US4461157A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ground water heat pump system for low yield well
Assignee: Singer Co
•
Filing: 1982-02-03
•
Granted: 1984-07-24
•
Expires: 2002-02-03
Abstract
Abstract A heat pump system utilizing water for heat transfer purposes from a well having a continuous supply rate capability which is less than that required by the heat pump of the system is arranged to provide for the continuous return to the well of a portion of pump discharged water as required to stabilize the level of water in the well.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert P. Shapess
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:57
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24T; F24T10/00; F24T10/30; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A ground water heat pump system comprising a well, a heat pump requiring ground water from said well for heat transfer between said heat pump and said ground water at a rate greater than the ground water supply capability of said well, a supply line connecting said well with said heat pump, a water pump for delivering ground water from said well by way of said supply line to said heat pump, a discharge line into which ground water is discharged by said heat pump after heat transfer between said heat pump and said ground water, a feedback line interconnecting said discharge line and said well for returning some of the discharged ground water directly back to said well from which said ground water is delivered to mix with water flowing into said well from the ground to prevent depletion of the ground water supply capability of said well, and piping for otherwise disposing of the rest of the discharged ground water at a site other than said well.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
A ground water heat pump system comprising a well, a heat pump requiring ground water from said well for heat transfer between said heat pump and said ground water at a rate greater than the ground water supply capability of said well, a supply line connecting said well with said heat pump, a water pump for delivering ground water from said well by way of said supply line to said heat pump, a discharge line into which ground water is discharged by said heat pump after heat transfer between said heat pump and said ground water, a feedback line interconnecting said discharge line and said well for returning some of the discharged ground water directly back to said well from which said ground water is delivered to mix with water flowing into said well from the ground to prevent depletion of the ground water supply capability of said well, and piping for otherwise disposing of the rest of the discharged ground water at a site other than said well.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
A ground water heat pump system as defined in claim 1 including control means for causing ground water to be returned to said well through the feedback line at a rate substantially equal to the difference between said required rate for said heat pump and the ground water supply rate capability of said well, and causing ground water to flow through said piping at a rate substantially equal to the difference between said required rate and the return rate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A ground water heat pump system as defined in claim 2 wherein the control means includes an adjustable valve in the supply line, another adjustable valve in the feedback line and still another adjustable valve in said piping.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A ground water heat pump system as defined in claim 1 wherein said piping includes a line extending to a disposal site where ground water withdrawn from said well is permitted to escape from the sytem into a another well.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A ground water heat pump system as defined in claim 1 which includes a water storage tank, and wherein said piping includes a line extending to the storage tank and a line extending to a disposal site where ground water can escape from the system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A ground water heat pump system as defined in claim 5 including a pressure relief valve in the said line extending to a disposal site.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
127 words
A ground water heat pump system as defined in claim 5 including control means for causing ground water withdrawn from said well to be returned to said well through the feedback line at a rate substantially equal to the difference between the said required rate for said heat pump and the ground water supply rate capability of said well, and for causing ground water to flow at a rate substantially equal to the difference between said required rate and the return rate through the line extending to the storage tank when tank pressure is less than a predetermined amount but through the line extending to the disposal site where ground water can escape from the system when the tank pressure is greater than the said predetermined amount.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A ground water heat pump system as defined in claim 7 wherein the control means includes an adjustable valve in the supply line, another adjustable valve in the feedback line, and another adjustable valve along with a pressure relief valve in the said line through which ground water can escape from the system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2167878A
Cited
US2503456A
Cited
US2461449A
Cited
US2438720A
Cited
US2513373A
Cited
US2572356A
Cited
US3965972A
Cited
US4327555A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-07-24 | 1988-01-23 | 1988-07-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-07-24 | 1992-01-23 | 1992-07-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-07-24 | 1996-01-23 | 1996-07-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |