초록 ▼

A portable material transfer unit allows for the loading and unloading of a material from a storage medium. The portable material transfer unit is a self-contained unit that can be moved to any location accessible by motorized vehicle without the need for pneumatic or electrical hook-ups. Thus, the

A portable material transfer unit allows for the loading and unloading of a material from a storage medium. The portable material transfer unit is a self-contained unit that can be moved to any location accessible by motorized vehicle without the need for pneumatic or electrical hook-ups. Thus, the portable material transfer unit can be used to load or unload material from railroad tank cars in temporary locations not generally considered to be loading or unloading stations. Also, the portable material transfer unit can transfer material from railroad tank cars without the need for repositioning of the cars by a locomotive. Furthermore, the portable material transfer unit can quickly and easily be converted from an unloading position to a transporting position so that the portable material transfer unit can be towed on any highway or public access road.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A mobile material transfer unit comprising:a mounting platform comprising a top side and a bottom side;an axle attached to the mounting platform;a plurality of wheels attached to the axle;an access platform attached to the mounting platform, wherein the access platform comprises a stairway extend

1. A mobile material transfer unit comprising:a mounting platform comprising a top side and a bottom side;an axle attached to the mounting platform;a plurality of wheels attached to the axle;an access platform attached to the mounting platform, wherein the access platform comprises a stairway extending from said mounting platform and a landing platform extending from said stairway;a compressor attached to the mounting platform for creating a pressure differential between a first storage medium and a second storage medium; andpiping to facilitate the transfer of material between the first storage medium and the second storage medium.2. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 1 further comprising:a fuel tank attached to the mounting platform; anda tow hitch attached to the mounting platform.3. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 2 further comprising a fuel line, wherein a first end of the fuel line is connected to the fuel tank and a second end of the fuel line is connected to the compressor, whereby the fuel line provides a path for fuel to flow from the fuel tank to the compressor.4. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 2, wherein the tow hitch is capable of being attached to a hitch ball.5. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 1, wherein the access platform further comprises;an elongated access member attached to the mounting platform and extending from said mounting platform;the stairway attached to the access member;the landing platform attached to the access member; anda gangway attached to a first side of the landing platform.6. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 1, wherein the compressor further comprises:an engine for powering the compressor; anda clutch for transferring the power created by the engine to the compressor.7. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 1, wherein the compressor is a liquefied petroleum gas vapor compressor.8. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 1, wherein the piping to facilitate the transfer of pressurized liquid from the first storage medium to the second storage medium comprises:a first set of piping connected to the compressor and capable of being connected to the first storage medium;a second set of piping connected to the compressor and capable of being connected to the second storage medium;a third and fourth set of piping capable of fluidly connecting the first storage medium to the second storage medium;a plurality of valves capable of adjusting the flow of material and vapor through the first, second, third, and fourth sets of piping; anda plurality of piping connectors for attaching the first, second, third, and fourth sets of piping to the first and second storage mediums.9. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 1, wherein the mounting platform comprises:a first pair of elongated members;a second pair of elongated members attached to the first pair of members to form a quadrilateral; anda cover plate attached to the first and second pair of elongated members.10. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 9, wherein the cover plate comprises metal.11. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 1, wherein the first storage medium comprises a rail tank car.12. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 1, wherein the first storage medium comprises a tanker truck.13. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 1, wherein the first storage medium comprises a storage tank.14. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 1, wherein the second storage medium comprises a rail tank car.15. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 1, wherein the second storage medium comprises a tanker truck.16. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 1, wherein the second storage medium comprises a storage tank.17. A method for unloading material at a plurality of remote locations comprising:providing a first and a second location accessible by a first storage medium, wherein the first storage medium is mobile and can be maneuvered while comprising the material;transporting a mobile material transfer unit to the first location and completing a first transfer operation of a first material from the first storage medium, wherein the first transfer operation comprises a compressor creating a pressure differential at the first storage medium and at a second storage medium and wherein the mobile material transfer unit comprises:a mounting platform comprising a top side and a bottom side;an axle attached to the mounting platform;a plurality of wheels attached to the axle;a telescoping access platform attached to the mounting platform and capable of being adjusted in the vertical direction;a compressor attached to the mounting platform for creating a pressure differential between the first storage medium and a receiving storage medium; andpiping to facilitate transfer of a pressurized material between the first storage medium and the receiving storage medium; andtransporting the mobile material transfer unit to the second location and completing a second transfer operation of a second material from a second storage medium.18. The method of claim 17, wherein the method of completing a transfer operation comprises:placing the mobile material transfer unit near the first storage medium containing the first material; andunloading the first material from the first storage medium to a receiving storage medium by employing the mobile material transfer unit.19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first storage medium comprises a rail tank car.20. The method of claim 18, wherein the first storage medium comprises a storage tank.21. The method of claim 18, wherein the first storage medium comprises a tanker truck.22. The method of claim 18, wherein the receiving storage medium comprises a rail tank car.23. The method of claim 18, wherein the receiving storage medium comprises a storage tank.24. The method of claim 18, wherein the receiving storage medium comprises a tanker truck.25. The method of claim 17, wherein the first material comprises a liquid.26. The method of claim 17, wherein the first material comprises liquefied petroleum gas.27. The method of claim 17, wherein transporting of the mobile material transfer unit is accomplished without disassembly of the mobile material transfer unit.28. The method of claim 17, wherein the first and second location are the same.29. The method of claim 17, wherein the first and second locations are separated by less than 10 miles.30. The method of claim 17, wherein the first and second locations are separated by less than 300 miles.31. The method of claim 17, wherein the first and second locations are separated by a distance greater than or equal to 300 miles.32. The method of claim 17, wherein transporting the mobile material transfer unit comprises:attaching the mobile material transfer unit to a motorized vehicle; andtowing the mobile material transfer unit from a first location to a second location.33. The method of claim 17, wherein the method of transporting the mobile material transfer unit comprises;positioning an access platform in a transporting position;securing the access platform to a mounting platform;attaching the mobile material transfer unit to a motorized vehicle; andtransporting the mobile material transfer unit with the motorized vehicle to the second location.34. The method of claim 33, wherein the motorized vehicle comprises an automobile.35. The method of claim 33, wherein the motorized vehicle comprises a truck.36. The method of claim 17, wherein the first location comprises a storage terminal.37. The method of claim 17, wherein the first location comprises a railroad yard.38. The method of claim 17, wherein the first location comprises a railroad spur.39. A mobile material transfer unit comprising:a mounting platform comprising a top side and a bottom side;an axle attached to the mounting platform;a plurality of wheels attached to the axle;a telescoping access platform attached to the mounting platform and capable of being adjusted in the vertical direction;a compressor attached to the mounting platform for creating a pressure differential between a first storage medium and a second storage medium; andpiping and hoses to facilitate transfer of a material between the first storage medium and the second storage medium.40. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 39 further comprising a fuel tank attached to the mounting platform.41. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 39 further comprising a tow hitch attached to the mobile material transfer unit.42. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 41, wherein the tow hitch is capable of being attached to a hitch ball.43. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 39, wherein the telescoping access platform comprises;an elongated access member attached to the mounting platform;a stairway slidably attached to the mounting platform;a landing platform attached to the access member;a gangway attached to a first side of the landing platform; anda lift for raising and lowering the gangway and landing platform.44. The telescoping access platform of claim 43, wherein the lift is a pneumatic lift.45. The telescoping access platform of claim 43, wherein the lift is a hydraulic lift.46. The telescoping access platform of claim 43, wherein the lift is a mechanical lift.47. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 39, wherein the compressor further comprises:an engine for powering the compressor; anda clutch for transferring the power created by the engine to drive the compressor.48. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 47, wherein the compressor is a liquefied petroleum gas vapor compressor.49. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 39, wherein the mounting platform comprises:a first pair of elongated members;a second pair of elongated members attached to the first pair of elongated members to form a quadrilateral; anda cover plate attached to the first and second pair of elongated members.50. A method for transferring material from a first storage medium comprising:moving a mobile material transfer unit to a location where the unit is capable of being coupled to the first storage medium containing the material;creating a pressure differential with a combustible fuel powered compressor positioned on the mobile material transfer unit, wherein the pressure differential is created by increasing the pressure at the first storage medium and decreasing the pressure at a second storage medium by drawing vapor from the second storage medium, passing the vapor through the compressor and into the first storage medium;transferring the material through piping and hoses with the mobile material transfer unit; andmoving the mobile material transfer unit away from the storage medium.51. The method of claim 50, wherein moving the mobile material transfer unit comprises towing the material transfer unit over a public road.52. The method of claim 50, wherein moving the mobile material transfer unit comprises towing the material transfer unit over a public road with one of an automobile and a truck.53. The method of claim 50, wherein the material comprises a liquid.54. The method of claim 50, wherein the material comprises liquefied petroleum gas.55. The method of claim 50 further comprising the step of moving the mobile material transfer unit to a second location where the unit is capable of being coupled to a third storage medium containing a second material.56. The method of claim 55, wherein the second material and the material are the same.57. The method of claim 55, wherein the distance between the location and the second location is less than one mile.58. The method of claim 55, wherein the distance between the location and the second location is less than 50 miles.59. The method of claim 55, wherein the distance between the location and the second location is greater than or equal to 50 miles.60. The method of claim 50, wherein the first storage medium comprises a rail tank car.61. The method of claim 50, wherein the first storage medium comprises a tanker truck.62. The method of claim 50, wherein the first storage medium comprises a storage tank.63. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 1, wherein the stairway is capable of being adjusted in the vertical direction.64. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 1, wherein the stairway is slidably attached to the mounting platform.65. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 39, wherein the piping to facilitate the transfer of the material comprisesa first set of piping connected to the compressor and capable of being connected to the first storage medium;a second set of piping connected to the compressor and capable of being connected to the second storage medium;a third and fourth set of piping capable of fluidly connecting the first storage medium to the second storage medium;a plurality of valves capable of adjusting the flow of material and vapor through the first, second, third, and fourth sets of piping, anda plurality of piping connectors for attaching the first, second, third, and fourth sets of piping to the first and second storage mediums.66. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 39, wherein the first storage medium comprises a rail tank car.67. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 39, wherein the second storage medium comprises a tanker truck.68. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 39, wherein the first storage medium comprises storage tank.69. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 39, wherein the second storage medium comprises a rail tank car.70. The mobile material transfer unit of claim 40, further comprising a fuel line, wherein a first end of the fuel line is connected to the fuel tank and a second end of the fuel line is connected to the compressor, whereby the fuel line provides a path for fuel to flow from the fuel tank to the compressor.