In a method or apparatus for transporting bulk goods by rail cars on a rail network to a rail car handling terminal where the handling terminal includes a loading and/or unloading system with a metering device for measuring an amount of the bulk goods loaded or unloaded. At the terminal there is a center control data hub connecting to a plurality of portable hand held field computers and a communication system for communication with the rail network to obtain a Car Location Message (CLM), a way bill and mechanical data for each of the rail cars. The center control hub generates data indicating a current stage of each of the railcars and a signal indicative that a rail car can be transferred from one stage to another stage to the portable computers to control transfer of the rail car from one stage to the next stage.

Disclosed is a system for transferring fuel pellets from a location external to a building to a location in an interior of the building. The system includes a first container positioned at a location remote from the building and a second container positioned proximate an exterior portion of the building. The first and second containers are connected to one another to permit the transfer of fuel pellets from the first container to the second container by a pneumatic apparatus. The second container is also connected with the interior of the building to permit the transfer of fuel pellets from the second container to the interior of said building.

A method and system for trans-loading solid particulates from a hopper to a storage container, by clamping a trough (110) to a discharge gate of the hopper, the trough having an open top, sides, and a bottom, a vacuum pipe (140) extending into the trough, and at least one aerator (150) located on the trough, to which is provided an aerating gas. The method further comprises at least partially evacuating the storage container to cause at least a partial vacuum therein and drawing a vacuum through a conveyor hose connected to the trough.

Method of handling proppant at a well site using a plurality of modular proppant containers in which first and second modular proppant container in a filled state are removed from delivery transport vehicles and transferred to first and second cradle positions on a support structure using one or more heavy-duty handlers. Proppant is discharged by gravity feed from the outlet of the first and second modular proppant containers and directed to a hopper until the modular proppant containers are in an empty state.

A method is disclosed for storing and moving proppant. A supply of fracking proppant is provided at a remote location. A plurality of containers are provided to the desired location, each container having a top, a plurality of walls extending from the top and terminating at an outlet for discharge of proppant therefrom and a flow gate positioned adjacent the outlet to control flow of proppant from an interior volume of the container through the outlet. The plurality of containers are filled with fracking proppant at the remote location, then transported from the remote location to a well site location. The plurality of containers are staged at the well site location and the amount of proppant on hand at the well site location is tracked.

An apparatus for the transport and storage of proppant has a container with a top wall, a pair of end walls and a pair of side walls. The pair of side walls extend between the pair of end walls. The container has a bottom discharge opening. The container includes a funnel extending from the pair of side walls and from the pair of and walls toward the bottom discharge opening. The funnel has sides extending in an angle of greater than 25 with respect to horizontal. The funnel includes a pair of side plates extending respectively from the pair of side walls toward the bottom discharge opening and a pair of end plates extending respectively from the pair of end walls toward the bottom discharge opening. Each of the side plates and the end plates is formed of a stainless steel material.

A method of delivering proppant to a well site has the steps of transporting a load of proppant in a vessel to a desired location, moving the load of proppant from the vessel into a container so as to create a proppant-loaded container, unloading the proppant-loaded container into a pneumatic bulk trailer, and transporting the unloaded proppant in the pneumatic bulk trailer to well site. The container is placed onto a bed of a truck and moved in proximity to the vessel. The proppant-loaded container is placed onto a tilting mechanism and then tilted so that the proppant is discharged through a flow gate of a container into a hopper. The proppant in the hopper can then be conveyed to the pneumatic bulk trailer.

Disclosed is a system for transferring fuel pellets from a location external to a building to a location in an interior of the building. The system includes a first container positioned at a location remote from the building and a second container positioned proximate an exterior portion of the building. The first and second containers are connected to one another to permit the transfer of fuel pellets from the first container to the second container by a pneumatic apparatus. The second container is also connected with the interior of the building to permit the transfer of fuel pellets from the second container to the interior of said building.

The present invention describes a bulk fluid (wet or dry) cargo distribution terminal (10). The distribution terminal has a silo storage area (10A), a compartmentalized area (10B) which has designated inspecting, refilling and delivering/stacking stations (10C-10E). These storage and compartment areas are protected by fortified walls (11a-11e). Adjacent to the inspecting, refilling and delivering stations is a driveway (14). Trailers and prime movers carry IMO tanks and/or freight containers (22) for refilling or delivering. Located at entry and exit points of the driveway are guard-houses (72a,72b) to ensure safe operation at the distribution terminal. Overhead cranes (41a-41c) serve mechanical handling at the various stations and driveway.

The disclosure relates to a feeder apparatus, system and method applied to the movement of bulk material and in particular for the movement of bulk run of mine material from a working site. In particular, a feeder (5) is disclosed comprising: a feed device having a material receiving end for receiving material; a material discharge end (11) distal of the material receiving end; an endless conveyor disposed to define a conveying surface (9) between the material receiving end and the discharge end (11) movable in use to cause material received at the material receiving end to be conveyed to the material discharge end (11), wherein the endless conveyor comprises a plurality of successively arrayed metal plates, pans or flights; a material flow monitoring device disposed in association with the feed device and adapted to obtain in use a measurement representative of a quantity of material passing along the conveying surface (9) of the endless conveyor; wherein the feed device is conformed as a surge conveyor; the feeder further comprises