Proppant Discharge System Using Segmented Containers

The patent divides the proppant transport into multiple ten-foot containers instead of using fewer twenty-foot containers. This segmentation allows the system to comply with highway weight limits while maintaining efficient space utilization. Each ten-foot container holds approximately 45,000 pounds of proppant, and multiple containers can be stacked on a single truck bed, effectively transporting large volumes without exceeding weight restrictions.

The ten-foot containers are designed to be self-contained units that combine storage and discharge functions. Each container has an integrated discharge mechanism with a gate and ramp that allows proppant to be discharged directly from the container without requiring separate storage facilities or multiple handling operations. This self-service design eliminates the need for expensive storage facility infrastructure while maintaining proppant availability and reducing quality degradation from repeated handling.

The patent changes the container dimensions from standard twenty-foot units to ten-foot units, which fundamentally alters the handling parameters. The smaller size and reduced weight (approximately 45,000 pounds per container) allow standard forklift equipment to handle the containers easily, eliminating the need for expensive heavy-duty equipment. This parameter change enables faster loading and unloading operations, reducing demurrage time and associated costs.