A semi-trailer for use in hauling grain has four sides and two sloped cargo areas, each having a hopper funnel made of a continuous, unitary polymer material. A door below each hopper is driven by a linear actuator that is disposed above the level of the door. The trailer sidewalls are made of a composite material having inner and outer panels attached to a center panel by adhesive.

A trailer assembly has a frame, wheels attached to and bearing the frame and a hopper mounted on the frame. A front conveyor belt is mounted in a front part of the hopper and is operable to rearwardly convey contents of the hopper overlying the belt. A rear conveyor belt is mounted in a rear part of the hopper and is operable in a first mode to rearwardly convey contents of the hopper overlying the rear belt and is operable in a second mode to forwardly convey contents of the hopper overlying the second conveyor belt. Depending on the direction of conveyance of the rear conveyor belt, the two conveyor belts can be operated either to convey contents for dumping through a rear gate or to convey contents for dumping through a bottom gate.

A trailer assembly has a frame, wheels attached to and bearing the frame and a hopper mounted on the frame. A front conveyor belt is mounted in a front part of the hopper and is operable to rearwardly convey contents of the hopper overlying the belt. A rear conveyor belt is mounted in a rear part of the hopper and is operable in a first mode to rearwardly convey contents of the hopper overlying the rear belt and is operable in a second mode to forwardly convey contents of the hopper overlying the second conveyor belt. Depending on the direction of conveyance of the rear conveyor belt, the two conveyor belts can be operated either to convey contents for dumping through a rear gate or to convey contents for dumping through a bottom gate.

This abstract is based on an alternate, improvement control method, to assist the drivers who have had, or recently discovered they have hand or finger disabilities and can no longer use our easy grab ball control disc, because it is too difficult for them to pull against some of the low-end spreader models that use very heavy springs to keep the tow-behind spreader center-column-handle-lever in place, each time the slide gate porthole chute is repositioned.

This alternate control method consists of two (2) improved modified control discs, that incorporates (fulcrum pivot mechanics) to be used in the event the operator's hand has arthritis, carpel tunnel, difficulty in closing fingers, fist, or other hand deficiencies, which makes them unable to pull and use our original twine line grab ball control disc, against the heavy force of those springs installed by the manufacturer.

These two (2) improved fulcrum-pivot-design controls will make it very easy for the driver to still open and close the slide gate porthole chute from the d river's seat, because they use (fulcrum physics) less force to move a heavier load.

This abstract is based on an alternate, improvement control method, to assist the drivers who have had, or recently discovered they have hand or finger disabilities and can no longer use our easy grab ball control disc, because it is too difficult for them to pull against some of the low-end spreader models that use very heavy springs to keep the tow-behind spreader center-column-handle-lever in place, each time the slide gate porthole chute is repositioned.

This alternate control method consists of two (2) improved modified control discs, that incorporates (fulcrum pivot mechanics) to be used in the event the operator's hand has arthritis, carpel tunnel, difficulty in closing fingers, fist, or other hand deficiencies, which makes them unable to pull and use our original twine line grab ball control disc, against the heavy force of those springs installed by the manufacturer.

These two (2) improved fulcrum-pivot-design controls will make it very easy for the driver to still open and close the slide gate porthole chute from the d river's seat, because they use (fulcrum physics) less force to move a heavier load.

An apparatus for delivering proppant to a well site includes a plurality of proppant containers. The apparatus also includes a support structure having a bed and a structural framework extending down from the bed. The plurality of proppant container are structurally supported on top of the bed. A bin is disposed within the structural frame work below the bed. A conveyor cooperates with the bin for transporting proppant from the bin to a desired location at the well site. Proppant discharged from one or more of the plurality of proppant containers positioned on the bed above the bin is received in the bin and delivered to the well site by the conveyor.

An apparatus for delivering proppant to a well site includes a plurality of proppant containers. The apparatus also includes a support structure having a bed and a structural framework extending down from the bed. The plurality of proppant container are structurally supported on top of the bed. A bin is disposed within the structural frame work below the bed. A conveyor cooperates with the bin for transporting proppant from the bin to a desired location at the well site. Proppant discharged from one or more of the plurality of proppant containers positioned on the bed above the bin is received in the bin and delivered to the well site by the conveyor.

A dry bulk tank and a method of carrying a load and discharging a load therefrom. The dry bulk tank includes a tank assembly having a first wall that bounds and defines a first compartment for carrying a load therein and a second wall spaced outwardly from at least a portion of the first wall; wherein a second compartment is defined between the first wall and the second wall. The tank assembly includes an air piping system that is selectively actuated to place the first compartment and the second compartment under substantially similar or substantially equal air pressure. In one example the air piping system pumps air into the first compartment and the second compartment. In another example the air piping system evacuates air from the first and second compartments.

A dry bulk tank and a method of carrying a load and discharging a load therefrom. The dry bulk tank includes a tank assembly having a first wall that bounds and defines a first compartment for carrying a load therein and a second wall spaced outwardly from at least a portion of the first wall; wherein a second compartment is defined between the first wall and the second wall. The tank assembly includes an air piping system that is selectively actuated to place the first compartment and the second compartment under substantially similar or substantially equal air pressure. In one example the air piping system pumps air into the first compartment and the second compartment. In another example the air piping system evacuates air from the first and second compartments.

A bulk tank trailer including an interior storage compartment, at least one straight rear wheel axle supporting a plurality of ground-engaging wheels and a longitudinally aligned discharge pipe in operative communication with the interior storage compartment is disclosed. The entire discharge pipe may be positioned above a transverse plane of the at least one straight rear wheel axle. A method of discharging particulate materials is also disclosed. The method includes filling an interior storage compartment on a bulk tank trailer with the particulate materials, positioning a straight discharge pipe above a straight rear wheel axle on the bulk tank trailer, moving the particulate materials from the interior storage compartment along the straight discharge pipe and discharging the particulate materials from the discharge pipe.