Method and apparatus for supplying bulk product to an end user

Abstract

A method and apparatus for supplying bulk material to an end user includes the step of providing a bulk material source that is at a location distant from the end user and a specially configured vessel and trailer apparatus for transporting the bulk material to the end user. The vessel is filled with bulk material at the bulk material source and then transported with a specially configured trailer. Alternatively, at source or destination, the vessel can remain as a temporary storage device, free-standing from the trailer. Other similar container configurations are provided as alternate containers for use with the method of the present invention. During transport between the bulk material source and the end user, the vessel is filled or partially filled with a selected bulk material. During transport, the vessel is in a generally horizontal position, supported by the trailer and a specially configured elevator. The vessel is unloaded from the trailer by moving the vessel longitudinally along the trailer and by transferring the vessel from a generally horizontal position upon the trailer to an elevated upright position. The vessel is then lowered from the elevated position to a lowered, final installed position that is behind the trailer. The vessel is preferably loaded with between about 1 and 50,000 pounds of bulk material. The vessel preferably has a volume of between about 500 and 2,000 cubic feet. The same trailer can be used to load an empty vessel. Specially configured outriggers help align the elevator with the vessel during loading of a vessel to the trailer. Different connecting frames can be used as an interface between the elevator and the vessel for differently configured vessels. In an alternate embodiment a trailer—rail—trailer system is disclosed wherein a trailer to transport a vessel to a first terminal, a special rail frame is attached to the vessel enabling a rail car to transport the vessel from a first to a second terminal and a trailer can transport the vessel from the second terminal to a worksite.

1 . A method of supplying bulk material to an end user comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a bulk material source that is at a location distant from the end user;    b) providing a vessel, and a trailer and chassis for transporting the vessel;    c) transporting the vessel to the bulk material source;    d) filling the vessel with the bulk material at the bulk material source;    e) transporting the vessel that was filled in step “d” to the end user and while remaining filled or partially filled;    f) wherein the vessel is in a generally horizontal, reclined position in step “e”;    g) unloading the vessel from the trailer after steps “e” and “f”, including moving the vessel from the generally horizontal position to a generally upright and elevated position; and    h) lowering the vessel from the elevated position to a final, installed position.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising supporting the trailer with outriggers in step “g”.  
   
   
       3 . A bulk material transportation system, comprising: 
 a) a vessel having a vessel portion that has an outer wall surrounding an interior for holding bulk material, the vessel including a dispensing end portion having an outlet fitting;    b) a trailer for transporting the vessel;    c) the trailer having a chassis and an elevator that is movably attached to the chassis at the rear of the chassis between generally horizontal and generally vertical positions;    d) a vessel connecting portion mounted to the vessel outer wall;    e) a lifting device on the elevator that includes a connector for forming a connection with the vessel connecting portion; and    f) a curved portion of the elevator being positioned next to the rear of the chassis so that when the elevator is moved to the generally vertical position, it is moved to an offset position that is spaced behind the trailer chassis.    
   
   
       4 . The bulk material transportation system of  claim 3 , wherein the vessel has an upper bulk material holding section inside the vessel and a lower foundation section that does not hold any bulk material.  
   
   
       5 . The bulk material transportation system of  claim 3 , wherein the vessel has an upper portion and a conical portion below the upper portion, the upper and conical portions having a common interior for holding bulk material.  
   
   
       6 . The bulk material transportation system of  claim 3 , further comprising an outer frame on the vessel that surrounds the vessel.  
   
   
       7 . The bulk material transportation system of  claim 3 , wherein the connector portions enable the elevator to hold the vessel in an elevated position that spaces the vessel above the chassis.  
   
   
       8 . The bulk material transportation system of  claim 3 , further comprising outriggers mounted at the rear of the trailer.  
   
   
       9 . A method of supplying bulk material to an end user comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a bulk material source that is at a location distant from the end user;    b) providing a vessel, and a trailer and chassis for transporting the vessel;    c) transporting the vessel to the bulk material source;    d) filling the vessel with the bulk material at the bulk material source;    e) transporting the vessel that was filled in step “d” to the end user and while remaining filled or partially filled;    f) wherein the vessel is in a generally horizontal position in step “e”;    g) unloading the vessel from the trailer after steps “e” and “f”, and alternatively after step “c” including moving the vessel from the generally horizontal position to a generally upright and elevated position;    h) lowering the vessel from the elevated position to a final, installed position;    i) wherein the vessel maybe in either the generally horizontal position at rest on the trailer, or, may be in the generally vertical installed position in step “d”; and    j) following step “h”, recovering the empty or partially filled vessel from the installed position with the elevated mast in the approximate vertical position by employing the movable connecting carriage apparatus on the masted elevator to connect to an interlocking connector on the upright vessel.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the elevator and box container with generally box-shaped upper portion have respective connecting portions and further comprising the step of engaging the connecting portions before steps “g” and alternatively step “d”.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising supporting the trailer with outriggers in steps “g” and alternatively step “d”.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , where the outriggers adjust the side-to-side transverse alignment of the masted elevator when the approximately vertical position relative to the vessel between steps “d” and “e”, steps “f”, and “g”, and after step “f”.  
   
   
       13 . A method of supplying bulk material to an end user comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a bulk material source that is at a location distant from the end user;    b) providing a vessel for storing the bulk material;    c) providing a first trailer for transporting the vessel;    d) providing a rail car for transporting the vessel from a first terminal to a second terminal;    e) providing a second trailer for transporting the vessel;    f) filling the vessel with the bulk material at the bulk material source;    g) using the first trailer, transporting the vessel that was filled in step “f” to the first terminal and loading the vessel on to the rail car;    h) using the rail car, transporting the vessel from the first terminal to the second terminal with;    i) loading the vessel onto the second trailer;    j) using the second trailer, transporting the vessel to a work site;    k) wherein in step “j” the vessel is in a generally horizontal, reclined position;    l) unloading the vessel from the second trailer after steps “j” and “k”, including moving the vessel from the generally horizontal position to a generally upright and elevated position; and    m) lowering the vessel from the elevated position to a final, installed position.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein in steps “g” and “h”, the first and second terminals are part of a plurality of terminals located in different geographical locations.