GB2317799A - An insulated chamber for keeping an area of water free from ice - Google Patents

Abstract

An insulated chamber comprises a body 2 with a lid 1, projections 3 and means to increase the internal temperature of the water inside the chamber, thus keeping the water inside the chamber free from ice. The body 1 is constructed from materials which have good insulating properties. The lid 1 is made from materials that allow sunlight when available through to the inside of the chamber to help raise the temperature. The insulated chamber is anchored by means of projections 3 which also serve the purpose of entry points for cables or pipework. The lower section of the chamber has perforations to allow any gases under the ice to be vented off to the atmosphere. The chamber also has a platform 6 for supporting equipment such as a heater. The lid also has a drip edge 8 to shed any condensation formed on the lid away from the equipment on the platform 6. The electrical heater inside the chamber may be thermostatically controlled to maintain the temperature within a given range.

Description

An Insulated Chamber for use on water.

This invention relates to the present practices of maintaining an ice free area of water in the open, such as in a garden pool or pond during the freezing temperatures of winter.

This is a necessary practice to ensure that any gases formed under the ice may escape to the atmosphere, it will also enable an amount of fresh air to be taken up by the area of free water,this will help to keep the water from becoming stale and contaminated and so effecting the livestock living in the water.

One practice is to achieve a free water area by placing a heated element in the water to raise the temperature in the immediate area of the heater, this is left exposed to the atmosphere and all the elements, with no efforts made to conserve the heat generated. Thereby using energy that could usefully be used to ensure a longer period of time that the water can resist the low temperature that forms the ice, as a consequence of which running costs are higher than need be.

The following invention now seeks to conserve some of the energy used to maintain a free water area by enclosing the free water area within an Insulated chamber.

According to the present invention the assembled components will comprise of materials that will provide good insulating ,weathering, and water resistant qualities, and may well be,as way of example,be constructed from expanded plastics and extrusions and other suitable materials.

The final shapes will be be to suit different situations and locations. the following description and diagrams are for representation purposes only, and liable to be changed to suit a particular requirement.

The Insulated chamber or vessel, (the term chamber will be used for descriptive purposes) will be self supporting in the water. When in place it will be part submerged and part above the water or ice formation line.

The submerged section will extend down to be clear of the anticipated thickness of ice formation that would be formed in a prolonged drop of temperature to below freezing.

A detachable dome or lid will sit and fit securely on the upper section to complete the chamber,and to form the chamber. this will be fashioned in a clear or opaque material to allow advantage to taken of any natural warmth generated by weather conditions such as sunlight.

This will penetrate through to raise the inside temperature of the chamber.

Design of the chamber will allow for air to enter the chamber,it will also enable gases formed under the water line to vent off and pass to the atmosphere, thus ensuring a better quality of water.

Also incorporated into the design will be optional methods of raising and maintaining temperatures that will remain above freezing inside the chamber. The chamber will have good insulating properties to conserve and retain the energy put in to raise the temperature.

Below the water line the insulated walls will help to deter the transfer of the ice temperature formed around the outer walls, through and into the inner water captured in the chamber. This will be of a higher temperature due to the fact that there will be no freezing air temperature acting on the surface of the water area.

By design the submerged section of the chamber walls will have holes or perforations that will allow gases trapped under the ice to enter through the extended walls of the chamber to escape to the inner chamber and vent off through the dome or lid into the atmosphere Built in to the design there is provision for an intemal plafform, or ledge, or supports, to enable and to accommodate various provisions of heating appliances to be installed in the chamber.

If electricity is not readily available other forms of raising the inside temperature can be considered e.g. oil bumers with suitable protective shields.

When the raising of the temperature in the chamber can be achieved by electric appliances, it would be an added saving to incorporate a thermostatic control to enable economic control and saving of electricity, and a useful saving in expenditure in future use of the chamber.

Other options that may also be considered are to place a heating source adjacent to the chamber on nearby land and to transfer heat to the chamber by other methods,e.g. an air pump with the air temperature heated and to be pumped through the chamber walls and into the water, this will also improve the quality of the water by raising the oxygen levels in the water by means of aerating the water, Provision may be included for ballast to be added or taken away as needed, this will allow for the use of various weights of heaters to be balanced to maintain the water line that marks off the submerged section from the upper section above the water line.

The specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an extemal view of a fully assembled Insulated chamber ready to be placed in to the water.

Figure 2 illustrates a cross section of an Insulated chamber, with the lid in a detached position.

with the chamber placed in the water.

Figure 3 shows a cross section of an Insulated chamber with the dome or lid in position,and a position for appliances to be placed on a supporting shelf,the appropriate appliances will raise and maintain the intemal chamber above the point of freezing.

Referring to Figure 1 1 Shows the detachable lid or dome in position,which will incorporate a locking or fixing device to secure it to the main chamber. This will be made of a material that will allow sunlight, when available ,to pass through to help to keep the inside temperature above freezing The lid may be constructed of one or more skins to give a better insulating quality.

When the chamber incorporates an intemal thermostatic control it will react to the sunlight entering through the dome or lid which will raise and increase the inside temperature of the chamber. The thermostat will operate to cut off the supply of electric so that no fuel will be used unnecessarily.

2 This shows the main body of the chamber. It may be constructed of materials that are suitable of being able to withstand outside weather conditions, and have good insulating properties. For example plastics and /or expanded polystyrene. Or other combinations of materials.

It can be constructed in many shapes and sizes to the requirements of the situation, the final assembled body can be in one or more pieces fitted together to make the main body.

3 Shows a number of projections that serve to allow cables, or conduits, and pipes to enter through the walls and into the chamber.

They also act as securing points to allow attachments to be fixed to the chamber. These would enable the chamber to be secured in a fixed position in the water.

Provision is made to stop off any unused entry points.

4 This points out the section that will be below the water line or in the case of a freezing temperature the layer of ice.

Shown are the series of holes or perforations that will allow the trapped gases under the ice to pass through the chamber walls into the free water area and to escape to the atmosphere.

These gases if left under the ice contaminate and make the water stale and starved of oxygen which in turn effects the fish and wildlife in the water.

5 Shows a cdlar or capping positioned around the lid or dome ,this is placed over the holes in the lid that are there to allow the air to enter and gases to escape.

This is in place to deflect the elements ,i.e. wind, rain or snow ,from directly entering into the chamber.

Referring now to Figure 2.

This cross section and intemal view shows at 1 The removable dome or lid.

2 Gives a view of the wall structure with or of insulation materials.

3 Displays the entry points for cables or other pipes or conduits,they will be adapted to act as securing points.

4 Points out the holes that allow the gases formed under the ice to filter through into the chamber.

5 viewed from inside are the vent and air entry holes in the lid or dome.

6 Gives the location for illustration purposes only of a platform or shelf on which various objects such as heaters may be placed. Provision will be made in the design that will allow any ballast that may be required to be attached to, or suspended from the shelf or platform.

Refening now to Figure 3.

7 Shows an object in place on the platform support.

8 Shows the drip edge on the lid or dome to shed any condensation formed on the lid away from the objects on the platform. there may also be incorporated in the design an extra cover over any item placed on the shelf to provide further protection.

Claims (8)

1 An Insulated Chamber that is designed and constructed so that when placed in an outside area of water,it will, with additional added heat from various equipment, during freezing conditions keep the area of water inside the chamber free from ice being formed.

2 An Insulated Chamber as in claim 1 with a dome or lid that is detachable, which as a unit will be able to be self supporting when placed in the water.

3 An Insulated Chamber as in claim 1 and 2 comprising and constructed of materials that have good insulation and weathering properties . The lid will be of a material that will allow sunlight when available through to the inside of the chamber to help to raise the inside temperature.

4 An Insulated Chamber as in proceeding claims that is able to be anchored in a fixed position, by means of anchor points on the outside that attachments may be fixed, and that also serve the purpose of entry points for cables or pipework or conduits.

5 An Insulated Chamber as in proceeding claims with a number of holes or perforations in the lower section that will when ice has formed around it allow any gases formed under the ice, due to rotting vegetation or debris,to escape through the walls to the inside and to rise and vent off through the water and out to the atmosphere.

6 An Insulated Chamber as in proceeding claims that has provisions made to allow a shelf or platform or supports to be fitted inside to install equipment on.

7 An Insulated Chamber as in claim 2 that has on the lid or dome, a fitted collar or capping in place to deflect and keep out the wind ,rain or snow, from entering the chamber through the air holes under the collar. The collar will be secured to the lid in such a way so as to allow air to enter to the holes beneath it.

8 An Insulated Chamber as in proceeding claims that has provision within it to allow a thermostatic control to be fitted when electric heaters are used. This will switch on the appliance when needed, and to switch off when the appropriate temperature has been reached. This gives good control of the inside temperature coupled with savings on fuel and running costs.