CA2795055A1 - Bulk storage for granular material - Google Patents
Bulk storage for granular material Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2795055A1 CA2795055A1 CA2795055A CA2795055A CA2795055A1 CA 2795055 A1 CA2795055 A1 CA 2795055A1 CA 2795055 A CA2795055 A CA 2795055A CA 2795055 A CA2795055 A CA 2795055A CA 2795055 A1 CA2795055 A1 CA 2795055A1
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- conveyor
- bin
- discharge
- rails
- intake
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D88/00—Large containers
- B65D88/26—Hoppers, i.e. containers having funnel-shaped discharge sections
- B65D88/30—Hoppers, i.e. containers having funnel-shaped discharge sections specially adapted to facilitate transportation from one utilisation site to another
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D88/00—Large containers
- B65D88/26—Hoppers, i.e. containers having funnel-shaped discharge sections
- B65D88/32—Hoppers, i.e. containers having funnel-shaped discharge sections in multiple arrangement
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G41/00—Supporting frames or bases for conveyors as a whole, e.g. transportable conveyor frames
- B65G41/02—Frames mounted on wheels for movement on rail tracks
Abstract
A storage and handling system for bulk granular material has a string of adjacent bins and rails attached to the each bin. The bins are oriented such that the rails are aligned and the ends of the rail on each bin are adjacent to corresponding ends of the rails on adjacent bins. A conveyor system with a system discharge at an upper end thereof and a system intake at a lower end thereof is movably supported on the rails such that the conveyor system is movable along the rails to a filling location for each bin where the system discharge is oriented to discharge granular material into a fill opening of the selected bin. An extendable conveyor has an upper conveyor movably mounted above and aligned with a lower conveyor.
Description
BULK STORAGE FOR GRANULAR MATERIAL
This invention is in the field of material handling and in particular a system for storage and distribution of bulk granular material.
BACKGROUND
In various industries such as agricultural commodity handling, oil and gas fracturing operations, and the like large quantities of bulk granular material must be received in a storage facility and then transferred from the facility into transport vehicles.
For example USC LLP of Sabetha. Kansas manufactures and sells a transfer system for use in handling agricultural commodities. An elevator framework is erected extending the length of a string of bins to support upper and lower rails, and a vertical bucket elevator is mounted on the rails. A lower transfer conveyor receives product from a transport vehicle and delivers same to the bottom of the bucket elevator, and an upper transfer conveyor at the top of the bucket elevator receives the product and carries same laterally to a fill hatch at the top of each bin. The bucket elevator moves along the rails to transfer product into any of the selected bins.
Typically the bins are hoppered and elevated on legs and a belt conveyor extends along the string of bins under the aligned discharge openings of the bins. The discharge opening of any selected bin can thus be opened and the contents will be carried to the end of the conveyor to be deposited in another transfer conveyor and transferred to a transport vehicle. The USC system is mainly practical for use where a permanent bulk handling facility is required, as the elevator framework must be erected and secured on a foundation to support the bucket elevator.
In some situations, large quantities of bulk granular material are needed only temporarily at a work site, such as where concrete is mixed on site for a large concrete pour. United States Patent Number 6,293,689 to Guntert et al. for example discloses a portable concrete hatching and mixing plant comprising bins, conveyors and the like mounted on trucks for transport and temporary set up at a construction site.
Longer term temporary bulk storage facilities are often required as well, for example in newly discovered and developed oil fields fracturing of formations in newly drilled wells may take place for some months or years, requiring significant quantities of bulk granular material such as frac sand for this initial period only, and then it would be desirable to be able to conveniently and economically move the facility to another active location.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage and handling system for bulk granular material that overcomes problems in the prior art.
In a first embodiment the present invention provides a storage and handling system for bulk granular material. The system comprises a first bin and a second bin adjacent to the first bin, a substantially horizontal first rail attached to the first bin, and a substantially horizontal second rail attached to the second bin. The first and second bins are oriented such that the first rail and second rail are substantially aligned and a right end of the first rail is adjacent to a left end of the second rail. A conveyor system with a system discharge at an upper end thereof and a system intake at a lower end thereof is movably supported on the rails such that the conveyor system is movable from a first filling location where the system discharge is oriented to discharge granular material into a fill opening of the first bin, to a second filling location where the system discharge is oriented to discharge granular material into a fill opening of the second bin.
In a second embodiment the present invention provides an extendable conveyor apparatus comprising a lower conveyor having a discharge at a discharge end thereof and an intake at an intake end thereof, and an upper conveyor having a discharge at a discharge end thereof and an intake at an intake end thereof. The upper conveyor is movably mounted on a top side of the lower conveyor such that the upper conveyor is substantially aligned with and above the lower conveyor, and the upper conveyor is movable along the top side of the lower conveyor from an active position, where a middle portion of upper conveyor is above the intake of the lower conveyor and the discharge of the upper conveyor is oriented to discharge into a middle portion of the lower conveyor, to an idle position where the intake of the upper conveyor is between the intake and the discharge of the lower conveyor.
In a third embodiment the present invention provides a method for providing a storage and handling system for bulk granular material. The method comprises transporting a first bin in a substantially horizontal orientation to a foundation at a desired location, and moving the first bin to a substantially vertical orientation on the foundation such that a first rail mounted to the first bin is substantially horizontal; transporting a second bin in a substantially horizontal orientation to the foundation and moving the second bin to a substantially vertical orientation on the foundation adjacent to the first bin such that a second rail mounted to the second bin is substantially horizontal and aligned with the first rail, and a right end of the first rail is adjacent to a left end of the second rail; providing a conveyor system with a system discharge at an upper end thereof and a system intake at a lower end thereof and movably supporting the conveyor system on the second rail;
moving the conveyor system along the second rail and onto the first rail to a first filling location and orienting the system discharge to discharge granular material into a fill opening of the first bin, and moving the conveyor system from the first filling location along the first rail and onto the second rail to a second filling location and orienting the system discharge to discharge granular material into a fill opening of the second bin.
The bulk system of the present invention provides a string of bins and a conveyor system that can be used to load or unload any selected bin in the string. Any desired quantity of granular material can be stored simply by placing the corresponding number of bins in the string. The bins can be added or taken away as needed. The bulk system is economical as no separate frame work is required to support the rails on which the conveyor system moves. The bins and conveyor system are also relatively easily transported, erected, and dismantled such that same can be erected at one site for a desired time period, and then dismantled and transported to a different site.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, preferred embodiments are provided in the accompanying detailed description which may be best understood in conjunction with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the several diagrams are labeled with like numbers, and where:
Fig. I is a perspective view of an embodiment of a storage and handling system for bulk granular material of the present invention with the conveyor system in a bin unloading position to unload a first bin;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. I with the conveyor system in a vehicle unloading position;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 with the conveyor system in a bin unloading position to unload a second bin;
4 is a side view of the embodiment of Fitz. 1 with the conveyor system in the bin unloading position shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 with the transfer conveyor removed;
Fig- 6 is a top view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 with the conveyor system in the bin unloading position shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 7 is a sectional top view along lines 7-7 in Fig. 5;
Fig. 8 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 with the transfer conveyor installed and in the extended vehicle unloading position;
Fig. 9 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig,. 1 with the transfer conveyor installed and in the retracted vehicle unloading position;
Fig. 10 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 with the transfer conveyor installed and in the retracted bin unloading position;
Fig. 11 is a side view of a bin of the embodiment of Fig. 1;
Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the bin of Fig. 11;
25 Fig. .13 is a side view showing the transport and erection of the bins on the foundation;
Fig. 14 is a schematic top view of a set of engaged alignment devices as used in the embodiment of Fig. 1;
Fig. 15 is a schematic side view of a wheel assembly of the embodiment of Fig.
1;
Fig. 16 is a schematic side view of the transfer conveyor of the embodiment of Fig. 1 with the upper conveyor in the idle position;
Fig. 17 is a schematic top view of the transfer conveyor of Fig. 16 with the upper conveyor in the idle position;
Fig. 18 is a schematic side view of the transfer conveyor of Fig. 16 with the upper conveyor in the active position;
Fig. 19 is a schematic top view of the transfer conveyor of Fig. 16 with the upper conveyor in the active position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
1 - 10 illustrate an embodiment of a storage and handling system 1 for bulk granular material of the present invention. The bulk system 1 comprises a string of bins 3 aligned on a foundation 5. Substantially horizontal upper and lower rails 7A, 7B are attached to the each bin 3, and the bins 3 are oriented on the foundation 5 such that the upper and lower rails 7A, 7B are substantially aligned and ends of the rails 7 on one bin 3 arc closely adjacent to corresponding ends of the rails 7 on the adjacent bin 3 such that the rails 7 form an upper rail and a lower rail extending from one end of the string of bins to the other.
A conveyor system 9 is movably supported on the rails 7. The conveyor system 9 has a system discharge 11 at an upper end thereof and a system intake 13 at a lower end thereof. The conveyor system 9 is movably supported on the rails 7 such that the conveyor system is movable to a filling location for each bin 3 where the system discharge 11 is oriented to discharge granular material into a fill opening 15 of the selected bin 3.
While it is contemplated that other conveyor configurations could be used, the illustrated conveyor system 9 comprises a substantially vertical bucket elevator 9A
movably supported on the rails 7, and a transfer conveyor 9B. The system intake 13 is provided by the intake at the outer intake end of the transfer conveyor 9B, and an inner output end of the transfer conveyor 9B is oriented to discharge into an input opening 17 of the bucket elevator 9A as seen in Fig. 7. The input opening 17 is offset to one side of the bucket elevator 9A so that the intake end of the transfer conveyor 9B can pivot with respect to the input opening 1.7 so same can be moved from a vehicle unloading position, as seen in Fig. 2 where the system intake 13 is located outward from the bins 3 and is oriented to receive granular material from a transport vehicle, to a bin unloading position as seen in Fig. 1, where the system intake 13 is located under a discharge opening 21 of a selected one of the bins 3.
In the illustrated conveyor system 9, the intake end of the transfer conveyor 9B can be raised and lowered by an actuator 19 such that the transfer conveyor 9B can raised above the ground to facilitate pivoting. The transfer conveyor 9B is also extendable as described further below.
The system discharge 11 has a bin filling orientation where the system discharge 11 is oriented to discharge granular material into a selected fill opening 15, and a vehicle filling orientation where the system discharge 11 is oriented to discharge granular material into a transport vehicle 23 as shown in Fig. 10. The conveyor system comprises a discharge control 25 operative to change the system discharge 11 to a selected one of the bin filling and vehicle filling orientations.
In the illustrated bulk system 1, the bucket elevator 9A is located sufficiently far above the fill openings that gravity can be used to direct the granular material from the discharge to the fill openings 15. The system discharge 11 comprises a bin spout 27 attached at an upper end thereof to the bucket elevator 9A and connectable at an upper end thereof to an upper output opening 29 of the bucket elevator 9A. The bin spout 27 has a lower end oriented to direct granular material from the bucket elevator 9A into the selected fill opening 15. The system discharge 11 further comprises a vehicle spout 31 attached at an upper end thereof to the bucket elevator 9A and connectable at an upper end thereof to the upper output opening 29 of the bucket elevator 9A. The vehicle spout 31 has a lower end oriented to direct granular material from the bucket elevator 9A into the transport vehicle 23. The discharge control 25 is operative to connect a selected one of the bin and vehicle spouts 27, 31 to the upper output opening 29 of the bucket elevator 9A.
The conveyor system 9 is thus operable to transfer granular material from a transport vehicle 23 into any one of the bins 3, and also to transfer granular material from any one of the bins 3 back into a transport vehicle 23.
In the illustrated bulk system 1, the conveyor system 9 is movably supported by upper and lower wheel assemblies 33A, 33B attached to the bucket elevator 9A and comprising rollers or wheels 35 engaging corresponding upper and lower rails 7, as schematically illustrated in Fig. 15.
The wheel assemblies 33 comprise a drive mechanism 37 connected to rotate the wheels to move the wheel assemblies 33 along the corresponding rails 7. A wheel drive control 39, typically a wireless remote control, is connected to operate the drive mechanism 37 to rotate the driven wheel 35 in either direction to move the conveyor system 9 back and forth along the rails 7 to a selected bin 3. The drive mechanisms 37 on the upper and lower wheel assemblies 33A, 33B are operative to rotate the driven wheels 35 on each wheel assembly 33 to move the upper and lower wheel assemblies 33A, along the corresponding rails 7 at the same speed in the same direction.
To move the transfer conveyor 9B under the discharge opening 21 between the legs supporting the bins 3 on the foundation, the transfer conveyor 9B is retracted to its shortest length and the wheel drive control 39 is operated to move the bucket elevator 9A
along the rails 7 while the transfer conveyor 9B is pivoted to maneuver the system intake 13 between the legs to the required position under the discharge opening 21.
When the bins 3 are erected on the foundation 5 there will typically be a gap 41 between the ends of the rails 7 as shown in Fig. 14. The illustrated wheel assembly 33 therefore has three wheels 35 spaced apart along the corresponding rails 7 such that at least two of the wheels 35 are engaged on the corresponding rail 7 when the wheel assembly moves over the gap 41.
The bins 3 are conveniently transported to the foundation 5 in a horizontal orientation on a trailer 43 as illustrated in Fig. 13 and Lilted up onto the foundation 5 to the vertical working orientation. To ensure alignment of the rails 7 on one bin 3 to those on the next bin, each bin has a right alignment device 45A on a bottom right portion thereof and a second corresponding left alignment device 45B on a bottom left portion thereof. Thus when the next bin in the string is erected, the first and second alignment devices 45A, 45B engage to align corresponding first and second rails 7. An example of a set of engaged alignment devices 45A, 45B is schematically illustrated in Fig. 15.
Alignment devices can also be provided on upper portions of the bins 3 to facilitate alignment of the upper rails 7.
The bucket elevator 9A can also be configured to be transported horizontally on the trailer 43 and moved to the vertical orientation supported on the rails 7.
In the illustrated conveyor system 9. the transfer conveyor 9B is extendable, as schematically illustrated in Figs. 1649. The transfer conveyor 9B comprises a lower conveyor 51 having a discharge 53 at a discharge end thereof and an intake 55 at an intake end thereof, and an upper conveyor 57 having a discharge 59 at a discharge end thereof and an intake 61 at an intake end thereof. The upper conveyor 57 is movably mounted on a top side of the lower conveyor 51 such that the upper conveyor 57 is substantially aligned with and above the lower conveyor Si.
The upper conveyor 57 is movable along the top side of the lower conveyor 51 from an active position as illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19, where a middle portion of upper conveyor 57 is above the intake 55 of the lower conveyor 51 and the discharge 59 of the upper conveyor 57 is oriented to discharge into a middle portion of the lower conveyor 51, to an idle position schematically illustrated in Figs. 16 and 17 where the intake 61 of the upper conveyor is between the intake 55 and the discharge 53 of the lower conveyor 51.
In the active position, the system intake 13 of the conveyor system 9 is thus provided by the intake 59 of the upper conveyor 57. Granular material directed into the intake 61 of the upper conveyor 57 moves to the discharge 59 thereof and drops onto the middle portion of the lower conveyor 51 and is carried up and out the discharge 53 of the lower conveyor Si into the input opening 17 of the bucket elevator.
In the idle position, the system intake 13 of the conveyor system 9 is provided by the intake 55 of the lower conveyor 51. Granular material directed into the intake 55 of the lower conveyor 51 moves to the discharge 53 thereof and drops into the input opening 17 of the bucket elevator. The upper conveyor 57 thus performs no function when in the idle position, and the inner output end of the transfer conveyor 9B that is connected to the input opening 17 of the bucket elevator is at all times the inner discharge end of the lower conveyor 51. The lower conveyor 51 is driven by a lower drive 63, the upper conveyor 57 is driven by an upper drive 65, and the upper drive 65 is typically turned off when the upper conveyor 57 is in the idle position.
Since the discharge 53 of the lower conveyor 51 is under the upper conveyor 57, it is contemplated that the upper conveyor 57 could be longer than the lower conveyor in situations where the upper conveyor 57 is free to move over the discharge 53 of the lower conveyor Si. In the illustrated conveyor system 9 however, the area beyond the discharge 53 of the lower conveyor is obstructed by the bucket elevator, and so the upper conveyor 57 is shorter than the lower conveyor 51 such that in the idle position of Figs.
16 and 17, the entire length of the upper conveyor 57, including the discharge 59 and intake 61 thereof, is between the intake 55 and the discharge 53 of the lower conveyor 51.
The upper conveyor 51 is schematically shown movably mounted by wheels or rollers 67 on the upper conveyor 57 engaging guide rails 69 on the lower conveyor 51.
although those skilled in the art will recognize that other mechanisms could provide the function as well, and various actuators could be provided to mechanically move the upper conveyor 57 along the lower conveyor 51 as desired. An elevating actuator 19 moves the lower conveyor 51, and the attached upper conveyor 57 up and down as required.
The upper and lower conveyors 51, 57 are schematically illustrated as belt conveyors with an open top with belts 71 running along the lengths thereof. It is contemplated that in some applications other conveyor types such as augers could be utilized as well.
The extendable transfer conveyor 9B with upper and lower conveyors 51, 57 can be extended as illustrated in Fig. 8 to reach under the typical bottom discharge opening of a transport vehicle to receive granular material therefrom, and then the upper conveyor 57 is retracted to the position of Fig. 9 out of the way of the wheels of the vehicle to allow the vehicle to move forward to locate the next discharge opening in the desired location with respect to the transfer conveyor 9B, at which time the upper conveyor 57 is again extended to receive granular material. In the retracted position of Fig. 9, the transfer conveyor 9B can also receive granular material from an appropriate source into the system intake 13 provided by the intake 55 of the lower conveyor.
The present invention further provides a method for providing a storage and handling system 1 for bulk granular material. The method comprises transporting a first bin 3 in a substantially horizontal orientation on the trailer 43 to the foundation 5 at a desired location, and moving the first bin 3 to a substantially vertical orientation on the foundation 5 such that a first rail 7 mounted to the first bin 3 is substantially horizontal;
transporting a second bin 3 in a substantially horizontal orientation to the foundation 5 and moving the second bin 3 to a substantially vertical orientation on the foundation 5 adjacent to the first bin 3 such that a second rail 7 mounted to the second bin 3 is substantially horizontal and aligned with the first rail 7, and a right end of the first rail 7 is adjacent to a left end of the second rail 7. Each bin 3 has a right alignment device 45A
on a bottom right portion thereof and a left alignment device 45B on a bottom left portion thereof. As the second bin 3 moves to the vertical orientation, The alignment devices 45A, 45B engage thereby aligning the rails 7 of the first and second bins 3.
The method further comprises providing a conveyor system 9 with a system discharge 11 at an upper end thereof and a system intake 13 at a lower end thereof; movably supporting the conveyor system 9 on the rails 7 of one bin and moving the conveyor system 9 along that rail 7 and onto the next rail 7 to a selected filling location and orienting, the system discharge 11 to discharge granular material into a fill opening 15 of the selected bin 7, and moving the conveyor system from the first selected filling location along the rails 7 of that bin and onto the rails of the next bin or bins to a second selected filling location and orienting the system discharge to discharge granular material into a fill opening of a second selected bin 3. In the illustrated bulk system 1 upper and lower rails 7A, 7B are mounted on the bins 3 and aligned with ends thereof adjacent to each other, and the conveyor system 9 is supported on the upper and lower rails 7 on each bin 3 as it moves from one location to another.
The bulk system 1 of the present invention provides a string of bins 3 and a conveyor system 9 that can he used to load or unload any selected bin 3 in the string.
The system is economical as no separate frame work is required to support the rails 7 on which the conveyor system 9 moves, The bulk system 1 is also relatively easily transported and erected, such that same can be erected at one site for a desired time period, and then dismantled and transported to a different site.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention.
Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or modifications in structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed invention.
This invention is in the field of material handling and in particular a system for storage and distribution of bulk granular material.
BACKGROUND
In various industries such as agricultural commodity handling, oil and gas fracturing operations, and the like large quantities of bulk granular material must be received in a storage facility and then transferred from the facility into transport vehicles.
For example USC LLP of Sabetha. Kansas manufactures and sells a transfer system for use in handling agricultural commodities. An elevator framework is erected extending the length of a string of bins to support upper and lower rails, and a vertical bucket elevator is mounted on the rails. A lower transfer conveyor receives product from a transport vehicle and delivers same to the bottom of the bucket elevator, and an upper transfer conveyor at the top of the bucket elevator receives the product and carries same laterally to a fill hatch at the top of each bin. The bucket elevator moves along the rails to transfer product into any of the selected bins.
Typically the bins are hoppered and elevated on legs and a belt conveyor extends along the string of bins under the aligned discharge openings of the bins. The discharge opening of any selected bin can thus be opened and the contents will be carried to the end of the conveyor to be deposited in another transfer conveyor and transferred to a transport vehicle. The USC system is mainly practical for use where a permanent bulk handling facility is required, as the elevator framework must be erected and secured on a foundation to support the bucket elevator.
In some situations, large quantities of bulk granular material are needed only temporarily at a work site, such as where concrete is mixed on site for a large concrete pour. United States Patent Number 6,293,689 to Guntert et al. for example discloses a portable concrete hatching and mixing plant comprising bins, conveyors and the like mounted on trucks for transport and temporary set up at a construction site.
Longer term temporary bulk storage facilities are often required as well, for example in newly discovered and developed oil fields fracturing of formations in newly drilled wells may take place for some months or years, requiring significant quantities of bulk granular material such as frac sand for this initial period only, and then it would be desirable to be able to conveniently and economically move the facility to another active location.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage and handling system for bulk granular material that overcomes problems in the prior art.
In a first embodiment the present invention provides a storage and handling system for bulk granular material. The system comprises a first bin and a second bin adjacent to the first bin, a substantially horizontal first rail attached to the first bin, and a substantially horizontal second rail attached to the second bin. The first and second bins are oriented such that the first rail and second rail are substantially aligned and a right end of the first rail is adjacent to a left end of the second rail. A conveyor system with a system discharge at an upper end thereof and a system intake at a lower end thereof is movably supported on the rails such that the conveyor system is movable from a first filling location where the system discharge is oriented to discharge granular material into a fill opening of the first bin, to a second filling location where the system discharge is oriented to discharge granular material into a fill opening of the second bin.
In a second embodiment the present invention provides an extendable conveyor apparatus comprising a lower conveyor having a discharge at a discharge end thereof and an intake at an intake end thereof, and an upper conveyor having a discharge at a discharge end thereof and an intake at an intake end thereof. The upper conveyor is movably mounted on a top side of the lower conveyor such that the upper conveyor is substantially aligned with and above the lower conveyor, and the upper conveyor is movable along the top side of the lower conveyor from an active position, where a middle portion of upper conveyor is above the intake of the lower conveyor and the discharge of the upper conveyor is oriented to discharge into a middle portion of the lower conveyor, to an idle position where the intake of the upper conveyor is between the intake and the discharge of the lower conveyor.
In a third embodiment the present invention provides a method for providing a storage and handling system for bulk granular material. The method comprises transporting a first bin in a substantially horizontal orientation to a foundation at a desired location, and moving the first bin to a substantially vertical orientation on the foundation such that a first rail mounted to the first bin is substantially horizontal; transporting a second bin in a substantially horizontal orientation to the foundation and moving the second bin to a substantially vertical orientation on the foundation adjacent to the first bin such that a second rail mounted to the second bin is substantially horizontal and aligned with the first rail, and a right end of the first rail is adjacent to a left end of the second rail; providing a conveyor system with a system discharge at an upper end thereof and a system intake at a lower end thereof and movably supporting the conveyor system on the second rail;
moving the conveyor system along the second rail and onto the first rail to a first filling location and orienting the system discharge to discharge granular material into a fill opening of the first bin, and moving the conveyor system from the first filling location along the first rail and onto the second rail to a second filling location and orienting the system discharge to discharge granular material into a fill opening of the second bin.
The bulk system of the present invention provides a string of bins and a conveyor system that can be used to load or unload any selected bin in the string. Any desired quantity of granular material can be stored simply by placing the corresponding number of bins in the string. The bins can be added or taken away as needed. The bulk system is economical as no separate frame work is required to support the rails on which the conveyor system moves. The bins and conveyor system are also relatively easily transported, erected, and dismantled such that same can be erected at one site for a desired time period, and then dismantled and transported to a different site.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, preferred embodiments are provided in the accompanying detailed description which may be best understood in conjunction with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the several diagrams are labeled with like numbers, and where:
Fig. I is a perspective view of an embodiment of a storage and handling system for bulk granular material of the present invention with the conveyor system in a bin unloading position to unload a first bin;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. I with the conveyor system in a vehicle unloading position;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 with the conveyor system in a bin unloading position to unload a second bin;
4 is a side view of the embodiment of Fitz. 1 with the conveyor system in the bin unloading position shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 with the transfer conveyor removed;
Fig- 6 is a top view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 with the conveyor system in the bin unloading position shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 7 is a sectional top view along lines 7-7 in Fig. 5;
Fig. 8 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 with the transfer conveyor installed and in the extended vehicle unloading position;
Fig. 9 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig,. 1 with the transfer conveyor installed and in the retracted vehicle unloading position;
Fig. 10 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 with the transfer conveyor installed and in the retracted bin unloading position;
Fig. 11 is a side view of a bin of the embodiment of Fig. 1;
Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the bin of Fig. 11;
25 Fig. .13 is a side view showing the transport and erection of the bins on the foundation;
Fig. 14 is a schematic top view of a set of engaged alignment devices as used in the embodiment of Fig. 1;
Fig. 15 is a schematic side view of a wheel assembly of the embodiment of Fig.
1;
Fig. 16 is a schematic side view of the transfer conveyor of the embodiment of Fig. 1 with the upper conveyor in the idle position;
Fig. 17 is a schematic top view of the transfer conveyor of Fig. 16 with the upper conveyor in the idle position;
Fig. 18 is a schematic side view of the transfer conveyor of Fig. 16 with the upper conveyor in the active position;
Fig. 19 is a schematic top view of the transfer conveyor of Fig. 16 with the upper conveyor in the active position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
1 - 10 illustrate an embodiment of a storage and handling system 1 for bulk granular material of the present invention. The bulk system 1 comprises a string of bins 3 aligned on a foundation 5. Substantially horizontal upper and lower rails 7A, 7B are attached to the each bin 3, and the bins 3 are oriented on the foundation 5 such that the upper and lower rails 7A, 7B are substantially aligned and ends of the rails 7 on one bin 3 arc closely adjacent to corresponding ends of the rails 7 on the adjacent bin 3 such that the rails 7 form an upper rail and a lower rail extending from one end of the string of bins to the other.
A conveyor system 9 is movably supported on the rails 7. The conveyor system 9 has a system discharge 11 at an upper end thereof and a system intake 13 at a lower end thereof. The conveyor system 9 is movably supported on the rails 7 such that the conveyor system is movable to a filling location for each bin 3 where the system discharge 11 is oriented to discharge granular material into a fill opening 15 of the selected bin 3.
While it is contemplated that other conveyor configurations could be used, the illustrated conveyor system 9 comprises a substantially vertical bucket elevator 9A
movably supported on the rails 7, and a transfer conveyor 9B. The system intake 13 is provided by the intake at the outer intake end of the transfer conveyor 9B, and an inner output end of the transfer conveyor 9B is oriented to discharge into an input opening 17 of the bucket elevator 9A as seen in Fig. 7. The input opening 17 is offset to one side of the bucket elevator 9A so that the intake end of the transfer conveyor 9B can pivot with respect to the input opening 1.7 so same can be moved from a vehicle unloading position, as seen in Fig. 2 where the system intake 13 is located outward from the bins 3 and is oriented to receive granular material from a transport vehicle, to a bin unloading position as seen in Fig. 1, where the system intake 13 is located under a discharge opening 21 of a selected one of the bins 3.
In the illustrated conveyor system 9, the intake end of the transfer conveyor 9B can be raised and lowered by an actuator 19 such that the transfer conveyor 9B can raised above the ground to facilitate pivoting. The transfer conveyor 9B is also extendable as described further below.
The system discharge 11 has a bin filling orientation where the system discharge 11 is oriented to discharge granular material into a selected fill opening 15, and a vehicle filling orientation where the system discharge 11 is oriented to discharge granular material into a transport vehicle 23 as shown in Fig. 10. The conveyor system comprises a discharge control 25 operative to change the system discharge 11 to a selected one of the bin filling and vehicle filling orientations.
In the illustrated bulk system 1, the bucket elevator 9A is located sufficiently far above the fill openings that gravity can be used to direct the granular material from the discharge to the fill openings 15. The system discharge 11 comprises a bin spout 27 attached at an upper end thereof to the bucket elevator 9A and connectable at an upper end thereof to an upper output opening 29 of the bucket elevator 9A. The bin spout 27 has a lower end oriented to direct granular material from the bucket elevator 9A into the selected fill opening 15. The system discharge 11 further comprises a vehicle spout 31 attached at an upper end thereof to the bucket elevator 9A and connectable at an upper end thereof to the upper output opening 29 of the bucket elevator 9A. The vehicle spout 31 has a lower end oriented to direct granular material from the bucket elevator 9A into the transport vehicle 23. The discharge control 25 is operative to connect a selected one of the bin and vehicle spouts 27, 31 to the upper output opening 29 of the bucket elevator 9A.
The conveyor system 9 is thus operable to transfer granular material from a transport vehicle 23 into any one of the bins 3, and also to transfer granular material from any one of the bins 3 back into a transport vehicle 23.
In the illustrated bulk system 1, the conveyor system 9 is movably supported by upper and lower wheel assemblies 33A, 33B attached to the bucket elevator 9A and comprising rollers or wheels 35 engaging corresponding upper and lower rails 7, as schematically illustrated in Fig. 15.
The wheel assemblies 33 comprise a drive mechanism 37 connected to rotate the wheels to move the wheel assemblies 33 along the corresponding rails 7. A wheel drive control 39, typically a wireless remote control, is connected to operate the drive mechanism 37 to rotate the driven wheel 35 in either direction to move the conveyor system 9 back and forth along the rails 7 to a selected bin 3. The drive mechanisms 37 on the upper and lower wheel assemblies 33A, 33B are operative to rotate the driven wheels 35 on each wheel assembly 33 to move the upper and lower wheel assemblies 33A, along the corresponding rails 7 at the same speed in the same direction.
To move the transfer conveyor 9B under the discharge opening 21 between the legs supporting the bins 3 on the foundation, the transfer conveyor 9B is retracted to its shortest length and the wheel drive control 39 is operated to move the bucket elevator 9A
along the rails 7 while the transfer conveyor 9B is pivoted to maneuver the system intake 13 between the legs to the required position under the discharge opening 21.
When the bins 3 are erected on the foundation 5 there will typically be a gap 41 between the ends of the rails 7 as shown in Fig. 14. The illustrated wheel assembly 33 therefore has three wheels 35 spaced apart along the corresponding rails 7 such that at least two of the wheels 35 are engaged on the corresponding rail 7 when the wheel assembly moves over the gap 41.
The bins 3 are conveniently transported to the foundation 5 in a horizontal orientation on a trailer 43 as illustrated in Fig. 13 and Lilted up onto the foundation 5 to the vertical working orientation. To ensure alignment of the rails 7 on one bin 3 to those on the next bin, each bin has a right alignment device 45A on a bottom right portion thereof and a second corresponding left alignment device 45B on a bottom left portion thereof. Thus when the next bin in the string is erected, the first and second alignment devices 45A, 45B engage to align corresponding first and second rails 7. An example of a set of engaged alignment devices 45A, 45B is schematically illustrated in Fig. 15.
Alignment devices can also be provided on upper portions of the bins 3 to facilitate alignment of the upper rails 7.
The bucket elevator 9A can also be configured to be transported horizontally on the trailer 43 and moved to the vertical orientation supported on the rails 7.
In the illustrated conveyor system 9. the transfer conveyor 9B is extendable, as schematically illustrated in Figs. 1649. The transfer conveyor 9B comprises a lower conveyor 51 having a discharge 53 at a discharge end thereof and an intake 55 at an intake end thereof, and an upper conveyor 57 having a discharge 59 at a discharge end thereof and an intake 61 at an intake end thereof. The upper conveyor 57 is movably mounted on a top side of the lower conveyor 51 such that the upper conveyor 57 is substantially aligned with and above the lower conveyor Si.
The upper conveyor 57 is movable along the top side of the lower conveyor 51 from an active position as illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19, where a middle portion of upper conveyor 57 is above the intake 55 of the lower conveyor 51 and the discharge 59 of the upper conveyor 57 is oriented to discharge into a middle portion of the lower conveyor 51, to an idle position schematically illustrated in Figs. 16 and 17 where the intake 61 of the upper conveyor is between the intake 55 and the discharge 53 of the lower conveyor 51.
In the active position, the system intake 13 of the conveyor system 9 is thus provided by the intake 59 of the upper conveyor 57. Granular material directed into the intake 61 of the upper conveyor 57 moves to the discharge 59 thereof and drops onto the middle portion of the lower conveyor 51 and is carried up and out the discharge 53 of the lower conveyor Si into the input opening 17 of the bucket elevator.
In the idle position, the system intake 13 of the conveyor system 9 is provided by the intake 55 of the lower conveyor 51. Granular material directed into the intake 55 of the lower conveyor 51 moves to the discharge 53 thereof and drops into the input opening 17 of the bucket elevator. The upper conveyor 57 thus performs no function when in the idle position, and the inner output end of the transfer conveyor 9B that is connected to the input opening 17 of the bucket elevator is at all times the inner discharge end of the lower conveyor 51. The lower conveyor 51 is driven by a lower drive 63, the upper conveyor 57 is driven by an upper drive 65, and the upper drive 65 is typically turned off when the upper conveyor 57 is in the idle position.
Since the discharge 53 of the lower conveyor 51 is under the upper conveyor 57, it is contemplated that the upper conveyor 57 could be longer than the lower conveyor in situations where the upper conveyor 57 is free to move over the discharge 53 of the lower conveyor Si. In the illustrated conveyor system 9 however, the area beyond the discharge 53 of the lower conveyor is obstructed by the bucket elevator, and so the upper conveyor 57 is shorter than the lower conveyor 51 such that in the idle position of Figs.
16 and 17, the entire length of the upper conveyor 57, including the discharge 59 and intake 61 thereof, is between the intake 55 and the discharge 53 of the lower conveyor 51.
The upper conveyor 51 is schematically shown movably mounted by wheels or rollers 67 on the upper conveyor 57 engaging guide rails 69 on the lower conveyor 51.
although those skilled in the art will recognize that other mechanisms could provide the function as well, and various actuators could be provided to mechanically move the upper conveyor 57 along the lower conveyor 51 as desired. An elevating actuator 19 moves the lower conveyor 51, and the attached upper conveyor 57 up and down as required.
The upper and lower conveyors 51, 57 are schematically illustrated as belt conveyors with an open top with belts 71 running along the lengths thereof. It is contemplated that in some applications other conveyor types such as augers could be utilized as well.
The extendable transfer conveyor 9B with upper and lower conveyors 51, 57 can be extended as illustrated in Fig. 8 to reach under the typical bottom discharge opening of a transport vehicle to receive granular material therefrom, and then the upper conveyor 57 is retracted to the position of Fig. 9 out of the way of the wheels of the vehicle to allow the vehicle to move forward to locate the next discharge opening in the desired location with respect to the transfer conveyor 9B, at which time the upper conveyor 57 is again extended to receive granular material. In the retracted position of Fig. 9, the transfer conveyor 9B can also receive granular material from an appropriate source into the system intake 13 provided by the intake 55 of the lower conveyor.
The present invention further provides a method for providing a storage and handling system 1 for bulk granular material. The method comprises transporting a first bin 3 in a substantially horizontal orientation on the trailer 43 to the foundation 5 at a desired location, and moving the first bin 3 to a substantially vertical orientation on the foundation 5 such that a first rail 7 mounted to the first bin 3 is substantially horizontal;
transporting a second bin 3 in a substantially horizontal orientation to the foundation 5 and moving the second bin 3 to a substantially vertical orientation on the foundation 5 adjacent to the first bin 3 such that a second rail 7 mounted to the second bin 3 is substantially horizontal and aligned with the first rail 7, and a right end of the first rail 7 is adjacent to a left end of the second rail 7. Each bin 3 has a right alignment device 45A
on a bottom right portion thereof and a left alignment device 45B on a bottom left portion thereof. As the second bin 3 moves to the vertical orientation, The alignment devices 45A, 45B engage thereby aligning the rails 7 of the first and second bins 3.
The method further comprises providing a conveyor system 9 with a system discharge 11 at an upper end thereof and a system intake 13 at a lower end thereof; movably supporting the conveyor system 9 on the rails 7 of one bin and moving the conveyor system 9 along that rail 7 and onto the next rail 7 to a selected filling location and orienting, the system discharge 11 to discharge granular material into a fill opening 15 of the selected bin 7, and moving the conveyor system from the first selected filling location along the rails 7 of that bin and onto the rails of the next bin or bins to a second selected filling location and orienting the system discharge to discharge granular material into a fill opening of a second selected bin 3. In the illustrated bulk system 1 upper and lower rails 7A, 7B are mounted on the bins 3 and aligned with ends thereof adjacent to each other, and the conveyor system 9 is supported on the upper and lower rails 7 on each bin 3 as it moves from one location to another.
The bulk system 1 of the present invention provides a string of bins 3 and a conveyor system 9 that can he used to load or unload any selected bin 3 in the string.
The system is economical as no separate frame work is required to support the rails 7 on which the conveyor system 9 moves, The bulk system 1 is also relatively easily transported and erected, such that same can be erected at one site for a desired time period, and then dismantled and transported to a different site.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention.
Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or modifications in structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed invention.
Claims (24)
1. A storage and handling system for bulk granular material, the system comprising:
a first bin and a second bin adjacent to the first bin;
a substantially horizontal first rail attached to the first bin;
a substantially horizontal second rail attached to the second bin;
wherein the first and second bins are oriented such that the first rail and second rail are substantially aligned and a right end of the first rail is adjacent to a left end of the second rail;
a conveyor system with a system discharge at an upper end thereof and a system intake at a lower end thereof;
wherein the conveyor system is movably supported on the rails such that the coveyor system is movable from a first filling location where the system discharge is oriented to discharge granular material into a fill opening of the first bins to a second filling location where the system discharge is oriented to discharge granular material into a fill opening of the second bin.
a first bin and a second bin adjacent to the first bin;
a substantially horizontal first rail attached to the first bin;
a substantially horizontal second rail attached to the second bin;
wherein the first and second bins are oriented such that the first rail and second rail are substantially aligned and a right end of the first rail is adjacent to a left end of the second rail;
a conveyor system with a system discharge at an upper end thereof and a system intake at a lower end thereof;
wherein the conveyor system is movably supported on the rails such that the coveyor system is movable from a first filling location where the system discharge is oriented to discharge granular material into a fill opening of the first bins to a second filling location where the system discharge is oriented to discharge granular material into a fill opening of the second bin.
2 The system of claim 1 wherein the conveyor system comprises a substantially vertical bucket elevator movably supported on the rails, and a transfer conveyor, and wherein the system intake is at an outer end of the transfer conveyor, and an inner output end of the transfer conveyor is oriented to discharge into an input opening of the bucket elevator.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the transfer conveyor is movable from a vehicle unloading position wherein the system intake is located outward from the bins and oriented to receive granular material from a transport vehicle, to a bin unloading position wherein the system intake is located under a discharge opening of a selected one of the first and second bins.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the transfer conveyor comprises a lower conveyor and an upper conveyor shorter than the lower conveyor and movably mounted on a top side of the lower conveyor such that the upper conveyor can move inward and outward along the top side of the lower conveyor from an active position, where an outer intake end of the upper conveyor is outward beyond an outer intake end of the lower conveyor and an inner discharge end of the upper conveyor is oriented to discharge into a middle portion of the lower conveyor, to an idle position where the upper conveyor is between the inner output end of the transfer conveyor at the inner end of the lower conveyor and the outer intake end of the lower conveyor.
5. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 ¨ 4 wherein the system discharge has a bin filling orientation where the system discharge is oriented to discharge granular material into a selected fill opening, and a vehicle filling orientation where the system discharge is oriented to discharge granular material into a transport.
vehicle, and wherein the conveyor system comprises a discharge control operative to change the system discharge to a selected one of the bin filling and vehicle filling orientations.
vehicle, and wherein the conveyor system comprises a discharge control operative to change the system discharge to a selected one of the bin filling and vehicle filling orientations.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the system discharge comprises:
a bin spout attached at an upper end thereof to the bucket elevator and connectable at an upper end thereof to an upper output opening of the bucket elevator, the bin spout having a lower end oriented to direct granular material from the bucket elevator into the selected fill opening;
a vehicle spout attached at an upper end thereof to the bucket elevator and connectable at an upper end thereof to the upper output opening of the bucket elevator, the vehicle spout having a lower end oriented to direct granular material from the bucket elevator into a transport vehicle; and wherein the discharge control is operative to connect a selected one of the bin and vehicle spouts to the upper output opening of the bucket elevator.
a bin spout attached at an upper end thereof to the bucket elevator and connectable at an upper end thereof to an upper output opening of the bucket elevator, the bin spout having a lower end oriented to direct granular material from the bucket elevator into the selected fill opening;
a vehicle spout attached at an upper end thereof to the bucket elevator and connectable at an upper end thereof to the upper output opening of the bucket elevator, the vehicle spout having a lower end oriented to direct granular material from the bucket elevator into a transport vehicle; and wherein the discharge control is operative to connect a selected one of the bin and vehicle spouts to the upper output opening of the bucket elevator.
7. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 - 6 comprising upper and lower substantially horizontal first rails attached to the first bin and upper and lower substantially horizontal second rails attached to the second bin, and wherein the first and second bins are oriented such that the upper and lower first rails are substantially aligned with corresponding upper and lower second rails, and right ends of the upper and lower first rails are adjacent to a left ends of the corresponding upper and lower second rails, and wherein the conveyor system is movably supported on the upper and lower rails.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the conveyor system is movably supported by upper and lower wheel assemblies attached to the conveyor system and comprising wheels engaging corresponding upper and lower rails.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein at least one of the upper and lower wheel assemblies comprises a drive mechanism connected to rotate at least one wheel to move the at least one of the upper and lower wheel assemblies along, the corresponding rails. and a wheel drive control connected to operate the drive mechanism to rotate the at least one wheel in either direction.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the upper and lower wheel assemblies comprise corresponding upper and lower drive mechanisms connected to rotate corresponding at least one corresponding upper and lower wheel, and wherein the wheel drive control rotates the wheels on each wheel assembly to move the upper and lower wheel assemblies along the corresponding rails at the same speed in the same direction.
11. The apparatus of any one of claims 8 - 10 wherein at least one of the upper and lower wheel assemblies comprises first, second, and third wheels spaced apart along the corresponding rails such that at least two wheels are engaged on the.
corresponding rail when the wheel assembly moves over a gap between the first and second rails.
corresponding rail when the wheel assembly moves over a gap between the first and second rails.
12. The apparatus of any one of claims 1- 11 wherein the First bin comprises a right alignment device on a bottom right portion thereof and the second bin comprises a left alignment device on a bottom left portion thereof, and wherein the right and left alignment devices engage to align corresponding first and second rails.
13. An extendable conveyor apparatus comprising:
a lower conveyor having a discharge at a discharge end thereof and an intake at an intake end thereof;
an upper conveyor having a discharge at a discharge end thereof and an intake at an intake end thereof;
wherein the upper conveyor is movably mounted on a top side of the lower conveyor such that the upper conveyor is substantially aligned with and above the lower conveyor;
wherein the upper conveyor is movable along the top side of the lower conveyor from an active position, where a middle portion of upper conveyor is above the intake of the lower conveyor and the discharge of the upper conveyor is oriented to discharge into a middle portion of the lower conveyor, to an idle position where the intake of the upper conveyor is between the intake and the discharge of the lower conveyor.
a lower conveyor having a discharge at a discharge end thereof and an intake at an intake end thereof;
an upper conveyor having a discharge at a discharge end thereof and an intake at an intake end thereof;
wherein the upper conveyor is movably mounted on a top side of the lower conveyor such that the upper conveyor is substantially aligned with and above the lower conveyor;
wherein the upper conveyor is movable along the top side of the lower conveyor from an active position, where a middle portion of upper conveyor is above the intake of the lower conveyor and the discharge of the upper conveyor is oriented to discharge into a middle portion of the lower conveyor, to an idle position where the intake of the upper conveyor is between the intake and the discharge of the lower conveyor.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the upper conveyor has a length less than a length of the lower conveyor such that in the idle position, the discharge and intake of the upper conveyor are between the intake and the discharge of the lower conveyor.
15. The apparatus of any one of claims 13 and 14 wherein the upper conveyor is driven by an upper drive, the lower conveyor is driven by a lower drive, and the upper drive is off when the upper conveyor is in the idle position.
16. The apparatus of any one of claims 13 - 15 wherein the upper conveyor is movably mounted by rollers on one of the upper and lower conveyors engaging guide rails on the other of the upper and lower conveyors.
17. A method for providing a storage and handling system for bulk granular material, the method comprising:
transporting a first bin in a substantially horizontal orientation to a foundation at a desired location, and moving the first bin to a substantially vertical orientation on the foundation such that a first rail mounted to the first bin is substantially horizontal;
transporting a second bin in a substantially horizontal orientation to the foundation and moving the second bin to a substantially vertical orientation on the foundation adjacent to the first bin such that a second rail mounted to the second bin is substantially horizontal and aligned with the first rail. and a right end of the first rad is adjacent to a left end of the second rail;
providing a conveyor system with a system discharge at an upper end thereof and a system intake at a lower end thereof;
movably supporting the conveyor system on the second rail moving the conveyor system along the second rail and onto the first rail to a first filling location and orienting the system discharge to discharge granular material into a fill opening of the first bin; and moving the conveyor system from the first filling location along the first rail and onto the second rail to a second filling location and orienting the system discharge to discharge granular material into a rill opening of the second bin.
transporting a first bin in a substantially horizontal orientation to a foundation at a desired location, and moving the first bin to a substantially vertical orientation on the foundation such that a first rail mounted to the first bin is substantially horizontal;
transporting a second bin in a substantially horizontal orientation to the foundation and moving the second bin to a substantially vertical orientation on the foundation adjacent to the first bin such that a second rail mounted to the second bin is substantially horizontal and aligned with the first rail. and a right end of the first rad is adjacent to a left end of the second rail;
providing a conveyor system with a system discharge at an upper end thereof and a system intake at a lower end thereof;
movably supporting the conveyor system on the second rail moving the conveyor system along the second rail and onto the first rail to a first filling location and orienting the system discharge to discharge granular material into a fill opening of the first bin; and moving the conveyor system from the first filling location along the first rail and onto the second rail to a second filling location and orienting the system discharge to discharge granular material into a rill opening of the second bin.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising mounting upper and lower first rails on the first bin and mounting upper and lower second rails on the second bin such that when the first and second bins are on the foundation the upper and lower first and second rails are substantially horizontal and aligned, and right ends of the upper and lower first rails are adjacent to left ends of the corresponding upper and lower second rails, and comprising supporting the conveyor system on one of the upper and lower first rails and the upper and lower second rails.
19. The method of claim 18 comprising movably supporting the conveyor system on upper and lower wheel assemblies attached to the conveyor system and comprising wheels engaging corresponding upper and lower first and second rails, and rotating at least one wheel on each wheel assembly to move the conveyor system along the rails.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein each wheel assembly comprises first, second, and third wheels spaced apart along the corresponding rails such that at least two wheels are engaged on the corresponding rail when the wheel assembly moves over a gap between the first and second rails.
21. The method of any one of claims 18 - 20 wherein the conveyor system comprises a substantially vertical bucket elevator movably supported on the rails, and a transfer conveyor, and wherein the system intake is at an outer end of the transfer conveyor, and an inner output end of the transfer conveyor is oriented to discharge into an input opening of the bucket elevator.
22. The method of claim 21 comprising moving the conveyor system to the first filling location, moving the transfer conveyor to a vehicle unloading position wherein the system intake is located outward from the bins, and depositing granular material from a transport vehicle into the system intake to deposit granular material into the first bin.
23. The method of claim 22, moving the system discharge to a vehicle filling orientation where the system discharge is oriented to discharge granular material into a transport vehicle, and moving the transfer conveyor to a bin unloading position wherein the system intake is located under a discharge opening of a selected one of the first and second bins to remove granular material from the selected bin.
24. The method of any one of claims 17 - 23 comprising attaching a right alignment device on a bottom right portion of the first bin and attaching a left alignment device on a bottom left portion of the second bin, and when moving the second bin to the substantially vertical orientation on the foundation adjacent to the first bin, engaging the right and left alignment devices to align corresponding first and second rails.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2795055A CA2795055A1 (en) | 2012-11-07 | 2012-11-07 | Bulk storage for granular material |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2795055A CA2795055A1 (en) | 2012-11-07 | 2012-11-07 | Bulk storage for granular material |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2795055A1 true CA2795055A1 (en) | 2014-05-07 |
Family
ID=50679502
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2795055A Abandoned CA2795055A1 (en) | 2012-11-07 | 2012-11-07 | Bulk storage for granular material |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2795055A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US10065814B2 (en) | 2015-03-24 | 2018-09-04 | Quickthree Technology, Llc | Transportable receiving and storage system with redundancy |
| US10315850B2 (en) | 2017-07-13 | 2019-06-11 | 1875452 Alberta Ltd. | Proppant conveyor systems and methods of use |
-
2012
- 2012-11-07 CA CA2795055A patent/CA2795055A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US10065814B2 (en) | 2015-03-24 | 2018-09-04 | Quickthree Technology, Llc | Transportable receiving and storage system with redundancy |
| US10239711B2 (en) | 2015-03-24 | 2019-03-26 | Quickthree Technology LLC | Transportable receiving and storage system |
| US10457504B2 (en) | 2015-03-24 | 2019-10-29 | Quickthree Technology, Llc | Transportable receiving and storage system |
| US10315850B2 (en) | 2017-07-13 | 2019-06-11 | 1875452 Alberta Ltd. | Proppant conveyor systems and methods of use |
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