Thermal transfer method and apparatus

Abstract

Facilities and methods for providing an ice and frost free facility at or above ground level for a variety of purposes including, but not limited to, animal drinking water and surfaces at or above ground level include fluid reservoirs and conduits partially above and partially below a ground frost line with a water conduit passing through the reservoirs and conduits and with means to direct flow of fluid within the reservoirs and conduits utilizing the difference in temperatures of the earth above and below the frost line. An induced Bernoulli effect aids in the proper flow of the fluid.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS[0001] This application is related to, and is a continuation in part of my presently pending application Ser. No. 09 / 749,224, filed Dec. 26, 2000, now ______.[0002] I. Field of the Invention[0003] This invention is in the general field of systems for preventing freezing of water in open basins or other substances or locations during periods of below freezing temperatures;[0004] The invention is more particularly in the field of such systems wherein the temperature of the water or other substances in such basins or other areas or the like is maintained by use of soil temperature at a level below the frost line (the level above which soil is frozen and below which the soil is not frozen[0005] The invention is most particularly in the fields of new, novel, unique, and useful methods for causing automatic and continuous circulation of a fluid in a basin in the soil which extends through zones both above and below the frost line, and in a met...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

This theory is proper, but it fails to take into account the fact the new water is at a temperature in equilibrium with the water in the tank below the frost line.

While this approach may be effective in preventing freezing, the cost of installation, operation, and maintenance of such systems is a tremendous drawback, and will make it impractical for many purposes.

For example, in remote areas such as national forest areas, where water supplies are desired for wild animals it may not be possible to have the electrical, or other, power required to operate such systems.

However, under very severe conditions there can occasionally be some freezing of the surface water.

Providing drinking water for animals is an extremely difficult and costly problem for farmers, wild life conservators, and others in cold climates.

Yet, available water freezes and cannot be accessed by the average range animal, wild animals, and others.

Unfortunately, the various attempts which have been made before my present invention have been deficient, or less than practical, or not economical as previously recited under the description of the prior art.

One of the problems which has been difficult to solve is the relative stagnation of water around the periphery in a large container such as a tank large enough to allow drinking by large animals.

Another area of serious concern is slip and fall accidents on icy surfaces and other conditions where an ice, or frost, free surface condition is desired without the use of electrical power or the like.

Utilizing the difference in ground temperature below the frost line, a tank with a substantial portion below the frost line has a tendency to have circulation due to the tendency of very cold water near the top to become heavier than the rest of the water, and thus to sink, creating somewhat constant rising and falling currents.

These naturally occurring currents, however, fail to produce enough mixing and agitation to prevent the initial formation of ice on the surface, particularly around the upper edges of a large container.

However, such attempts have generally been less than fully effective for a variety of reasons.

Among others, the problems in causing effective swirling usually require some sort of power.

The power is generally not available, or available only at a very high cost, in the areas in which animal drinking water is required.

These attempts are very limited in that water is not constantly entering animal drinking containers.

Also, the float valves commonly used for controlling the intake of water can easily become fouled or impaired due to the cold and other factors.

Once again, such an approach generally fails due to the lack of appropriate power and due to the excessive cost.

However, I have found that under the very most severe winter weather even my methods and apparatuses may not prevent some freezing, particularly about the perimeters of devices employing my previous inventions.

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