# US 11,441,786 B2 · Geothermal system having a flow vector assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,441,786 B2 - Document ID: US11441786B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/342,935 - Filed: 2016-11-03 - Published: 2017-05-04 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-29 - Applicants: Steve Kapaun - Inventors: Steve Kapaun - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441786B2 ## CPC - F24D 12/02: having more than one heat source (using heat pumps, in water central heating systems F24D3/18; in air central heating systems F24D5/12; in systems using heat storage masses F24D11/02) - F24D 15/04: using heat pumps - F24F 5/0046: {using natural energy, e.g. solar energy, energy from the ground} - F24T 10/15: using bent tubes; using tubes assembled with connectors or with return headers - F28F 27/02: for controlling the distribution of heat-exchange media between different channels ({static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026}; arrangements of guide plates or guide vanes F28F9/22, F28F25/12) - F24D 2200/11: Geothermal energy - F24F 2005/0057: {receiving heat-exchange fluid from a closed circuit in the ground} - F28D 7/02: the conduits being helically coiled (F28D7/10 takes precedence {F28D7/0016 and F28D7/0033 take precedence}) - F28D 7/06: the conduits having a single U-bend (F28D7/10 takes precedence){(F28D7/0016 and F28D7/0033 take precedence)} - F28D 7/10: the conduits being arranged one within the other, e.g. concentrically {(multiple wall tubes for leak detection F28F1/003)} - Y02B 10/40: Geothermal heat-pumps - Y02B 30/00: Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC] - Y02E 10/10: Geothermal energy - F24D: DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR (using steam or condensate extracted or exhausted from steam engine plants for heating purposes F01K17/02) - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - F24T: GEOTHERMAL COLLECTORS; GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS - F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16) - F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A geothermal system having a flow station connected to a heat pump that is connected to a heat pump that is connected to a flow vector assembly. The flow vector assembly is connected to a heating coil and a cooling coil disposed within the ductwork of a furnace. The flow vector assembly may also be connected to a flow helix heat exchanger assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A geothermal system, comprising: a flow station connected to and in fluid communication with a heat pump by a second conduit that extends between the flow station and the heat pump; a flow vector assembly connected to and in fluid communication with the heat pump by a third and a fourth conduit that extend between the flow vector assembly and the heat pump; the flow vector assembly having a pair of flow ray valves, wherein one of the pair of flow ray valves comprising: a housing with a first port, a second port, a third port; an upper torbulus positioned within the housing adjacent the first port; the upper torbulus comprising a plurality of ventilation portions, a sealing surface, and a seat disc adjacent the sealing surface; a furnace having a cooling coil and a heating coil disposed within ductwork of the furnace wherein the cooling coil is connected to the flow vector assembly by a fifth and a sixth conduit that extends between the cooling coil and the flow vector assembly and the heating coil is connected to the flow vector assembly by a seventh and an eighth conduit that extends between the heating coil and the flow vector assembly wherein in a cooling mode the cooling coil is active and unconditioned air passes through the heating coil which is dormant and is conducted via the ductwork of the furnace into and out of the blower; and ground loops extending between and connected to the flow station and the heat pump by a first conduit that extends through the ground between the flow station and the heat pump. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the flow vector assembly has a ram valve. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the flow vector assembly has a tandem flow ray valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the flow vector assembly includes a t-section, a solenoid valve, and a pair of check valves. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the flow vector assembly includes a three port valve and a check valve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the flow vector assembly has at least one flow ray valve having a housing with three ports and a sealing disc that selectively seals one of the three ports based upon pressure flow through another of the three ports. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the third conduit connected to and extending between the heat pump and the flow vector assembly has a diverter valve that is connected to a flow helix assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7 wherein the flow helix assembly is connected to a water pump. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein in a heating mode the heating coil is active and the cooling coil is dormant. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising the one of the pair of flow ray valves having a lower torbulus comprising a plurality of outer ventilation ports and a plurality of inner coaxial ports. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 further comprising the lower torbulus of the one of the pair of flow ray valves further comprising a coaxial receiver, a pair of sealing surfaces, a second seat disc, and an annulus configured to engage the second seat to prevent flow. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 further comprising a compression spring positioned over the annulus. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 wherein the lower torbulus is mounted to a conduit and the conduit has a retaining ring positioned such that the compression spring is positioned between the retaining ring and the lower torbulus. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 further comprising the ram valve comprising: a valve body having a first port, a second port, a third port, a fourth port, and a fifth port; a first torbulus and a second torbulus disposed within the valve body and positioned between the third port and the second port, wherein the first torbulus and the second torbulus each comprising a first seat and a second seat; a first ramrod having a first disc and a second ramrod having a second disc, wherein the first ramrod and the second ramrod extend between the first torbulus and the second torbulus and the first torbulus and the second torbulus have a predefined space between each other. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14 further comprising the ram valve having a fitting bearing conduit that confines the first ramrod and the second ramrod and is configured to provide a slide path for the first ramrod and the second ramrod. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15 wherein the ram valve is configured to transition between a first position wherein when in the first position a discharge fluid flows along a first flow path a first suction path is formed, and a second position wherein when in the second position the discharge fluid flows along a second flow path and a second suction path is formed. ### Claim 17 A geothermal system, comprising: a flow station connected to and in fluid communication with a heat pump; a flow vector assembly connected to and in fluid communication with the heat pump; the flow vector assembly having a pair of flow ray valves, wherein one of the pair of flow ray valves comprising: a housing with a first port, a second port, a third port; an upper torbulus positioned within the housing adjacent the first port; the upper torbulus comprising a plurality of ventilation portions, a sealing surface, and a seat disc adjacent the sealing surface; a furnace having a cooling coil, a heating coil, and a blower disposed within ductwork of the furnace wherein the cooling coil and the heating coil are connected to the flow vector assembly; and ground loops extending between and connected to the flow station and the heat pump. ### Claim 18 A geothermal system, comprising: a flow station connected to and in fluid communication with a heat pump; a flow vector assembly connected to and in fluid communication with the heat pump; the flow vector assembly having a ram valve comprising: a valve body having a first port, a second port, a third port, a fourth port, and a fifth port; a first torbulus and a second torbulus disposed within the valve body and positioned between the third port and the second port, wherein the first torbulus and the second torbulus each comprise a first seat and a second seat; a first ramrod having a first disc and a second ramrod having a second disc, wherein the first ramrod and the second ramrod extend between the first torbulus and the second torbulus and the first torbulus and the second torbulus have a predefined space between each other; a furnace having a cooling coil, a heating coil, and a blower disposed within ductwork of the furnace wherein the cooling coil and the heating coil are connected to the flow vector assembly; and ground loops extending between and connected to the flow station and the heat pump.