# US 11,306,944 B2 · Water heater blower assembly having a low exhaust port

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- Number: US 11,306,944 B2
- Document ID: US11306944B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/349,674
- Filed: 2016-11-11
- Published: 2017-12-21
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2016-06-15
- Assignees: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
- Applicants: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
- Inventors: Steven W. Post; Jeffrey Jay Long; William S. Gatley, Jr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306944B2

## CPC

- F24H 9/0031: {with means for changing or adapting the path of the flue gas}
- F23L 5/02: Arrangements of fans or blowers
- F23L 17/005: {using fans}
- F24H 1/205: {with furnace tubes}
- F24H: FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL (steam generation F22)
- F23L: SUPPLYING AIR OR NON-COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS OR GASES TO COMBUSTION APPARATUS IN GENERAL ({air-supply arrangements for fluent fuels F23C;} firebridges with means for feeding air or steam F23M3/04; baffles or shields with air supply passages F23M9/04); VALVES OR DAMPERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CONTROLLING AIR SUPPLY OR DRAUGHT IN COMBUSTION APPARATUS {(dampers and throat restrictors for open fire-places F24; air inlet valves for open fire fronts F24)}; INDUCING DRAUGHT IN COMBUSTION APPARATUS; TOPS FOR CHIMNEYS OR VENTILATING SHAFTS; TERMINALS FOR FLUES

## Abstract

A draft inducer blower assembly for use with a water heater has a housing, a motor, and a fan. The housing has an exhaust volute surrounding the fan and a base adapted to be mounted atop a water heater. The base has an inlet port adapted 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 are 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 is lower than the top of the exhaust volute.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A draft inducer blower assembly for use with a gas-fueled water heater, the blower assembly comprising a housing, a motor, and a fan, the housing having an exhaust volute surrounding the fan and a base configured and adapted to be mounted atop the water heater, the base having 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 being connected to the motor for rotation about a rotation axis, the exhaust volute and the base being non-adjustably fixed relative to each other, the exhaust volute having a cut-off at a cut-off angle relative to the rotation axis, the exhaust volute having an exhaust outlet passageway that extends to an exhaust port, the housing being configured and adapted such that, when the base is mounted atop the water heater, the exhaust port is lower than a top of the exhaust volute and the exhaust port faces vertically upward, wherein the housing is configured and adapted such that the cut-off angle extends at an angle that is not more than thirty degrees positive from horizontal when the base is mounted atop the water heater.

### Claim 2

A draft inducer blower assembly for use with a gas-fueled water heater, the blower assembly comprising a housing, a motor, and a fan, the housing having an exhaust volute surrounding the fan and a base configured and adapted to be mounted atop the water heater, the base having 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 being connected to the motor for rotation about a rotation axis, the exhaust volute and the base being non-adjustably fixed relative to each other, the exhaust volute having a cut-off at a cut-off angle relative to the rotation axis, the exhaust volute having an exhaust outlet passageway that extends to an exhaust port, the housing being configured and adapted such that, when the base is mounted atop the water heater, the exhaust port is lower than a top of the exhaust volute and the exhaust port faces vertically upward, wherein the housing is configured and adapted such that the cut-off angle is negative from horizontal when the base is mounted atop the water heater.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A draft inducer blower assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein the housing is configured and adapted such that, when the base is mounted atop the water heater, the exhaust outlet passageway extends beneath the cut-off, thereafter turns upward, and terminates at the exhaust port.

### Claim 4

A draft inducer blower assembly for use with a gas-fueled water heater, the blower assembly comprising a housing, a motor, and a fan, the housing having an exhaust volute surrounding the fan and a base configured and adapted to be mounted atop the water heater, the base having 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 being connected to the motor for rotation about a rotation axis, the exhaust volute and the base being non-adjustably fixed relative to each other, the exhaust volute having a cut-off at a cut-off angle relative to the rotation axis, the exhaust volute having an exhaust outlet passageway that extends to an exhaust port, the housing being 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.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A draft inducer blower assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein the housing is configured and adapted such that the exhaust port faces vertically upward when the base is mounted atop the water heater.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A draft inducer blower assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein the housing is configured and adapted such that the exhaust port is lower than a top of the exhaust volute when the base is mounted atop the water heater.

### Claim 7

A water heater comprising a draft inducer blower assembly, the blower assembly comprising a housing, a motor, and a fan, the housing having an exhaust volute surrounding the fan and a base mounted atop the water heater, the base having an inlet port adapted and configured to receive exhaust gas from the water heater, the fan being connected to the motor for rotation about a rotation axis, the exhaust volute and the base being non-adjustably fixed relative to each other, the exhaust volute having a cut-off at a cut-off angle relative to the rotation axis, the exhaust volute having an exhaust outlet passageway that extends to an exhaust port, the exhaust port of the blower assembly being lower than the top of the exhaust volute and the exhaust port facing vertically upward, wherein the exhaust outlet passageway of the blower assembly extends beneath the cut-off, thereafter turns upward, and terminates at the exhaust port, and wherein the cut-off angle extends at an angle that is not more than thirty degrees positive from horizontal.

### Claim 8

A water heater comprising a draft inducer blower assembly, the blower assembly comprising a housing, a motor, and a fan, the housing having an exhaust volute surrounding the fan and a base mounted atop the water heater, the base having an inlet port adapted and configured to receive exhaust gas from the water heater, the fan being connected to the motor for rotation about a rotation axis, the exhaust volute and the base being non-adjustably fixed relative to each other, the exhaust volute having a cut-off at a cut-off angle relative to the rotation axis, the exhaust volute having an exhaust outlet passageway that extends to an exhaust port, the exhaust port of the blower assembly being lower than the top of the exhaust volute and the exhaust port facing vertically upward, wherein the cut-off angle extends at an angle that is not more than thirty degrees positive from horizontal.

### Claim 9

A water heater comprising a draft inducer blower assembly, the blower assembly comprising a housing, a motor, and a fan, the housing having an exhaust volute surrounding the fan and a base mounted atop the water heater, the base having an inlet port adapted and configured to receive exhaust gas from the water heater, the fan being connected to the motor for rotation about a rotation axis, the exhaust volute and the base being non-adjustably fixed relative to each other, the exhaust volute having a cut-off at a cut-off angle relative to the rotation axis, the exhaust volute having an exhaust outlet passageway that extends to an exhaust port, the exhaust port of the blower assembly being lower than the top of the exhaust volute and the exhaust port facing vertically upward, wherein the cut-off angle of the exhaust volute of the blower assembly is negative from horizontal.