Proppant dispensing system

1 . A proppant dispensing system, comprising:

an elongate rectangular central hopper having a first axis extending in a first plane, the central hopper having an inlet, a discharge opening and sidewalls tapering downwardly from the inlet towards the discharge opening;

a horizontal conveyor belt system having a second axis extending in a second plane, the second axis being parallel to and below the first axis;

wherein the horizontal conveyor belt system is coextensive with the central hopper and positioned beneath the discharge opening thereof for receipt of proppant passing from the central hopper through the discharge opening and carrying the proppant toward a blender hopper;

a blending unit;

an elevator conveyor equipped with a metering system to receive proppant flowing from the blender hopper and lift the proppant towards the blending unit;

an elongate frame aligned with the second axis;

a plurality of proppant tipping mechanisms organized in one or more pairs, each pair including a first tipping mechanism and a second tipping mechanism,

the first tipping mechanism being mounted on a first side of the frame to provide tipping motion in a first arc running perpendicular to the second axis,

the second tipping mechanism being mounted on a second side of the frame opposite the first side to provide tipping motion in a second arc running perpendicular to the second axis,

the first arc being in counterrotation with respect to the second arc; and

a plurality of proppant reservoirs,

wherein each of the proppant reservoirs has a top, a bottom, and one or more sidewalls,

the bottom and sidewalls being closed to prevent flow of proppant from the reservoir through both the bottom and the sidewalls; and

the top being provided with:

means for permitting proppant to flow into the reservoir when the proppant reservoir is in a vertical or upright position; and

means for permitting proppant to flow out from the reservoir when proppant resides in the reservoir and the proppant container is tipped,

each of the proppant tipping mechanisms being coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of proppant reservoirs such that motion of the proppant tipping mechanism along one of the first arc and the second arc causes the corresponding one of the plurality of proppant reservoirs to discharge proppant into the central hopper.

2 . The proppant dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal conveyor belt system is mounted on the frame.

3 . The proppant dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the frame is a rectilinear frame having a plurality of upright elongate frame members and a plurality of horizontal elongate frame members.

4 . The proppant dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tipping mechanisms include at least four tipping mechanisms.

5 . The proppant dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the proppant tipping mechanisms includes a cradle for retaining the proppant reservoir.

6 . The proppant dispensing system of claim 5 , further comprising a latch mechanism for selectively detaching the proppant reservoir from the cradle.

7 . The proppant dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the proppant reservoir is sized to contain in the reservoir from 20,000 to 60,000 pounds of sand.

8 . The proppant dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the proppant tipping mechanism includes a hydraulically actuated ram extending between the cradle and the frame, the hydraulically actuated ram being operably mounted for extension and retraction to govern tipping motion of the cradle to control discharge of proppant from the proppant container.