Subterranean heat exchange units comprising multiple secondary conduits and multi-tiered inlet and outlet manifolds
Patent 5533355 Issued on July 9, 1996. Estimated Expiration Date: 
November 7, 2014. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
November 7, 2014. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent References 1908733 1951420 2181953 2461449 2513373 2611584 3656547 Permafrost stabilizing heat pipe assembly Heat exchanger assembly designed as a longitudinal counterflow device Earth coil heating and cooling system InventorAssigneeApplicationNo. 335567 filed on 11/07/1994US Classes:62/260, Geographic, e.g., subterranean feature62/238.7, Reversible, i.e., heat pump165/45, GEOGRAPHICAL165/144, LINE CONNECTED CONDUIT ASSEMBLIES165/175Inlet and outlet header meansExaminersPrimary: Flanigan, Allen J.Attorney, Agent or FirmForeign Patent References
International ClassesF24J 003/08F28D 020/00 AbstractAn improved ground source heat pump system wherein the subterranean piping installation comprises modular heat exchange units. Each modular heat exchange unit comprises a plurality of parallel secondary conduits. The secondary conduits are connected between primary conduits by means of multi-tiered inlet and outlet manifolds. Each manifold comprises a three-way "T" or end member and at least one and probably several four-way connecting members. Each of the end members has one inlet and at least one and preferably two outlets. Each connecting member has one inlet and at least two and preferably three outlets. The inlets and outlets of the end members and connecting members are configured to interconnect interchangeably in male-female fashion. Elbow units are used to connect the ends of the secondary conduits with the inlets and outlet of the end members and connecting members. Thus, only two types of components are necessary to build heat exchange units having any number of secondary conduits. To increase the number of secondary conduits in a unit, additional connecting members are added. This eliminates the need to build a different manifold for each size heat exchange unit. | |
