Systems and Methods for Combustion Tube Assemblies for Water Heaters

Abstract

A combustion tube assembly of a water heater is disclosed. The combustion tube assembly includes a combustion tube having an open end, a closed end, and an outflow opening located between the open end and the closed end. A cavity of the combustion tube provides a chamber for combustion of a water heater fuel that produces an exhaust gas. The outflow opening provides an outlet for the exhaust gas to exit the combustion tube. The combustion tube includes a neck portion on a wall of the combustion tube. The neck portion may be disposed in proximity to the outflow opening. The combustion tube assembly may further include a diverter disposed in the cavity. The diverter may be configured to divert the exhaust gas to the outflow opening. The diverter may be configured to engage with the neck portion to secure the diverter in the combustion tube.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combustion tube assembly of a water heater, the combustion tube assembly comprising:
 a combustion tube having an open end, a closed end, and an outflow opening located between the open end and the closed end, wherein the outflow opening provides an outlet for an exhaust gas to exit the combustion tube, wherein the combustion tube comprises a neck portion, and wherein the neck portion is disposed in proximity to the outflow opening; and   a diverter disposed in the combustion tube, wherein the diverter is configured to divert the exhaust gas to the outflow opening, and wherein the diverter is configured to engage with the neck portion to secure the diverter in the combustion tube.   
     
     
         2 . The combustion tube assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the neck portion is disposed about an entire circumference of the combustion tube. 
     
     
         3 . The combustion tube assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the neck portion is disposed about a portion of a circumference of the combustion tube. 
     
     
         4 . The combustion tube assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the neck portion is disposed perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the combustion tube. 
     
     
         5 . The combustion tube assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the neck portion is disposed at a first distance from the closed end, wherein the outflow opening is disposed at a second distance from the closed end, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance. 
     
     
         6 . The combustion tube assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the diverter comprises a narrow section and a wider section, and wherein the narrow section and the wider section form a funnel shaped structure. 
     
     
         7 . The combustion tube assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the wider section engages with the neck portion. 
     
     
         8 . The combustion tube assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the narrow section does not contact the combustion tube. 
     
     
         9 . The combustion tube assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the wider section comprises a first proximal end and a first distal end, wherein the first proximal end is configured to receive the exhaust gas and the first distal end is configured to output the exhaust gas. 
     
     
         10 . The combustion tube assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the narrow section comprises a second proximal end and a second distal end, wherein the second proximal end is attached to first distal end, and wherein the second distal end is disposed at a predefined distance from the closed end of the combustion tube such that a gap exists between the closed end and the diverter. 
     
     
         11 . The combustion tube assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the narrow section is configured to receive the exhaust gas via the first distal end and output the exhaust gas towards the closed end via the second distal end such that the exhaust gas flows from the second distal end to the outflow opening. 
     
     
         12 . A heat exchanger assembly of a water heater, the heat exchanger assembly comprising:
 a combustion tube having an open end, a closed end, and an outflow opening located between the open end and the closed end, wherein a cavity of the combustion tube provides a chamber for combustion of a water heater fuel that produces an exhaust gas, wherein the outflow opening provides an outlet for the exhaust gas to exit the combustion tube, wherein the combustion tube comprises a neck portion on a wall of the combustion tube, and wherein the neck portion is disposed in proximity to the outflow opening;   a diverter disposed in the cavity of the combustion tube, wherein the diverter is configured to divert the exhaust gas to the outflow opening, and wherein the diverter is configured to engage with the neck portion to secure the diverter in the combustion tube; and   a hollow coil attached to the combustion tube, wherein the outflow opening provides an outlet for the exhaust gas to flow from the combustion tube into the hollow coil.   
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the neck portion is disposed about an entire circumference of the combustion tube. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the neck portion is disposed about a portion of a circumference of the combustion tube. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the neck portion is disposed perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the combustion tube. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the neck portion is disposed at a first distance from the closed end, wherein the outflow opening is disposed at a second distance from the closed end, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the diverter comprises a narrow section and a wider section, and wherein the narrow section and the wider section form a funnel shaped structure. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the wider section engages with the neck portion, and the narrow section does not contact the combustion tube. 
     
     
         19 . A combustion tube comprising:
 an open end;   a closed end;   an outflow opening located between the open end and the closed end, wherein the outflow opening provides an outlet for exhaust gas to exit the combustion tube; and   a neck portion on a wall of the combustion tube, wherein the neck portion is disposed in proximity to the outflow opening.   
     
     
         20 . The combustion tube of  claim 19 , wherein the neck portion is configured to engage with a diverter disposed in the combustion tube to secure the diverter in the combustion tube.