Means for maintaining perma-frost foundations

• US 3,217,791 A
• Filed: 07/30/1964
• Issued: 11/16/1965
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1964
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Erwin L. Long
• Original Assignee: Erwin L. Long
• Inventors: Long, Erwin L.
• Application Number:
  US04/386,341
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• US Class Current: 165/45
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 27/35 Foundations formed in frozen ground, e.g. in permafrost soil
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 3/115 by freezing
• CPC Class Codes: F24T 10/30 using underground reservoirs for accumulating working fluids or intermediate fluids
• CPC Class Codes: F24T 10/40 operated without external energy sources, e.g. using thermosiphonic circulation or heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 23/003 using selective radiation effect
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0233 the conduits having a particular shape, e.g. non-circular cross-section, annular F28D15/0241, F28D15/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/10 Geothermal energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 166/901 Wells in frozen terrain

Claims

4. A PERMAFROST FOUNDATION SYSTEM INCLUDING A DEVICE FOR MAINTAINING A PERMAFROST LAYER OF EARTH PROPERLY FROZEN WHEREIN THE PREMAFROST LAYER INCLUDES A SURFACE LAYER HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE EXPOSED TO THE ATMOSPHERE, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED, GENERALLY VERTICALLY EXTENDING BODY, SAID BODY INCLUDING A SEALED CHAMBER EXTENDING FROM A LOWER END PORTION TO AN UPPER END PORTION THEREOF AND SAID UPPER PORTION EXTENDING INTO THE ATMOSPHERE ABOVE SAID UPPER SURFACE, A CENTRAL PORTION EXTENDING INTO SAID PERMAFROST AREA BELOW SAID PORTION EXTENDING INTO SAID PERMAFROST AREA BELOW SAID SURFACE LAYER, THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID CHAMBER BEING FILLED WITH A LIQUID WHOSE VAPORS WILL CONDENSE BELOW THE THAWING TEMPERATURE OF SAID PERMAFROST LAYER, THE REMAINDER OF SAID CHAMBER BEING FILLED WITH THE VAPORS OF SAID LIQUID, HEAT DISSIPATING MEANS ON SAID UPPER PORTION CAPABLE OF DISSIPATING HEAT FROM SAID VAPORS TO ATMOSPHERE WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID PERMAFROST LAYER BELOW THE THAWING TEMPERATURE OF SAID PERMAFROST LAYER WHEREBY SAID VAPORS WILL CONDENSE AND FLOW INTO SAID LOWER PORTION AND AGAIN ABSORB HEAT FROM SAID PERMAFROST LAYER AND CAUSE SAID LIQUID TO VAPORIZE AND A LAYER OF GRAVEL COMPLETELY SURROUNDING SAID LOWER PORTION AND SPACING SAID LOWER PORTION FROM SAID PERMAFROST LAYER.