Abstract: A system and method for providing a gas-fired heating system with improved thermal efficiency includes modulating a quantity of combustion air flow to a combustion mixture in response to a measured change in fuel-gas pressure using a DC (e.g., brushless) motor to drive a combustion air blower. A pressure transducer in a manifold transporting fuel-gas into the combustion mixture outputs a signal proportional to the measured pressure to the motor. The motor speed and thus the resultant quantity of combustion air flow are modulated in proportion to the quantity of fuel-gas to the mixture. Accordingly, a constant fuel-gas to combustion air ratio is maintained. The system and method may further provide for adjusting the output signal to accommodate measured intake air temperature, and/or measured atmospheric pressure in order to maintain a constant, good thermal efficiency (preferably ?80%) regardless of air temperature and altitude at the system's installation location.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a heating system with good thermal efficiency by adjusting combustion air flow in response to fuel-input rate changes over a wide range. An AC motor operates in a slip mode whereby as the fuel-input rate changes, the combustion air density is affected. In response, changes in the load and thus the speed of the motor occur. Consequently, the quantity of combustion air flow increases in response to a fuel-input rate increase. The motor switches to a synchronous speed in response to the fuel-input rate reaching a set value, e.g., 70 percent of maximum rate.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for providing multiple stages of fuel. A burner assembly having a face for production of a flame and a plurality of longitudinally adjacent chambers opening to the face. A divider is provided that splits the burner chambers into two separate sections in such a manner that one section includes burner chambers greater in number than the other section. The first section can be ignited solely. Thereafter, the second section can be ignited. Once the second section is ignited, the first section may be optionally turned off.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a gas-fired heating system with improved thermal efficiency includes modulating a quantity of combustion air flow to a combustion mixture in response to a measured change in fuel-gas pressure using a DC (e.g., brushless) motor to drive a combustion air blower. A pressure transducer in a manifold transporting fuel-gas into the combustion mixture outputs a signal proportional to the measured pressure to the motor. The motor speed and thus the resultant quantity of combustion air flow are modulated in proportion to the quantity of fuel-gas to the mixture. Accordingly, a constant fuel-gas to combustion air ratio is maintained. The system and method may further provide for adjusting the output signal to accommodate measured intake air temperature, and/or measured atmospheric pressure in order to maintain a constant, good thermal efficiency (preferably ?80%) regardless of air temperature and altitude at the system's installation location.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a heating system with good thermal efficiency by adjusting combustion air flow in response to fuel-input rate changes over a wide range. An AC motor operates in a slip mode whereby as the fuel-input rate changes, the combustion air density is affected. In response, changes in the load and thus the speed of the motor occur. Consequently, the quantity of combustion air flow increases in response to a fuel-input rate increase. The motor switches to a synchronous speed in response to the fuel-input rate reaching a set value, e.g., 70 percent of maximum rate.

Abstract: A shield for placement around burner ports in a hot air furnace for reducing turbulence in the flow of secondary combustion air entering a heat exchanger. The shield also provides for intercepting moisture that condenses along the walls of the vertically oriented heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is part of a furnace. The drip shield includes a plate having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of through-openings placed in the plate along and/or parallel to its longitudinal axis. The through-openings are spaced apart so as to be positioned between and aligned with burner ports and respective heat exchanger tube inlets of the heat exchanger. The plate is preferably profiled to have a peak to encourage condensate run-off with the plurality of through-openings being placed along or generally parallel to the peak of the plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for providing multiple stages of fuel. A burner assembly having a face for production of a flame and a plurality of longitudinally adjacent chambers opening to the face. A divider is provided that splits the burner chambers into two separate sections in such a manner that one section includes burner chambers greater in number than the other section. The first section can be ignited solely. Thereafter, the second section can be ignited. Once the second section is ignited, the first section may be optionally turned off.

Abstract: A single burner, heat exchanger combination for particular use in a hot air furnace, includes a plurality of spaced heat exchangers, each heat exchanger having an inlet port for receipt therein of combustion gases. A unitary burner for producing combustion gases includes a burner face defined by a plurality of spaced fins for passing therethrough a combustible gas. The inlet ports of each of the heat exchangers are disposed adjacent to and in fluid communication with the passages defined by the burner face fins. A hot air furnace comprising the single bumer, heat exchanger combination also includes a blower adapted to blow air over the heat exchangers and an induction blower in fluid communication with the outlets of the heat exchanger adapted to draw the combustion gases through the heat exchangers and to discharge such combustion gases outwardly from the furnace.

Abstract: A single burner, heat exchanger combination for particular use in a hot air furnace, includes a plurality of spaced heat exchangers, each heat exchanger having an inlet port for receipt therein of combustion gases. A unitary burner for producing combustion gases includes a burner face defined by a plurality of spaced fins for passing therethrough a combustible gas. The inlet ports of each of the heat exchangers are disposed adjacent to and in fluid communication with the passages defined by the burner face fins. A hot air furnace comprising the single burner, heat exchanger combination also includes a blower adapted to blow air over the heat exchangers and an induction blower in fluid communication with the outlets of the heat exchanger adapted to draw the combustion gases through the heat exchangers and to discharge such combustion gases outwardly from the furnace.

Abstract: A single burner, heat exchanger combination for particular use in a hot air furnace, includes a plurality of spaced heat exchangers, each heat exchanger having an inlet port for receipt therein of combustion gases. A unitary burner for producing combustion gases includes a burner face defined by a plurality of spaced fins for passing therethrough a combustible gas. The inlet ports of each of the heat exchangers are disposed adjacent to and in fluid communication with the passages defined by the burner face fins. A hot air furnace comprising the single burner, heat exchanger combination also includes a blower adapted to blow air over the heat exchangers and an induction blower in fluid communication with the outlets of the heat exchanger adapted to draw the combustion gases through the heat exchangers and to discharge such combustion gases outwardly from the furnace.

Abstract: A modulating furnace includes a first air flow path which directs supply air to one or more combustion burners and through a heat exchanger, and a second air flow path which directs supply air around the one or more burners and heat exchanger. When the firing rate of the burners is lowered, the amount of air to the burners is reduced by diverting a greater fraction of the supply air to the second air flow path. When the firing rate of the burners is raised, less supply air is diverted resulting in greater flow to the burners. The duct furnace achieves ideal combustion at high and low firing rates by maintaining an ideal balance between firing rates and air supplied to the burners.

Abstract: An exhaust vent adapter is provided for use in a heating system having a plurality of heating units, which allows all heating units to discharge combustion gases through a single exhaust opening. The adapter comprises a body with a plurality of discrete chambers formed therein, each chamber communicating with a separate heating unit. The body of the adapter has a single exhaust opening formed therein, through which each chamber is independently connected to a separate exhaust vent pipe. The vent pipes leading from plurality of the chambers are concentrically arranged, and may be extended through a single opening in either the wall or ceiling of a building in which the heating units are installed. In a preferred embodiment, the body of the adapter has a single divider secured therein, which defines two chambers and segregates the combustion gases from a pair of heating units.