Abstract: A fuel-fired water heater is provided with a premixing type main burner and an associated pilot burner for igniting it. A specially designed protective system is operative to detect a flame flashback burning condition in the main burner and responsively shut down the water heater. In one embodiment thereof, the protective system uses main burner body heat to melt a portion of a fuel supply line connected to the pilot burner during a flame flashback condition in the main burner. Such melting responsively causes an associated fuel supply valve to close and terminate water heater operation. In a second protective system embodiment a normally closed pressure switch is opened, thereby shutting down the water heater, when the switch detects a pressure indicative of a flame flashback condition in the main burner.

Abstract: A collector assembly is provided for directing products of combustion between segments of a flue of a water heater. The assembly includes an insulator at least partially defining a chamber configured to direct products of combustion between the flue segments. The assembly also includes a cover configured to at least partially surround the insulator. The cover is also configured to be coupled to a water tank of the water heater. The insulator in an uncompressed state is dimensioned to extend outwardly from the cover when the insulator is positioned in the cover. The insulator in a compressed state is dimensioned to permit coupling of the cover to the water tank.

Abstract: A fuel-fired water heater has a single pass condensing-type heat exchanger disposed within its water storage tank portion. The heat exchanger includes a primary non-condensing portion defined by a combustion chamber positioned in an upper interior portion of the tank and having a spaced series of vertical tubes depending therefrom. A secondary condensing portion of the heat exchanger is defined by a plenum having a top side connected to the bottom ends of the vertical tubes, and a bottom side from which a downwardly coiled flue tube depends. A fuel burner generates hot combustion gases that are sequentially flowed into the combustion chamber and then downwardly through the balance of the heat exchanger in a single pass.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchange element intended for a central heating boiler, which heat exchange element is designed as a monocasting from substantially aluminum, the heat exchange element being provided with walls which bound a water-carrying channel, and with at least one wall which bounds at least one flue gas draft to which a burner can be connected, at least one wall which bounds the at least one flue gas draft being water-cooled in that it also forms a boundary of the water-carrying channel, while one said at least one water-cooled wall is provided with heat exchanging surface enlarging pins and/or fins which extend in the respective flue gas draft, wherein the cross-sectional surface of a said pin and/or fin is smaller than 25 mm2. The invention also relates to a central heating boiler provided with such a heat exchange element.

Abstract: A water heater is shown having a closed metal tank with an upwardly mounted combustion chamber and burner/blower assembly. Curved fire tubes convey the products of combustion from the chamber to an exterior mounted flue assembly. The closed tank is enclosed by a rotomolded jacket. A support stand with vertically arranged support legs supports the tank in a normally vertical position but also allows the tank to be pivoted to a horizontal position on the support stand for maintenance or repair operations.

Abstract: A fuel-fired water heater has a three-pass condensing type heat exchanger disposed within its tank and having a central vertical first pass flue pipe separated into upper and lower portions by an internal dividing structure. Respectively coupled to the upper and lower first pass flue pipe portions are circumferentially spaced series of vertical second and third pass flue pipes which circumscribe the central flue pipe within the tank. During firing of the water heater, combustion gases from a power burner are sequentially forced downwardly through the upper portion of the first pass flue pipe, upwardly through the second pass flue pipes to an upper plenum external to the tank, and then downwardly through the third pass flue pipes and the lower central pipe portion into a bottom plenum external to the tank for discharge from the water heater.

Abstract: A water heater including a water container; a combustion chamber adjacent the water container; a burner associated with the combustion chamber; a blower assembly located to receive combustion products generated by the burner; an intake conduit sealingly connected to the combustion chamber and having a combustion air intake opening located adjacent an upper portion of the water heater; and a dilution air conduit sealingly connected to the blower assembly and having a dilution air intake opening located adjacent a lower portion of the water heater.

Abstract: A water tank has a central flue to which clips are welded. The clips define baffles and are welded to have a greater heat transfer area where they are joined to the central flue. The individual clips are rectangular and are welded to the flue wall along one side at an angle of 4° rather than the 9° of the prior art so that the clip has a greater weld area. This greater weld area increases the thermal path between the clip and the wall of the central flue.

Abstract: A swimming pool heater that heats a private swimming pool and can be used to provide heating for a house, a cottage or a commercial swimming pool. Wood, that is often found around pools, is used as primary fuel. This oven has a cylindrical external appearance and is disposed horizontally. It is made of an interior wall and an exterior wall in between which water circulates. The interior wall plays the role of fire chamber and heat exchanger; the section having the shape of an annular zig-zag offers more surface for heat exchange than a simple cylinder thus increasing the overall heater efficiency. The left-over ashes insulate the bottom of the heating chamber replacing often used tiles. For general use, logs and branches are used as fuel, and an increase of 20 to 30 degrees F. of the water of a typical garden pool is attained overnight.

Abstract: An improved gas-fired water heater is disclosed which comprises a sealed cylindrical shell extending from the base of the water tank to the top, enclosing the burners and controls so as to shield them from flammable vapors in the immediate vicinity. The cylindrical shell forms an annular passage outside the tank (and insulation, if present), which facilitates the intake of combustion air. This annular passage is shielded from above and the side adjacent the top of the tank by a cover fitted to the tank top which extends downward from the top to form a lip which laterally shields the annular passage and directs intake combustion air upward from outside the shell to enter the annular passage. The bottom of the heater can be extended by a cylindrical skirt extension which encloses the burner of the heater in an airtight manner except for air inlets in the bottom of the extension.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for heating hot water. The present apparatus utilizes at least two individual hollow conduits that pass through the interior of a hot water tank. Independent inshot gas burners mounted in the conduits pass hot air through the hollow conduits warming the water surrounding the conduits. The conduits are organized in the interior of the tank in such a manner as to create distinct differential temperature zones. Each such temperature zone has an associated hot water outlet. The inshot burners are regulated to maintain the temperature zones. In this manner, the user is able to utilize the advantages of an internal coil heating system but has the ability to draw steady supplies of water of varying temperatures from the tank which is critical for many modern residential and commercial hot water and hydronic systems.

Abstract: An improved flue pipe construction particularly adapted for a fuel fired water heater is disclosed which serves to reduce or minimize heat loss when the water heater is in a standby mode. The flue pipe construction comprises inner and outer concentric flue pipes which define an air space therebetween and one or more valve arrangements associated therewith to selectively restrict air flow through such air space. The valve arrangements include a thermally responsive actuator operative to open and close the valve member in response to heat generated by firing of the burner assembly without the need for any external power supply or interlocks.

Abstract: A water heater adapted to be positioned outside of a building and to interface with the plumbing system of the building. The water heater includes a water storage tank adapted to store water outside of the building, a means for heating the water in the tank, a base member supporting the tank outside of the building, and a plurality of water pipes communicating with the water tank. The water heater also includes a manifold that is mounted to the base member and includes a plurality of pipe unions adapted to interface between the plumbing system and the plurality of pipes to provide cold water to the tank and to remove heated water from the tank for use in the building.

Abstract: A water heater includes a substantially cylindrical tank having a cold water inlet, a hot water outlet, and an exhaust flue. The cold water inlet is disposed adjacent the lower end of the tank to prevent condensation from occurring between the cold water inlet and the exhaust flue. A T connector having an inlet and first and second outlets is connected to the cold water inlet. A flush valve is connected to the second outlet of the T connector to allow the tank to be flushed. A nozzle is connected to the cold water inlet and is disposed inside the tank. The nozzle is angled to swirl the water that is being placed into the tank so that sediment is lifted into the water. The nozzle may be angled downwardly to stir up sediment from the bottom of the tank.

Abstract: A hot water heater having a housing with a top chamber, a bottom chamber and a main tank. A cold water inlet pipe runs into the top chamber and extends into the tank. The cold water inlet pipe coils inward, beginning at circumference of the top chamber before extending into the tank, thus increasing the distance the water has to travel inside the heater. Contrastly, the hot water outlet pipe runs straight from the main tank through the top chamber and exits therefrom. The bottom chamber has a dome shaped ceiling with peaked apertures. A burner is positioned along the bottom surface and produces a flame that sends heated air upward, through the peaked apertures into connected heat distribution tubes which travel vertically through the tank. These tubes are angled along their length and have cylindrical fins attached. Once the heat from the flame rises through the apertures, it continues upward through the tubes, until it is released into the top chamber and exits trough an exhaust chimney.

Abstract: This invention concerns a boiler fitted with a burner suitable for wall heaters or built-in kitchen heaters in which a mantle-shaped heat exchanger made of pipe elements connected in parallel and/or series divides the boiler chamber into a combustion chamber and an exhaust chamber. The heat exchanger has openings for hot flue gases distributed over its mantle. The burner head disposed in the combustion chamber is suitable for burning oil and has a flame tube with an axial flame opening and a flame baffle element disposed at a distance from the flame opening which is constructed so that the flame is diverted into the space between the flame tube and the heat exchanger. In addition, a fire chamber mantle can be disposed between the heat exchanger and the flame tube to protect the heat exchanger from direct contact with the flame.

Abstract: This invention concerns a boiler fitted with a burner suitable for wall heaters or built-in kitchen heaters in which a mantle-shaped heat exchanger made of pipe elements connected in parallel and/or series divides the boiler chamber into a combustion chamber and an exhaust chamber. The heat exchanger has openings for hot flue gases distributed over its mantle. The burner head disposed in the combustion chamber is suitable for burning oil and has a flame tube with an axial flame opening and a flame baffle element disposed at a distance from the flame opening which is constructed so that the flame is diverted into the space between the flame tube and the heat exchanger. In addition, a fire chamber mantle can be disposed between the heat exchanger and the flame tube to protect the heat exchanger from direct contact with the flame.

Abstract: A water heater comprising a water-tight tank having a combustion chamber located in the bottom portion of the tank. A combustion air blower is operable to draw combustion air into the combustion chamber through a vertical tube in which the air flows from atmosphere downwardly into the combustion chamber. Combustion air entering the combustion chamber supports combustion of gas emanating from burners positioned in the combustion chamber. The products of combustion (flue gases) are drawn upwardly through a plurality of tubes, which extend from the combustion chamber to a flue gas collector box on the top of the water heater. From the flue gas collector box, the flue gases flow into an air/flue product mixing chamber and then out through an exit port.

Abstract: A water heater including a water container; a combustion chamber located adjacent the container, the combustion chamber having a floor portion with an opening; a conduit extending upwardly from and being substantially sealed to the opening; a burner located inside the combustion chamber; a flame trap positioned across the conduit, the flame trap permitting ingress of air and extraneous gases, if present, into the combustion chamber and prevent egress of flames from the structure; and a duct substantially sealingly positioned outwardly of the combustion chamber and over the opening and extending along a side portion of the water heater, the duct having a plurality of openings to receive combustion air.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for producing hot water comprising at least one burner (13) arranged to produce rapid combustion inside the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber consists of a sealed container (14) delimiting an internal volume separated from the water so as to allow dry combustion. Said container (14) is immersed in a water section (12) and it is extended by at least one smoke gas diffuser (15) diffusing the smoke gases above the water section within a mass of water showered by spraying means (10). A layer of nodules (11) can be interposed on the path of the smoke gases and the sprayed water so as to increase the thermal exchange generated, by direct contact between the smoke gases and the water spray, and by conduction between container (14) and water section (12). The invention enables to achieve excellent thermal efficiency levels while producing smoke gases with a reduced CO ratio.