# US 12,007,060 B2 · Method for filling a trench comprising a pair of conduits and such a filled trench

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- Number: US 12,007,060 B2
- Document ID: US12007060B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/309,553
- Filed: 2019-12-03
- Published: 2022-01-20
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2018-12-06
- Assignees: E.On Sverige AB
- Applicants: E.On Sverige AB
- Inventors: Per Rosén; Jacob Skogström; Bengt Lindoff; Fredrik Rosenqvist
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007060B2

## CPC

- F16L 59/14: Arrangements for the insulation of pipes or pipe systems (F16L59/02 - F16L59/12 take precedence)
- F16L 59/15: for underground pipes
- F16L 1/028: in the ground (F16L1/026 takes precedence)
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A filled trench is disclosed. The filled trench comprises: a pair of conduits (3a, 3b) for delivering fluid with a different temperature in each of the conduits, the pair of conduits being surrounded by filling material; a first section (5a) filled with a filling material of a first type (4a), wherein the first filled section (5a) of the filled trench occupies a space surrounding a first conduit (3a) of the pair of conduits; and a second section (5b) filled with a filling material of a second type (4b), wherein the second filled section (5b) of the filled trench occupies a space surrounding a second conduit (3b) of the pair of conduits. The filling material of the first type (4a) has a first thermal conduction coefficient and the filling material of the second type (4b) has a second thermal conduction coefficient, the second thermal conduction coefficient being different from the first thermal conduction coefficient.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A filled trench comprising:
a pair of conduits for delivering fluid with a different temperature in each of the conduits, the pair of conduits being surrounded by filling material;
a first section filled with a filling material of a first type, wherein the first filled section of the filled trench occupies a space surrounding a first conduit of the pair of conduits; and
a second section filled with a filling material of a second type, wherein the second filled section of the filled trench occupies a space surrounding a second conduit of the pair of conduits;
wherein the filling material of the first type has a first thermal conduction coefficient and the filling material of the second type has a second thermal conduction coefficient, the second thermal conduction coefficient being different from the first thermal conduction coefficient.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The filled trench according to claim 1, wherein the first section and the second section are vertically separated from each other, as seen in a vertical cross sectional side view of the filled trench.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The filled trench according to claim 1, wherein the first section and the second section are horizontally separated from each other, as seen in a vertical cross sectional side view of the filled trench.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The filled trench according to claim 1, wherein the first section and the second section are diagonally separated from each other, as seen in a vertical cross sectional side view of the filled trench.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The filled trench according to claim 1, wherein the conduits of the pair of conduits are parallel arranged, as seen in a horizontal cross sectional top view of the filled trench.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The filled trench according to claim 1, further comprising a third section arranged as a cover of the filled trench.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The filled trench according to claim 1, wherein the pair of conduits are formed by plastic tubing.

### Claim 8

A method for filling a trench comprising a pair of conduits for delivering fluid with a different temperature in each conduit, the method comprising:
filling the trench with filling material such that the pair of conduits are surrounded by the filling material;
characterized in that the act of filling comprises:
filling the trench with filling material of a first type such that a first filled section of the trench is formed, wherein the first filled section of the trench is occupying a space surrounding a first conduit of the pair of conduits; and
filling the trench with filling material of a second type such that a second filled section of the trench is formed, wherein the second filled section of the trench is occupying a space surrounding a second conduit of the pair of conduits;
wherein the filling material of the first type has a first thermal conduction coefficient and the filling material of the second type has a second thermal conduction coefficient, the second thermal conduction coefficient being different from the first thermal conduction coefficient.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method according to claim 8, further comprising forming the trench by removing material from ground.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method according to claim 8, further comprising arranging the conduits of the pair of conduits parallel to each other in the trench, as seen in a horizontal cross sectional top view of the filled trench.