Gas appliance connection
AssigneeSimpson Dura Vent Company, Inc.
InventorDonald M. Townsend
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A combination of metallurgical and vent engineering design solutions that result in a superior product, lower installed cost, and corrosion-free performance for venting modern fan-assisted gas appliances by using a flexible, compressible, corrugated gas vent connector. Preferably the connector is constructed from a material having a heat conductivity substantially equal to or greater than aluminum. Other forms of the invention include the use of stainless steel; a double wall corrugated wall in the flex section; and the use of flat flex in the corrugated section. By providing the flex connector with twist lock couplings the connector may be assembled in the field more quickly with a greater assurance of its integrity under adverse conditions such as earthquakes or other building moving conditions.
Claims11
A connection for use with a gas appliance which burns gas and produces combustion gases and water moisture and having a gas discharge opening and for use with a vent having a gas inlet opening comprising:
- a. a flexible, longitudinally compressible, corrugated gas vent connector having a corrugated portion having a first end connected to said gas appliance discharge opening and a second end connected to said gas inlet opening of said vent;
- b. said corrugated portion having an inside wall formed with a plurality of aligned repeating ridges and valleys oriented generally laterally to the longitudinal axis of said connector and over the entire cross section;
- and
- c. said corrugated portion of said connector being constructed from a material having a heat conductivity substantially equal to or greater than aluminum.
A connection for a gas appliance having a gas discharge opening and a vent having a gas inlet opening comprising:
- a. a flexible, longitudinally compressible, corrugated gas vent connector having a corrugated portion and a first end connected to said corrugated portion and said gas appliance discharge opening and a second end connected to said corrugated portion and said gas inlet opening of said vent;
- b. said connector being formed with a corrugated inside wall formed with a plurality of aligned repeating ridges and valleys oriented generally laterally to the longitudinal axis of said connector;
- c. said corrugated portion of said connector being constructed from a material having a heat conductivity substantially equal to or greater than aluminum;
- d. said first end of said flexible, compressible, corrugated gas vent connector is formed with a female twist lock fitting;
- e. said second end of said flexible, compressible, corrugated gas vent connector is formed with a male twist lock fitting;
- f. an adapter having a first end connected to said gas appliance and a second end having a male twist lock fitting formed and dimensioned for interlocking connection to said female twist lock fitting on said second end of said flexible, compressible, corrugated gas vent connector.
A connection for use with first and second gas appliances both of which burn gas and produce combustion gases and water moisture and each has a gas discharge opening and for use with a vent having a gas inlet opening comprising:
- a. a first flexible, longitudinally compressible, corrugated gas vent connector having a corrugated portion having a first end connected to said first gas appliance discharge opening and a second end;
- b. said corrugated portion of said first connector having an inside wall formed with a plurality of aligned repeating ridges and valleys oriented generally laterally to the longitudinal axis of said first connector;
- c. said corrugated portion of said first connector being constructed from a material having a heat conductivity substantially equal to or greater than aluminum;
- d. a junction member having a first end having an inlet opening dimensioned for connection to said second end of said first flexible, compressible, corrugated gas vent connector, a mid portion having a gas inlet opening, and a second end having a discharge opening connected to said gas inlet opening of said vent, and;
- e. a second flexible, longitudinally compressible, corrugated gas vent connector having a first end connected to said second gas appliance discharge opening and a second end connected to said gas inlet opening of said mid portion of said junction member.
A connection for use with a gas appliance which burns gas and produces combustion gases and water moisture and having a gas discharge opening and for use with a vent having a gas inlet opening comprising:
- a. a flexible, longitudinally compressible, corrugated gas vent connector having a double wall corrugated portion having a first end connected to said gas appliance discharge opening and a second end connected to said gas inlet opening of said vent;
- b. each of said double walls of said corrugated portion of said connector being formed with a plurality of aligned repeating ridges and valleys oriented generally laterally to the longitudinal axis of said connector;
- c. said inner and outer walls of said double wall corrugated portion of said connector being separated by an air space;
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- d. said inner wall of said corrugated portion of said connector being constructed from a material having a heat conductivity substantially equal to or greater than aluminum and being corrugated over the entire cross section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.