Rotatable proppant container
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorTimothy Holiman Hunter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A storage cube for transporting bulk materials from a supply location to a wellsite comprising a generally cube shape of sidewalls with a left positioning device, a right positioning device, and a discharge gate coupled to an outlet portal configured to an open position or a meter position. The storage cube includes an angled dispenser formed with a first angled corner, a second angled corner, the back side, and the front side. The dispensing angle formed by each side of the angled dispenser is a function of the position of the storage cube. The storage cube is configured to deliver a volume of bulk material greater than a comparable volume of a portable container.
Claims21
A system for handling bulk materials at a wellsite, comprising:
- a storage cube comprising a generally cube shape of sidewalls with an angled dispenser and a left trunnion coupled to a left side, a right trunnion coupled to a right side, and a position guide coupled to the left trunnion, the right trunnion, or both;
- and
- a handling device coupled to a hoisting device, wherein the handling device comprises a support frame and one or more actuators, wherein one or more actuators each comprise a receiving slot, and a positioning gear rotationally coupled to a motor, and wherein the positioning gear rotationally couples to the position guide of the storage cube with the positioning gear,
- wherein the handling device is configured to:
- i) configure the storage cube with a volume of bulk material in a transport position;
- ii) transport the storage cube to a dispensing location on the wellsite;
- iii) align a discharge gate of the storage cube with a target inlet at the dispensing location;
- iv) configure the storage cube in a dispensing position;
- v) open a discharge gate coupled to an outlet portal of the storage cube to an open position or a partially open position;
- vi) oscillate the storage cube;
- vii) determine a volume of bulk material remaining within the storage cube;
- and
- viii) determine an empty condition of the storage cube in response to the volume of bulk material remaining being below a threshold volume, and
- wherein the sidewalls of the angled dispenser form at least a 45 degree angle with ground in the dispensing position.
A method of delivering bulk materials to a wellsite, comprising:
- transporting a storage cube with a volume of bulk material to a remote wellsite via a transport, wherein the storage cube comprises a generally cube shape of sidewalls with an angled dispenser and a left trunnion coupled to a left side, a right trunnion coupled to a right side, and a position guide coupled to the left trunnion, the right trunnion, or both;
- transporting the storage cube via a handling device to a dispensing location on the remote wellsite, wherein the handling device comprises a support frame, a left rotary actuator and a right rotary actuator, and wherein the handling device is configured to retain the storage cube in a first position;
- and
- dispensing bulk material from the storage cube into a target inlet of i) a portable container, ii) a hopper, iii) a conveyor or iv) a portable stand at the dispensing location,
- wherein dispensing bulk material comprises the steps of:
- i) aligning a discharge gate of the storage cube with a target inlet;
- ii) configuring the storage cube in a dispensing position;
- iii) opening the discharge gate of the storage cube;
- iv) determining a volume of bulk material within the storage cube;
- v) oscillating the storage cube;
- and
- vi) determining an empty condition of the storage cube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.