Direct power vented water heater

Abstract

A water heater having an insulated water tank with a cold water inlet line, a hot water outlet line and a baffled flue pipe extending vertically through the tank is provided. The flue pipe extends from a combustion chamber housing a burner located beneath the tank, to a flue gas collection chamber positioned above the tank. The collection chamber is in fluid communication with a blower and a flue gas exhaust line for conveying the flue gases through the exhaust line to a direct through-the-wall vent. Control apparatus is provided for sensing the temperature of the water in the tank and controlling the amount of fuel supplied to the burner in response thereto. The control apparatus turns on the blower when fuel is being supplied to the burner and turns off the blower when no fuel is being supplied to the burner.

I claim: 
     
       1. A water heater having exhaust means .Iadd.for exhausting flue gases from an interior space to an exterior space and .Iaddend.adapted for installation through a through-the-wall vent formed in an upstanding wall, said .Iadd.water .Iaddend.heater having an insulated water tank with a cold water inlet line, a hot water outlet line and a baffled flue pipe extending upwardly through the tank, said flue pipe opening at one end thereof upon a combustion chamber located beneath the tank, said combustion chamber containing a fuel burner, and the other end of said flue pipe opening at the top of the tank upon flue gas collection and exhaust means said collection and exhaust means .Iadd.including a flue gas collector, a flue gas exhaust line and blower means connected to the water heater and being located .Iaddend..[.comprising a collection chamber spaced.]. above said flue pipe, .[.and a flue gas exhaust line, said flue gas exhaust line comprising an airtight, flexible and extendable high temperature accordion pleated conduit with a continuous operating temperature rating above about 200° F..]. said .[.exhaust line having.]. blower means .[.conneced to draw.]. .Iadd.drawing .Iaddend.room air .Iadd.from said interior space .Iaddend.into said .[.collection chamber.]. .Iadd.collector .Iaddend.and said exhaust line along with flue gases .Iadd.to dilute the flue gases and substantially eliminate formation of condensation in the exhaust line .Iaddend.and to convey the .Iadd.diluted .Iaddend.flue gases at a reduced temperature .Iadd.by causing the diluted flue gases to flow along said exhaust line to .Iaddend.said through-the-wall vent .Iadd.and then to said exterior space, .Iaddend.and including control means for sensing the temperature of the water in the tank and controlling the amount of fuel supplied to the burner in response thereto, said control means activating and deactivating the blower means and including means for sensing .Iadd.either when said exhaust line is blocked or when flue gases spill outwardly of said flue gas collector .[.the temperature of said reduced temperature flue gases.]. and for interrupting the flue supplied to the burner in response thereto. 
     
     
       2. The water heater as defined in claim 1, wherein the direct through-the-wall vent comprises: a. an insulated conduit for conveying the flue gases from the flue gas exhaust line through the wall; .Iadd.and .Iaddend.   b. a stationary .[.face plate.]. .Iadd.blocking member .Iaddend.which blocks direct horizontal access to the vent.[.; and   c. a hinged closure plate for blocking the conduit when no gases flow therethrough.]. .   
     
     
       3. The water heater as defined in claim 1 wherein said .[.flexible conduit.]. .Iadd.exhaust line .Iaddend.comprises a wire reinforced ethylene propylene diene monomer. 
     
     
       4. A water heater having exhaust means .Iadd.for exhausting flue gases from an interior space to an exterior space and .Iaddend.adapted for installation through a through-the-wall vent formed in an upstanding wall, said .Iadd.water .Iaddend.heater having an insulated water tank with a cold water inlet line, a hot water outlet line and a baffled flue pipe extending upwardly through the tank, said flue pipe opening at one end thereof upon a combustion chamber located beneath the tank, said combustion chamber containing a .[.flue.]. .Iadd.fuel .Iaddend.burner, and at its other end upon flue gas collection means, said collection means comprising a .[.draft hood.]. .Iadd.flue gas collector connected to the top of the water heater .Iaddend.wherein flue gases and air mix, said .[.draft hood.]. .Iadd.flue gas collector .Iaddend.being in fluid communication with a flexible flue gas exhaust line and blower means .Iadd.positioned at the top of the water heater .Iaddend.for drawing cooler ambient air .Iadd.from the inner space .Iaddend.through said .[.draft hood.]. .Iadd.collector to dilute the flue gases and substantially eliminate formation of condensation in the exahust line .Iaddend.and .[.conveying.]. .Iadd.to cause .Iaddend.the .Iadd.diluted .Iaddend.flue gases .Iadd.to flow .Iaddend.through the exhaust line to .Iadd.the exterior space .Iaddend.through the direct through-the-wall vent at a reduced temperature .[.said exhaust line comprising an airtight and flexible high temperature polymeric conduit with a continuous operating temperature above 200° F.,.]. and including control means for sensing the temperature of the water in the tank and controlling the amount of fuel supplied to the burner in response thereto, said control means activating and deactivating the blower and including means for sensing .[.the temperature of said reduced flue gases .]. .Iadd.either when said exhaust line is blocked or when flue gases spill outwardly of said flue gas collector .Iaddend.and for interrupting the fuel supplied to said burner in response thereto. 
     
     
       5. The water heater as defined in claim 4, wherein the direct through-the-wall vent conprises: a. an insulated conduit for conveying the flue gases from the flue gas exhaust line through-the-wall;   b. a stationary .[.face plate .]. .Iadd.blocking means .Iaddend.which blocks direct horizontal access to the vent; and   c. a hinged closure plate for blocking the conduit when no gases flow therethrough.   
     
     
       6. A water heater having exhaust means .Iadd.for exhausting flue gases from an interior space to an exterior space and .Iaddend.adapted for installation through a through-the-wall vent formed in an upstanding wall, said .Iadd.water .Iaddend.heater having an insulated water tank with a cold water inlet line, a hot water outlet line and a baffled flue pipe extending upwardly through the tank, said flue pipe opening at one end thereof upon a combustion chamber located beneath the tank, said combustion chamber containing a fuel burner, and the other end of said flue pipe opening at the top of the tank upon flue gas collection and exhaust means, said collection and exhaust means comprising a collection chamber .[.spaced .]. .Iadd.mounted to the top of the water heater and .Iaddend.above said flue pipe and a flexible flue gas exhaust line, .[.said exhaust line comprising an airtight and flexible high temperature polymeric conduit with a continuous operating temperature above 200° F., .]. said exhaust line .[.having lower means.]. connected .[.thereto.].  to .Iadd.blower means positioned at the top of the tank to .Iaddend.draw room air .Iadd.from said interior space .Iaddend.into said collection chamber and said exhaust line along with flue gases .Iadd.to dilute the flue gases and substantially eliminate condensation in the exhaust line .Iaddend.and to convey the .Iadd.diluted .Iaddend.glue gases at a reduced temperature .Iadd.by pushing the diluted flue gases along said exhaust line .Iaddend.to said through-the-wall vent .Iadd.and then to said exterior space .Iaddend., and including control means for sensing the temperature of the water in the tank and controlling the amount of fuel supplied to the burner in response thereto, said control means activating and deactivating the blower means .[.in response to the controlling of said fuel and wherein the direct through-the-wall vent comprises (a) an insultaed conduit for conveying the flue gases from the flue gas exhaust line through-the-wall;   (b) a stationary face plate which blocks direct access to the vent; and   (c) a hinged closure plate for blocking the conduit when no gases flow therethrough.]. .Iadd.and including means for detecting either when said exhaust line is blocked or when flue gases spill outwardly of said collection chamber. .Iadd.   
     
     
       7.  The water heater as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for sensing senses the temperature of said reduced temperature flue gases. .Iaddend. .Iadd.8. The water heater as defined in claim 4 wherein the means for sensing senses the temperature of said reduced temperature flue gases. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. The water heater as defined in claim 6 wherein the means for sensing senses the temperature of said reduced temperature flue gases..Iaddend.