A container assembly for flowable materials, the container assembly comprising: a reusable outer supporting container; and a disposable inner plastic liner; wherein the reusable outer supporting container comprises an outlet pipe comprising a first outlet pipe section connected to the reusable outer supporting container and a second outlet pipe section releasably connectable to the first outlet pipe section, wherein the second outlet pipe section comprises a valve for selectively closing off the second outlet pipe section, and wherein at least one of the first outlet pipe section and the second outlet pipe section comprises an annular recess; and wherein the disposable inner plastic liner comprises a tubular outlet portion, wherein the tubular outlet portion comprises an outer flange configured to be captured between the first outlet pipe section and the second outlet pipe section, and further wherein the outer flange of the tubular outlet portion comprises an annular protrusion configured to be received in the annular recess when the outer flange is captured between the first outlet pipe section and the second outlet pipe section.

A combination weighing apparatus includes a timing hopper, a frame, and a support member. The support member is a member attached to the frame and moves a position of the timing hopper between (1) a first mounting position at which the timing hopper receives and retains objects to be weighed and (2) a second mounting position related to attachment and detachment of the timing hopper without changing a fixed state of the timing hopper with respect to the support member. A movement direction in which the timing hopper moves from the first mounting position to the second mounting position intersects a removing direction in which the timing hopper fixed at the predetermined position is removed from the support member.

A secondary silo on a second portable frame is independently portable relative to a primary silo and a vertical conveyor on a first portable frame. The vertical conveyor conveys flowable proppant material from an intake hopper below the primary silo into either one of the silos. The silos have gravity discharge chutes that are gravity fed directly into a proppant blender unit. An unloader on wheels is self-propelled and steerable relative to the silos. The unloader can be lowered relative to the wheels to sit on the ground to allow vehicles to drive over the unloader for discharge. Intake hoppers of the unloader can be raised up against the vehicle to form a closed duct discharging from the vehicles into the unloader. A discharge of the unloader forms a closed passage with the intake hopper of the vertical conveyor.

A secondary silo on a second portable frame is independently portable relative to a primary silo and a vertical conveyor on a first portable frame. The vertical conveyor conveys flowable proppant material from an intake hopper below the primary silo into either one of the silos. The silos have gravity discharge chutes that are gravity fed directly into a proppant blender unit. An unloader on wheels is self-propelled and steerable relative to the silos. The unloader can be lowered relative to the wheels to sit on the ground to allow vehicles to drive over the unloader for discharge. Intake hoppers of the unloader can be raised up against the vehicle to form a closed duct discharging from the vehicles into the unloader. A discharge of the unloader forms a closed passage with the intake hopper of the vertical conveyor.

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 rack rail is suspended into a silo from an opening formed in a ceiling portion of the silo and a lifting body is lowered into the silo along the rack rail from the opening. A work scaffold is built on the lifting body using a part carried into the silo from the opening, a worker connected to the work scaffold with a safety belt pokes and breaks down a granular powder in a state where a discharge port of a silo bottom portion is closed, the poked and broken down granular powder drops to a rat hole (or boring hole), the worker connected to the work scaffold with the safety belt adds a rack rail in a state where the rat hole is blocked with the granular powder, the discharge port is opened to discharge the granular powder stored in the passage, and then the work scaffold is lowered to the added rack rail.

A collapsible storage silo having an expanded configuration includes: (a) a shell for circumscribing storage space and comprising a plurality of concentrically nested tubular members that are collapsible; (b) a lift system operable to slidably expand the plurality of concentrically nested tubular members to place the silo in its expanded configuration; and (c) a mast operable to support the lift system, The mast is pivotable between horizontal and vertical positions relative to a frame. A winch attaches to the mast and a cable extends between the winch and an outermost tubular member to expand the silo such that inwardly and outwardly projecting lips of nested members engage each other and a conical hopper engages an innermost tubular member. A flexible inner liner attaches between an outermost tubular member and the hopper. A collapsible roof has a flexible roof membrane and a plurality of radially extending foldable rib members.

A collapsible storage silo having an expanded configuration includes: (a) a shell for circumscribing storage space and comprising a plurality of concentrically nested tubular members that are collapsible; (b) a lift system operable to slidably expand the plurality of concentrically nested tubular members to place the silo in its expanded configuration; and (c) a mast operable to support the lift system, The mast is pivotable between horizontal and vertical positions relative to a frame. A winch attaches to the mast and a cable extends between the winch and an outermost tubular member to expand the silo such that inwardly and outwardly projecting lips of nested members engage each other and a conical hopper engages an innermost tubular member. A flexible inner liner attaches between an outermost tubular member and the hopper. A collapsible roof has a flexible roof membrane and a plurality of radially extending foldable rib members.

A hopper and method for transferring raw material, which can prevent segregation due to the impact caused by falling of the raw material powder when different types of raw material powders are transferred. The hopper for a raw material powder according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a hopper body having an inner space in which the raw material powder is stored and including an outlet which is formed through the lower end thereof and through which the raw material powder is discharged; a transfer pipe to which the raw material powder discharged through the outlet is transferred and which has a region, through which the raw material powder is transferred, divided into a plurality of regions; and a slide gate unit disposed between the outlet and the transfer pipe to open or close the transfer pipe while adjusting a degree of opening of the transfer pipe.

A hopper and method for transferring raw material, which can prevent segregation due to the impact caused by falling of the raw material powder when different types of raw material powders are transferred. The hopper for a raw material powder according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a hopper body having an inner space in which the raw material powder is stored and including an outlet which is formed through the lower end thereof and through which the raw material powder is discharged; a transfer pipe to which the raw material powder discharged through the outlet is transferred and which has a region, through which the raw material powder is transferred, divided into a plurality of regions; and a slide gate unit disposed between the outlet and the transfer pipe to open or close the transfer pipe while adjusting a degree of opening of the transfer pipe.