Probe body for installation in a borehole as a geo-thermal probe

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing geothermal probe bodies face challenges in ease of transportation, storage, and installation in boreholes due to their complex configuration and weight, which complicates their handling and deployment.

Innovation Solution

The geothermal probe body is designed with four heat transfer fluid hoses divided into two separate hose rolls, each formed by two hoses wound together and mechanically connected via a probe base part, allowing for easier assembly and installation by unwinding the hoses from the rolls and connecting the probe base parts on-site, with optional additional weights for improved insertion in vertical or diagonal boreholes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If all four heat transfer fluid hoses are wound up together into a single hose roll, then storage and transportation become more compact, but handling and installation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage compactnessVSAvoidinstallation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the four heat transfer fluid hoses into two separate hose rolls, with each roll containing two hoses. This segmentation reduces the volume and weight of each individual roll, making them easier to handle and install while still achieving compact storage when bundled together.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the probe body is delivered as individual hoses to the construction site, then installation flexibility is maintained, but transportation and storage efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation flexibilityVSAvoidtransportation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The hoses are pre-assembled into pairs and wound into hose rolls at the factory before delivery to the construction site. This preliminary action maintains installation flexibility while significantly improving transportation and storage efficiency by reducing the overall volume and organizing the hoses in manageable units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the probe body is delivered as a fully assembled unit, then installation simplicity is maximized, but transportation and storage become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidhandling weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The probe body is segmented into two separate hose rolls, each containing two heat transfer fluid hoses that are mechanically connected via probe base parts. This segmentation reduces the weight and size of each transport unit while allowing for simple on-site assembly by connecting the two probe base parts together.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of manufacture

If four heat transfer fluid hoses are mechanically connected at the lowest point using a coupling piece, then assembly is simplified, but the structure becomes more complex and harder to handle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of connecting all four hoses at a single coupling piece at the lowest point, the patent divides the hoses into two pairs, each pair being mechanically connected at its own probe base part. This segmentation reduces structural complexity and improves handling by creating two separate, manageable units that can be easily transported and installed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3032188B1Probe body for installation in a borehole as a geo-thermal probe
Publication Date: 2020.08.12 JANSEN AG
  • EP3032188B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3032188B1 patent drawingFigure 3~7
  • EP3032188B1 patent drawingFigure 8~10

AI summary

Probe body (1) intended for installation in a borehole (2) as a geothermal probe, the probe body (1) having four heat transfer fluid hoses (3, 4) through which heat transfer fluid can flow and two of the heat transfer fluid hoses (3, 4) each having a probe foot part (5, 6) are mechanically connected to one another, with the heat transfer fluid hoses (3, 4) of the probe body (1) being divided into two separate hose reels (7, 8), each of the hose reels (7, 8) being connected by two heat transfer fluid hoses (3, 4 ) is formed and the two heat transfer fluid hoses (3, 4) of the respective hose reel (7, 8) are mechanically connected to each other via one of the probe foot parts (5, 6). (Fig.2)