Pile with integral geothermal conduit loop retaining means

A pile adapted to be driven into the ground, said pile having retaining means to retain one or more geothermal conduit loops, each conduit loop being formed by opposed longitudinal conduit sections interconnected at a lower end by an interconnecting section, said conduit loops being adapted for the flow of a heat exchange fluid therein, said retaining means retaining said one or more conduit loops in close proximity with said pile as said pile is driven into the ground, a casted pile constructed of a solid material, said retaining means being comprised by at least two straight spaced-apart channels formed in an outer surface of said solid material and configured to receive therein a respective one of said opposed longitudinal conduit sections of one of said conduit loops, said channels being of U-shaped cross-section and dimensioned to receive therein said conduit whereby said conduit is recessed from said outer surface of said solid mass material.

A pile adapted to be driven into the ground, said pile having retaining means to retain one or more geothermal conduit loops, each conduit loop being formed by opposed longitudinal conduit sections interconnected at a lower end by an interconnecting section, said conduit loops being adapted for the flow of a heat exchange fluid therein, said retaining means retaining said one or more conduit loops in close proximity with said pile as said pile is driven into the ground, said pile being a casted pile constructed of a solid material, said retaining means being comprised by at least two straight spaced-apart channels formed in an outer surface of said solid material and configured to receive therein a respective one of said opposed longitudinal conduit sections of one of said conduit loops, said pile is formed from two or more pile sections interconnected together by pile end connectors, one of said pile sections also comprises an interconnecting passage to receive said interconnecting section of said conduit loop.

The pile adapted to be driven into the ground as claimed in 44 wherein said retaining means is constituted by guide channel elements secured to said outer surface and configured to receive therein a straight leg section of said opposed conduit sections, said interconnecting section being retained in a ground penetrating head member secured to a lower end of said pile.

A pile adapted to be driven into the ground, said pile having retaining means to retain one or more geothermal conduit loops, each conduit loop being formed by opposed longitudinal conduit sections interconnected at a lower end by an interconnecting section, said conduit loops being adapted for the flow of a heat exchange fluid therein, said retaining means retaining said one or more conduit loops in close proximity with said pile as said pile is driven into the ground, said pile being a casted pile constructed of a solid material, said retaining means being comprised by at least two straight spaced-apart channels formed in an outer surface of said solid material and configured to receive therein a respective one of said opposed longitudinal conduit sections of one of said conduit loops, said channels being of curved concave transverse cross-section to receive therein one of said conduit sections in close contact therewith, said conduit sections having a circular cross-section, said channels having a metal liner secured to an outer surface thereof for contact with said conduit, said metal liner providing a thermally conductive surface for heat exchange with said conduit, and wherein a thermally insulating liner is interposed between said metal liner and said outer surface of said channel.

A pile adapted to be driven into the ground, said pile having retaining means to retain one or more geothermal conduit loops, each conduit loop being formed by opposed longitudinal conduit sections interconnected at a lower end by an interconnecting section, said conduit loops being adapted for the flow of a heat exchange fluid therein, said retaining means retaining said one or more conduit loops in close proximity with said pile as said pile is driven into the ground, said pile being a hollow steel pile, said retaining means being secured to an outer surface of said hollow steel pile said retaining means being constituted by one or more hook members secured to a sidewall of said pile for retention contact of said interconnecting section of said conduit loop to draw said conduit loop into the ground.