CA2033415C - Forced draft direct vent system for a water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

FORCED DRAFT DIRECT VENT SYSTEM
FOR A WATER HEATER
ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION
A combined sir and water temperature conditioning system provides for the heating of potable water and for the heating and cooling of indoor room air in a compact arrange-ment of components. A domestic type gas water heater having a driven draft direct vent system accepts a modular air handler on its top. The air handler comprises a heating coil within a closed loop water system and a pump circulat-ing hot water between the water heater and the air handler coil. A blower in the air handler passes room air across the heating coil to an sir outlet from an air inlet. An insertable second coil connected to a heat pump or air conditioner is optionally provided for heating or cooling air being propelled between the air inlet and outlet.

Description

2~3~415 FQRCED DRAFT DIRECT VENT SYSTEM
FOR A WATER HEATER
The subject matter of this application is related to that of U.S. P~tent 4,925,093 and Canadian Application No.
2,002,488 filed November 8, 1989.
The preeent invention relates to the art of air snd water temperature conditioning, and more particularly to 8 water heater having a driven draft direct vent system combined with a modular air heater for 6upplying heated or cooled air to living space.
BACKGROUND OF THE INYENTION
Indoor water heaters of the domestic type usually comprise an upright generslly cylindrical body including a tank for holding 8 quantity of water to be heated. A burner for natural gas, propane or other fuel is dispoeed within a combustion chamber which i6 associated with the lower region ; 15 of the water heater tank to conduct the heat of combu6tion to the water contained in the tank. The combustion chamber includes a combustion air inlet opening and a flue gs6 outlet opening. A flue pipe extends from the flue ga6 outlet opening to a position at the exterior of the water heater body where a connection is made between the flue pipe ~' and a chimney or other passageway leading to the outdoor atmo6phere. The flue pipe usually extends through the tank of water in order to conduct additional hest into the water from the flue gasee.
A part$cular type of conventional water heater employe sn stmospheric burner to provide the heat of combugtion at the combustion chamber. Combu6tion of fuel in the atmo-~, ~pheric burner normally derives necessary oxygen from the air ~urroundin~ the burner and the water heater. The ~ 30 product6 of coDIbustion are vented by meane of a naturfll ; draft developcd by the heat of combustion at the burner a8 opposed to a draft driven by a fan or blower. Room sir is drawn into the combustion air inlet opening as the heat of . .
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combu~tion causes flue gase~ and heated combu6tion air to flow through the flue gas outlet opening and upwardly through the flue pipe to the chimney connection.
Atmospheric burner water heater~ of thi~ type suffer from several disadvantages. The grestest di~dvantsge arises in the use of room air for combustion nir at the burner. Use of room air inefficiently wastes the energy expended to heat, cool, or humidify that sir since it is wastefully driven out of the building with the exhsust of flue gases. A further loss of room air occurs through the open arrangement of the vent hood over the flue pipe which permits room air to pas~ through the annular ~pace therebe-tween and upwardly to the chimney with the rising flue gases. Another disadvantage is that the heated interior components of the water heater cause a residual convective flow to proceed through the water heater between intermit-tent operations of the burner. Tbis not only wastes room air being drawn in through the combustion chamber inlet ~: opening, but al~o waste~ heat which is con6equently dr~wn out of the heated component~ and the stored quantity of water by the residual convective flow. Furthermore, a draft of room air out of the building through the water heater ; tend6 to cause a corresponding draft of outdoor sir into the building through cracks or other spaces in door and window s 25 fra~es to further disrupt heating or air conditioning s ~ystems.
Another type of dome~tic indoor water heater employs a power burner to provide the heat of combustion. A power burner is a device for providing a mixture of ga~eous fuel and combu~tion air which is calculated to increase the efficiency of fuel consumption. A water heater sy6tem employing a power burner generally uses a centrifugal blower in a housinp, adapted to cau~e a pressurized flow of combus-tion air which i6 mixed with fuel and directed to the combu6tion chamber of the water heater. The flue pipe in ` 20334~
such heaters may extend ~rom the combu~tion chamber outlet opening through the tank of water in either a strai~ht or an non-linear configuration to a position at the exterior of the water heater where a connection is made to a chimney or conduit extending to the outdoor atmosphere. A combustion air inlet conduit may be provided to extend from the outdoor stmosphere to the combustion chamber inlet opening to complete a driven draft direct vent system which vent6 the combu~tion chamber to the outdoor atmosphere in i~olation from indoor room air. One ~uch water heater is de6cribed in Patent 4,766,883 assigned to the a~signee of thi6 applica-tion Water heater6 having power burner~ al60 6uffer from 6everal disadvantages. A complex control 6ystem is required to operate the gas valve and to operate the blower. A
complex fuel pres6ure regulating device requiring precise ad~ustment upon in6tallation is often u6ed. Power burner system6 also di6advantageou61y consume electricity to drive the centri~ugal blower and to operate the control ~y~tem in addition to the consumption of ga6eous fuel. Centrifugal blowers con6ume greater amounts of electrical energy than do simple propeller fans, but ure u6ed in order to meet the pres6ure requirement6 of the power burner as well ae to drive the venting flow. Furthermore, if 8 direct vent sy6tem i6 not provided and combu6tion air is drawn from the surrounding room in~tead of from the outdoor atmo6phere, the higher pre66ure requirement6 of the power burner 6y6tem will csuse sn even greater 1066 of conditioned room air thsn i6 experienced in the natural draft atmospheric burner 6ystems described above.
It iB sometime6 de6irable to employ the heated water from the water heater to hest room air in the building in which the water heater is installed. Water hesters havlng power burner 6y6tems sre known to have been adspted for this purpo~c. Heated water iB pumped from the tsnk in the water ; -3-":;
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heater to a coil exposed to the room air, and i~ returned to - the tank in a cycle separate from the ordinary flow of hot - snd cold po~able water through the water he~ter snd as60ci-- ated plumbing. The coil is as60ciated with an exi6ting 6p~ce heating sy~tem at sn ~ir duct or plenum. Such st-tcmpts to provide a combinstion water heater-6pace heater thus require plumbing connection~ to be made through the room ~pace bctween the water heater and the existing 6pace heating sy6tem, and disadvantsgeously occupy and limit available room space in utility rooms or otber 6imilarly crampcd indoor location6 where these appliances must be - instslled. Such 6y6tems also require an "engineered"
approach in that matching of the water heater to existing or available space heating components can be complex.
; 15 Di~advantage~ common to both atmospheric burner snd power burner 6ystem6 include the location of the ga6 valve and as60cisted component6 at the exterior of tbe water heater body. Expo6ure of the6e component6 could sub~ect them to damage upon 6hipment or in6tallation, or to improper ad~u6tment by untrsined per~onnel after installation. These component~ also present a 60mewhat inappropriate appearance for a fini6hed ba6ement utility room, laundry room or other common hou6ehold locstion of 8 wster hester.
Known water heaters are thus scen to fail to provide a - 25 venting system which efficiently operates in isolation from indoor room air without requiring the use of complex elec-trical components such as fluid pre66ure regulstor6 and en~rgy con6uming centrifugal blowcrs, or to provide an unobtrusiv¢ and compact arrangement of components to 6erve a8 a combin~tion water heater and space heater.
In U.S. Patent 4,925,093, an invention overcoming many o~ the above-referred to disadvantages i8 disclosed. The invention provides ~or an indoor domestic type gas heater having a driven dra~t direct vent system ~or ~ .
, an atmospheric burner. The invention is also adaptable for use 8S a combination water heater and 6pace heater. Thi~
system provide~ not only for the heating of water for human con~umption and use, but also for the heating of indoor room air.
~` Tbe spsce heater i6 located stop of the water heater ; and includes a coil in a closed cycle water loop extending between the water heater tank and the space heater. The ~pace heater i6 adapted to heat room air by flow across the coil heated by hot water from the water tank.
Although the vertical alignment of the water heater and space heater is a compsct and space saving arrangement, elements such as the pipe linkage and an a6sociated pump for communicating water between the two components i6 exposed.
~ lS Moreover, the linkage prevent6 ea6y attachment and 6epara-- tion of the two components. Con6equently, 6kill and knowl-edge of the 6tructure i6 nece66ary to replace snd/or 6epa-rste the water heater from the space heater ~hould either need replacement or repair.
SUMMARY OF TH~ INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the sbove-referred to di~advantages and others and provides an indoor domestic , type ga~ water heater having a driven draft direct vent sy~tem for an atmospheric burner, and which is adaptsble for use a~ a combined ~ir and water temperature cond$tioning sy~tem for heating wster and for hestin8 or cooling indoor room air in a compact and rugged arrangement of components.
In sccordance with the invention, there iB provided a combined air snd wster temperature conditioning system for hesting water and for hesting indoor room air, compri6ing a do~estic type water heater and an air handler. The water hester include~ a tsnk hsving a cold water supply inlet, a hot wster supply outlet, 8 water circulator outlet snd a water circulator inlet. The air handler ia mounted on top .< 35 of the water heater and has a hou~ing, sn air blower , ..
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situated in an sir path between an air inlet snd an air outlet, snd a water fed heating coil situated in the air path and having a water inlet connected to the circulator outlet of the wa~er heater and a water outlet connected to ? 5 the circulator inlet of the water heater. As a result, water i~ heated by the water heater for humsn consumption -~ and for use by the air handler in heating room air.
Yet another feature of the invention is an air handler of modular design having the water outlet and inlet located at its base which i~ contiguou~ to the top of the water heater. The water inlet and outlet i8 connected to the water heater circulator outlet and inlet, re6pectively, located at the top of the water heater.
Further in accordance with the invention, the water outlet and inlet are provided with quick disconnect cou-plings to the water heater circulator inlet and outlet.
Yet further in accordance with the invention, said air ~; handler is provided with a water circulator pump within the air handler housing selectively driving circulation of water throu~,h the heating coil and a circulator pump and blower controller within the housing activating and deactivating ; the pump and blower.
Still further in accordance with the invention, a second coil i6 provided in the sir p~th in the air handler housing adapted to provide air conditioning and/or supple-mental heating.
In accordance wi~h ànother specific feature of the invention, brack¢ts are provided on both sides of said air handler housing whereby ssid second coil may be slidably in~erted snd mounted in either a right hand pos~ion or n left hand position.
In accordance ~ith a further aspect of the invention, the second coil i~ connected to an air conditioner condenser unit and the pump and blower controller include~ switches which allow actuation oP the blower without actuation of the , :
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circulator pump, whereby the air handler ~electively func-tions to cool room air.
- The primsry object of the invention iB to provide 8 self-contained unit for heating water and for heating and/or cooling room air which i~ compact, modular in design and allow6 the air handler to be separated from the water heater in the field.
Another object of the invention is to provide 8 system for extracting heat from water heated by 8 water heater and transferring the heat to room air which is compsct and rugged.
A further object of the invention i6 to provide 8 combined air and water temperature conditioning 6y6tem which con~erves spsce and which can be placed within a small room, such as a closet, due to its compact arrangement of compo-nent6.
Yet another object of the present invention i6 to provide a combined air and water temperature conditioning sy6tem which can be located up to 25 feet from a chimney or exterior wall, which produce~ exhaust ga~e~ which can be transported in high temperature pla6tic pipe, which use6 outside air for combustion air, and which can be mounted directly ad~acent interior walls.
Still another object of the invention i6 to provide a combined air and water temperature conditioning sy6tem which includes sn infiertable second coil on the right or left side of a housing for connection to an air conditioner conden6ing unit or heat pump.
These and other ob~ect6 of the invention will become appsrent from the following detailed description of a prefsrred embodiment thereof and from the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
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Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a water heater constructed in accordsnce with one aspect of the invention;
;. Figure 2 is 8 top plan view of the water heater ~hown in Figure l;
` 5Figure 3 is a cro~-6ectional view taken on line 3-3 of -- Figure 2;
Figure 4 i8 a front elevational view of the water heater shown in Figure 1 as provided with a forced draft direct vent sy6tem;
: 10Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the water -~: hester shown in Figure 1 as adapted as a combination water heater;
Figure 6 is a ~ide elevational view of the combination water heater and space heater ehown in Figure 5;
15Figure 7 is a top plan view of the combination water heater and ~pace heater shown in Figure 5;
Figure 8 is a front elevational view of a second ' embodiment of a combined space and water temperature condi-tioning eystem in accordsnce with the invention;
20Figure 9 i6 a side elevational view taken on line 9-9 of the combined air and water temperature conditioning system shown in Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a top plan view partially cut away on line 10-10 of the combined ~pace and water temperature condition-25ing sy6tem of Figure 8; and, Figure 11 i~ an i~ometric view of the air handler of the combined air and water temperature conditioning system shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawing~ wherein the showings are 35for the purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of .~
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- the invention only snd not for the purpose of limiting the same, in Figure 1 there is shown 8 front elevstional view of ~ water heater constructed in accordance with the invention.
The water heater 10 ha~ generslly elongated upright exteri-or contour defined by a cylindrical exterior wall 12 and a generally flat top surface 14, snd includes 8 tank 16 adapted to store a quantity of water to be heated, a cold water inlet 18 fed by a cold water source line 19, 8 hot - water outlet 20 feeding a potable hot water line 21, a pre6sure and temperature relief vslve 22, snd a submerge~
combustion chamber 24 associsted with the tank 16 to conduct hest of combustion to the stored water. In the preferred embodiment the combu6tion chsmber 24 i6 8 submerged type combustion chamber as disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
4,660,541 and Canadian Patent 1,252,678. The combustion chamber 24 include6 an inlet opening 26 and a outlet opening .~ 28. A flue pipe 30 extends from the outlet opening 28 vertically through the tank 14 to an open upper end 32 st the top 6urface 14 of the water heater 10. The flue pipe 30 lncludes 8 lower end 34 extending downwardly into the combustion chamber 24 snd having 8 flue gas inlct opening 36 fscing in a direction away from the combuetion chamber inlet opening 26 as 6hown. The flue pipe 30 may include baffles 38 in 8 conventional manner. A flue collector box 40 is provided over the open upper end 32 of the flue pipe 30 to define an air flow passsgeway between the flue pipe 30 snd an outlet conduit mean~ to be described in detail hereinaf-tcr with reference to Figure 4.
A combu~tion mesns is provided to include an stmospher-ic burner, 8 gss vslve, snt a gss igniter. An atmospheric burncr 42 extend6 into the combustion chsmber 24 through the :
f,' combustion chsmber inlet opening 26. Shown schemsticslly in Figure 3 is 8 gss vslve 44 sdspted to controllsbly permit a ;, flow of gascous fuel from 8 00urce (not ~hown) to the ~ 35 atmospheric burner 42. The stmospheric burner 42 hss sn sir ., , _9_ ,'', .

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opening (not ~hown) into which combustion air is drawn by the flowing gaseous fuel for mixture therewith. Al~o shown schematicslly in Fi~ure 3 i6 an igniter 46 adapted to i~nite the mixture of fuel and air. The igniter 46 may al80 serve as a flame detector as part of a safety shut-down 6ystem in a known manner. ~lso shown scbematically in Figure 3 is an air pressure sensor 48 which is operatively connected to the combustion means through a first electrical connection 50.
A water temperature thermostat means 52 extends through the exterior body wall 12 into the tank 14.
A housing 54 is positioned at the side of the water - heater 10 to define, along with the water heater exterior body wall 12, an air pressure chamber 56. The air pressure chamber 56 has a first opening 58 communicating with the exterior of the housing 54, and a second opening 6n communi-cating the air pressure chamber 56 with the combu6tion chamber 24. The second opening 60 of air pressure chamber 56 preferably coincides with the combustion chamber inlet opening 26. As shown in the figures, the housing 54 enclos-e8 the atmospheric burner 42, the gas valve 44, the igniter 46, the pressure sensor 48, and the thermostat means 52.
Disposed within the housing 54 adjacent the fir~t opening 58 is a combufition air propeller fan 70. The fan 70 is opera-tively connected to the thermo~tat means 52 by a second electrical connection 72. In the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the fan 70 is positioned to drive a forced draft as opposed to an induced draft, but the invention is understood not to be limited to this preferred type of driven draft. To provide service access to the enclosed components, the housing 54 may be releasably attached to the , water hester exterior body wsll 12 by vertical s1iding ,~ bracket~ 74 or other releasable fastening mean~, or may be more securely attached, such as with machine screws.
- Alternatively, an access panel could be provided in the -; 35housin~. Gaskets may be provided as required. An air flow .
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path reaching into ~he combu~tion chamber and including an air pressure zone in which the draft air pressure developed ~ by the fan is sensed and rcacted to by the air pressure ;; sensor is thus provided.
Operation of the forced draft system is initiated when ., the thermostat means 52 detects a minimum or a low water temperature within the tank 14. The thermostat means 52 then csuses the combustion air fan 70 to draw sir in through the fir~t opening 58 thereby to pres~urize the air pressure chamber 56. The air pressure sensor 48 responds to a predetermined level of increased pres6ure within the air pressure chamber 56 to activste operation of the combustion means, which energizes the igniter 46 and opens the gas valve 44, preferably after an igniter warm-up period. A
. 15 force draft proceed~ as combustion air flows through the sir : pres6ure chamber 56 into the combu6tion chamber 24, and as the flue gases and heated combustion air are driven out of the combustion chamber 24 through the flue pipe 30 to the flue collector box 40 at the top of the water hester lO.
The thermostat mesns 52 shuts down the combustion air fan 70 upon detection of a predetermined elevated water tempera-ture, thus causing a reduction in pressure w~thin the air pressure chamber 56. The air pressure sensor 48 then : responds to the reduced pressure to shut down the combustion ~eans until the heating cycle is repeated.
As shown in Figure 4, the water heater 10 is provided . with a direct vent ~ystem including a condui~ assembly 80 ;' extending from the water heater 10 through an exterior ~, building wall B to the outdoor atmosphere A. The conduit assembly 80 comprises an outlet conduit 82 communicating the flue collector box 40 wi~h the outdoor atmosphere A, and an inl¢t conduit 84 communicating the outdoor atmospherc A with the ~irst opcning 58 of thc housing 54. The outlet condui~
~,, 82 include~ a horizontal outlet condui~ section 86 extend-'~ 35 ing from the flue collector box 40 to a po~ition spaced away , ,;
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from the exterior body wall 12 of the water heater lO. The inlet condui~ ~4 likewi~e ex~end~ laterally away from the water heater 10 before turning vertically upward a~ shown.
The outlet condui~ 82 and the inlet conduit 84 separately communicate wi~h the outdoor atmosphere A at a co~on vent terminal 88.
As 6hown in Figures 5 through 7, the water heater 10 may be adapted as a combination water heater and space heater in accordance with the invention. An air hsndler lO0 is mounted atop the water heater 10 on 8 framework compri~-ing bracket~. 101. The horizontal outlet conduit 6ection 86 extends from the flue collector box 40 beneath the air handler 100. The air handler lO0 is provided with a hot water coil connection 102 and a cold water coil connection 104. A hot water coil 103 within the air handler lO0 is connected to a water line communicsting with the hot water coil connection 102 and with the cold water coil connection 104. A coil ~upply llne 106 extends from the hot water outlet 20 at the water heater 10 to the hot water coil connection 102 at the air handler 100 separstely from the potable hot water line 21 and includes a pump 108. A coil return line 110 extends from the cold water coil connection 104 at the air handler 100 to the cold water inlet 18 at the water heater 10 separately from the cold water source line 19. A duct opcning 112 at the top of the air handler 100 i6 adapted for connection to the duct work of the ~pace heating ~ sy~tem of the building in which the combination water heater .l and space heater i~ in6talled. Al~o included within the air handler 100 and not shown in the drawings i~ an air blower adapted to draw indoor room air into the air handler 100 and ! to cause a prcssurized flow of the indoor room air across the hot water coil. The combination water heater and space ~,; heater thus provide~ n source of heat for indoor room air at the hot water coil which ~ brought to an elevated ;

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temperature by circulation of hot water through the combined components by the pump 108.
In Figure 8, there i6 shown a front elevational view of a ~econd combined air and water temperature conditioning ; 5 sy6tem in accordance with the invention. The water heater 210 has a generally elongated upri~,h~ exterior contour defined by a cylindrical exterior wall 212 snd 8 generally flat top urf~ce 214. The water heater 210 includes a tank adapt~d to ~tore a qu~ntity o~ water to be heated, 8 cold water inlet 218 fed by a cold water source line 219, ~ hot water outlet 220 dispensing potable hot water, a water circulator outlet 202 dispensing hot water to the air handler 300, 8 water circulstor inlet 204 receiving wster from the sir handler 300, and a temperature and pressure rclief valve 222. Tbe water heater 210 further comprises 8 housing 254 associ~ted with 8 driven draft direct vent sy6tem for providing an sir pres~ure chamber for a combus-tion chamber not shown. Penetrsting the housing 254 i6 a first opening 258 which permit6 air to flow into the air pre~6ure chamber within the hou~ing 254 and a gs6 inlet 260 ~upplying ga~ to sn ~tmospheric burner within a combu6tion chamber not 6hown. The operstion and structure of the water -' heater 210 i6 ~imilsr to the structure and operation of the vater heater 10 previously described.
-~ 25 The air hsndlor 300 is mounted at the top surfsce 214 of the water heater 210. A horizontsl outlet conduit section 386 (FTGURE 9) extends from the flue collector box 340 snd permits the expul~ion of flue gsses from the wster hester 210. The air hsndler 300 i6 provided with a quick di6connect type water inlet 302 and a quick disconnect type water outlet 304 connected respectively to the water circu-lstor outlet 202 and the water circulator inlet 204 of the water heater 210. A hot water heat exchanger coil 390 i6 ~: placed wi~hin the air hsndler 300. The coil 390 receives ': 35 hot wa~er through a water line 303 communicsting with the ,...
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MI-~117 203~15 water inlet 302. Water flow~ from the coil 390 through a w~terline 305 into 8 pump 308 and is returned to the water heater through a w~terline 309 and a wster outlet 304 when the pump 308 is operating. Arrows in Figure 8 indicate the direction of w~ter flow.
Air ~low through the air hsndler 300 i~ shown by dashed arrows in FIGURE 8. Indoor rooLI air enters sn ~ir inlet 310 shown on the right side psnel of the air hsndler 300. It i~
appreciated that this inlet may be situated on any side of the air handler 300. In the preferred embodiment provision~
are made for right side or left side entry (FIG. 11). After entry into air inlet 310, the air continues through blower 392 which propels the air through the hot wster coil 390 and ultimately out from air outlet 312. An insertable second coil 394 i8 optionally mounted within the flow path of air rlmning through the air handler 300. The in6ertsble coil may be a he~tin~ and cooling coil from a heat pump or a cooling coil from an air conditioner. As a heating coil, it can be used alone or to supplement the heating coil 390 to transmit heat to incoming air. If the insertsble second coil is a cooling coil, the air handler 300, upon deactiva-tion of the pump 308 through appropriate switches, normally associated with a home thermostat, may be utilized as a cooling system for indoor room sir. The insertsble ~econd coil i8 provided with sn sd~ustsble metering device 393 to restrict the flow of coolant through the coil 394 to sccept-able levels when the unit i~ used with a one ton, one snd a hal~ ton, or two ton capacity air conditioning condenser.
Figure 9 i6 a 6ide elevational view of the combined air ~nd wuter temperature conditioning system shown in Figure 8.
The blower 392 i~ situa~ed in the air path and draws air through the insertable second coil 394 from the sir inlet 310 and propel~ the air through coil 390 and out of air outlet 312.
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20334~5 The blower 392 is conventionally driven by an electric motor (not shown). The blower 392 and the pump 308 are furnished power, and thus controlled, by an air handler controller 320 (FIGURE 8 only) through electrical line6 322 and 324 respectively. When sir cooling i6 called for, tbe blower 392 i8 turned on and room air drawn through the insertable second coil 394 where it is cooled by action of a conventional air conditioner arrangement. The pump 308 is not energized and air is not heated by pa~sing through the coil 340. The stopped pump 308 prevents the convective flow ; of water through the air handler 300 and conserve~ the heated water in the water heater 210.
When air heating is required by the home thermostat, the blower i~ turned on by the controller 320. If the building being heated is provided with a heat pump and the heat pump has been selected as the primary source of heat, the heat pump is activated and heated fluid i6 pas6ed throup,h the insertable coil heat exchanger 394. The opera-tion of the blower 392 draws air through the coil 394, heating it, and discharge6 it through the air outlet 312 ; into the building heating ducts. Should conditions, such as extreme weather, prevent the heat pump from supplying ~, adequate heat, the controller 320, turns the pump 308 on and hot water i8 drawn from the water heater 210 through the heater cxchanger coil 390. The building air iB heated as it ~,~ pa6ses through the coil 390. Ae heat is drawn from the water heater 210, the water heater control6, as described wlth respect to FIGVRE 3, activate the burner and heat is ~' ~upplied to the water. The control components and logic ~- 30 used to control a heat pump and heat source of the present ,. invention in this mode of operation have conventionally been used to control sn electric resistance heating element or the like in an electric home furnace. Electric re6istance heatlnR is significantly more expensive than gas heating, ae used in the present invention.

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When the air handler 300 is u~ed without a heat pump, the pump 308 and the blower 392 are turned on in unison when heat i8 dematlded.
Importantly, the electrical control systems for the air ; 5 handler 300 snd the wa~er heater 210 are completely sepa-rate, should one of these systems fail or malfunction, tbe other is not eff~cted. Further, the mechanical elements of the air handler 300 and the water hester 210 are modular in design and easily di~connected. Should either the air handler 300 or the water heater 210 require replacement or removal for repair, the air handler 300 can be ea~ily removed from the water heater 210. Disconnection of the disconnect~ 302, 304 and physical separation of the devices 8110ws one to remove either without disconnecting the other.
A new unit can then be inserted without undue difficulty.
An arrow associsted wi~h the water heater horizontal flue gas outlet conduit section 386 il]ustrates the flow path of flue gases emitted from the water heater 210. An ~ srrow associated with the first opening 258 of the housing ;, 20 2S4 indicates the flow path of indoor room air into the air pressure chamber related to the combustion chamber of the water heater 210. Both of these flow paths are substsntial-' ly independent and do not interfere with modulurity.
Fi~ure 10 iB a top plan view of the combined air and water temperature conditioning ~ystem of Figures 8 and 9. A
~I circular phantom line illu~trates the wall 212 of the water i~ heater 210 and, thue, the compact footprint of the entire - system. An arrow indicates the flow path of incoming indoor room air into the ~ir handler air inlet 310, either from a , 30 cold air return duct or through a louver, which eventually 7 i~ tran~mitted through coil 390 located above the panel 400.
Figure 11 illustrates an isometric view of the housing -~ 301 of the air handler 300. The insertable second coil 394 may be situa~ed in the air path of the air handler 300 on either the right or left side to accommodate air return duct 'h ., 2~33~5 work or the like. Any type of coil known in the art for heating or cooling or both can be utilized re6ulting in a versatile building air heating snd/or cooling ~ystem. As previously described, the in~ertsble second coil 394 may be S connected to an air conditioner or heat pump. Insertion of insertable second coil 394 into bracket 395 i8 indicated by - a corresponding arrow. The installed location of the coil 394 is in a po~ition in line with incoming room air flowing through the air inlet 310. An alternative bracket 397 permits insertion of the in6ertable second coil 394 on the side of the air hsndler 300 opposing the bracket 3g5. This alternative in~ertion of insertable second coil 394 would require a cutout in the housing 301 for admis6ion of incom-ing air.
While not shown in the drawings, a check valve 6hould be in6erted in the piping to the hot water coil 390 to prevent thermosyphoning snd a bleed valve located near the coil 390 to purge sir from the system.
The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. nbviously, modificstion6 and altera-tions will occur to other6 upon the reading and understand-ing of the 6pecification. It iB intended to include all such modifications and alteration6 insofar a6 they come within the scope of the appended claims and the equivalent6 , 25 thereof.

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Claims (20)

1. A combined air and water temperature conditioning system for heating water and for heating or cooling indoor room air, comprising:
a domestic type water heater including a water tank having a cold water supply inlet, a hot water supply outlet, a water circulator outlet, a water circulator inlet, a top having a top edge, a combustion chamber wherein fuel is consumed producing products of combustion adjoining said tank whereby heat is directly transferred from said combustion chamber to said tank, a flue communicating with said combustion chamber passing through said tank and exiting said top, a modular air handler mounted on said top of said water heater having a housing with an air inlet and an air outlet, an air blower situated in an air path within said housing between said air inlet and said air outlet, a water-fedheating coil situated in said air path and having a water inlet connected to said circulator outlet of said water heater and a water outlet connected to said circulator inlet of said water heater and a water pump located in said housing adapted to cause circulation of water from said water heater to said heating coil when energized, and a flue gas conduit having a substantially horizontal segment positioned below said air handler communicating with said flue, said horizontal segment conducting the products of combustion laterally beyond the edge of said top end.

2. A combined air and water temperature conditioning system as defined in claim 1, wherein said water circulator inlet is located on said waterheater top and said water heater circulation outlet is located on said water heater top.

3. A combined air and water temperature conditioning system as defined in claim 1, wherein said air handler water outlet and said air handler water inlet are detachably connected to said water heater circulator inlet and circulator outlet.

4. A combined air and water temperature conditioning system as defined in claim 1, wherein said air handler has a generally rectangular housing, said air inlet is located on a side of said air handler housing and said air outlet is located on the top of said air handler.

5. A combined air and water temperature conditioning system as defined in claim 1, wherein said air handler includes an insertable coil for affecting the temperature of air flowing in said air path in said air handler.

6. A combined air and water temperature conditioning system as defined in claim 5, wherein said insertable coil is located adjacent said air inlet.

7. A combined air and water temperature conditioning system as defined in claim 6, wherein said insertable coil is adapted to cool air flowing in said air path in said air handler.

8. A combined air and water temperature conditioning system as defined in claim 5, wherein said insertable coil is mounted in said air handler by sliding type brackets.

9. A combined air and water temperature conditioning system for heating water and for cooling or heating indoor room air, comprising:
a domestic type water heater having a water tank having a top end, a top edge, a combustion chamber wherein fuel is consumed producing products of combustion adjoining said tank whereby heat is directly transferred from said combustion chamber to said tank, a flue communicating with said combustion chamber passing through said tank and exiting said top end, a flue gas conduit having a substantially horizontal segment, an air handler of modular design mounted atop of said water heater having a blower adapted to provide a current of air across a heating coil containing water from said water heater, and said water heater having a top adapted to accommodate said modular air handler on said top, said flue gas conduit horizontal segment extending laterally beyond said top edge below said air handler and the combination of said air handler and said water heater forming a self-contained unit with water heated by said water heater being transferred to and returned from said air handler internally to said unit.

10. A combined air and water temperature conditioning system as defined in claim 9, wherein said water heater includes a driven draft direct vent system comprising a housing associated with the exterior of said water heater body to provide an air pressure chamber defined in part by said water heater body and in part by walls of said housing, said air pressure chamber having a first opening communicating with the exterior of said housing, and a second opening communicating with a combustion air inlet passage, a combustion air fan operatively associated with said first opening to move air into said air pressure chamber, and an inlet conduit assembly extending from said first opening to the outdoor atmosphere.

11. A combined air and water temperature conditioning system as defined in claim 9, wherein said water heater includes a flue pipe terminating at an open end atop said water heater and an outlet conduit assembly communicating said open end of said flue pipe with the outdoor atmosphere, said outlet conduit assembly including a first section extending horizontally from said open end of said flue pipe to a position laterally spaced from said water heater.

12. A combined air and water temperature conditioning system as defined in claim 9, wherein said air handler has a generally rectangular housing, said air inlet is located on a side of said housing and said outlet is located on the top of said housing.

13. A combined air and water temperature conditioning system as defined in claim 9, wherein said air handler includes an insertable coil means for affecting the temperature of said current of air.

14. A combined air and water temperature conditioning system as defined in claim 10, wherein said water heater has an electrical control system and said air handler has an electrical control system and said water heater electrical control system is entirely separate from said air handler electrical control circuit.

15. A modular combination water heater and space heater comprising:
a water heater adapted to heat a body of water having a top end, a water containing tank, a combustion chamber adjoining said tank wherein fuel is consumed producing products of combustion adjoining said tank whereby heat is directly transferred from said combustion chamber to said tank, a flue communicating with said combustion chamber passing through said tank and exiting said top end, a flue gas conduit segment conducting said products of combustion away from said water heater, a cold water inlet, and a hot water outlet;
an air handler assembly comprising a housing, a water line including a hot water coil connection opening to the exterior of said housing, a coil supply line communicating said hot water outlet with said hot water coil connection, a cold water coil connection opening to the exterior of said housing, a coil return line communicating said cold water inlet with said cold water coil connection, a coil within said housing communicating said hot water coil connection with said cold water coil connection, a duct opening communicating the exterior of said housing with the surface of said coil, and a blower adapted to move air into said housing through said duct opening and across said coil, said housing being mounted to said top end of said water heater above said flue gas conduit segment; and a pump moving hot water from said water heater tank to said air handler through said water line.

16. A combination water heater and space heater comprising:
a water heater adapted to heat a body of water having a water containing tank, a combustion chamber adjoining said tank in which fuel is consumed producing heat and products of combustion whereby heat is directly transferred from said combustion chamber to said tank, a top end, a cold water circulator inlet, a hot water circulator outlet, a flue communicatingwith said combustion chamber passing through said tank and exiting said top end and a water heater thermostat sensing the temperature of water in said tank and initiating operation of said water heater in response to a low temperature condition within said tank;
an air handler assembly mounted on said top end comprising a housing; a water line comprising a heat exchanger, a pump, a cold water return line communicating said heat exchanger to said cold water circulator inlet, a hot water line communicating said heat exchanger to said hot water circulator outlet; an inlet air opening, an outlet air opening, a blower adaptedto move air into said inlet opening, through said heat exchanger and out said outlet opening, a control unit controlling said blower and said pump in response to demand for air heating.

17. The combination water heater and space heater of claim 16 wherein said water circulator inlet is in said top end, said water circulator outlet is in said top end, said pump is contained within said housing; and, saidair handler water line is contained within said housing and between said housing and said water heater.

18. The combination water heater and space heater of claim 16 wherein said flue communicates with a flue gas conduit having a substantially horizontal segment positioned below said air handler assembly communicating with said flue, said horizontal segment conducting the products of combustion laterally beyond the edge of said top end.

19. The combination water heater and space heater of claim 16 wherein said water heater additionally comprises a cylindrical side wall, a cold water source inlet in said side wall and a potable hot water outlet in saidside wall.

20. A combination water heater and space heater comprising:
a water heater adapted to heat a body of water having a water containing tank, a combustion chamber adjoining said tank in which fuel is consumed producing heat and products of combustion whereby heat is directly transferred from said combustion chamber to said tank, a top end having an edge, a cold water inlet, a hot water outlet and a flue communicating with said combustion chamber passing through said tank and exiting said top end;
an air handler assembly comprising a housing, a water line comprising a hot water coil connection, a coil supply line communicating said hot water outlet with said hot water coil connection, a cold water coil connection, a coilreturn line communicating said cold water inlet with said cold water coil connection, a coil within said housing communicating said hot water coil connection with said cold water coil connection, a duct opening communicating the exterior of said housing with the surface of said coil and a blower adapted to move air into said housing through said duct opening and across said coil, said housing being mounted to said top end of said water heater;
a flue gas conduit having a substantially horizontal segment positioned below said air handler assembly communicating with said flue, said horizontal segment conducting the products of combustion laterally beyond the edge of said top end.