Vent damper for gas water heater

Patent · Tue Aug 31 00:00:00 EDT 1993

OSTI ID:5994021

Schimmeyer, W K

A vent damper is described for limiting the flow of ambient air through the central core of a water heater having a main burner and a pilot light burner, the central core forming an exhaust port leading to a flue for evacuation of exhaust gases from the main burner and the pilot light burner, comprising: means forming a generally cylindrical housing, a first end of which is adapted to engage the top of a water heater in surrounding relationship to the exhaust port of the heater; guide including a generally cylindrical portion having a plurality of legs extending from a first end of the portion and in the axial direction thereof, the legs being positioned at intervals around the circumference thereof; first deflector connecting a second end of the housing to a second end of the cylindrical portion and serving to direct the flow of the exhaust gases through the vent damper; second deflector affixed to the legs at points spaced from the cylindrical portion, the second deflector, the legs and the first end of the cylindrical portion combining to form a passageway through which gases entering the one end of the housing may flow and enter the space defined by the cylindrical portion and then exit the space by passing out of the second end of the cylindrical portion and into the flue; and annular closure means surrounding the cylindrical portion and adapted to slide along the legs between a first position closing the passageway and a second position opening the passageway, the closure being configured such that exhaust gases generated in heating the water heater and passing out of the exhaust port cause the closure to move into the second position such that the gases may flow through the passageway and into the flue, the weight of the closure being such that in the absence of the exhaust gases it falls under the influence of gravity into the second position substantially blocking the passageway to limit the flow of ambient gases through the central core.

• Assignee: IMS; EDB-93-134291
• Patent Number(s): US 5239947; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-887338
• OSTI ID: 5994021
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 22 May 1992
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
GAS APPLIANCES
DRAFT CONTROL SYSTEMS
WATER HEATERS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
AIR FLOW
CHIMNEYS
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
EXHAUST GASES
EXHAUST SYSTEMS
VENTILATION BARRIERS
VENTS
APPLIANCES
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FLOW REGULATORS
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
GAS FLOW
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HEATERS
WASTES
320106* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Building Equipment- (1987-)