Apparatus and method for heating a ground surface or volume of air with a portable hot water-type heating system

A portable, closed loop hot water heating system comprising a boiler, an expansion tank, and a circulating pump, wherein the boiler, tank and pump are connected together and in fluid communication in series, a fluid supply conduit extending from the circulating pump, a fluid return conduit extending from the boiler, and a manifold system comprising:

• at least one supply quick disconnect valve connected to and in fluid communication with the supply conduit;
• at least one return quick disconnect valve connected to and in fluid communication with the return conduit;
• at least one flexible conduit having a first end and a second end with each end having a quick disconnect valve, the conduit containing a fluid retained therein under pressure between the quick disconnect valves, wherein the quick disconnect valve at the first end of the hose is removably connectable to the quick disconnect supply valve and the quick disconnect valve at the second end of the hose is removably connectable to the quick disconnect return valve,
• wherein upon connection of the conduit to the quick disconnect supply and return valves of the manifold system, a continuously circulating loop of fluid is established between the hot water heating system and the conduit, and
• wherein upon disconnection of the conduit to the quick disconnect supply and return valves of the manifold system, fluid is retained under pressure within the conduit between the quick disconnect valves at the ends of the conduit.

A portable, closed loop hot water heating system comprising a boiler, an expansion tank, and a circulating pump, wherein the boiler, tank and pump are connected together and in fluid communication in series, and a supply conduit extending from the circulating pump and a return conduit extending from the boiler, a manifold system comprising:

• a first conduit connecting the supply conduit and the return conduit permitting fluid communication therebetween for permitting circulation of a fluid under pressure throughout the heating system;
• a quick disconnect supply valve connected to and in fluid communication with the supply conduit;
• a quick disconnect return valve connected to and in fluid communication with the return conduit;
• a second flexible conduit removably connectable to the hot water heating system, the second conduit having two ends with each end having a quick disconnect valve wherein, prior to connection to the supply and return valves of the manifold system, the second conduit contains a fluid under pressure therein between the quick disconnect valves, with one quick disconnect valve of the second conduit being removably connectable to the quick disconnect supply valve and the other quick disconnect valve of the second conduit being removably connectable to the quick disconnect return valve,
• wherein upon connection of the second flexible conduit to the quick disconnect supply and return valves, a continuous circulation of fluid under pressure is established between the hot water heating system and the second flexible conduit.

A remote manifold system locatable remotely from a hot fluid heating system, the heating system defining a continuously circulating loop of fluid under pressure, the remote manifold system comprising:

• a manifold having a fluid supply hose removably connectable to the hot water heating system and a fluid return hose removably connectable to the hot water heating system to permit continuous circulation of fluid under pressure between the manifold and the hot water heating system, the fluid supply hose and fluid return hose having a length to permit the manifold to be located a substantial distance away from the hot water heating system, the manifold further having a first quick disconnect supply valve and a second quick disconnect return valve, both supply and return valves being in communication with the continuous loop of fluid circulating through the manifold;
• a flexible hose having a third and fourth quick disconnect valve at each end of the hose, the hose containing a fluid under pressure between the quick disconnect valves, wherein the third and fourth quick disconnect valves of the hose are removably connectable to the first quick disconnect supply valve and the quick disconnect return valve of the manifold to establish circulation of fluid from the manifold, through the hose, and back into the manifold, and
• wherein upon selective disconnection of the third and fourth quick disconnect valves of the hose from the first quick disconnect supply valve and second quick disconnect return valves of the manifold, fluid is retained under pressure within the hose between the third and fourth quick disconnect valves of the hose.

A portable, closed loop hot water-type heating system for providing temporary heat to a building, the system comprising a boiler, an expansion tank, and a circulating pump, wherein the boiler, tank and pump are connected together and in fluid communication in series, a supply conduit in fluid communication with and extending from the circulating pump, a return conduit in fluid communication with and extending from the boiler, a fluid maintained within the heating system under pressure and circulating throughout the heating system and a manifold system, the manifold system comprising:

• a quick disconnect supply valve in fluid communication with the supply conduit;
• a quick disconnect return valve in fluid communication with the return conduit,
• a unit heater capable of radiating heat and having a quick disconnect supply port and a quick disconnect return port;
• a first flexible hose and a second flexible hose with each hose having two ends with each end having a quick disconnect valve, each hose containing a fluid therein under pressure between the quick disconnect valves, wherein the quick disconnect valve at one end of the first hose is removably connectable to the quick disconnect supply valve of the manifold and the other quick disconnect valve at the other end of the first hose is removably connectable to the quick disconnect supply port of the unit heater, and the quick disconnect valve at one end of the second hose is removably connectable to the quick disconnect return valve of the manifold and the quick disconnect valve at the other end of the second hose is removably connectable to the quick disconnect return port of the unit heater,
• wherein upon prior to connection of and upon selective disconnection of, the unit heater and the manifold, fluid is retained under pressure within each of the first and second hoses between the quick disconnect valves of each respective hose.

A method of thawing frozen ground comprising:

• locating a closed loop portable hot water heating system adjacent an area of frozen ground to be thawed, the hot water heating system defining a continuous loop of hot fluid circulating under pressure and having a quick disconnect supply valve and a quick disconnect return valve;
• connecting a flexible hose to the hot water heating system, with each end of the hose having a quick disconnect valve, wherein prior to connection to the hot water heating system, the hose contains a fluid under pressure between the quick disconnect valves, with the quick disconnect valve at one end of the hose being removably connectable to quick disconnect supply valve of the heating system and the quick disconnect valve at the other end of the hose being removably connectable to the quick disconnect return valve of the heating system, wherein upon connection of the hose to the hot water heating system, hot fluid circulates between the hot water heating system and the hose,
• wherein upon selective disconnection of the quick disconnect valves of the hose from the respective quick disconnect supply and return valves of the hot water heating system, the hose retains fluid under pressure between the quick disconnect valves of the hose;
• arranging the hose on the ground area to be heated so that hot fluid circulates through the hose to radiantly heat the ground area;
• and
• maintaining the hose over the ground area for a select amount of time to the thaw ground area.

A portable closed hot liquid heating system for thawing frozen ground comprising:

• a heater for heating liquid having an inlet and an outlet;
• an expansion tank connected to and in fluid communication with the outlet of the heater;
• a circulating pump connected to and in fluid communication with the expansion tank;
• a supply conduit connected to and in fluid communication with the circulating pump;
• a return conduit connected to and in fluid communication with the inlet of the heater;
• a manifold connected to and in fluid communication between the supply conduit and the return conduit, the manifold including:
• at least one pair of quick disconnect valves including a quick disconnect supply valve connected to the supply conduit and a quick disconnect return valve connected to the return conduit.