A vacuum system for use in excavation operations. The system uses a tank having an open end that is closed by a door. The door is opened and closed by a door lifting assembly made up of an upper linkage arm, a lower linkage arm and a hydraulic cylinder. A socket is formed in the upper linkage arm, and a shaft housing is formed in the lower linkage arm. The shaft housing engages with the socket to latch the door closed. The upper linkage arm is attached to the door at a first pivot axis and is attached to the lower linkage arm at a second pivot axis. The lower linkage arm is attached to a side of the tank at a third pivot axis. When the door is open, the second pivot axis extends below a reference plane that contains the first and third pivot axis.

The invention relates to an operating handle for controlling the operational state of a valve arrangement associated with a container to control dispensing of material from the container to a component of an additive manufacturing process, the operating handle comprising a rotatable shaft coupled to the valve arrangement, the shaft being rotatable between a plurality of angular positions corresponding to one or more operational states of the valve arrangement; a lever operatively coupled to the shaft and configured to cause rotation of the shaft between the plurality of angular positions upon rotation of the lever; a rotation retention mechanism configured to retain the lever in one of a plurality of rotational positions; and an actuator engagement member extending axially outwards from the handle, wherein an actuator provided as part of a docking arrangement associated with the component is operable to act on the actuator engagement member for engaging and disengaging the rotation retention mechanism.

A bulk fluid storage container includes a frame assembly having a lower rectangular frame, first and second wheel assemblies extending from opposite ends of the lower rectangular frame, and an upper rectangular frame member arranged in spaced relation to the lower rectangular frame member by a plurality of vertically extending posts. The bulk fluid storage container also includes a fluid storage vessel having first and second end walls held in spaced relation by first and second side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall, which defines a fluid storage volume. A baffle assembly having a plurality of baffle plates is disposed in a space relationship in the fluid storage volume. The frame assembly provides an exoskeletal structure which surrounds the fluid storage vessel and is configured to support a second bulk fluid storage container in a vertically stacked relationship.

A multi-blade dosing valve comprising the following elements: a valve body provided with a central opening; a plurality of shafts, each provided with a respective blade, which extend transversely to the central opening; the blades being able to close, at least partially, the central opening; a motor unit which causes the opening/closing of the blades; and vibrators to set in vibration the shafts and the blades. The multi-blade dosing valve comprises an independent vibrator for each shaft.

A ramp wall includes a load-bearing support structure having top, bottom and side edges. A first pivot assembly is connected with the support structure bottom edge and adapted for removable connection with at least one container wall. The first pivot assembly includes at least one counter balancing torsion spring that is connected with the bottom edge of the support structure. The spring has a torque force that is generally equal to the gravitational torque force generated by the weight of the ramp wall when it is connected with at least one container wall, allowing manual operation of the ramp wall between a vertical closed position and a horizontal or inclined open position. A second pivot assembly is connected with one of the support structure side edges and adapted for removable connection with a container side wall for swinging movement about a vertical axis between a vertical open position and a vertical closed position.

A storage tank includes a floor, a roof, a sidewall extending between the floor and the roof, an access hatch provided on the roof and having a base, a lid pivotably coupled to the base, and a latch configured to secure the lid to the base in a closed position, and a system for remotely opening and closing the access hatch. The system includes an elongate arm having a proximal end operatively coupled to the lid, a pull cable attached to a distal end of the elongate arm and extending toward a ground adjacent the storage tank, and a latching cable attached to the latch and extending toward the ground adjacent the storage tank, wherein pulling on the latching cable when the lid is in the closed position actuates the latch to secure the lid to the base in the closed position.

There is provided a door release mechanism for use with a container having at least one door moveable between a closed position and an open position. There is also provided a container system for holding and dispensing a material. The container system comprises a container body for holding material, the container body comprising at least one opening. The container system comprises at least one door moveable between a closed position in which the at least one door occludes the at least one opening, and an open position. The container system comprises the door release mechanism, which is coupled to the container body. The door release mechanism comprises at least one sliding member being moveable between a first position and a second position, in which the sliding member can be retained, and door connecting member connecting the sliding member to the moveable door.

A vacuum system for use in excavation operations. The system uses a tank having an open end that is closed by a door. The door is opened and closed by a door lifting assembly made up of an upper linkage arm, a lower linkage arm and a hydraulic cylinder. A socket is formed in the upper linkage arm, and a shaft housing is formed in the lower linkage arm. The shaft housing engages with the socket to latch the door closed. The upper linkage arm is attached to the door at a first pivot axis and is attached to the lower linkage arm at a second pivot axis. The lower linkage arm is attached to a side of the tank at a third pivot axis. When the door is open, the second pivot axis extends below a reference plane that contains the first and third pivot axis.

An apparatus for sealing a vacuum tank door. The apparatus comprises a circular flange attached to a door panel of a vacuum tank, a horizontal crossbar connected to the center of the door panel and a lifting assembly. The lifting assembly comprises an upper linkage arm, a lower linkage arm, and a hydraulic cylinder. Activation of the hydraulic cylinder causes the linkage assembly to move downwards pulling on the horizontal crossbar and pulling the vacuum tank door towards the tank. Activation of the hydraulic cylinder also causes a connection point of the lower linkage arm and the upper linkage arm to move over-center of the connection between the lower linkage arm to the to the tank creating a tight seal between the vacuum tank door and the tank.

A reusable proppant pod provides a containerized system for transport of oilfield proppant to a well location, and facilitates rapid discharge of the proppant in support of hydraulic fracturing operation. The proppant pod has a cylindrical sidewall, a top, and a frustoconical bottom that tapers towards a discharge gate. An external frame may be provided in rectilinear form to stabilize the proppant pod for road transport and to facilitate storage-stacking of a plurality of such proppant pods, one atop the other. The proppant pod is provided with fork lift tubes extending through the cylindrical sidewall. The proppant pod may have a solid top, in which case the proppant pod is inverted for filling operations that introduce proppant into the proppant pod through the discharge gate. A vent assembly is provided to facilitate entry of air during proppant discharge operations, where the vent assembly provides also a seal against proppant leakage during the inverted fill operation.