrugated central rib and corrugated side walls, wherein the corrugated central rib extends from a belt surface between the corrugated side walls.

A system for conveying wet sand, the system comprising:

• a plurality of containers having wet sand stored therein, each of the containers comprising:
• a plurality of side walls forming the container;
• an interior surface having a slip coating thereon;
• a bottom portion for storing the wet sand, the bottom portion having an outlet formed therein to facilitate removal of the wet sand from the container;
• and
• a top portion terminating at the plurality of side walls and forming an inlet to the interior surface;
• a conveyor system comprising:
• a conveyor belt, the conveyor belt formed to receive wet sand and carry the wet sand away from the conveyor system;
• a conveyor support structure;
• a hopper assembly, comprising:
• a hopper comprising a pair of end walls, a pair of side walls, an interior wall extending from a top of the hopper to a bottom of the hopper, and an outlet, wherein the hopper receives the wet sand from one or more of the plurality of containers,
• wherein the interior wall extends at an angle such that an area of the outlet is reduced;
• a flow gate configured over the outlet and movable in a direction for controlling discharge of wet sand from the hopper onto the conveyor belt
• one or more vibration systems coupled to an exterior surface of the hopper assembly for generating a shaking force that is transmitted to the hopper assembly;
• and
• a discharge assembly located at an end of the conveyor system for directing the wet sand from the conveyor belt;
• wherein the conveyor support structure is equipped with a hydraulic lifting mechanism configured for increasing a height of the conveyor system.

A system for conveying wet sand, the system comprising:

• a plurality of containers having wet sand stored therein, each of the containers comprising:
• a plurality of side walls forming the container;
• an interior surface having a slip coating thereon;
• a bottom portion for storing the wet sand, the bottom portion having an outlet formed therein to facilitate removal of the wet sand from the container;
• and
• a top portion terminating at the plurality of side walls and forming an inlet to the interior surface;
• a conveyor system comprising:
• a conveyor belt, the conveyor belt formed to receive wet sand and carry the wet sand away from the conveyor system;
• a conveyor support structure;
• a hopper assembly, comprising:
• a hopper comprising a pair of end walls, a pair of side walls, an interior wall extending from a top of the hopper to a bottom of the hopper, and an outlet, wherein the hopper receives the wet sand from one or more of the plurality of containers,
• wherein the interior wall extends at an angle such that an area of the outlet is reduced;
• a flow gate configured over the outlet and movable in a direction for controlling discharge of wet sand from the hopper onto the conveyor belt;
• one or more vibration systems coupled to an exterior surface of the hopper assembly for generating a shaking force that is transmitted to the hopper assembly;
• and
• a discharge assembly located at an end of the conveyor system for directing the wet sand from the conveyor belt;
• wherein the discharge assembly comprises:
• a chute having a chute outlet;
• and
• a tubular element extending from the chute to an outlet for dispensing the wet sand, the tubular element formed to receive the wet sand from the chute outlet;
• wherein the chute comprises a fixed section secured to the conveyor support structure and a hinged section pivotally coupled to the fixed section and formed to adjust a pitch of the discharge assembly
• wherein the tubular element is coupled to the chute by a first mechanism and a second mechanism, wherein the first mechanism provides a pitching movement of the tubular element with respect to the chute, and wherein the second mechanism provides a yawing movement of the tubular element with respect to the chute.