Trailer-integrated frac-sand system and method with safety features

A sand-conveyor method that uses a trailer system operable to be set up into an erected operational configuration and to be reconfigured into a highway-travel configuration, wherein the trailer system includes a first trailer suitable for highway travel, wherein on the first trailer are mounted and pre-assembled:

• an input hopper, a first conveyor, a second conveyor, a sand-liquid blender, a vibratory sifter located below the sand-liquid blender, a discharge funnel that is positionable to a location below the vibratory sifter to receive sifted frac-sand slurry from the vibratory sifter, and a plurality of elevation actuators and a plurality of height-maintenance locks, the method comprising:
• elevating an end of the second conveyor to an operational angle using one or more of a plurality of elevation actuators;
• locking the second conveyor at its operational angle using one or more of a plurality of height-maintenance locks;
• using the first conveyor to convey sand from the input hopper to the second conveyor;
• using the second conveyor to convey its sand to a higher elevation and drop the sand into the sand-liquid blender;
• using the sand-liquid blender to mix a liquid containing water with the sand to form a frac-sand slurry;
• sifting the frac-sand slurry using the vibratory sifter to form sifted frac-sand slurry;
• and
• dropping the sifted frac-sand slurry into the discharge funnel.

An apparatus operable to be set up into an erected operational configuration and to be reconfigured into a highway-travel configuration, wherein the apparatus includes:

• a first trailer suitable for highway travel, wherein on the first trailer are mounted and pre-assembled:
• first input means for receiving and holding sand;
• first means for conveying sand dropped onto it from the first input means for receiving and holding sand;
• second means for conveying sand dropped onto the second means for conveying sand from the first means for conveying sand;
• means for blending a liquid with sand dropped into the means for blending from the first means for conveying sand to form a frac-sand slurry;
• vibratory means for sifting located below the means for blending;
• a discharge funnel that is positioned or positionable to a location below the vibratory means for sifting to receive sifted frac-sand slurry from the vibratory means for sifting;
• and
• means for elevating an end of the second means for conveying sand to an operational angle;
• and
• means for locking the second means for conveying sand at its operational angle.