Transport, Loading and Storage System for Granular Materials
AssigneeSolaris Oilfield Site Services Operating LLC
InventorWilliam Vaughn Managan, II
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to the use of a storage and transfer device to unload granular material from a bottom exit of a tractor trailer bed into a surge hopper, through a transfer device and into a high velocity air stream used to convey the material into a designated silo. Certain embodiments mount the components of the storage and transfer device on a trailer, wherein the transfer device includes a surge hopper, a transfer device, a blower, and a transfer pipe.
Claims20
A storage and transfer unit comprising:
- (a) a surge hopper;
- (b) a transfer device;
- (c) a blower;
- and
- (d) a transfer pipe.
A transfer system for transferring granular material from a tractor trailer bed to a silo, the transfer system comprising:
- (a) a conveyor having a first end positioned under a bottom exit of the tractor trailed bed and a second end positioned over a top of a surge hopper;
- (b) a transfer device connected at a top end to the surge hopper and connected at a bottom end to a transfer pipe;
- (c) a blower connected to a first end of the transfer pipe, wherein the blower pumps a positive pressure air stream through the transfer pipe;
- and
- (d) a silo connected to a second end of the transfer pipe.
A method for transferring granular materials from a tractor trailer bed to a silo, the transfer method comprising:
- (a) positioning a storage and transfer unit between the tractor trailer bed and the silo, wherein the storage and transfer unit includes a surge hopper, a transfer device, a blower, and a transfer pipe;
- (b) positioning a first end of a conveyor under a bottom exit of the trailer bed and a second end of the conveyor over the surge hopper;
- (c) activating the conveyor;
- (d) connecting a first end of the transfer pipe to a fill tube of the silo;
- (e) turning on the blower;
- (f) releasing portions of the granular material from the bottom exit of the trailer bed onto the conveyor;
- (g) loading the material on the conveyor into a top end of the surge hopper;
- (h) releasing portions of the granular material from the bottom exit of the surge hopper into the transfer device;
- (i) coordinating the operation of a set of four valves, wherein each valve controls the opening and closing of a sealable opening in the transfer device to control the transfer of the granular material from the transfer device into the transfer pipe;
- and
- (j) blowing the granular material through the transfer pipe, through the fill tube of the silo and into the silo.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.