Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15/381,443 filed December 16, 2016, which is continuation in part of U.S. Patent Application

15/349,674, filed November 11, 2016, which is a continuation in part of U.S. Patent

Application 15/183,040, filed June 15, 2016, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention pertains to draft inducer blower assemblies for use with water heaters having burners and gas-fueled water heaters having a draft inducer blower assembly.

General Background

[0003] Gas-fueled water heaters typically comprise a draft inducer blower assembly that provides combustion air to the burner. A draft inducer blower assembly is most commonly attached to the top of the water heater and therefore takes up vertical space that, in some circumstances, can be a concern. Moreover, in some circumstances such blower assemblies must be connected to vertical vent lines, while in other circumstances they must be connected to horizontal vent lines.

SUMMARY

[0004] The configuration of a draft inducer blower assembly in accordance with the present invention allows for the blower assembly to be connected to either vertical or horizontal vent lines, without altering the components of the blower assembly itself, even in situations where vertical/clearance is a concern. By not having to adjust the blower assemblies to account for specific installation needs, installation costs are reduced, as are the skills required to install water heaters provided with such a draft inducer blower assembly.

[0005] In one aspect of the disclosure, a draft inducer blower assembly for use with a gas- fueled water heater comprises a housing, a motor, and a fan. The housing has an exhaust volute surrounding the fan and a base configured and adapted to be mounted atop a water heater. The base has an inlet port adapted and configured to receive exhaust gas from the water heater when the base is mounted atop the water heater. The fan is connected to the motor for rotation about a rotation axis. The exhaust volute and the base may be or may not be non-adjustably fixed relative to each other. The exhaust volute has a cut-off at a cut-off angle relative to the rotation axis. The cut-off angle extends at an angle that is no more than twenty degrees positive from horizontal. The exhaust volute has an exhaust outlet passageway that extends to an exhaust port. The exhaust outlet passageway extends beneath the cut-off before reaching the exhaust port.

[0006] Another aspect of the disclosure is a draft inducer blower assembly for use with a gas-fueled water heater. The blower assembly comprises a housing, a motor, and a fan. The housing has an exhaust volute surrounding the fan and a base configured and adapted to be mounted atop the water heater. The base has an inlet port adapted and configured to receive exhaust gas from the water heater when the base is mounted atop the water heater. The fan is connected to the motor for rotation about a rotation axis. The exhaust volute and the base may be or may not non-adjustably fixed relative to each other. The exhaust volute has a cutoff at a cut-off angle relative to the rotation axis. The exhaust volute has an exhaust outlet passageway that extends to an exhaust port. The housing is configured and adapted such that, when the base is mounted atop the water heater, the exhaust port is lower than the top of the exhaust volute.

[0007] Another aspect of the disclosure is a draft inducer blower assembly for use with a gas-fueled water heater. The blower assembly comprises a housing, a motor, and a fan. The housing has an exhaust volute surrounding the fan and a base configured and adapted to be mounted atop the water heater. The base has an inlet port adapted and configured to receive exhaust gas from the water heater when the base is mounted atop the water heater. The fan is connected to the motor for rotation about a rotation axis. The exhaust volute and the base may be or may not be non-adjustably fixed relative to each other. The exhaust volute has a cut-off at a cut-off angle relative to the rotation axis. The exhaust volute has an exhaust outlet passageway that extends to an exhaust port. The housing is configured and adapted such that, when the base is mounted atop the water heater, the cut-off angle extends at an angle that is not more than thirty degrees positive from horizontal.

[0008] Another aspect of the disclosure is a water heater comprising a draft inducer blower assembly. The blower assembly comprises a housing, a motor, and a fan. The housing has an exhaust volute surrounding the fan and a base mounted atop the water heater. The base has an inlet port adapted and configured to receive exhaust gas from the water heater. The fan is connected to the motor for rotation about a rotation axis. The exhaust volute and the base may be or may not be non-adjustably fixed relative to each other. The exhaust volute has a cut-off at a cut-off angle relative to the rotation axis. The exhaust volute has an exhaust outlet passageway that extends to an exhaust port. The exhaust port of the blower assembly is lower than the top of the exhaust volute.

[0009] Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the operation of the invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0010] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a draft inducer blower assembly in accordance with the invention.

[0011] Figure 2 is an elevational cross-sectional view of the draft inducer blower assembly shown in Figure 1, taken about the rotation axis of the fan.

[0012] Figure 3 is an elevational cross-sectional view of the draft inducer blower assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2, taken about a plane that is perpendicular to the rotation axis and that lies midway through the thickness of the volute of the blower assembly.

[0013] Figure 4 is a front elevation view of the draft inducer blower assembly shown in Figures 1-3, showing a ninety degree pipe elbow attached to the blower assembly.

[0014] Figure 5 is a front elevation view of the draft inducer blower assembly shown in Figures 1-3, showing another ninety degree pipe elbow attached to the blower assembly.

[0015] Figure 6 is a front elevation view of the draft inducer blower assembly shown in Figures 1-3, showing an ultra-low ninety degree elbow and cross-over pipe attached to the blower assembly.

[0016] Figure 7 is a perspective view of a water heater comprising the blower assembly shown in Figures 1-3.

[0017] Figure 8 is an elevational cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a draft inducer blower assembly, taken about a plane that is perpendicular to the rotation axis and that lies midway through the thickness of the volute of the blower assembly.

[0018] Reference numerals in the written specification and in the drawing figures indicate corresponding items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] An embodiment of a draft inducer blower assembly (20) in accordance with the invention is shown in the figures. The blower assembly (20) comprises a housing (22) that houses a fan (24). The base (26) of the housing (22) is configured to attach atop a water heater (28), as shown in Figure 7. The housing (22) also forms an exhaust volute (30) in which the fan (24) resides. An inlet passageway (32) extends from an opening in the base of the housing to the fan (24) and is adapted to connect to the exhaust outlet (not shown) of a gas-fueled water heater. The exhaust volute (30) comprises an exhaust outlet passageway (34) that extends to an exhaust port (36). The fan (24) is attached to a motor (38) that rotationally drives the fan about a rotation axis when in use.

[0020] As shown in Figure 3, the exhaust volute (30) has a cut-off (40) that is oriented at a cut-off angle (a) relative to the rotation axis. The cut-off angle (a) is appreciably low, preferably no more than thirty degrees positive from horizontal, and more preferably no more than twenty degrees positive from horizontal, and more preferably the cut-off angle (a) is negative from horizontal (as is shown in Figure 3). The exhaust outlet passageway (34) extends beneath the cut-off (40) before reaching the exhaust port (36). Preferably, the exhaust outlet passageway (34) turns upward as it extends toward the exhaust port (36) after passing beneath the cut-off (40) to the extent the exhaust port faces vertically upward.

However, the exhaust outlet passageway (34) need not extend beneath the cut-off (40) and need not turn upward and the exhaust port (36) could face horizontally. Regardless, the exhaust port (36) is preferably located at an elevation lower than the top of the exhaust volute (30) and is also preferably located at an elevation lower than the top of the fan (24).

[0021] The configuration of the blower assembly (20) provides considerable advantages when the clearances above the tank of a water heater are limited. As shown in Figures 1 and 7, the blower assembly (20) is ready to be connected to a vertically oriented exhaust flue pipe (not shown). Additionally, as shown in Figures 4-6, the blower assembly (20) can be used with elbow flue pipe fittings (42) such that the blower assembly can be connected to horizontal flue piping. Notably and as should be appreciated from Figures 4-6, by providing an exhaust port (36) that lies appreciably beneath the top of the exhaust volute (30) of the housing (22), especially an exhaust port (36) that faces vertically upward, the transition to horizontal flue piping can be made just above the top of the exhaust volute (30), which is necessary in many low clearance situations. As is shown in Figure 6, a unique cross-over pipe (44) can also be provided, which can bridge over the top of the exhaust volute (30) when clearance above a water heater tank demands a transition that is even closer to the base (26) of the blower assembly (20). The opposite ends of the cross-over pipe (44) have circular cross-sections while the bottom of the center section necks in from the bottom side and also widens so as not to create a flow restriction. The downstream end of the cross-over pipe comprises a drain (46) for water that condensates, since such water is not able to drain back to the blower assembly (20). No modification of the blower assembly (20) itself is needed to convert the blower assembly (20) from a vertical flue configuration to a horizontal flue configuration. In the embodiment of Figures 1-8, the exhaust volute and the base are fixed relative to each other and more particularly are non-adjustably fixed relative to each other. But it is to be understood that in an alternative embodiment (not shown), the exhaust volute is rotable relative to the base of the blower assembly and is adjustably fixed.

[0022] Referring now to Figure 8, another embodiment of a blower assembly is generally indicated by the reference numeral 120. The primary difference between the blower assembly (120) of Figure 8 and the blower assembly (20) of Figures 1-3 is the cut-off angle. Except as noted herein, the above description of the blower assembly (20) of Figures 1-3 applies equally to the blower assembly (120) of Figure 8, but the reference numbers of comparable features of the blower assembly (120) of Figure 8 are preceded by the prefix "1". In the blower assembly (120) of this embodiment, the cut-off (140) is approximately ten degrees positive from horizontal. Preferably, the cut-off angle (a) is not more than thirty degrees positive from horizontal. [0023] In view of the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the invention has several advantages over the prior art.

[0024] As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary

embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

[0025] It should also be understood that when introducing elements of the present invention in the claims or in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, the terms "comprising," "including," and "having" are intended to be open-ended and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, the term "portion" should be construed as meaning some or all of the item or element that it qualifies. Moreover, use of identifiers such as first, second, and third should not be construed in a manner imposing any relative position or time sequence between limitations. Still further, the order in which the steps of any method claim that follows are presented should not be construed in a manner limiting the order in which such steps must be performed, unless such an order is inherent or explicit.