Patent ID: 9358916
Filing Date: 2016-06-07
CPC Classification: B61B,B65D,B65G

Claim Text:
1. A method of storing and moving fracking proppant at a desired location, the method comprising: a) stacking a plurality of containers separate from a vehicle on top of one another so that a bottom of one of the plurality of containers overlies the top of another one of the plurality of containers to thereby define a stack, the stack positioned at a desired location, the structural integrity of the plurality of containers being enhanced by a plurality of structural uprights positioned to extend from the bottom to the top of each of the plurality of containers and thereby increase the weight carrying capacity of each of the plurality of containers when fracking proppant is positioned therein; b) placing one or more of the plurality of containers from the stack onto one or more flatbeds by use of a container loader/unloader; c) moving the plurality of containers when positioned on the plurality of flatbeds away from the stack of the plurality of containers; and d) scaling the number of the plurality of containers according to the amount of proppant required at a particular location, each of the plurality of containers positioned to include an outlet adjacent the bottom for discharge of proppant therefrom, an opening adjacent the top thereof to load proppant therein, a pair of spaced-apart end walls connected to and extending between the bottom and the top, and a pair of side walls connected to and extending between the pair of end walls and the top and the bottom, each of the plurality of containers further includes one or more cross members extending and positioned at intervals between the pair of end walls of each container.