Installation apparatus/tool for tubular geothermal heat exchanger systems and methods
OwnerThomas Scott Breidenbachinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of installing a tubular heat exchanger into soil includes providing the tubular heat exchanger and screwing the tubular heat exchanger into the soil with an installation apparatus. The installation apparatus may be removed from the soil without removing the tubular heat exchanger from the soil.
Claims35
A method of installing at least a portion of a tube of a tubular heat exchanger in soil, the method comprising:
- providing a tool of an installation apparatus;
- providing the tube of the tubular heat exchanger;
- engaging at least the portion of the tube with the tool and helically engaging the soil with the tool and thereby installing at least the portion of the tube in the soil and positioning at least the portion of the tube in the soil along a helical path and thereby installing at least the portion of the tube as a helical portion of the tube;
- and
- removing the tool from the soil without uninstalling the helical portion of the tube from the soil.
A method of installing at least a portion of a first tube and a portion of a second tube of a tubular heat exchanger in soil, the method comprising:
- providing a tool of an installation apparatus;
- providing the first tube of the tubular heat exchanger;
- providing the second tube of the tubular heat exchanger;
- engaging at least the portion of the first tube with the tool and engaging the soil with the tool and thereby installing at least the portion of the first tube in the soil and positioning at least the portion of the first tube in the soil along a first helical path and thereby installing at least the portion of the first tube as a helical portion of the first tube;
- further engaging at least the portion of the second tube with the tool when engaging the soil with the tool and thereby installing at least the portion of the second tube in the soil along a second helical path and thereby installing at least the portion of the second tube as a helical portion of the second tube;
- and
- removing the tool from the soil without uninstalling the helical portion of the first tube from the soil;
- wherein removing the tool from the soil does not uninstall the helical portion of the second tube.
An installation apparatus for installing at least a portion of a tube of a tubular heat exchanger in soil along a helical path and for leaving at least an installed portion of the tube in the soil when a tool of the installation apparatus is removed from the soil, the installation apparatus comprising:
- the tool configured to engage at least the portion of the tube and helically engage the soil and thereby position at least the portion of the tube in the soil along the helical path when installing at least the portion of the tube in the soil as a helical portion of the tube;
- wherein the tool is further configured to be removed from the soil without uninstalling at least the helical portion of the tube from the soil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.