Direct vent dilution air connection system
AssigneeRegal Beloit America, Inc.
InventorMichael D. Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A blower systems includes a blower housing, a gasket, and a clamp. The blower housing includes a dilution air inlet port having a tubular portion with an end margin having a plurality of flanges separated by slits enabling flexing of the plurality of flanges to resiliently move radially inwardly from an unflexed position. The gasket extends within the end margin of the dilution air inlet port. The air supply system includes an inlet portion, a combustion air portion, and a one-piece fitting having an inlet, dilution air outlet, and a combustion air outlet. The clamp is positioned radially about the plurality of flanges such that it can secure a source of dilution air within the dilution air inlet port.
Claims20
A direct vent blower system for use with a gas-fueled heater having a burner, the blower system comprising:
- a blower housing comprising a first blower housing piece and a second blower housing piece, the first and second blower housing pieces being adapted and configured to be connected to one another in a manner to collectively surround a blower fan, the first housing piece comprising a dilution air inlet port, the blower housing further comprising a combustion products inlet port and an exhaust port, the combustion products inlet port being configured to receive combustion products from the burner of the gas-fueled heater, the exhaust port being configured to discharge from the blower housing a mixture of dilution air and combustion products, the dilution air inlet port comprising a tubular portion having an end margin comprising a plurality of flanges separated by slits extending axially along the end margin, the slits being configured to enable flexing of the plurality of flanges from an unflexed position, at least some of the flanges of the tubular portion being a portion of the first blower housing piece, the first blower housing piece being a molded one-piece member;
- a gasket extending within the end margin of the dilution air inlet port;
- and
- a clamp positioned radially about the plurality of flanges and engageable such that one or more of the plurality of flanges is moveable radially inward from the unflexed position.
A method for installing a direct vent blower system for use with a gas-fueled heater having a burner, the method comprising:
- positioning a gasket at least partially within a blower housing, the blower housing comprising a first blower housing piece and a second blower housing piece, the first and second blower housing pieces being adapted and configured to be connected to one another in a manner to collectively surround a blower fan, the first housing piece comprising a dilution air inlet port, the blower housing further comprising a combustion products inlet port and an exhaust port, the combustion products inlet port being configured to receive combustion products from the burner of the gas-fueled heater, the exhaust port being configured to discharge from the blower housing a mixture of dilution air and combustion products, the dilution air inlet port comprising a tubular portion having an end margin comprising a plurality of flanges separated by slits extending axially along the end margin, the slits enabling flexing of the plurality of flanges from an unflexed position, at least some of the plurality of flanges being a portion of the first blower housing piece, the first blower housing piece being a molded one-piece member, the gasket being positioned within the end margin of the dilution air inlet port;
- coupling an air supply system to the blower housing, the air supply system comprising an inlet portion, a combustion air portion, and a one-piece fitting, the one-piece fitting comprising an inlet, dilution air outlet, and a combustion air outlet, the inlet portion of the air supply system being in fluid communication with the inlet of the one-piece fitting, the combustion air portion of the air supply system being in fluid communication with the combustion air outlet of the one-piece fitting and configured to provide combustion air to the burner of the gas-fueled heater, the dilution air outlet of the one-piece fitting being positioned at least partially within the gasket and the end margin of the dilution air inlet port of the first blower housing piece such that the dilution air outlet of the one-piece fitting is in fluid communication with the dilution air inlet port of the blower housing;
- positioning a clamp radially about the plurality of flanges;
- and
- tightening the clamp such that the clamp engages the one or more of the plurality of flanges and moves one or more of the plurality of flanges radially inward from the unflexed position such that the dilution air outlet of the one-piece fitting is secured within the dilution air inlet port of the first blower housing piece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.