Method and apparatus for supplying bulk product to an end user

A method of supplying bulk material to an end user comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a bulk material source that is at a location distant from the end user;
• b) providing a vessel having a top and a bottom and a trailer for transporting the vessel, the trailer having a top, bottom, front, and rear portions and at least one wheeled axle;
• c) transporting the vessel to the bulk material source;
• d) at least partially filling the vessel with the bulk material at the bulk material source;
• e) transporting the vessel that was filled in step “d” to the end user and while remaining at least partially filled;
• f) wherein the vessel is laying upon the trailer in a reclined position in step “e” and the bottom of the vessel located between the at least one wheeled axle and the front of the trailer;
• g) sliding the vessel longitudinally upon the chassis in a direction that moves the vessel toward the rear of the trailer and unloading the trailer by moving the vessel from the generally horizontal position to a generally upright, elevated position;
• and
• h) lowering the vessel from the elevated position of step “g” to a lowered position.

A method of supplying bulk material to an end user comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a bulk material source that is at a location distant from the end user;
• b) providing a vessel that has a top, a bottom and sides and respective spaced apart upper and lower vessel connecting portions, and a trailer having top, bottom, rear, and front portions for transporting the vessel, the trailer including a chassis and an elevator movably attached to the rear of the chassis, the elevator having respective upper and lower elevator connecting portions for slidably interlocking with the vessel's respective upper and lower vessel connecting portions;
• c) transporting the vessel to the bulk material source;
• d) at least partially filling the vessel with the bulk material at the bulk material source;
• e) transporting the vessel that was filled in step “d” to the end user and while remaining at least partially filled;
• f) wherein the vessel is laying on one of its sides in step “e”;
• g) transferring the vessel from the trailer to an installed position that slides the vessel toward the rear of the trailer) elevates the vessel to a generally vertical position and then lowers the vessel;
• h) lowering the vessel from the elevated position of step “g” to a lowered position;
• and
• I) wherein in step “b” the vessel comprises a plurality of counterbalance wheels and the trailer cormprises a plurality of receptacles and in step “e” the counterbalance wheels are contained within the receptacles restricting longitudinal movement of the vessel towards the front of the chassis while allowing longitudinal movement towards the rear of the chassis and wherein longitudinal movement of the vessel in one direction causes the counterbalance wheels to be contained within the receptacles and longitudinal movement of the vessel in the opposite direction causes the counterbalance wheels to move outside of the receptacles.

A method of supplying bulk material to an end user comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a bulk material source that is at a location distant from the end user;
• b) providing a vessel for storing the bulk material, the vessel having counterbalance wheels;
• c) providing a first trailer for transporting the vessel;
• d) providing a rail car for transporting the vessel from a first terminal to a second terminal;
• e) providing a second trailer for transporting the vessel;
• f) filling the vessel with the bulk material at the bulk material source;
• g) using the first trailer, transporting the vessel that was filled in step “f” to the first terminal and loading the vessel on to the rail car;
• h) using the rail car, transporting the vessel from the first terminal to the second terminal with;
• I) loading the vessel onto the second trailer;
• j) using the second trailer having front and rear portions and a plurality of receptacles, transporting the vessel to a work site;
• k) wherein in step “j” the vessel is in a generally horizontal, reclined position, wherein longitudinal movement of the vessel relative to the front portion trailer is restricted by the counterbalance wheels entering the plurality of receptacles;
• l) unloading the vessel from the second trailer after steps “j” and “k”, including moving the vessel from the generally horizontal position to a generally upright and elevated position;
• and
• m) lowering the vessel from the elevated position to a final, installed position.