Patent ID: 9682815
Date: 2017-06-20
CPC Classifications: B61B,B65D,B65G

Claim:
1. A method of storing and moving fracking proppant at a desired location in a plurality of separate containers constructed to store fracking proppant therein, 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 trailers of one or more vehicles by use of a container loader/unloader so that the one or more of the plurality of containers from the stack placed onto the one or more trailers defines a first one or more of the plurality of containers from the stack and so that remaining containers of the plurality of containers define a second one or more of the plurality of containers from the stack; c) moving the first plurality of containers when positioned on the one or more trailers away from the stack of the second one or more 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, a pair of side walls connected to and extending between the pair of end walls and the top and the bottom, one or more structural support members positioned to support each of the side walls of the pair of side walls and each of the end walls of the pair of end walls, and a flow gate positioned adjacent the outlet to control flow of proppant through the outlet each of the plurality of containers.