An apparatus and method are provided for offloading cargo from a tank trailer, which has at least interior compartments, to one or more discharge points. The apparatus includes two or more T-connectors each of which is connected, via a valve, to an outlet of a respective one of the interior compartments of the tank trailer. Each T-connector has an axis defined by a pair of opposing arms and, contrary to conventional apparatus and methods, the T-connectors are positioned with their axes oriented perpendicularly or obliquely relative to the length of the tank trailer. Additionally, for each T-connector, a discharge conduit is connected to one of the opposing arms so that all of the discharge conduits extend from the same side of the tank trailer, perpendicularly or obliquely relative to the length of the tank trailer. A blower conduit is also connected to each T-connector, to the other of the pair of opposing arms, and extend from the other side the tank trailer, opposite the discharge conduits. The blower conduits are also connected to at least one blower which provides air flow and pressure. The method involves providing power to the blower(s), and opening the valves to cause the cargo to flow from each of the interior compartments and form multiple flow streams which flow concurrently, along multiple flow paths, to the one or more discharge points. This apparatus and method reduce the time necessary to accomplish offloading the cargo, among other advantages.

A device conveying a solid material into a radially-arranged stockpile. The device has a a trailer chassis, with at least one wheeled axle at a first end thereof and, at a second end thereof, means provided for attaching the trailer chassis to a tractor in a mobile condition and for fixed mounting in an operational condition. A stacking conveyor is mounted near the first end of the trailer chassis. A power unit for generating electrical and hydraulic power is positioned on the trailer chassis. A feed system is mounted to the trailer chassis and extends generally along the length thereof from the second end to the first end, to receive the solid material at the second end and transport the solid material to the stacking conveyor.

A device conveying a solid material into a radially-arranged stockpile. The device has a a trailer chassis, with at least one wheeled axle at a first end thereof and, at a second end thereof, means provided for attaching the trailer chassis to a tractor in a mobile condition and for fixed mounting in an operational condition. A stacking conveyor is mounted near the first end of the trailer chassis. A power unit for generating electrical and hydraulic power is positioned on the trailer chassis. A feed system is mounted to the trailer chassis and extends generally along the length thereof from the second end to the first end, to receive the solid material at the second end and transport the solid material to the stacking conveyor.

A ground maintenance vehicle that includes: front steering wheels; rear drive wheels; a frame with a first and second pivot point; a single lever steering assembly with a single lever steering control, where the single lever steering assembly is coupled to the first pivot point; multi-axis articulating joint coupled to the second pivot point; a front caster steering assembly coupled to the multi-axis articulating joint; and where the front caster steering assembly and the multi-axis articulating joint simultaneously provide articulating and caster steering proportional to lateral movement from the single lever steering control.

A ground maintenance vehicle that includes: front steering wheels; rear drive wheels; a frame with a first and second pivot point; a single lever steering assembly with a single lever steering control, where the single lever steering assembly is coupled to the first pivot point; multi-axis articulating joint coupled to the second pivot point; a front caster steering assembly coupled to the multi-axis articulating joint; and where the front caster steering assembly and the multi-axis articulating joint simultaneously provide articulating and caster steering proportional to lateral movement from the single lever steering control.

A truck for carrying and dispensing material includes a frame, a hopper mounted on the frame and having an opening along a lower end portion of the hopper, and a conveyor positioned underneath the hopper, wherein the conveyor comprises a conveyor belt and first and second side walls attached to opposing longitudinal side edge portions of the conveyor belt.

A truck for carrying and dispensing material includes a frame, a hopper mounted on the frame and having an opening along a lower end portion of the hopper, and a conveyor positioned underneath the hopper, wherein the conveyor comprises a conveyor belt and first and second side walls attached to opposing longitudinal side edge portions of the conveyor belt.

Several aspects of this disclosure relate to a translocatable hopper that is mounted for example at the forward part of a front-end loader vehicle. The hopper receives, re-positions and delivers a slurry to a jobsite and preferably is detachably attached to a vehicle. In several embodiments, the hopper is translocatable from a resting position to a delivery position through one or more intermediate positions. Preferably, a front wall has an outlet gate and a chute extending therefrom. The chute is configured to direct slurry into the jobsite, A rising and falling sluice gate is associated with the chute. The slurry moves outwardly from the chute when the sluice gate is at least partially opened as the hopper is placed at or near or above the delivery position above the jobsite.

A trailer for particulates, especially for fracturing sand, but also for other materials, has a clam shell gate, which sealingly engages when closed preventing egress of particulates. The gate is attached to a hopper which has an exterior control mechanism thus avoiding wear and tear from particulates. The hopper is an inverted pyramid with downward and inward inclined walls below the trailer. The trailer itself has a cargo compartment with forward and rear sloping walls and upright side walls. The sloping walls of the trailer and the inclined walls of the hopper are inclined at about 38° to the horizontal, which is greater than the angle of repose of fracturing sand to allow complete or near complete discharge of fracturing sand.

A trailer for particulates, especially for fracturing sand, but also for other materials, has a clam shell gate, which sealingly engages when closed preventing egress of particulates. The gate is attached to a hopper which has an exterior control mechanism thus avoiding wear and tear from particulates. The hopper is an inverted pyramid with downward and inward inclined walls below the trailer. The trailer itself has a cargo compartment with forward and rear sloping walls and upright side walls. The sloping walls of the trailer and the inclined walls of the hopper are inclined at about 38° to the horizontal, which is greater than the angle of repose of fracturing sand to allow complete or near complete discharge of fracturing sand.