Flue baffle for gas-fired hot water tanks

Abstract

A flue baffle for use in a hot water tank flue pipe which is disposed to be in contact with water contained in an inner tank of the hot water heater. A burner chamber is provided at a lower end of the inner tank. The flue baffle is comprised of an elongated rectangular metal strip which has a plurality of spaced circular metal discs disposed substantially transverse to the strip and to the longitudinal axis of the flue pipe. The metal discs are dimensioned to be spaced from an inner surface of the flue pipe. Two or more spacing nipples protrude from a circumferential outer edge of the circular metal discs and are spaced apart from one another for slight frictional engagement with the inner surface of the flue pipe to maintain a substantially constant circumferential passage between the circumferential outer edge of the discs and the inner surface of the flue pipe.

1 . A flue baffle for use in a hot water tank flue pipe wherein said flue pipe is adapted to be in contact with water to be contained in an inner tank having a burner chamber at a lower end thereof, said flue baffle comprising an elongated rectangular metal strip having a plurality of spaced metal discs disposed substantially transverse to said strip and dimensioned to be spaced closely to an inner surface of the flue pipe, and two or more spacers protruding from a circumferential outer edge of said metal discs and are spaced apart from one another for frictional engagement with the inner surface of the flue pipe to maintain a substantially constant passage between said outer edge of said metal discs and the inner surface of the flue pipe. 
   
   
       2 . A flue baffle as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said metal discs are circular metal discs integrally formed with said elongated rectangular metal strip and disposed at right angles to said metal strip. 
   
   
       3 . A flue baffle as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said circular metal discs are each formed by two semi-circular disc sections cut from said metal strip, each disc section being disposed on a respective side of a transverse diametrical rib section, each disc section being bent at right angles from a respective edge of said rib section and on a respective one of opposed sides of said metal strip, said disc sections forming a substantially circumferential and constant passage about each said discs. 
   
   
       4 . A flue baffle as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said spacers are spacing nipples integrally formed with said semi-circular disc sections, there being two of said spacing nipples projecting from each said two semi-circular disc sections. 
   
   
       5 . A flue baffle as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said elongated rectangular metal strip has a stiffening rib formed along opposed elongated side edges thereof by a folded-over edge strip section, said edge strip sections and said transverse diametrical rib section forming a rigid support frame. 
   
   
       6 . A flue baffle as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said elongated rectangular metal strip has opposed support flanges projecting from opposed elongated side edges thereof at a top end of said elongated rectangular metal strip. 
   
   
       7 . A flue baffle as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said folded-over edge strip section extends from a bottom end of said elongated rectangular metal strip and terminates a short distance from a top end thereof to define an outwardly projecting flange section at said top end, said outwardly projecting flange section constituting a support flange for suspending said strip in the flue pipe. 
   
   
       8 . A flue baffle as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said flue baffle is a one-piece flue baffle constructed entirely from said elongated rectangular metal strip. 
   
   
       9 . A flue baffle as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said semi-circular disc sections are cut from said elongated rectangular metal strip by one of metal stamping or laser cutting. 
   
   
       10 . A flue baffle as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said elongated rectangular metal strip is constructed from 18 gauge steel sheet material.