Water heater with mechanical damper

Abstract

A hot water heater comprises a valve control unit having a gas inlet, a pilot burner, a main burner and a damper assembly. The damper assembly has a pressure diaphragm, a gearing mechanism and a movable damper. The control unit being coupled to operatively supply gas to the pilot burner, the main burner and the damper assembly whereby when gas is supplied to the damper assembly, the pressure diaphragm is moved to thereby cause the gearing mechanism to move the damper from a first position to a second position.

1 . A damper assembly for a gas hot water heater comprising: 
 a drive unit, the drive unit including a pressure diaphragm and a rack,    an axle having a pinion, said pinion engaging the rack;    a damper, said damper being coupled to the axle wherein said damper has a first position and a second position; and    a detector for sensing the position of said damper.    
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said pressure diaphragm is a bellows.  
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said diaphragm has a first diaphragm position and a second diaphragm position, wherein when said diaphragm is in said first diaphragm position, said damper is rotated to a said first position and when said diaphragm is in a said second diaphragm position, said damper is rotated to a said second position  
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said damper is mounted to said axle at a non-central pivot point.  
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said damper is generally circular.  
   
   
       6 . A hot water heater comprising: 
 a valve control unit having a gas inlet;    a pilot burner;    a main burner; and a    a damper assembly having a pressure diaphragm, a gearing mechanism and a movable damper;    said control unit being coupled to operatively supply gas to said pilot burner, said main burner and said damper assembly;    whereby when gas is supplied to said damper assembly, said diaphragm is moved, causing said gearing mechanism to move said damper from a first position to a second position.    
   
   
       7 . The hot water hear of  claim 6  wherein said damper assembly also includes a housing, said damper being mounted to said housing.  
   
   
       8 . The hot water heater of  claim 6  further comprising a control circuit coupled to said control unit whereby said control unit will only supply gas to said main burner when said damper is in said second position.  
   
   
       9 . The hot water heater of  claim 6  further comprising control circuit having a detector switch coupled to said control unit, whereby said detector, upon the detection of the gas will cause the control unit to stop supply of gas to said pilot burner.  
   
   
       10 . A method of operating hot water heater having a valve control unit, a pilot burner, a main burner and a pressure operated mechanical damper comprising the steps of: supplying gas to said valve control unit from a main gas supply, said valve unit supplying gas to said pilot burner, said valve unit supplying gas to said pressure operated damper causing said damper to move from a first position to a second position.