US2703569A

US2703569A - Downdraft diverter assembly

Info

Publication number: US2703569A
Application number: US227372A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stanton L Yarbrough
Original assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1951-05-21
Filing date: 1951-05-21
Publication date: 1955-03-08
Anticipated expiration: 1972-03-08

Description

March 8, 1955 s. YARBROUGH 2,703,569

DOWNDRAFT DIVERTER ASSEMBLY Filed May 21, 1951 s Shets-Sheet 1 STAN TON L. VA RBROUGH,

IN V EN TOR.

HUEBNER, BEEHLER,

WORRE L 8 HERZ/G A TTORNEVS- BIZLJMMTW March 1955 s. L. YARBROUGH DOWNDRAFT DIVERTER ASSEMBLY s Sheets-Sheet '2 Filed May 21, 19.51

STANTON L. VARBROUGH,

INVEN TOR. HUEBNER, BEEHLER,

WORREL 8 HERZ/Gy By ATTORNEYS.

March 8, 1955 s. YARBROUGH DOWNDRAFT DIVERTER ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 21, 1951 H, mm.

OM RM MLAT L BR s w B United States Patent '0 DOWNDRAFT DIVERTER ASSEMBLY Stanton L. Yarbrough, Pasadena, Calif., assignor to Rheem Manufacturing Company, Richmond, Califi, a corporation of California Application May 21, 1951, Serial No. 227,372

1 Claims. or. 126-307) This invention relates to downdraft diverter assemblies for heating apparatus, and will be described in conjunction with a household water heater.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a simplified and neat appearing downdraft diverter assembly for household heating apparatus such as a water heater.

Conventional practice has heretofore been to regard appearing and still meet the rigorous requirements of gas heating appliance codes.

In accordance with the instant invention, the upper portion of the water heater is not only greatly simplified in structure, but is also vastly improved in appearance so that the water heater appears as a single integrated appliance instead of as a heater with an obtrusive bonnet in the form of a separate draft diverting hood perched atop the heater tank.

Further objects of the instant invention will become apparent in the ensuing specification.

' By way of illustration, three forms of the instant invention will be described.

The first form is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a water heater; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section showing the construction of the instant invention and taken along line 2-2 in Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of the Fig. 2 apparatus; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on line 44 of Fig. 3.

The second form of the instant invention is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, wherein: Fig. 5 is a plan view partially sectioned as shown by line 5-5 of Fig. 6; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5'. A third form of the instant invention is illustrated in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, wherein: Fig. 7 is a sectioned elevation taken on line 77 of Fig. 8; Fig. 8 is a plan view taken on line 8-8 in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7, showing a modification of this form.

Referring to the drawings, 11 designates the housing of a heating appliance such as a gas water heater. housing 11 is capped by a top member 12 characterized by a smoothly contoured, upwardly convexed surface, broken only by an annular gap 13 (except for the essential water and flue pipes). Since the top surface of the member 12 is substantially horizontal, the gap 13 lies essentially in a horizontal plane.

The smoothly contoured nature of the surface of the top member 12 can be best seen in the sectional view, Fig. 2. As there seen, the top member has a central depression 14 leaving an annular ridge 16 around the upper outer periphery of the top member 12. A convex vent hood 17 is disposed over the central depression 14 and forms therewith a downdraft diverter chamber 18. The outer edge 19 of the vent hood 17 is spaced from the "ice of the-depression 14. The ridge 16 is thus constituted simply of an upwardly embossed annulus, the inner edge of which is secured as by welding at 23 to the inner plate 22. The outer edge of the ridge 16-curves smoothly downward and joins in a smooth contour with the top edge 24 of the outer wall of the housing 11. This form of construction of the ridge 16 and inner plate 22 is subject to considerable variation as will be illustrated in the other species described hereinafter.

Welded to the inner plate 22 within the depression 14 are three angularly spaced, upright, sheet-like supports 26. Securement of these supports to the plate 22 is effected by bending a flange 27 along the bottom of the supports, which is welded to the plate 22. Upon the supports 26 rests the venthood 17 which is not otherwise secured to the supports. Thisform of construction lends itself to ready packing for shipping, inasmuch as the vent hood 17 may be packed separately, and simply placed upon the supports 26 during installation of the water heater. The vent hood 17 is held in place laterally by the conventional hot and

cold water pipes

28 and 29, respectively, passing upwardly from the interior of the housing 11 through holes formed in the vent hood 17; and by the flue pipe 31 communicating with the top of the vent hood.

A central opening 32 is formed in the inner plate 22 and a central opening 33 is formed in the vent'hood 17 through which openings combustion gases pass to the line pipe 31.

Within the chamber 18, intermediate the

openings

32 and 33, is positioned a downdraft diverting baffle 34 formed with three radial arms 36 which are welded to a short collar 37. The collar 37 may be packed separately and is press-fitted into the opening 33 of the hood '17 upon installation of theheater. Besides supporting the battle 34, the collar 37 serves to receive in a telescopic fit the flue pipe 31.

As best seen in Fig. 1, the structure of the instantinvention provides not only a heater top of neat and com-.- pact appearance, but one which is of utmost simplicity of construction with a minimum of structural elements. The smoothly contoured appearance is further enhanced by external rubber grommets 38 placed around the

pipes

28 and 29 where they pass through the vent hood 17. In order to confine the exit of flue gases through the plate 22 to the opening 32, rubber grommets 39 may also be placed around the

pipes

28 and 29 where they pass through the inner plate 22.

The second form of the instant invention is shown in Figs. Sand 6. This form employs a still more simplified top member 12, in that the inner plate 22' is formed integral with the ridge portion 16', the depression 14 in this case being literally impressed into the plate 22'. As in the first form, the hood 17 is supported by plate-like upright supports 26', the flanges 27 of which must be formed with a slight curvature in order to accommodate them to the concave surface of the inner plate 22. The functioning and external appearance of the second species is substantially identical with that of the first. This second form is more readily adaptable to a type of heater wherein the flue gases pass through the housing 11' in a central, axial pipe 41; whereas the Fig.' 2 form has been found desirable for that type of heater wherein the line gases pass upwardly around the outer periphery of the water tank 42. In each case, however, it will be noted that the escape of the flue gases from the housing into the chamber 18 is effected by a central passageway directly beneath the central opening in the vent hood, and that this passageway constitutes the only exit of gases from the housing.

peak 21 of the ridge 16, thereby forming the gap 13,

mentioned above, which communicates between the chamber 18 and the atmosphere.

In the particular form shown, the housing 11 has an inner plate 22, the top surface of which forms the floor A third form of the instant invention is shown'in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, wherein double primed numerals denote elements corresponding to elements found in Fig.2.

As seen in Fig. 7, the inner plate 22 is depressed or concave, much in the manner of the corresponding member of Fig. 6. The casing 11", however, terminates at its upper .edge angularly to form a sharply angled ridge portion 16" as opposed to the more rounded forms shown in Figs. 2 and 6. The top portion of the ridge 16".is

horizontal so that the contoured hood 17" is simply a flat round plate centered over and spaced above the depression 14" formed by the top member 22 and the circumjacent ridge 16". As in .the other forms, the top member 22" has a central opening which communicates with the flue pipe 41"; and aligned with the central flue pipe 41" is a vent opening 33" in the center of the'flat hood 17". As in the other forms the water pipes 28" and 29" pass upwardly through the top member 22" and the hood 17".

The hood 17 is supported by three legs 26" each having a flange 27" at its upper end which is welded to the under surface of the hood 17". The bottom of each leg 26" rests on the curved surface of the top member 22 spacing the hood 17"'-above the depression 14"".

A cone-like diverting baflie 34" is pendant from the hood 17" by three radial arms 36" immediately under the vent opening 33".

It has been found advisable to secure a short cylindrical skirt-51 to the under surface of the hood 17" to prevent diverted exhaust gasesfrom escaping out the annular gap 13". This skirt maybe formed as a separate member welded to the plate 17 as shown in Fig. 7, or may be formed integral with the plate at the outer periphery thereof as shown at 51" in Fig. 9.

It will be seen that all three exemplary forms of the invention described above are characterized by the centrally depressed" top member forming the annular ridge therearound, and the vent hood disposed over the depression andshapedto form a smoothly continuing contour of the ridge around the outer, upper periphery of the top member.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is conceived to be the most practicaland preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom Within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace anyand all equivalent apparatus and articles.

What is claimed is:

1. In an upright heating apparatus including a housing having a central passageway in the top thereof for the discharge of fluegases, the combination of a top member-having'a central depression and an annular ridge aroundxsaid depression, the outer edge of said ridge being-coterminous with and forming a smooth contour with the, top-edge of said housing, a vent hood disposed above said-rdepressiom-theouter edge of said hoodbeing spaced inwardly from the top of said'ridge by an annular gap, the upper surface of said hoodadjacent said gap being substantially aligned with the upper surface of said ridge, whereby said hoodforms with said ridge a smoothly contoured' top' surface for said housing, said hood and said depression forming a downdraft diverter chamber communicating with atmosphere through said annular gap, said top: member having a central opening for the upward passage of flue gases from said housing, said hood havinga central opening-substantially directly above the opening' in said top member, and-a downdraftdiverting baffie disposed in said chamber betweent-he openingsnin said hood and in said top member.

,2. Downdraft .diverter means for a heating apparatus, comprising. a top member having a depression in the central portion thereof thereby leaving ananuulan. upwardly extending ridge around the edge of said top membenaconvcx ventahood mounted over said top member, with the outer edge. thereof spaced inwardly from said ridge, and with the upper surface of said hood adjacent said outer edge being substantially aligned with the-upper surface of said ridge, whereby said hood forms a smoothly contoured continuation of the outer and upper surface of said ridge and leaves an annular gap around saidhood between the outer edge thereof and the peak of said ridge, said hood and said top member together forming a downdraft diverter chamber, said hood having a. vent. opening in the center thereof. said top member havinga flue gas openingbeneath: and substantially aligned with said vent opening to permit. passage of, combustion products into said diverter chamber, and a draft, diverting battle mounted within said chamber intermediate the openings in said. top. member and. said. hood.

3.. Downdraft diverter means for heating apparatus, comprising a housing for said apparatus, the top surface of said housing being constituted of an upwardly convex, smoothly contoured sheet member joining the upper edge of the housing side walls in a smoothly contoured curve, the top region within said housing constituting a downdraft diverting chamber, said sheet memher having an annular gap therein communicating with said chamber and facing generally upward, that portion of said sheet member which is surrounded by said gap constituting a hood, theupper surface of saidhood adjacent said gap being substantially aligned with the upper surface of said top surface circumjacent saidgap, passage means communicating between said housing and said chamber centrally of said housing, a central vent opening at the top of said hood adapted to communicate with a vent pipe, and a downdraft diverter bafile disposed centrally within said chamber.

4. Vent means for heating apparatus, comprising a top member for said heating apparatus having a central depression in the upper' surface thereof forming an annular ridge portion around said top member, a vent hood disposed over said depression withthe outer edge thereof spaced inwardly from said ridge portion, the uppersurface of said hood adjacent said outer edge being sub stantially aligned with the upper surface of sai'dridge circurnjacentsaid gap, said hood thereby constituting a smoothly contoured continuation of the ridge portion of said top member, an annular gap being left betweenthe outer edge of said hood and the peak of said ridge, saidtop member having an opening in the center of said depression for the upward passage of flue gases, said vent hood having a central opening aligned with that of said top member and adapted to communicate with a flue pipe, and a downdraft diverting bafile disposed between the openings in said top member and said vent hood.

5. Vent means for a heating apparatus, comprising a casing having a generally horizontal top plate, an annular upwardly extending ridge around said top plate at the edge of said casing, a convex vent hood mounted over said plate with the outer edge thereof spaced inwardly from said ridge, the upper surface of said hood ad jacent said outer-edge being substantially aligned with the upper surface of said ridge, said hood forming a smoothly contoured continuationof the outer and upper surface of said ridge and leaving an annular gap around said-hood between the edge thereof and the peak of said ridge, a vent opening in the center ofsaid hood, a flue gas opening in said top plate to permit egress of combustion products from said casing, said flue gas opening being aligned with the vent opening of said hood, and a draft diverting baffie mounted intermediate the openings in said top plate and said hood.

6. Combustion apparatus comprising a generally upright casing, and combustion gas passage means within said casing for passing combustion gases upwardly there in; said apparatus being characterized by a top comprising: an annular member 'surmounting said casing, the outer edge of said annular member substantially co inciding with the upper edge of said casing; and a hood member mounted coaxially' with respect to said annular member and spaced inwardly therefrom to form an annular gap facing generally upward, the upper surface of said hood member adjacent said gap being substan' tiallyaligned witht-heupper surface of said annular member adjacent said gap, whereby said hoodmemberforms, with said. annular member, a smoothly contoured top surface for the apparatus, said hood member having an opening therein through which combustion gases may flow from said .gas passage means and be discharged.

7. Top-for combustion apparatus, comprising an annular member adapted to surmount the apparatus, and a hood' member mounted coaxiallywith respect to said annularmember and spaced inwardly therefrom tov form an annular gap facing generally upward. said apparatus havingafiue gas passage for delivering combustionwprodnets to the. underside of said hood member, the. upper surface of: said ,hood member adjacent said gap. being substantiallwaligned with the upper surface of said annular member adjacent said gap, whereby said hood member forms, with said annular member.- a smoothly contoured. top surface for. the apparatus, said hood memher having an opening therein for venting combustion products.

(References on following page) 6 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,385,450 Koppel Sept. 25, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 1,925,744 Berry Sept. 5, 1933 482,190 Great Britain Mar. 23, 1938 2,031,314 Hunter Feb. 18, 1936 5 569,144 Great Bl 'itain May 7, 1945