Methods and apparatus for mixing and shipping fluids

A fluid mixing system comprising:

• (i) a cart comprising:
• a frame;
• a plurality of wheels mounted to frame;
• and
• a locking catch coupled to the frame;
• (ii) a shipping vessel removably positioned on the frame of the cart such that a lower end of the shipping vessel is supported on the cart, the shipping vessel comprising:
• an encircling sidewall bounding a chamber and extending between an upper end and an opposing lower end;
• a support floor disposed within the chamber and dividing the chamber into an upper compartment and a lower compartment;
• an opening extending through the support floor so as to provide communication between the upper compartment and the lower compartment;
• and
• an access port extending through the sidewall at the lower end thereof so as to communicate with the lower compartment;
• (iii) a container assembly comprising:
• a collapsible bag bounding a compartment, the collapsible bag being at least partially disposed within the upper compartment of the chamber of the shipping vessel;
• (iv) a docking station comprising:
• a stand;
• a locking assembly secured to the stand, the locking assembly engaging the locking catch of the cart so that the cart is releasably secured to the docking station;
• and
• a drive motor assembly mounted to the stand;
• and
• (v) an elongated drive shaft removably coupled with the drive motor assembly and removably coupled with a mixing element located within the compartment of the collapsible bag, the drive shaft passing into the chamber of the shipping vessel through an opening formed at an upper end of the shipping vessel, the upper end of the shipping vessel being disposed above the lower end of the shipping vessel, the drive motor assembly being configured to rotate the drive shaft.

A method for shipping a fluid, the method comprising:

• removably securing a retention ring to a shipping vessel that bounds a chamber, the retention ring having a plurality of catches disposed thereon;
• inserting the collapsible bag within the chamber of a shipping vessel so a plurality of alignment tabs secured to the collapsible bag are removably secured to corresponding catches of the retention ring;
• dispensing a fluid into a compartment of the collapsible bag, the shipping vessel being removably positioned on a movable first cart;
• coupling the first cart directly to a first docking station, the first docking station comprising a stand and a first drive motor assembly mounted thereon;
• mixing the fluid within the compartment of the collapsible bag by using the first drive motor assembly to rotate a drive shaft extending between the first drive motor assembly and the collapsible bag;
• separating the first cart from the first docking station;
• removing the shipping vessel containing the collapsible bag and fluid from the first cart;
• shipping the shipping vessel removed from the first cart and containing the collapsible bag and fluid to a second location;
• removing the retention ring from the shipping vessel prior to shipping the shipping vessel to the second location;
• and
• mixing the fluid within the compartment of the collapsible bag in the shipping vessel at the second location.

A method for shipping a fluid, the method comprising:

• dispensing a fluid into a compartment of a collapsible bag, the collapsible bag being positioned within a chamber of a shipping vessel, the shipping vessel being removable positioned on a movable first cart, the shipping vessel comprising:
• an encircling sidewall bounding the chamber and extending between an upper end and an opposing lower end;
• a support floor disposed within the chamber and dividing the chamber into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, the collapsible bag being at least partially disposed within the upper compartment;
• an opening extending through the support floor so as to provide communication between the upper compartment and the lower compartment;
• and
• an access port extending through the sidewall at the lower end thereof so as to communicate with the lower compartment;
• coupling the first cart directly to a first docking station, the first docking station comprising a stand and a first drive motor assembly mounted thereon;
• mixing the fluid within the compartment of the collapsible bag by using the first drive motor assembly to rotate a drive shaft extending between the first drive motor assembly and the collapsible bag;
• separating the first cart from the first docking station;
• removing the shipping vessel containing the collapsible bag and fluid from the first cart;
• shipping the shipping vessel removed from the first cart and containing the collapsible bag and fluid to a second location;
• mixing the fluid within the compartment of the collapsible bag in the shipping vessel at the second location.

A fluid mixing system comprising:

• (i) a cart comprising:
• a frame;
• a plurality of wheels mounted to frame;
• and
• a locking catch coupled to the frame;
• (ii) a shipping vessel removably positioned on the frame of the cart, the shipping vessel comprising:
• an encircling sidewall bounding the chamber and extending between an upper end and an opposing lower end;
• a support floor disposed within the chamber and dividing the chamber into an upper compartment and a lower compartment;
• an opening extending through the support floor so as to provide communication between the upper compartment and the lower compartment;
• and
• an access port extending through the sidewall at the lower end thereof so as to communicate with the lower compartment;
• (iii) a container assembly comprising:
• a collapsible bag bounding a compartment, the collapsible bag being at least partially disposed within the upper compartment of the chamber of the shipping vessel;
• (iv) a docking station comprising:
• a stand;
• a locking assembly secured to the stand, the locking assembly engaging the locking catch of the cart so that the cart is releasably secured to the docking station;
• and
• a drive motor assembly mounted to the stand;
• and
• (v) an elongated drive shaft removably coupled with the drive motor assembly and removably coupled with a mixing element located within the compartment of the collapsible bag, the drive shaft passing into the chamber of the shipping vessel through an opening formed at an upper end of the shipping vessel, the drive motor assembly being configured to rotate the drive shaft.