Thermodynamically activated flue damper

A thermodynamically activated flue damper system for a gas water heater comprising:

• a flue damper for controlling the passage of exhaust gases through said flue, said flue damper being pivotally mounted within said flue;
• a thermally sensitive member connected between said flue damper and a member in said flue to control pivoting of said flue damper as said thermally sensitive member expands or contracts, said thermally sensitive member being capable of contracting when said exhaust gases in said flue, heat said thermally sensitive member to its transition temperature and expanding when the temperature of said thermally sensitive member falls below its transitions temperature;
• and
• a counter-balancing member to provide a counter-balancing force to said thermally sensitive member.

A flue damper system for controlling the passage of exhaust gases through a flue of a gas water heater comprising:

• a flue damper, said flue damper being pivotally attached to said flue;
• a thermally sensitive member capable of contracting when said exhaust gases in said flue heat said thermally sensitive member to its transition temperature and contracting when the temperature of said thermally sensitive member drops below said transition temperature, wherein said thermally sensitive member is connected between said flue damper and a member in said flue to control the movement of said flue damper by contraction or expansion of said thermally sensitive member above and below said transition temperature;
• and
• a counter-balancing member connected to provide a counter-balancing force to said thermally sensitive member.

A flue damper system for controlling the passage of exhaust gases through a flue of a gas water heater comprising:

• a flue damper plate, said flue damper plate being pivotally mounted within said flue;
• an elongated thermally sensitive member, said thermally sensitive member having a transition temperature above which said thermally sensitive member contracts and below which said thermally sensitive member expands, said elongated thermally sensitive member being connected between said flue damper plate and a member in said flue such that said thermally sensitive member is capable of controlling movement of said flue damper plate when said thermally sensitive member contracts and expands above and below said transition temperature due to heat of said exhaust gases;
• and
• a counter-balancing spring, said counter-balancing spring being connected to provide a counter-balancing force to said thermally sensitive member.