GB1579603A - Heating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO HEATING APPARATUS (71) We, E. L. M. LEBLANC, a French Societe Anonyme, of 123 et 125 rue Diderot, 93700 Drancy, France, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement.

The present invention relates to a roomsealed, gas-operated heating apparatus, and in particular to a flue for extracting the products of combustion from such equipment. In particular it is aimed at improving the evacuation of products of combustion from room-sealed gas-operated waterheaters of the fan type.

It is well known that the combustion chamber of combustion equipment communicates with the exterior of the premises in which the equipment is located by way of two ducts generally arranged concentrically, one duct supplying the burner with air necessary for combustion, and the other exhausting the burnt gases resulting from combustion. These two ducts pass through the wall of the premises, and at their ends communicating with the outside air they are capped by a vent device which ensures that fresh air and burnt gases are correctly circulated.

The above mentioned concentric arrangement of the ducts provides good results as regards circulation of fresh air and burnt gases. However, the concentric arrangement lacks versatility since the outlet of the extractor fan mounted on the combustion equipment has to coincide very precisely with the ducts. It is therefore necessary to adapt the extractor fan to suite each possible arrangement of outlet ducting communicating with the exterior of the premises. For example, the outlet ducting may be directed upwards, to the rear, to the left or to the right, depending upon which wall or partition offers the best position for extending the outlet therethrough.

It has been proposed to fit the extractor fan with an adjustable outlet so that the burnt gases can be evacuated at any selected side of the combustion equipment or at its top. In known constructions of this kind, the outlet takes the form of an adjustable tubular elbow. Such a solution achieves the object aimed at in an efficient way, but it suffers from the disadvantages that its use necessitates work being carried out within the equipment.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution which eliminates this drawback.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a room-sealed, gasoperated heating apparatus comprising an extractor fan for exhausting the products of combustion, and a flue system comprising four tubular ducts together making up a cruciform-shaped duct element connected to the outlet of the extractor fan whereby products of combustion passing through one said ducts, thereby forming an inlet duct of said element, are evacuated through one of the other three ducts of the element, the two remaining ducts being blocked, so that the products of combustion may be evacuated, as required, in any one of three directions thus made available.

In an embodiment of the invention for use with combustion equipment of the type having an extractor fan whose outlet opening is not coaxial with that of the heating apparatus the ducts comprising the two oppositely extending arms of the element art of mutually different lengths.

In order that the invention may be better understood, several embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional plan view of a fan-type boiler fitted with one embodiment of the device in accordance with the inven tion; Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 and illustrates a further embodiment of the invention; and Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 and illustrates another way of fitting the device of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, an air-tight boiler 1 is provided with an extractor fan 2 for evacuating the products of combustion.

These products are evacuated through a fan system 3 extending through the wall 4 of the premises in which the gas-operated heating apparatus is located.

The extractor fan 2 is provided with a cruciform-shaped tubular element 5 which permits discharge of the products of combustion in any required direction through one of three outlet ducts 6, 7 or 8 which form part of the element. The ducts not used for evacuation purposes, i.e. the ducts 6 and 7 in the example illustrated, are blocked by means of plugs 9 each provided with a flexible seal 10. The arrows indicate the direction of air flow.

Thus, in order to install the apparatus, all that is required is to uncover that one of the three discharge openings of the tubular element 5 which is required for the particular situation and to connect the discharge pipes thercto.

The embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 is used in the case where the discharge opening of the extractor fan 2' is not coaxial with the heating apparatus. In this embodiment the right-hand and left-hand ducts 6' and 8' respectively of the cruciform-shaped tubular element 5' are of different lengths.

The cruciform-shaped tubular element 6 and 6' with which the extractor fan is provided may be manufactured in different ways, for example in the form of two symmetrical shells produced by a pressing operation and joined by a crimping or welding operation; alternatively the element may be a single casting or it may he made up from lap-jointed tubes.

The cruciform-shaped tubular element may have rounded portions where the ducts thereof are joined to each other, so as to promote flow of the gases.

it will have been seen from the foregoing description that, due to the arrangements in accordance with the invention, fan-type combustion equipment can be connected to a fan irrespective of whether this is located to the rear of the equipment or at either of its sides, and the device can be used without the need for carrying out work within the combustion equipment.

Figure 3 illustrates a further possible way of fitting the device in accordance with the invention. In this variant the device is fitted to the rear of the heating apparatus. and use is made of the duct 7" whereas, as described above, the ducts 6" and 8" are blocked off.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A room-sealed, gas-operated heating apparatus comprising an extractor fan for exhausting the products of combustion, and a flue system comprising four tubular ducts together making up a cruciform-shaped duct element connected to the outlet of the extractor fan whereby products of combustion passing through one of said ducts, thereby forming an inlet duct of said element, are evacuated through one of the other three ducts of the element, the two remaining ducts being blocked, so that the products of combustion may be evacuated, as required, in any one of three directions thus made available.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ducts of said element that are not used are closed by plugs each provided with a flexible seal.

3. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the shape of said tubular element is such as to provide rounded portions at the places where the ducts join each other, thus promoting the flow of gas.

4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the outlet opening of the extractor fan is not coaxial with that of the heating apparatus and wherein the ducts comprising the two oppositely extending arms of the element are of mutually different lengths.

5. A room-sealed, gas-operated heating apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which takes the form of a water heater.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. tion; Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 and illustrates a further embodiment of the invention; and Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 and illustrates another way of fitting the device of Figure 1. Referring to Figure 1, an air-tight boiler 1 is provided with an extractor fan 2 for evacuating the products of combustion. These products are evacuated through a fan system 3 extending through the wall 4 of the premises in which the gas-operated heating apparatus is located. The extractor fan 2 is provided with a cruciform-shaped tubular element 5 which permits discharge of the products of combustion in any required direction through one of three outlet ducts 6, 7 or 8 which form part of the element. The ducts not used for evacuation purposes, i.e. the ducts 6 and 7 in the example illustrated, are blocked by means of plugs 9 each provided with a flexible seal 10. The arrows indicate the direction of air flow. Thus, in order to install the apparatus, all that is required is to uncover that one of the three discharge openings of the tubular element 5 which is required for the particular situation and to connect the discharge pipes thercto. The embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 is used in the case where the discharge opening of the extractor fan 2' is not coaxial with the heating apparatus. In this embodiment the right-hand and left-hand ducts 6' and 8' respectively of the cruciform-shaped tubular element 5' are of different lengths. The cruciform-shaped tubular element 6 and 6' with which the extractor fan is provided may be manufactured in different ways, for example in the form of two symmetrical shells produced by a pressing operation and joined by a crimping or welding operation; alternatively the element may be a single casting or it may he made up from lap-jointed tubes. The cruciform-shaped tubular element may have rounded portions where the ducts thereof are joined to each other, so as to promote flow of the gases. it will have been seen from the foregoing description that, due to the arrangements in accordance with the invention, fan-type combustion equipment can be connected to a fan irrespective of whether this is located to the rear of the equipment or at either of its sides, and the device can be used without the need for carrying out work within the combustion equipment. Figure 3 illustrates a further possible way of fitting the device in accordance with the invention. In this variant the device is fitted to the rear of the heating apparatus. and use is made of the duct 7" whereas, as described above, the ducts 6" and 8" are blocked off. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A room-sealed, gas-operated heating apparatus comprising an extractor fan for exhausting the products of combustion, and a flue system comprising four tubular ducts together making up a cruciform-shaped duct element connected to the outlet of the extractor fan whereby products of combustion passing through one of said ducts, thereby forming an inlet duct of said element, are evacuated through one of the other three ducts of the element, the two remaining ducts being blocked, so that the products of combustion may be evacuated, as required, in any one of three directions thus made available.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ducts of said element that are not used are closed by plugs each provided with a flexible seal.

3. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the shape of said tubular element is such as to provide rounded portions at the places where the ducts join each other, thus promoting the flow of gas.

4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the outlet opening of the extractor fan is not coaxial with that of the heating apparatus and wherein the ducts comprising the two oppositely extending arms of the element are of mutually different lengths.

5. A room-sealed, gas-operated heating apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which takes the form of a water heater.