A material transport system and method having a frame with a plurality of upright frame members, upper lateral frame members, central lateral frame members, and lower lateral frame members. In one aspect, removable sidewalls can be affixed to the frame. In other aspects, the removable sidewalls have a density that is less than the density of the frame members. In other aspects, a modular container can be disposed in the frame. The frame can be constructed from a material having a lower density than the materials used for the frame.

A bulk material shipping container including a pallet, a compartment configured to receive, hold, and release materials and connected to and supported by the pallet, a material unloading assembly positioned under a bottom portion of the compartment, configured to facilitate the release or unloading of materials from the compartment, and connected to and supported by the pallet, and a material loading assembly configured to facilitate the loading of material into the compartment and connected to and partially supported by a top wall assembly of the compartment.

A proppant discharge system includes a container having an outlet formed at a bottom thereof, a gate affixed at the outlet and positioned on the floor of the container so as to be movable between a first position covering the outlet to a second position opening the outlet, a support structure having the container positioned on the top surface thereof. The support structure has at least one actuator affixed thereto. The actuator is positioned so as to move the gate between the first position and the second position. The container has a cage affixed on the floor thereof in a position over the outlet. The gate is positioned within the cage and is movable by the actuator so as to open the gate so as to allow proppant to be discharged therefrom.

A proppant discharge system has a container with an outlet formed at a bottom thereof and a gate slidably affixed at the outlet so as to be movable between a first position covering the outlet to second position opening the outlet, and a support structure having an actuator thereon. The container is removably positioned on the top surface of the support structure. The actuator is engageable with gate so as to move the gate from the first position to the second position. A conveyor underlies the container so as to receive proppant as discharged from the container through the outlet. The container is a ten foot ISO container.

A proppant discharge system has a container with an outlet positioned in a bottom thereof and a gate affixed adjacent the outlet so as to be movable between a first position covering the outlet to a second position opening the outlet, and a support structure having an actuator thereon. The container is removably positioned on the top surface of the support structure. The actuator is engageable with gate so as to move the gate from the first position to the second position. A conveyor underlies the container so as to receive proppant as discharged from the container through the outlet. The container can be a ten foot ISO container.

A freight container (1) has a frame to which a bottom (2), a roof (3), and sides (5-7) are attached, one side having a door opening closeable by a folding door (12) made of flexible, fire resistant material. The door (12) is supported from runners (13) moveable along a rail (14) combined with a top member (9) of a frame delimiting the door opening. A gap (15) is formed between the top frame member (9) and the top of the door (12) in its closed condition. The top member (9) is provided with a depending support (16) having a surface facing the inside of the door (12) and having attached thereto a strip of heat intumescent material (20). A flow passage (18) is formed between the strip (20) and the door (12) for gasses attempting to escape from the container through the gap (15) in a fire inside the container. The heat intumescent material (20) is arranged to swell and close the flow passage (18) when subjected to hot gasses from the fire inside the container.

A hopper-in-frame for transporting granular proppant material, such as oil well sands subjected to fracturing, having a top loading through a hatch in the roof and lateral gravity discharge opening at the level of the hopper floor and not below the hopper through a lower side discharge opening where the load asymmetry is compensated for by the inclusion of an asymmetric roof that includes at least a portion of the roof asymmetrically lowered, such as a sloping roof or sloping to the side of the wall of download. The hopper-in-frame is supported and delimited by a frame that in turn is compatible to be incorporated in intermodal cargo containers.

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.

A proppant discharge system has a container with an outlet positioned in a bottom thereof and a gate affixed adjacent the outlet so as to be movable between a first position covering the outlet to a second position opening the outlet, and a support structure having an actuator thereon. The container is removably positioned on the top surface of the support structure. The actuator is engageable with gate so as to move the gate from the first position to the second position. A conveyor underlies the container so as to receive proppant as discharged from the container through the outlet. The container can be a ten foot ISO container.

A mechanism for precisely controlling a slide gate to provide certain and secure location of a sliding gate in a path of flowable dry bulk material, the mechanism including a rack and pinon gear with a shaft with a diameter hole therethrough for receiving a pin therethrough when the sliding gate is in a desired position. The swing arm is configured to inhibit removal of the pin and thereby prevent unwanted movement of the gate from the desired position. The swing arm is configured for selectively prohibiting accidental and/or intentional but unauthorized removal of the pin depending upon types of objects being placed through the open hole in the swing arm and the first fixed arm open hole.