US 12,241,659 B2
Twisted conduit for geothermal heat exchange
Robert Jensen, Montvale, NJ (US)
Filed by Robert Jensen, Montvale, NJ (US)
Filed on Sep. 5, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/902,997.
Application 17/902,997 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/818,919, filed on Mar. 13, 2020, granted, now 11,435,115.
Prior Publication US 2023/0003421 A1, Jan. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. F24T 10/15 (2018.01); F24T 10/00 (2018.01)
CPC F24T 10/15 (2018.05) [F24T 2010/53 (2018.05)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A geothermal heat exchange apparatus for installation in a borehole, the geothermal heat exchange apparatus comprises:
a central conduit, the central conduit has a first end portion, a center portion, and a second end portion, the first end portion includes a first terminal end, the second end portion includes a second terminal end, the central conduit defines an aperture and the aperture extends through the first terminal end of the first end portion through the center portion to the second terminal end of the second end portion, the central conduit is flexible;
a plurality of pipes, each pipe of the plurality of pipes has a first end portion, a center portion and a second end portion, the first end portion includes a first end portion and a first terminal end, the center portion of the plurality of pipes is in a helical arrangement around the central conduit, the second end portion includes a second end portion and a second terminal end, each pipe of the plurality of pipes defines an aperture that extends between a first terminal end and a second terminal end of each pipe, the plurality of pipes is flexible, the plurality of pipes is in direct contact with the central conduit, the plurality of pipes is bound to the central conduit, the plurality of pipes includes at least two pipes that are supply pipes and at least two pipes that are return pipes, the plurality of pipes is not in fluid communication with the central conduit;
at least two fittings, each fitting is a manifold connector, each fitting has a first end portion, and the first end portion includes a first aperture, the at least two fittings have a second end portion and the second end portion includes at least two second apertures, the at least two second apertures connect to at least two pipes of the plurality of pipes;
at least one joint, the at least one joint is a single manifold joint with a through hole, the joint includes a first end portion and an opposed second end portion, the first end portion provides fluid communication from at least two supply pipes of the plurality of pipes to at least two return pipes of the plurality of pipes;
and
a weight, the weight has an elongate shape, the weight positioned in the aperture of the central conduit and the through hole of the joint and the weight connected to the central conduit and the joint, the weight including at least one aperture, the at least one aperture is adapted to accommodate the flow of grout through the weight and through aperture in the second terminal end of the central conduit, the aperture in the weight is in fluid communication with the aperture of the central conduit.