Water heater for recreational vehicles having forced air/direct vent combustion

Abstract

A water heater for a recreational vehicle includes an enclosure assembly, a water tank for holding water to be heated, a combustion system for heating water within the water tank, and a control system for operating the combustion system. The combustion assembly includes a burner assembly located within a sealed combustion chamber, an inlet duct communicating an external environment with the combustion chamber, an outlet duct communicating the combustion chamber with the external environment, and an electric fan positioned to draw combustion air through the inlet duct and force flue gas into the outlet duct. A portion of the outlet duct extends within the inlet duct so that both ducts extend through a single opening in an exterior wall of the recreational vehicle. The enclosure assembly is provided with a plurality of knockouts facing in different directions for forming an opening for the inlet and outlet ducts.

1 . A water heater for a recreational vehicle comprising, in combination: 
 an enclosure assembly;    a water tank for holding water to be heated located within the enclosure assembly;    a combustion system for heating water within the water tank and including a gas-fired burner assembly located within a sealed combustion chamber, a combustion air inlet duct communicating an external environment with the combustion chamber, a flue gas outlet duct communicating the combustion chamber with the external environment and extending near the water tank to transfer heat to water within the water tank, and an electric fan positioned to draw combustion air through the inlet duct and into the combustion chamber and force flue gas into the outlet duct and out of the combustion chamber; and    a control system for operating the combustion system including a thermostat and operably connected to the burner assembly, the fan, and the thermostat to generally maintain water in the water tank at a desired temperature.    
     
     
         2 . The water heater for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the fan is located at an inlet of the combustion chamber.  
     
     
         3 . The water heater for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the control system further includes a pressure switch so that the burner assembly is ignited when the fan is operating and the combustion chamber is at a desired pressure.  
     
     
         4 . The water heater for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the flue gas outlet duct extends within the combustion air inlet duct.  
     
     
         5 . The water heater for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 4 , wherein the portion of the flue gas outlet duct extending within the combustion air inlet duct is coaxial with the combustion air inlet duct.  
     
     
         6 . The water heater for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 4 , wherein the flue gas outlet duct and the combustion air inlet duct are adapted to extend through a single opening with an exterior wall of the recreational vehicle.  
     
     
         7 . The water heater for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure assembly is provided with a plurality of knockouts facing in different directions for forming an opening for the inlet and outlet ducts.  
     
     
         8 . A water heater for a recreational vehicle comprising, in combination: 
 an enclosure assembly;    a water tank for holding water to be heated located within the enclosure assembly;    a combustion system for heating water within the water tank and including a gas-fired burner assembly located within a sealed combustion chamber, a combustion air inlet duct communicating an external environment with the combustion chamber, and a flue gas outlet duct communicating the combustion chamber with the external environment and extending near the water tank to transfer heat to water within the water tank;    a control system for operating the combustion system including a thermostat and operably connected to the burner assembly and the thermostat to generally maintain water in the water tank at a desired temperature; and    wherein a portion of the flue gas outlet duct extends within the combustion air inlet duct.    
     
     
         9 . The water heater for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein the combustion system further includes an electric fan positioned to draw combustion air through the inlet duct and into the combustion chamber and force flue gas into the outlet duct and out of the combustion chamber.  
     
     
         10 . The water heater for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 9 , wherein the fan is located at an inlet of the combustion chamber.  
     
     
         11 . The water heater for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein the portion of the flue gas outlet duct extending within the combustion air inlet duct is coaxial with the combustion air inlet duct.  
     
     
         12 . The water heater for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein the flue gas outlet duct and the combustion air inlet duct are adapted to extend through a single opening with an exterior wall of the recreational vehicle.  
     
     
         13 . The water heater for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein the enclosure assembly is provided with a plurality of knockouts facing in different directions for forming an opening for the inlet and outlet ducts.  
     
     
         14 . A water heater for a recreational vehicle comprising, in combination: 
 an enclosure assembly;    a water tank for holding water to be heated located within the enclosure assembly;    a combustion system for heating water within the water tank and including a gas-fired burner assembly located within a sealed combustion chamber, a combustion air inlet duct communicating an external environment with the combustion chamber, and a flue gas outlet duct communicating the combustion chamber with the external environment and extending near the water tank to transfer heat to water within the water tank;    a control system for operating the combustion system including a thermostat and operably connected to the burner assembly and the thermostat to generally maintain water in the water tank at a desired temperature; and    wherein the enclosure assembly is provided with a plurality of knockouts facing in different directions for forming an opening for the inlet and outlet ducts.    
     
     
         15 . The water heater for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 14 , wherein the combustion system further includes an electric fan positioned to draw combustion air through the inlet duct and into the combustion chamber and force flue gas into the outlet duct and out of the combustion chamber.  
     
     
         16 . The water heater for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 15 , wherein the fan is located at an inlet of the combustion chamber.  
     
     
         17 . The water heater for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 14 , wherein the portion of the flue gas outlet duct extending within the combustion air inlet duct is coaxial with the combustion air inlet duct.  
     
     
         18 . The water heater for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 14 , wherein the flue gas outlet duct and the combustion air inlet duct are adapted to extend through a single opening with an exterior wall of the recreational vehicle.  
     
     
         19 . The water heater for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 14 , wherein a portion of the flue gas outlet duct extends within the combustion air inlet duct.  
     
     
         20 . The water heater for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of knockouts face in at least three different directions substantially perpendicular to one another.