DRILL RIG AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE AND USE OF SAME

摘要

The present invention provides an improved drill rig for drilling vertical loop field for geothermal heating/air conditioning units, methods of designing and installing novel vertical loop fields under existing buildings, and novel vertical loop field structures and geothermal heating systems including such loop fields.

主权项

1. A lightweight, portable drill rig for use in constructing a geothermal loop field within an existing building is provided, which includes:
a lightweight frame; a drilling member attached to the lightweight frame for drilling boreholes for the geothermal loop field; a remote power source located apart from the drilling member and operably coupled to the drill member to rotate the drill member; and, a selectively activated down force member operably coupled to the lightweight frame, whereby, when activated, the selectively activated down force member provides a significant increase in drill rig down force available to the drilling member to cause efficient penetration of the drilling member into the ground during a drilling operation of the geothermal loop field and whereby, when deactivated, the selectively activated down force member significantly decreases the down force on the drilling rig to the extent that the drill rig may be efficiently transported into an existing building and transported between a number of drilling positions within the existing building.