Methods for handling bulk material in a manner that reduces dust, noise, and emissions are provided. The presently disclosed techniques use portable containers to transfer bulk material from a transportation unit to a blender inlet. The containers may be carried to the location on the transportation unit, where a hoisting mechanism is used to remove the container from the transportation unit and place it in a desired location. When bulk material is needed at the blender inlet, the hoisting mechanism may position the container of bulk material onto an elevated support structure. Once on the support structure, the container may be opened to release bulk material to a gravity feed outlet, which routes the bulk material from the container directly into the blender inlet. The disclosed containerized bulk material transfer system and method allows for reduced dust, noise, and emissions on location.

Methods for handling bulk material in a manner that reduces dust, noise, and emissions are provided. The presently disclosed techniques use portable containers to transfer bulk material from a transportation unit to a blender inlet. The containers may be carried to the location on the transportation unit, where a hoisting mechanism is used to remove the container from the transportation unit and place it in a desired location. When bulk material is needed at the blender inlet, the hoisting mechanism may position the container of bulk material onto an elevated support structure. Once on the support structure, the container may be opened to release bulk material to a gravity feed outlet, which routes the bulk material from the container directly into the blender inlet. The disclosed containerized bulk material transfer system and method allows for reduced dust, noise, and emissions on location.

A valve and method for flow control of dry materials comprising large hard particles. Providing clearance at the valve seat of at least slightly greater than the nominal diameter of the hard particles prevents capture of the hard particles between closing parts of the valve, which can damage the valve due to the hardness of the particle material. Clearance space as defined unexpectedly does not allow the particles to pass through when the valve closure member is positioned across the valve seat in a closed position.

A cargo container has a tubular shell, an annular mounting ring mounted thereto, and a nose cone clamped to the annular mounting ring by an annular clamping collar. The mounting ring has a coupling slot and an annular flange. The nose cone has an annular flange. The clamping collar has an inwardly facing annular groove, and a constriction device. The mounting ring is mounted to the tubular shell wherein an annular edge of the tubular shell is rigidly held in the coupling slot. The nose cone and mounting ring annular flanges together form a mounting wedge. The clamping collar clamps the nose cone to the annular mounting ring wherein the mounting wedge is rigidly held in the annular groove by constriction of the clamping collar by the constriction device.

A bulk material shipping container unloader having an expandable supporter, a pallet receiver supported by the extendable supporter, and a material director supported by the pallet receiver.

Granular material flows out through the discharge opening of a silo and through a sealed housing to a target location. A vent opening in a top portion of the silo has a vent cover operative to selectively open and close the vent opening. When the vent cover is closed, air movement into an upper portion of the silo is prevented. A gate is operative to control a flow of granular material through the discharge opening. A vacuum conduit has a lower input end thereof connected to an interior of the housing, and an upper output end thereof located in an upper portion of an interior of the silo. Material flowing out of the silo creates a vacuum drawing dust from the housing up the vacuum conduit into the silo.

Granular material flows out through the discharge opening of a silo and through a sealed housing to a target location. A vent opening in a top portion of the silo has a vent cover operative to selectively open and close the vent opening. When the vent cover is closed, air movement into an upper portion of the silo is prevented. A gate is operative to control a flow of granular material through the discharge opening. A vacuum conduit has a lower input end thereof connected to an interior of the housing, and an upper output end thereof located in an upper portion of an interior of the silo. Material flowing out of the silo creates a vacuum drawing dust from the housing up the vacuum conduit into the silo.

A container assembly comprises a container and a base and is configured to be transported horizontally to a work site where it is raised to a vertical working orientation. A hoppered container floor directs material to a discharge opening in a center of the floor of the container. A plurality of chutes is fixed to the container assembly and each slopes downward and outward from a chute input, located under a central portion of the hoppered floor, to a corresponding chute output. A distributor assembly mounted under the discharge opening receives granular material from the discharge opening and directs same into any one of the chute inputs. When loaded on a gooseneck trailer the container extends over the hitch assembly providing increased volume and capacity.

A tank and closure cap apparatus is disclosed. The tank has an upper end or top with a manhole like larger diameter opening that can be closed with a lid having a smaller diameter opening equipped with an outlet fitting. A specially configured shroud protectively covers the lid clamp and is secured with a closure cap that seals the outlet fitting.

Systems and methods for processing earthen slurries such as slurries of earth cuttings and, in particular, systems and methods that involve two separation units for dewatering the slurry or that involve additive mixing units are disclosed. The systems and methods may include a conveyor such as a drag-slat conveyor that removes slurry from a holding tank at which the material is dumped and toward the separation units to allow the material to be continuously processed and dumped into the holding tank.