Back to results
US 12,110,707 B2Granted
Swimming pool/spa gas heater inlet mixer system and associated methods
AssigneeHayward Industries, Inc.
InventorsWilliam Julian Roy, Benjamin Isaac Corn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inlet mixer system for a gas heater includes a housing in fluid communication with an inlet of a combustion blower, and first and second mixer inserts, each removably positionable within the housing. Each mixer insert includes a body defining a mixing chamber, an air intake, and a plurality of orifices disposed radially about the body and extending through the body, which provide respective volumetric flow rates of a fuel gas. When the first mixer insert is positioned within the housing, the inlet mixer system is configured for use with a first fuel gas, and when the second mixer insert is positioned within the housing, the inlet mixer system is configured for use with a second fuel gas.
Claims36
An inlet mixer system for a swimming pool or spa gas heater, comprising:
- a housing having a body with a gas inlet disposed therethrough, the housing configured to be secured in fluid communication with an inlet of a combustion blower;
- a first mixer insert configured to be removably positioned within the housing, the first mixer insert having a first body defining a mixing chamber, an air intake, and a first plurality of orifices disposed radially about the first body and extending through the first body, the first plurality of orifices being configured to provide a first volumetric flow rate of a first fuel gas;
- and
- a second mixer insert configured to be removably positioned within the housing, the second mixer insert having a second body defining a mixing chamber, an air intake, and a second plurality of orifices disposed radially about the second body and extending through the second body, the second plurality of orifices configured to provide a second volumetric flow rate of a second fuel gas, the second fuel gas being different than the first fuel gas,
- wherein a dimension of the first plurality of orifices is different than a dimension of the second plurality of orifices and/or a number of the first plurality of orifices is different than a number of the second plurality of orifices,
- wherein when the first mixer insert is positioned within the housing, the first mixer insert configures the inlet mixer system for use with the first fuel gas, and
- wherein when the second mixer insert is positioned within the housing, the second mixer insert configures the inlet mixer system for use with the second fuel gas.
4 more elements
A method of switching a gas heater for a swimming pool or spa from a first configuration for use with a first fuel gas to a second configuration for use with a second fuel gas, comprising the steps of:
- removing a first mixer insert from a housing secured in fluidic communication with an inlet of a combustion blower having a body with a gas inlet disposed therethrough, the first mixer insert having a first body defining a mixing chamber, an air intake, and a first plurality of orifices disposed radially about the first body and extending through the first body, the first plurality of orifices being configured to provide a first volumetric flow rate of a first fuel gas, the first mixer insert configuring the gas heater for use with the first fuel gas when positioned within the housing;
- positioning a second mixer insert within the housing, the second mixer insert having a second body defining a mixing chamber, an air intake, and a second plurality of orifices disposed radially about the second body and extending through the second body, a dimension of the first plurality of orifices being different than a dimension of the second plurality of orifices and/or a number of the first plurality of orifices being different than a number of the second plurality of orifices, the second plurality of orifices configured to provide a second volumetric flow rate of a second fuel gas, the second fuel gas being different than the first fuel gas;
- and
- securing the second mixer insert within the housing, the second mixer insert configuring the gas heater for use with the second fuel gas when positioned within the housing.
1 more element
A gas heater for a swimming pool or spa, comprising:
- a cabinet defining an interior;
- a combustion chamber;
- a combustion blower;
- a burner positioned within the combustion chamber, the burner receiving combustible gas from the combustion blower and configured to dissipate the combustible gas;
- and
- an inlet mixer comprising:
- a housing having a body with a gas inlet disposed therethrough, the housing configured to be secured in fluid communication with an inlet of a combustion blower;
- a first mixer insert configured to be removably positioned within the housing, the first mixer insert having a first body defining a mixing chamber, an air intake, and a first plurality of orifices disposed radially about the first body and extending through the first body, the first plurality of orifices being configured to provide a first volumetric flow rate of a first fuel gas;
- and
- a second mixer insert configured to be removably positioned within the housing, the second mixer insert having a second body defining a mixing chamber, an air intake, and a second plurality of orifices disposed radially about the second body and extending through the second body, the second plurality of orifices configured to provide a second volumetric flow rate of a second fuel gas, the second fuel gas being different than the first fuel gas,
- wherein a dimension of the first plurality of orifices is different than a dimension of the second plurality of orifices and/or a number of the first plurality of orifices is different than a number of the second plurality of orifices,
- wherein when the first mixer insert is positioned within the housing, the first mixer insert configures the inlet mixer system for use with the first fuel gas,
- wherein when the second mixer insert is positioned within the housing, the second mixer insert configures the inlet mixer system for use with the second fuel gas, and
- wherein the combustion chamber, the burner, the combustion blower, and the inlet mixer are positioned within the interior of the cabinet.
11 more elements
An inlet mixer kit for a pool swimming pool or spa gas heater, comprising:
- a housing having a body with a gas inlet disposed therethrough, the housing being removably securable in fluid communication with an inlet of a combustion blower;
- a first mixer insert having a first body defining a mixing chamber, an air intake, and a first plurality of orifices disposed radially about the first body and extending through the first body, the first plurality of orifices being configured to provide a first volumetric flow rate of a first fuel gas, the first mixer insert being removably positionable within the housing;
- and
- a second mixer insert having a second body defining a mixing chamber, an air intake, and a second plurality of orifices disposed radially about the second body and extending through the second body, the second plurality of orifices configured to provide a second volumetric flow rate of a second fuel gas, the second fuel gas being different than the first fuel gas, the second mixer insert being removably positionable within the housing,
- wherein a dimension of the first plurality of orifices is different than a dimension of the second plurality of orifices and/or a number of the first plurality of orifices is different than a number of the second plurality of orifices,
- wherein when the first mixer insert is positioned within the housing, the first mixer insert configures the inlet mixer system for use with the first fuel gas, and
- wherein when the second mixer insert is positioned within the housing, the second mixer insert configures the inlet mixer system for use with the second fuel gas.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.