Containerized silo

Abstract

A portable silo adapted for dispensing and metering flowable materials integrated into a shipping container is described. After shipping to a concrete pouring site or other mixing application, doors on one end of the container may be opened, leveling legs deployed, and the container righted to a vertical position, wherein the leveling legs are placed in contact with the ground, a pad or another supporting surface. Metering devices mounted on the legs are used to weigh the combination of the container, the silo and the flowable material. The silo may then be filled with a flowable material through a door in the container on the other end thereof from the doors utilized for accessing the leveling legs, or by a pneumatic filling tube attached thereto. A dust filter which may be disposed within the container during transit, may now be deployed on the outside of the container.

1 . A containerized silo adapted for dispensing flowable material, comprising in combination:
 a shipping container having four perpendicular walls forming a rectangular cross section, a first end, and a second end;   a silo having an upper portion formed within the four side walls of said container and attached thereto, and a conical portion attached thereto forming an opening having a reduced cross sectional area from that of the four perpendicular walls;   a valve adapted for sealing the opening of said silo and for dispensing said flowable material;   at least three supporting members capable of being adjusted in length for leveling said silo; and   at least three doors in the first end of said container for permitting the deployment of said at least three adjustable supporting members outside of said container and in contact with a supporting surface external to said container when said container is placed in an upright position.   
   
   
       2 . The silo of  claim 1 , wherein said second end is adapted to be opened for filling said silo with a flowable material. 
   
   
       3 . The silo of  claim 1 , further comprising a pneumatic fill pipe for filling said silo with the flowable material. 
   
   
       4 . The silo of  claim 1 , further comprising at least three load cells, one of said at least three load cells being mounted on each of said at least three adjustable support members for cumulatively weighing said silo, said container, and said flowable material to determine the weight of flowable material dispensed through said valve. 
   
   
       5 . The silo of  claim 1 , wherein said valve comprises a butterfly valve or a rotary vane airlock valve. 
   
   
       6 . The silo of  claim 1 , further comprising a dust filter for keeping dust generated by the flowable material from exiting said silo. 
   
   
       7 . The silo of  claim 1 , wherein said shipping container comprises a standard shipping container suitable for carrying goods and materials on trucks, trains and ships. 
   
   
       8 . The silo of  claim 1 , wherein hooks are provided on the exterior of said container to enable said container to be placed in an upright position using a lifting apparatus. 
   
   
       9 . The silo of  claim 1 , wherein said at least three supporting members capable of being adjusted in length for leveling said silo, are adjusted using a screw mechanism. 
   
   
       10 . The silo of  claim 1 , wherein said at least three supporting members capable of being adjusted in length for leveling said silo, are adjusted using hydraulic cylinders. 
   
   
       11 . The silo of  claim 1 , wherein the inside of the walls of said shipping container are reinforced to form the upper portion of said silo.