Material handling unit

Abstract

A material handling unit. An elongate cargo bed of the material handling unit includes paired anchor points for attaching to a securing member to secure cargo to the cargo bed. The cargo bed is reinforced to allow the cargo to be secured to the cargo bed during loading of the material handling unit onto a transport, transporting of the material handling unit to a job site, and unloading of the material handling unit from the transport. A shelter encloses the cargo bed and defines an access point along the length of the cargo bed. The cargo bed is accessible from the access points for loading and unloading cargo. The anchor points are accessible from the access point for securing the cargo to the cargo bed or removing the securing member from the cargo.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A material handling unit comprising:
 an elongate cargo bed reinforced for transportation while carrying cargo of a selected weight, the cargo bed having a length along a longitudinal axis and a width along a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;   a shelter extending from the cargo bed for enclosing at least a portion of the cargo bed, the shelter defining an access point to the cargo bed along at least a portion of the length; and   a plurality of pairs of anchor points on the cargo bed along the access point for connecting to a securing member to secure cargo to the cargo bed under the shelter;   wherein the anchor points of each pair of anchor points are separated by at least a portion of the width; and   at least one anchor point of each pair of anchor points is proximate a periphery of the cargo bed for facilitating access to the securing member and to the at least one anchor point at the access point.   
     
     
         2 . The material handling unit of  claim 1  wherein each pair of anchor points comprises at least one anchor point positioned substantially on the periphery of the cargo bed. 
     
     
         3 . The material handling unit of  claim 1  wherein each pair of anchor points comprises a fixed anchor point for fixedly connecting to the securing member paired with a releasable anchor point for releasably connecting to the securing member. 
     
     
         4 . The material handling unit of  claim 3  wherein the fixed anchor point is across substantially the entire width from the releasable anchor point. 
     
     
         5 . The material handling unit of  claim 3  wherein the fixed anchor point is substantially on the periphery of the cargo bed. 
     
     
         6 . The material handling unit of  claim 3  wherein the releasable anchor point is substantially on the periphery of the cargo bed. 
     
     
         7 . The material handling unit of  claim 6  wherein the fixed anchor point is substantially on the periphery of the cargo bed. 
     
     
         8 . The material handling unit of  claim 1  wherein each pair of anchor points comprises paired releasable anchor points for releasably connecting to the securing member. 
     
     
         9 . The material handling unit of  claim 8  wherein a first releasable anchor point of the paired releasable anchor points is substantially on the periphery of the cargo bed. 
     
     
         10 . The material handling unit of  claim 9  wherein a second releasable anchor point of the paired releasable anchor points is substantially on the periphery of the cargo bed. 
     
     
         11 . The material handling unit of  claim 1  wherein the shelter extends along substantially the entire length. 
     
     
         12 . The material handling unit of  claim 1  wherein the access point extends along the length on both sides of the cargo bed. 
     
     
         13 . The material handling unit of  claim 1  wherein the access point extends along substantially the entire length. 
     
     
         14 . The material handling unit of  claim 13  wherein the access point extends along substantially the entire length on both sides of the cargo bed. 
     
     
         15 . The material handling unit of  claim 1  further comprising a movable enclosure for reversibly enclosing the access point. 
     
     
         16 . The material handling unit of  claim 15  wherein the movable enclosure comprises a curtain extending from the shelter for releasably connecting to the cargo bed. 
     
     
         17 . The material handling unit of  claim 16  wherein the movable enclosure further comprises a removable side panel reversibly connected to the cargo bed. 
     
     
         18 . The material handling unit of  claim 15  wherein the movable enclosure comprises a removable side panel reversibly connected to the cargo bed. 
     
     
         19 . A material handling unit comprising:
 an elongate cargo bed reinforced for transportation while carrying cargo of a selected weight, the cargo bed having a length along a longitudinal axis and a width along a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;   a shelter extending from the cargo bed for enclosing at least a portion of the cargo bed, the shelter defining an access point to the cargo bed along substantially the entire length;   a plurality of pairs of anchor points on the cargo bed along the access point for connecting to a securing member to secure cargo to the cargo bed under the shelter; and   a curtain extending from the shelter for releasably connecting to the cargo bed to reversibly enclose the access point;   wherein the anchor points of each pair of anchor points are separated along the transverse axis and are proximate a periphery of the cargo bed for facilitating access to the securing member and to the anchor points at the access point.   
     
     
         20 . The material handling unit of  claim 19  further comprising a removable side panel for releasably connecting to the cargo bed to reversibly enclose the access point. 
     
     
         21 . A method of transporting cargo comprising:
 providing a skid-mounted elongate material handling unit having a cargo bed with a length along a longitudinal axis and a width along a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the material handling unit defining an access point to the cargo bed along at least a portion of the length;   loading cargo onto the cargo bed;   securing the cargo to the cargo bed with a securing member connected to the cargo bed at a pair of anchor points separated by at least a portion of the width;   transporting the material handling unit and the cargo to a selected location; and   unloading the material handling unit to position the material handling unit on grade at the selected location for allowing access to the access point without the use of stairs;   wherein loading the cargo and securing the cargo are facilitated by the access point.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising unloading the cargo from the material handling unit at the selected location, wherein unloading the cargo is facilitated by the access point. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising storing the cargo in the material handling unit at the selected location prior to unloading the cargo from the material handling unit at the selected location. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the cargo comprises dry chemical for drilling, completing, or servicing an oil or gas well. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the selected location is a well site. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the cargo has a weight of about 70,000 lbs.