Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to a method and means for installing geothermal heat loops in the ground and more particularly to a method and means for installing geothermal heat loops in the ground wherein the heat loops extend downwardly and outwardly from a single pit. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    In geothermal heat loop installations, the heat loops are usually positioned in the ground in a vertical manner or a horizontal manner. In horizontal installations, a pit is dug in the ground. A plurality of spaced-apart bore holes are drilled which extend horizontally from the pit. A heat loop is then usually manually pushed through each of the bore holes with the “bend” or loop portion of the heat loop being at the distal end of the heat loop. The open ends of the heat loops are then connected to a manifold or the like which is usually positioned in the pit. In such an operation, it is difficult to manually push the heat loop through the bore hole due to the effort required to force the heat loops through the bore hole. Further, the length of the horizontal heat loop is restricted by the size of the lot in which the heat loops are being installed. In some cases, a pair of spaced-apart pits is used with the heat loops extending between the pits. The use of a pair of pits causes greater soil and vegetation disruption. Additionally, the horizontally extending bore holes may damage the root systems of trees or shrubs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0006]    A method and means for installing geothermal heat loops in the ground is described. In the method of this invention, the heat loops are installed in the ground as follows:
       (a) digging a pit in the ground;   (b) providing a bore hole drilling device including a plurality of drill pipes which may be selectively removably secured together in an end-to-end relationship to form a drill pipe string with a drill bit selectively removably secured to the distal end of the string;   (c) drilling a first elongated bore hole which extends from the pit downwardly and outwardly therefrom at an angle with respect to horizontal to a predetermined location;   (d) removing the drill pipe string and drill bit from the first bore hole;   (e) providing an elongated enlarged head member assembly having a hook-like member secured to one side thereof;   (f) attaching the head member assembly to the distal end of the drill pipe string;   (g) providing a geothermal heat loop including a pair of flexible pipes having proximal and distal ends;   (h) providing a dual coil fitting;   (i) connecting the dual coil fitting to the distal ends of the pair of flexible pipes to fluidly connect the same and to create a heat loop;   (j) connecting the dual coil fitting to the hook-like member on the head member assembly;   (k) moving the drill pipe string and the head member assembly through the first bore hole to a predetermined location which causes the dual coil fitting and the pair of flexible pipes attached thereto to be pulled through the first bore hole to the predetermined location;   (l) moving the drill pipe string and the head member assembly towards the pit which causes the dual coil fitting and the pair of flexible pipes attached thereto to disconnect from the hook-like member on the head member assembly leaving the dual coil fitting and the pair of pipes at the predetermined location;   (m) removing the drill pipe string from the first bore hole;   (n) drilling additional spaced-apart bore holes which extend downwardly and outwardly from the pit with a heat loop being installed in each of the bore holes as described above.       
 
         [0021]    The means for installing the heat loop in the ground includes a head member assembly having an enlarged head portion and shaft, a hook-like member on the shaft of the head member assembly, a dual coil fitting secured to the distal end of a pair of heat loop pipes, and a means for attaching the dual coil fitting to the hook-like member on the shaft of the head member assembly. 
         [0022]    It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved method and means for installing geothermal heat loops in the ground. 
         [0023]    A further object of the invention is to provide a method and means for installing geothermal heat loops in he ground whereby the heat loops extend downwardly and outwardly from a single pit dug in the ground. 
         [0024]    These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a conventional bore hole drilling machine drilling a bore hole downwardly and outwardly from a pit dug in the ground; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a first way of securing an attachment means to a dual coil fitting; 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the structure of  FIG. 2  attached to a pair of heat loop pipes; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a second way of securing an attachment means to a dual coil fitting; 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating the structure of  FIG. 4  connected to a pair of heat loop pipes; 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating the embodiment of  FIG. 5  being attached to a hook on the shaft of the head member assembly; 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the structure of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  is a partial perspective view illustrating the manner in which the attachment means for the dual coil fitting and heat loop pipes is attached to the shaft of the head member assembly; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 9  is a view illustrating the manner in which the withdrawal of the drill pipe string causes the head member assembly to disconnect from the attachment means. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0035]    Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
         [0036]    In  FIG. 1 , the numeral  10  refers to a conventional bore hole drilling machine such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,413,031 B2. The machine  10  utilizes a plurality of drill pipes  12  which are successively connected together in an end-to-end manner to create a drill pipe string  14  having a drill bit  16  at the distal end thereof. The numeral  18  refers to a pit which is dug in the ground  20 . Preferably, the pit  18  is approximately four to five feet deep and has a transverse length of approximately eight feet and a width of four feet. The drilling machine  10  is operated to drill a bore hole  22  which extends downwardly and outwardly from a first location  24 , through pit  18  to a predetermined location remote from the pit  18 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 2  illustrates a first attachment means  26  which is connected to a dual coil fitting or elbow  28  having tubular portions  30  and  31  which are fluidly connected together. Tubular portions  30  and  31  of dual coil fitting  28  are fluidly connected to heat loop pipes  32  and  33  respectively to form a heat loop  34 . A preferred dual coil fitting is the dual coil fitting illustrated in U.S. Design Patent No. D488,486 which has a centrally positioned upstanding rib  35  at its upper side. Dual coil fitting  28  has an identical downwardly extending rib at its underside. Attachment means  26  includes an upper plate member  36  having a trailing or rearward end  38  and an arcuate leading or forward end  40 . A slot  42  extends rearwardly into plate member  36  from the forward end  40  thereof. The numeral  43  refers to a flexible link-type chain having one end thereof welded or otherwise secured to the upper surface of plate member  36  at  44 . A ring  46  is attached to chain  43  as seen in  FIG. 2 . Plate  36  has a bolt opening  47  formed therein adjacent the rearward end  38  as seen in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0038]    The numeral  48  refers to a lower plate member having a trailing or rearward end  50  and an arcuate leading or forward end  52 . A slot  54  extends rearwardly into plate member  48  from the forward end  52  thereof. The other end of chain  43  is welded or otherwise secured to the lower side of plate member  48  in the same manner as the chain  43  is secured to plate member  36 . Plate member  48  has a bolt opening  56  formed therein adjacent its rearward end  50  as seen in  FIG. 2 . The numeral  58  refers to a hollow sleeve which is adapted to be positioned between plate members  36  and  48 . Bolt  60  is extended downwardly through bolt opening  47 , through sleeve  58  and through bolt opening  56 . Nut  62  is adapted to be threadably mounted on the end of bolt  60 . 
         [0039]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate another form of an attachment means which is designated by the reference numeral  64  which is connected to a dual coil fitting  66  having tubular portions  68  and  70  which are fluidly connected together. One type of dual coil fitting is the dual coil fitting illustrated in U.S. Design Patent No. D498,771 which has spaced-apart upstanding ribs  72  and  74  at its upper side. Dual coil fitting  66  has identical downwardly extending ribs at its underside. Tubular portions  68  and  70  of dual coil fitting  66  are fluidly connected to heat loop pipes  76  and  78  respectively to form a heat loop  80 . 
         [0040]    Attachment means  64  includes an upper plate member  82  having a trailing or rearward end  84  and a forward end  86 . A finger-like member  88  extends forwardly from the forward end  86  of plate member  82  and has one end of the flexible link-type chain  90  secured thereto at  92  by welding or any other convenient means. The numeral  94  refers to a lower plate member having a trailing or rearward end  94  and a forward or leading end  96 . A finger-like member  98  extends forwardly from the forward end  96  of plate member  92 . The other end of chain  90  is secured to the underside of member  98  by welding or the like. Chain  98  has a ring  100  attached thereto as seen in  FIG. 4 . Plate member  82  has a bolt opening  102  formed therein while plate member  92  has a bolt opening  104  formed therein. The numeral  106  refers to a hollow sleeve which is positioned between plate members  82  and  92 . Bolt  108  extends downwardly through bolt opening  102 , through sleeve  106  and through bolt opening  104 . Nut  110  is threadably secured to the lower end of bolt  108 . 
         [0041]    The heat loops, whether they be heat loops  34  or  80 , are installed in the ground as will now be described. The drilling machine  10  is operated to drill a first bore hole  22  in the ground as previously described. The length of the drill string  14  is successively lengthened by connecting the lengths of drill pipes  12  together in conventional fashion. When the bore hole  22  has been drilled to the desired location, the drill string  14  is removed from the bore hole  22 . Assuming that attachment means  26  is going to be utilized, the plate member  36  is positioned on the top of dual coil fitting  28  so that the upstanding rib  35  is received in the slot  42 . Plate member  48  is then positioned at the underside of dual coil fitting  28  so that the downwardly projecting rib of dual coil  28  is received in the slot  54 . Bolt  60  is then extended downwardly through bolt opening  47 , sleeve  48  and bolt opening  56 . Nut  62  is then tightened onto bolt  60  so that the dual coil fitting  28  is firmly held in place between the upper plate member  36  and the lower plate member  48 . 
         [0042]    An elongated head member assembly  112  is then provided which includes an enlarged head portion  114  at its distal end and a shaft or pipe section  116  which extends rearwardly therefrom. The rearward end of shaft  116  is threadably secured to the distal end of the drill pipe string  14 . The assembly  112  includes a forwardly presented hook  118  which is attached to the shaft  116  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The ring  46  of chain  43  is then looped onto the hook  118 . The drill string  114  is then extended downwardly and outwardly through the bore hole  22  to the predetermined location with the distal end of the heat loop  34  being pulled through the bore hole  22  by the attachment means  26  as seen in  FIG. 8 . When the heat loop  34  has been positioned at the predetermined location in the bore hole  22 , the drill string  14  is then removed from the bore hole which causes the ring  46  to disconnect from the hook  118  as seen in  FIG. 9  leaving the heat loop  34  in the desired position in the bore hole. As the enlarged head portion  114  is moved rearwardly past the dual coil fitting  28 , the enlarged head portion  114  presses the dual coil fitting  28  and the distal end of the heat loop  34  into the side wall of the bore hole  22  to firmly position the heat loop  34  in the bore hole  22 . 
         [0043]    If the attachment means  64  is utilized, the plate members  82  and  92  are positioned on opposite sides of the dual coil fitting  66  so that the member  88  is received between the upstanding ribs  72  and  74  and so that the member  98  is received between the downwardly extending ribs at the underside of dual coil fitting  66 . Bolt  108  is then extended downwardly through bolt opening  102  in plate member  82 , through sleeve  106  and through bolt opening  104  in plate member  92 . Nut  110  is then threadably secured to bolt  108  to securely attach the attachment means  64  to the dual coil fitting  66  which has the pipes  76  and  78  secured thereto.  FIG. 6  illustrates the attachment means  64  being used to attach the dual coil fitting to the hook member  118  by way of the chain  90 . The attachment means  64  functions identically to attachment means  26  but is designed to accommodate a slightly differently configured or sized dual coil fitting. 
         [0044]    Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 
         [0045]    Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

Technology Category: 0