Gas-fired water heater with an exhaust assembly

Abstract

A gas-fired water heater including a storage tank, a combustion chamber, a burner for producing products of combustion, the burner positioned in the combustion chamber, a flue including a longitudinal axis, the flue extending from the combustion chamber through the storage tank, and an exhaust assembly positioned above the flue. The exhaust assembly includes a hood, a motor including a drive shaft, and a fan coupled to the drive shaft for rotation with the drive shaft about a rotational axis. The hood receives the products of combustion from the flue and directs the products of combustion at an acute angle toward the fan. The rotational axis is positioned at the acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

1 . A gas-fired water heater, comprising:
 a storage tank;   a combustion chamber;   a burner for producing products of combustion, the burner positioned in the combustion chamber;   a flue including a longitudinal axis, the flue extending from the combustion chamber through the storage tank; and   an exhaust assembly positioned above the flue, the exhaust assembly including a hood, a motor including a drive shaft, and a fan coupled to the drive shaft for rotation with the drive shaft about a rotational axis;   wherein the hood receives the products of combustion from the flue and directs the products of combustion at an acute angle toward the fan and the rotational axis is positioned at the acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         2 . The gas-fired water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the acute angle is forty-five degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The gas-fired water heater of  claim 1  wherein the exhaust assembly further includes a blower housing coupled to the hood, the blower housing including a chamber and a blower outlet extending from the chamber along an outlet axis; and
 wherein the fan is positioned within the chamber. 
 
     
     
         4 . The gas-fired water heater of  claim 3 , wherein the outlet axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         5 . The gas-fired water heater of  claim 3 , wherein the acute angle is forty-five degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The gas-fired water heater of  claim 4 , wherein the acute angle is forty-five degrees. 
     
     
         7 . An exhaust assembly for use with a gas-fired water heater including a flue having a longitudinal axis, the gas-fired water heater producing products of combustion, the exhaust assembly comprising:
 a hood;   a motor including a drive shaft; and   a fan coupled to the drive shaft for rotation with the drive shaft about a rotational axis;   wherein the hood receives the products of combustion from the flue and directs the products of combustion at an acute angle toward the fan and the rotational axis is positioned at the acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         8 . The exhaust assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the acute angle is forty-five degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The exhaust assembly of  claim 7  further comprising a blower housing coupled to the hood, the blower housing including a chamber and a blower outlet extending from the chamber along an outlet axis; and
 wherein the fan is positioned within the chamber. 
 
     
     
         10 . The exhaust assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the outlet axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         11 . The exhaust assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the acute angle is forty-five degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The exhaust assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the acute angle is forty-five degrees.