Patent ID: 9162603
Filing Date: 2015-10-20
Classification: B61B,B65D,B65G

Abstract:
1. A method of storing and moving proppant at a location adjacent a rail line, the method comprising: a) removing a plurality of containers containing fracking proppant from a rail car; b) after step a), stacking the plurality of containers separate from the rail car 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 location adjacent a rail line, the structural integrity of the plurality of containers 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; c) placing one or more of the plurality of containers from the stack adjacent the rail line onto one or more of a plurality of flatbeds by use of a container loader/unloader; d) moving the plurality of containers when positioned on the plurality of flatbeds away from the stack of the plurality of containers and away from the adjacent rail line; and e) scaling the number of the plurality of containers at the location adjacent the rail line 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 rigidly extending between the pair of end walls and a plurality of cross members rigidly extending between the side walls at intervals between the end walls of each container.