Portable Sand Container Vibration for Wet Proppant Discharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems face challenges in efficiently dispensing wet bulk materials from portable containers due to bridging, rat-holing, and adherence to container walls, leading to interrupted material flow and potential equipment damage from vibration-based solutions.

Innovation Solution

A portable support structure with impact devices and oscillatory actuators is used to elevate and apply percussive force to bulk material containers, ensuring direct transfer to a blender inlet, eliminating the need for pre-drying and reducing material spillage and dust generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If vibration devices are used to discharge wet bulk material from portable containers, then material flow is improved, but ancillary equipment may be damaged due to undue vibration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial discharge efficiencyVSAvoidequipment damage from vibration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The vibration function is segmented from the support structure and applied only to the portable container. The vibration device is coupled to the container rather than the support structure, so vibration is localized to the container and does not propagate to damage ancillary equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The portable container acts as an intermediary that receives vibration from the vibration device and transfers it to the bulk material to facilitate discharge, while the support structure remains isolated from the vibration through the container coupling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If complex dampening or isolation systems are used to protect equipment from vibration, then equipment damage is prevented, but system complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment protection from vibrationVSAvoiddampening or isolation system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful vibration is extracted from the support structure by coupling the vibration device only to the portable container. This eliminates the need for complex dampening or isolation systems on the support structure, as the vibration is contained to the container level.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If wet bulk material is discharged from portable containers, then material handling is simplified, but bridging, rat-holing, and adherence to container walls occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial handling simplicityVSAvoidmaterial flow continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

A vibration device is applied to the portable container to induce mechanical vibrations that prevent wet bulk material from bridging, rat-holing, or adhering to container walls. The vibration loosens the material and maintains continuous flow during discharge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

4Adaptability or versatility

If portable containers are used to transport bulk material, then material transport flexibility is improved, but wet material clumps and forms bridges preventing discharge

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport flexibilityVSAvoidmaterial discharge ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The vibration device coupled to the portable container applies mechanical vibrations that prevent wet bulk material from clumping and forming bridges, ensuring smooth discharge while maintaining the transport flexibility benefits of portable containers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enhances material flow efficiency, reduces operational costs by utilizing all container contents, and simplifies the handling process while minimizing equipment damage and dust.

Implementation Method 1

A method comprises delivering an oscillation with an oscillatory device to a portable container

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOscillatory motion: Harmonic Oscillator

Implementation Method 2

applying impact energy to one or more corresponding specific locations on the portable modular container; wherein the impact energy is provided by contact of an impact face with the one or more specific locations on the portable modular container

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact energy: Impact Force

Implementation Method 3

routing the wet bulk material from an outlet of the portable container to a blender hopper

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS12497251B2Method of moving proppant from a sand container

Publication Date: 2025.12.16 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

A bulk material dispensing system comprising a portable support structure with portable containers with wet bulk material. Locating each portable container onto the portable support structure couples a transfer member on each portable container to a vibration device on the support structure. Vibration energy is transferred from vibration device to the portable container via the transfer member. The material dispensing system is configured to route the wet bulk material from the portable container to a blender hopper via a material routing path in response to activating the vibration device.