Direct venting system for free-standing propane powered absorption refrigerator

Abstract

A direct venting system for a free-standing propane powered refrigerator is disclosed. The direct venting system pre-installed on the refrigerator, the system having an air intake for drawing air from outside and directing the air to a burner box for combustion of the propane gas flame that runs the refrigerator, and an exhaust outlet for venting all of the flue gases or products of combustion out of the system with the system being hermetically sealed with respect to an interior environment within which the refrigerator is installed. The fresh air is directed to a burner box by means of a specially designed air inlet adapter that includes a step-down feature that reduces the likelihood of blow-out of the gas flame. The flue gases are directed through an offset chimney structure and a three-layered exhaust outlet that reduces the formation of condensate thereby protecting the system from blow-out and corrosion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A direct venting system for a free-standing propane powered refrigerator, the direct venting system comprising:
 an air intake assembly for drawing fresh air from an outdoor environment;   a burner box for housing burner elements associated with providing a heat source in the form of combustion of a propane gas flame for powering the refrigerator;   a chimney assembly for drawing products of combustion away from said burner box;   an exhaust outlet in fluid communication with said chimney assembly for delivering said products of combustion from said chimney assembly to said outdoor environment;   wherein said burner box comprises an air inlet adapter having a first end coupled to said air intake and a second end coupled to said burner box, said first end being larger than said second end, the air inlet adapter delivering air drawn through said air intake assembly to said burner box.   
     
     
         2 . The direct venting system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the chimney assembly comprises a first vertical portion and a second vertical portion laterally offset with respect to each other, the first and second vertical portions interconnected by a horizontal region forming two generally 90 degree bends with respect to said first and second vertical portions. 
     
     
         3 . The direct venting system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said exhaust outlet extends generally horizontally away from said chimney assembly, and said exhaust outlet is a three layered structure comprising:
 a inner tubular member of corrosion resistant material;   an insulating member surrounding said inner tubular member; and   an outer covering surrounding said insulating member.   
     
     
         4 . The direct venting system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a flue assembly arranged intermediate said burner box and said chimney assembly, said flue assembly having a first end in fluid communication with said burner box and a second end in fluid communication with said chimney assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The direct venting system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a condensate trap for receiving condensate of the products of combustion from said chimney assembly and/or exhaust outlet, said condensate trap draining said condensate exterior to said direct venting system. 
     
     
         6 . The direct venting system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said condensate trap comprises:
 an inlet in fluid communication with said horizontal portion of said chimney assembly for receiving condensate of said products of combustion;   an outlet end for draining said condensate exterior to the burner box; and   a 360 degree loop formed therein intermediate said inlet and outlet, said 360 degree loop collecting condensate in a lower portion thereof for maintain a hermetic seal with said direct venting system.   
     
     
         7 . The direct venting system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said air intake assembly comprises:
 a first length of pipe vertically mounted on the rear, exterior surface of the refrigerator, the first length of pipe having opposed upper and lower ends;   a second length of pipe interconnecting said first length of pipe and said air intake adapter, said second length of pipe arranged at an angle with respect to said first length of pipe; and   an air inlet having a first end for mounting in fluid communication with the upper end of said first length of pipe and a second end adapted for fluid communication with the outdoor environment, the air inlet extending generally horizontally away from the rear, exterior surface of the refrigerator.   
     
     
         8 . The direct venting system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said air inlet has a maximum length of about 18 inches, said air inlet extending through an exterior wall of a building. 
     
     
         9 . The direct venting system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said exhaust outlet has a maximum length of about 18 inches, said exhaust outlet extending through an exterior wall of a building. 
     
     
         10 . The direct venting system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said system is hermetically sealed with respect to an interior environment. 
     
     
         11 . A free-standing, direct venting propane powered refrigerator having a burner element for providing a gas flame for powering said refrigerator, the refrigerator comprising:
 a burner box mounted directly to a rear, exterior surface of the refrigerator, the burner box defining an open interior cavity for housing and sealingly enclosing the burner element, the burner box comprising an air inlet adapter having a first end for receiving a source of fresh air from an outdoor, exterior environment and a second end in direct communication with said open interior cavity for delivering said fresh air for combustion of said gas flame, the first end being larger than said second end;   an air intake assembly mounted directly to the rear, exterior surface of the refrigerator, the air intake assembly having a first end adapted for fluid communication with said outdoor environment for drawing in said fresh air and a second end coupled to said first end of said air inlet adapted of said burner box;   a chimney assembly mounted directly to the rear, exterior surface of the refrigerator, the chimney assembly in fluid communication with said burner box for drawing products of combustion away from the burner box; and   an exhaust outlet having a first end for coupling to said chimney assembly and a second end adapted for fluid communication with said outdoor, exterior environment for delivering the products of combustion from said chimney assembly to said outdoor, exterior environment.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said air intake assembly comprises:
 a first length of pipe vertically mounted on the rear, exterior surface of the refrigerator, the first length of pipe having opposed upper and lower ends;   a second length of pipe interconnecting said first length of pipe and said air intake adapter, said second length of pipe arranged at an angle with respect to said first length of pipe; and   an air inlet pipe having a first end for mounting to the upper end of said first length of pipe and a second end in fluid communication with the outdoor environment, said air inlet extending generally horizontally away from said first length of pipe through an exterior wall of a building at the time of installation of the refrigerator.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said chimney assembly is a vertically offset pipe structure comprising a first portion and a second portion laterally offset with respect to each other and interconnected by a horizontal region forming two generally 90 degree bends with respect to said first and second portions. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein a flue assembly interconnects said burner box and said chimney assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said exhaust outlet comprises:
 an inner tubular member of corrosion resistant material;   an insulating member surrounding said inner tubular member; and   an outer covering surrounding said insulating member.   
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising a condensate trap having an inlet in fluid communication with said chimney assembly for receiving condensate of said products of combustion and an outlet end for draining said condensate exterior to the burner box. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said condensate trap comprises a 360 degree loop formed therein intermediate said inlet and outlet, said 360 degree loop collecting condensate in a lower portion thereof for providing a hermetic seal with respect to an interior environment. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said exhaust outlet has a maximum length of about 18 inches. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said air outlet has a maximum length of about 18 inches. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said burner box comprises a burner box cover removably mounted to said burner box for providing access to said open interior cavity, said burner box cover hermetically sealing said burner box with respect to an interior environment. 
     
     
         21 . The refrigerator as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein gasket material arranged intermediate said burner box and said burner box cover provides said hermetic seal. 
     
     
         22 . A chimney assembly for a direct venting system for a free-standing propane powers refrigerator, the chimney assembly comprising:
 a first tubular portion;   a second tubular portion laterally offset with respect to the first tubular portion;   a horizontally extending tubular portion interconnecting said first tubular portion and said second tubular portion in their laterally offset relationship, the horizontally extending tubular portion forming two generally 90 degree bends with respect to said first and second tubular portions;   an exhaust outlet in fluid communication with said second tubular portion and extending horizontally away from said second tubular portion wherein said exhaust outlet comprises:
 an inner tubular member of corrosion resistant material; 
 an insulating member surrounding said inner tubular member; and 
 an outer covering surrounding said insulating member. 
   
     
     
         23 . A burner box assembly for a direct venting system for a free-standing propane powered refrigerator, the burner box assembly comprising:
 a burner box having a mounting surface for mounting directly to a rear surface of said refrigerator, the burner box defining an open interior cavity for housing burner elements for providing a heat source in the form of a propane gas flame; and   an air intake adapter sealingly mounted to said burner box in fluid communication with said open interior cavity, the air intake adapter having a first open end for receiving a source of fresh air from an outside environment and a second open end in fluid communication with said open interior cavity for delivering said fresh air to said open interior cavity;   wherein said first open end is larger than said second open end.   
     
     
         24 . The burner box assembly as claimed in claim  30 , further comprising:
 a burner box cover removably mounted to said burner box for providing access to said open interior cavity, said burner box cover hermetically sealing said burner box.