Abstract: A vehicular frameless interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head and a mounting portion. The mirror head includes a mirror reflective element and a mirror casing. The mirror reflective element includes a glass substrate having a planar front side and a planar rear side. No portion of the mirror casing overlaps the planar front side of the glass substrate of the mirror reflective element. A camera is disposed within the mirror casing. With the mounting portion of the mirror assembly mounted at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle, the camera views a driver of the vehicle, and when the mirror head is moved by the driver of the vehicle to adjust the rearward view provided by the mirror reflective element to the driver, the camera moves in tandem with movement of the mirror head. The camera is part of a driver monitoring system of the vehicle.

Abstract: An improved ground source heat pump system wherein the subterranean piping installation comprises modular heat exchange units. Each modular heat exchange unit comprises a plurality of parallel secondary conduits. The secondary conduits are connected between primary conduits by means of multi-tiered inlet and outlet manifolds. Each manifold comprises a three-way "T" or end member and at least one and probably several four-way connecting members. Each of the end members has one inlet and at least one and preferably two outlets. Each connecting member has one inlet and at least two and preferably three outlets. The inlets and outlets of the end members and connecting members are configured to interconnect interchangeably in male-female fashion. Elbow units are used to connect the ends of the secondary conduits with the inlets and outlet of the end members and connecting members. Thus, only two types of components are necessary to build heat exchange units having any number of secondary conduits.

Abstract: An improved ground source heat pump system wherein the subterranean piping installation comprises modular heat exchange units. Each modular heat exchange unit comprises a plurality of parallel secondary or branch conduits. The use of multiple parallel secondary conduits significantly increases the heat exchange capacity of the system. Because of the increased efficiency of such a system, less piping is required, which in turn reduces the cost of labor and materials to install such a system and the area of land mass required to contain it. Moreover, because the heat exchange units are modular, they can be prefabricated at a remote site and then conveniently transported to construction site and installed much more quickly than the extended lengths of conventional piping.

Abstract: An improved ground source heat pump system wherein the subterranean piping installation comprises modular heat exchange units. Each modular heat exchange unit comprises a plurality of parallel secondary or branch conduits. The use of multiple parallel secondary conduits significantly increases the heat exchange capacity of the system. Because of the increased efficiency of such a system, less piping is required, which in turn reduces the cost of labor and materials to install such a system and the area of land mass required to contain it. Moreover, because the heat exchange units are modular, they can be prefabricated at a remote site and then conveniently transported to construction site and installed much more quickly than the extended lengths of conventional piping.

Abstract: An improved ground source heat pump system wherein the subterranean piping installation is constructed of a plurality of modular heat exchange units. Each such unit comprises an external tube with an expanded external surface and an insulated internal tube positioned concentrically within the external tube. The units are integrally formed of flexible plastic material, except for the insulation. The expanded external surface of the external tube significantly increases the heat exchange capacity of the subterranean heat exchanger. The insulation around the internal tube prevents thermal interference between the internal and external tubes and further enhances the heat exchange capacity of the system. There is no need for spacers or fins in the space between the internal and external tubes to control annular spacing or to promote turbulence.

Abstract: A ground source air conditioning system for a structure. The system comprises a de-icing conduit array for de-icing nearby surfaces, such as sidewalks, parking lots and driveways. The air conditioning system includes a refrigeration unit, and the heat from the refrigerant in the refrigeration unit is transferred to a heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid is conducted to a heat exchanger, which preferably is located underground, such as an array of vertically or horizontally arranged conduits. Alternately, a water reservoir can be employed as the heat exchanger. When necessary, the heat transfer fluid is conducted through the de-icing conduit array positioned immediately beneath the surface to be de-iced. The amount of heat transfer fluid directed to the de-icing array can be regulated, and in warmer seasons it can be isolated altogether from the rest of the system.

Abstract: A piping installation having a supply header, a return header, and a branch conduit array with parallel branch conduits is provided with a by-pass apparatus to by-pass any trapped air within the piping installation away from the branch conduit array. The by-pass apparatus is connected to the supply header at a position immediate to the supply header end of the downstream-most branch conduit, and to the return header. The by-pass apparatus has a by-pass conduit and an adapter. The by-pass conduit has a length and an inside diameter that presents substantially more resistance to the flow of fluid than to the flow of air. In addition, the length of the by-pass conduit allows the supply header to be properly spaced from the return header so as to minimize thermal interference. An adapter is provided on each end of the by-pass conduit and facilitates the connection of the by-pass conduit to the respective header.

Abstract: An apparatus for achieving heat exchange between a liquid medium and the earth for insertion into a borehole in the earth, the apparatus having a casing, a cap closing the casing lower end, a dip tube of external diameter smaller than the interior diameter of the casing and positioned within the casing providing an annular area between the dip tube and the interior of the casing and a top manifold cap providing a first port connected to the upper end of casing and a second port connected to the upper end of the dip tube and flow channels within the manifold cap connecting the casing and dip tube to flow lines so that fluid may flow downward in the dip tube and upwardly within the annular area in the casing to exchange heat with the earth. A vent hole is provided to communicate with the upper end of the dip tube to prevent air lock.

Abstract: A system for exchanging thermal energy between a fluid medium and the earth is provided employing a number of boreholes drilled vertically in the earth spaced apart by adjacent intervals. An upflow conduit and a downflow conduit are placed in parallel relationship within the boreholes and connected at their lower ends. At the top of each borehole there is a header providing means to conduct fluid through the conduits in each borehole in a parallel or series arrangement. In each of the headers there is a partition dividing the flow of fluid passing downwardly into the borehole from the flow of fluid passing upwardly out of the borehole with a vent in the partition so that air which might otherwise be trapped in the verical conduits can by vented to prevent airlock of the system.