US 11,939,152 B2
Mobile support structure for bulk material containers
Thomas W. Hawkins, Marlow, OK (US); Bryan John Lewis, Duncan, OK (US); Tori H. Miller, Duncan, OK (US); Wesley John Warren, Marlow, OK (US); Austin Carl Schaffner, Duncan, OK (US); Glenn Ray Fowler, Duncan, OK (US); Bryan Chapman Lucas, Duncan, OK (US); and Calvin L. Stegemoeller, Duncan, OK (US)
Assigned to Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Nov. 18, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/686,553.
Application 16/686,553 is a division of application No. 15/522,601, granted, now 10,526,136, previously published as PCT/US2015/041543, filed on Jul. 22, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2020/0079584 A1, Mar. 12, 2020
Int. Cl. B65D 90/12 (2006.01); B62D 63/06 (2006.01); B65D 88/16 (2006.01); B65D 88/26 (2006.01); B65D 90/20 (2006.01); B65D 90/48 (2006.01); B65D 90/66 (2006.01)
CPC B65D 90/125 (2013.01) [B62D 63/06 (2013.01); B65D 88/1612 (2013.01); B65D 88/26 (2013.01); B65D 90/20 (2013.01); B65D 90/48 (2013.01); B65D 90/66 (2013.01)] 81 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
receiving a plurality of portable containers of bulk material onto a portable support structure disposed proximate a blender inlet, wherein the portable support structure comprises a plurality of frames, each configured to support one of the plurality of portable containers, wherein one of the plurality of frames comprises an open space therein configured to receive the blender inlet of a blender, wherein, with the plurality of portable containers each supported by the corresponding frame, each portable container is configured to discharge bulk material into the corresponding frame, wherein each of the plurality of frames comprises a gravity feed outlet configured to direct bulk material from the corresponding portable container supported thereon to the blender inlet in the open space without routing the bulk material onto a conveyor, wherein the portable containers are selectively removable from the corresponding frame and replaceable by another portable container; and
feeding the bulk material from the plurality of portable containers directly into the blender inlet via the gravity feed outlets.