Stackable container system, operating system using container system, and method
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsRobert W. Sanders, Jay J. Hunt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stackable container system configured to carry material includes at least one container having a first end and a second end, a holding area for the material, the holding area extending from the first end to the second end, a first opening at the second end, the material controllably releasable from the holding area through the first opening, and a chute that passes through the holding area, the chute extending from the first end to the second end, a first end of the chute including a receiving portion having a larger area than a combined area of the first opening and a second end of the chute.
Claims24
A stackable container system configured to carry material, the container system including at least one container having a first end and a second end and comprising:
- a holding area for the material, the holding area extending from the first end to the second end, a first opening at the second end, the material controllably releasable from the holding area through the first opening;
- and,
- a chute that passes through the holding area, the chute extending from the first end to the second end, a first end of the chute including a receiving portion having a larger area than a combined area of the first opening and a second end of the chute.
An operating system comprising:
- a material receiving member;
- and,
- a stackable container system configured to carry material, the container system including at least one container having a first end and a second end and including:
- a holding area for the material, the holding area extending from the first end to the second end, a first opening at the second end, the material controllably releasable from the holding area through the first opening and onto the material receiving member;
- and,
- a chute that passes through the holding area, the chute extending from the first end to the second end, a first end of the chute including a receiving portion having a larger area than a combined area of the first opening and a second end of the chute;
- wherein material passed through the chute of the at least one container passes directly to the material receiving member.
A method of dispensing material from a stackable container system, the stackable container system including a plurality of containers including a first container and a second container, each of the plurality of containers having a first end and a second end and including a holding area for the material, the holding area extending from the first end to the second end, a first opening at the second end, the material controllably releasable from the holding area through the first opening, and a chute that passes through the holding area, the chute extending from the first end to the second end, a first end of the chute including a receiving portion having a larger area than a combined area of the first opening and a second end of the chute, the method comprising:
- providing the material in each of the first and second containers;
- stacking the second container onto the first container to align the first opening of the second container and the second end of the chute of the second container with the receiving portion of the chute of the first container;
- and,
- selectively releasing the material from the holding area of the second container through the first opening of the second container into the chute of the first container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.