Heat distributing tanks for retarding surface freezing

Claim 2

Apparatus for preventing ice from forming on a surface of a body of water, comprising: a heat conducting tank to float in said water with a top portion adjacent said surface, and a fluid only partially filling said tank, said fluid having a boiling temperature less than zero degrees centigrade to produce a vapor of said fluid within said tank when said tank is in said water to carry heat from a warmer lower portion of said tank to a cooler upper portion of said tank, to prevent ice from forming adjacent said upper portion, said tank having sides extending smoothly and continuously essentially vertically downward to the warmer lower portion of said water, whereby said tank remains movable if ice forms in said water.

Claim 3

The apparatus from claim 1 wherein said fluid is a fluorocarbon refrigerant.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluid is selected from the group consisting of freon 22, freon 12 and freon 11.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tank is of dimensions approximately 1 foot in length and 1 foot in diameter.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means carried by said tank for ballasting said tank to maintain its position adjacent said surface.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a weight to rest on a bottom surface of said body of water and means for interconnecting said weight and said tank to maintain its location in said body of water.

Claim 8

A fountain for providing stock access to water under water freezing conditions, comprising: a tank having dimensions of approximately one foot in diameter and one foot in length, and of heat conducting material for placement in the water, means carried by said tank for ballasting said tank with an end of said tank adjacent the surface of the water, a volatile fluid within said tank in a quantity of about one tenth of the volume of said tank, said volatile fluid having boiling and critical temperatures below the freezing temperature of the water, whereby said volatile fluid is vaporized by the heat of the warmer water adjacent the tank away from the surface and is condensed by giving up its heat to the cooler water adjacent the tank adjacent the surface to retard its freezing, thermal insulating collar means surrounding said tank, said collar means being of length less than the length of said tank, and of diameter larger than said tank to enable said tank to freely float therewithin, to contain the heat given up by the condensing volatile fluid to within said collar, and, means for ballasting said collar means to float with a portion thereof above the surface of the water, whereby the tank can be displaced by the stock for access to the water within said collar.

Claim 9

A fountain for providing stock access to water under water freezing conditions, comprising: a tank having dimensions of approximately one foot in diameter and one foot in length, and of heat conducting material for placement in the water, means carried by said tank for ballasting said tank with an end of said tank adjacent the surface of the water, a volatile fluid within said tank in a quantity of about one tenth of the volume of said tank, said volatile fluid having boiling and critical temperatures below the freezing temperature of the water, whereby said volatile fluid is vaporized by the heat of the warmer water adjacent the tank away from the surface and is condensed by giving up its heat to the cooler water adjacent the tank adjacent the surface to retard its freezing, thermal insulating collar means surrounding said tank, said collar means being of length less than the length of said tank, and of diameter larger than said tank to enable said tank to freely float therewithin, to contain the heat given up by the condensing volatile fluid to within said collar, and, means for ballasting said collar means to float with a portion thereof above the surface of the water, whereby the tank can be displaced by the stock for access to the water within said collar.

Claim 10

The fountain of claim 7 further comprising a weight and means interconnecting said weight and said tank to maintain the position of said tank.

Claim 11

The fountain of claim 7 wherein said collar comprises a cylinder of insulation material.

Claim 12

The fountain of claim 7 wherein said ballast means for said collar comprises a layer of metal material encasing said insulation material on at least two sides thereof.

Claim 13

The fountain of claim 7 wherein said volatile fluid is selected from the group consisting of freon 22, freon 11, and freon 12.

Claim 14

The fountain of claim 7 wherein said collar comprises a planar sheet of insulation floated on the surface of said water having a hole therethrough within which said tank is located.

Claim 15

Apparatus for controlling a submerged fill valve having a control handle, within a water tank, in all weather conditions, including freezing temperatures, comprising: a heat distributing tank of heat conducting material to float in said water tank, said tank having smooth and continuous essentially vertical sides extending from a top water surface to a warmer lower region of the water, a volatile fluid in said distributing tank having a boiling temperature less than zero degrees centigrade to produce a vapor in said distributing tank when said distributing tank is in said water tank, to carry heat from the warmer lower portion of said distributing tank to an upper portion of said distributing tank, to prevent ice from forming adjacent said upper portion in freezing temperature conditions, whereby said tank is movable and buoyant in said water in all weather conditions, and means interconnecting the control handle of said fill valve and said distributing tank, whereby the upward buoyant force of said distributing tank acts on said control handle to turn off said fill valve when said water tank is full.

Claim 16

Apparatus for controlling a submerged fill valve having a control handle, within a water tank, in all weather conditions, including freezing temperatures, comprising: a heat distributing tank of heat conducting material to float in said water tank, said tank having smooth and continuous essentially vertical sides extending from a top water surface to a warmer lower region of the water, a volatile fluid in said distributing tank having a boiling temperature less than zero degrees centigrade to produce a vapor in said distributing tank when said distributing tank is in said water tank, to carry heat from the warmer lower portion of said distributing tank to an upper portion of said distributing tank, to prevent ice from forming adjacent said upper portion in freezing temperature conditions, whereby said tank is movable and buoyant in said water in all weather conditions, and means interconnecting the control handle of said fill valve and said distributing tank, whereby the upward buoyant force of said distributing tank acts on said control handle to turn off said fill valve when said water tank is full.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising an insulating collar surrounding said distributing tank within which said distributing tank is free to move for reducing heat losses adjacent said distributing tank.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said insulating collar is of cylindrical shape coaxially surrounding at least the upper portion of said distributing tank.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said collar is a planar sheet of insulation material floated on the surface of the water in said water tank and having a hole therethrough within which said distributing tank floats.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said volatile fluid is selected from the group consisting of freon 22, freon 12, and freon 11.