US4375831A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Geothermal storage heating and cooling system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1980-06-30
•
Granted: 1983-03-08
•
Expires: 2000-06-30
Abstract
Abstract An indoor space environment heating and cooling system in which a massive thermal storage unit is interposed between a geothermal heat energy storage capacity--the earth--and a heat pump heating and/or cooling apparatus for controlling and maintaining the environment in an indoor living space. A fluid circulation apparatus is provided to circulate a working fluid from the massive thermal storage unit directly to a heat exchanger in the indoor space environment conditioning apparatus, to provide cooling when the temperature of the thermal storage unit is less than the temperature in the living space.
Inventors
- 👤 James E. Downing, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 02:30
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B13/00; F24; F24D; F24D11/00; F24D11/02; F24D11/0214; F28; F28D; F28D20/00; F28D20/0052; F24D2200/00; F24D2200/11; F24D2200/12; F24D2200/123; F24D2220/00; F24D2220/08; F24F; F24F5/00; F24F5/0046; F24F2005/0057; F25B2313/00; F25B2313/002; F25B2313/027; F25B2313/02732; F25B30/00; F25B30/06; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B10/00; Y02B10/40; Y02B30/00; Y02B30/12; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/14; Y02E70/00; Y02E70/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A geothermal system for heating and cooling the environment of indoor living space, comprising: (a) a massive thermal storage means; (b) a geothermal storage capacity means connected to the massive thermal storage means in a heat transfer relationship by a first subsystem comprising a closed circuit for conducting a working fluid between the massive thermal storage means and the geothermal storage capacity means as induced by a first pumping means in the closed circuit, the geothermal storage capacity means being the earth; (c) heat pump means operably connected to a first heat exchanger in the environment of the living space and operably connected to a second heat exchanger in the massive thermal storage means in heat exchange contact with the working fluid; and (d) a second subsystem comprising a closed circuit for conducting the working fluid between the massive thermal storage means and a third heat exchanger in the environment of the living space connected in heat exchange contact with the working fluid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A geothermal system for heating and cooling the environment of indoor living space, comprising: (a) a massive thermal storage means; (b) a geothermal storage capacity means connected to the massive thermal storage means in a heat transfer relationship by a first subsystem comprising a closed circuit for conducting a working fluid between the massive thermal storage means and the geothermal storage capacity means as induced by a first pumping means in the closed circuit, the geothermal storage capacity means being the earth; (c) heat pump means operably connected to a first heat exchanger in the environment of the living space and operably connected to a second heat exchanger in the massive thermal storage means in heat exchange contact with the working fluid; and (d) a second subsystem comprising a closed circuit for conducting the working fluid between the massive thermal storage means and a third heat exchanger in the environment of the living space connected in heat exchange contact with the working fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A geothermal system according to claim 1 wherein the massive thermal storage means is a tank and the working fluid is a liquid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A geothermal system according to claim 1 wherein the massive thermal storage means is a tank containing water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A geothermal system according to claim 1 wherein the geothermal storage means is the earth and the closed circuit of the first subsystem passes through a well of subterranean water from the earth.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A geothermal system according to claim 1 wherein the thermal storage means has access to atmospheric pressure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A geothermal system according to claim 1 wherein the first heat exchanger and the third heat exchanger are placed in the air supply duct of a forced air space heating and cooling apparatus.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-03-07 | 1986-09-06 | 1987-03-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-03-07 | 1990-09-06 | 1991-03-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-03-07 | 1994-09-06 | 1995-03-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |