Water heater with counter-twisted baffle

Abstract

A 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 extending from the combustion chamber through the storage tank, and a baffle positioned within the flue and directing the flow of the products of combustion through the flue. The baffle includes multiple clockwise twist segments and multiple counterclockwise twist segments.

1 . A 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 extending from the combustion chamber through the storage tank; and   a baffle positioned within the flue and directing the flow of the products of combustion through the flue, the baffle including a plurality of clockwise twist segments and a plurality of counterclockwise twist segments.   
     
     
         2 . The water heater of  claim 1  wherein the baffle further includes a longitudinal axis and wherein the clockwise twist segments alternate with the counterclockwise twist segments along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The water heater of  claim 1  wherein each of the clockwise twist segments twists one hundred eighty degrees and wherein each of the counterclockwise twist segments twists one hundred eighty degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The water heater of  claim 1  wherein the baffle is corrugated. 
     
     
         5 . The water heater of  claim 1  wherein the baffle further includes a longitudinal axis and wherein the length along the longitudinal axis of at least one of the clockwise twist segments varies with respect to the other clockwise twist segments and wherein the length along the longitudinal axis of at least one of the counterclockwise twist segments varies with respect to the other counterclockwise twist segments. 
     
     
         6 . The water heater of  claim 2  wherein each of the clockwise twist segments twists one hundred eighty degrees and wherein each of the counterclockwise twist segments twists one hundred eighty degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The water heater of  claim 6  wherein the baffle is corrugated. 
     
     
         8 . The water heater of  claim 7  wherein the length along the longitudinal axis of at least one of the clockwise twist segments varies with respect to the other clockwise twist segments and wherein the length along the longitudinal axis of at least one of the counterclockwise twist segments varies with respect to the other counterclockwise twist segments. 
     
     
         9 . The water heater of  claim 6  wherein the length along the longitudinal axis of at least one of the clockwise twist segments varies with respect to the other clockwise twist segments and wherein the length along the longitudinal axis of at least one of the counterclockwise twist segments varies with respect to the other counterclockwise twist segments. 
     
     
         10 . The water of  claim 9  wherein a spacer is positioned between an adjacent clockwise twist segment and counterclockwise twist segment, wherein the clockwise twist segments are corrugated, and wherein the counterclockwise twist segments are corrugated. 
     
     
         11 . The water heater of  claim 2  wherein the baffle is corrugated. 
     
     
         12 . The water heater of  claim 2  wherein the length along the longitudinal axis of at least one of the clockwise twist segments varies with respect to the other clockwise twist segments and wherein the length along the longitudinal axis of at least one of the counterclockwise twist segments varies with respect to the other counterclockwise twist segments. 
     
     
         13 . The water heater of  claim 2  wherein a spacer is positioned between an adjacent clockwise twist segment and counterclockwise twist segment. 
     
     
         14 . The water heater of  claim 13  wherein the clockwise twist segments are corrugated and wherein the counterclockwise twist segments are corrugated. 
     
     
         15 . A baffle for use in the flue of a water heater to direct the flow of products of combustion through the flue, the baffle comprising:
 a plurality of clockwise twist segments;   and a plurality of counterclockwise twist segments.   
     
     
         16 . The baffle of  claim 15 , the baffle further comprising a longitudinal axis and wherein the clockwise twist segments alternate with the counterclockwise twist segments along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         17 . The baffle of  claim 16  wherein each of the clockwise twist segments twists one hundred eighty degrees and wherein each of the counterclockwise twist segments twists one hundred eighty degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The baffle of  claim 15  wherein each of the clockwise twist segments twists one hundred eighty degrees and wherein each of the counterclockwise twist segments twists one hundred eighty degrees. 
     
     
         19 . The baffle of  claim 15  wherein the baffle is corrugated. 
     
     
         20 . The baffle of  claim 15  the baffle further comprising a longitudinal axis and wherein the length along the longitudinal axis of at least one of the clockwise twist segments varies with respect to the other clockwise twist segments and wherein the length along the longitudinal axis of at least one of the counterclockwise twist segments varies with respect to the other counterclockwise twist segments.