Forced draft direct vent system for a water heater

Claim 2

A combined air and water temperature conditioning system for heating water and for heating or cooling indoor room air, comprising: a domestic type water heater including a water tank having a cold water supply inlet, a hot water supply outlet, a water circulator outlet, a water circulator inlet, a top having a top edge, a combustion chamber wherein fuel is consumed producing products of combustion adjoining said tank whereby heat is directly transferred from said combustion chamber to said tank, a flue communicating with said combustion chamber passing through said tank and exiting said top, a modular air handler mounted on said top of said water heater having a housing with an air inlet and an air outlet, an air blower situated in an air path within said housing between said air inlet and said air outlet, a water-fed heating coil situated in said air path and having a water inlet connected to said circulator outlet of said water heater and a water outlet connected to said circulator inlet of said water heater and a water pump located in said housing adapted to cause circulation of water from said water heater to said heating coil when energized, and a flue gas conduit having a substantially horizontal segment positioned below said air handler communicating with said flue, said horizontal segment conducting the products of combustion laterally beyond the edge of said top end.

Claim 3

A combined air and water temperature conditioning system as defined in claim 1, wherein said water circulator inlet is located on said water heater top and said water heater circulation outlet is located on said water heater top.

Claim 4

A combined air and water temperature conditioning system as defined in claim 1, wherein said air handler water outlet and said air handler water inlet are detachably connected to said water heater circulator inlet and circulator outlet.

Claim 5

A combined air and water temperature conditioning system as defined in claim 1, wherein said air handler has a generally rectangular housing, said air inlet is located on a side of said air handler housing and said air outlet is located on the top of said air handler.

Claim 6

A combined air and water temperature conditioning system as defined in claim 1, wherein said air handler includes an insertable coil for affecting the temperature of air flowing in said air path in said air handler.

Claim 7

A combined air and water temperature conditioning system as defined in claim 5, wherein said insertable coil is located adjacent said air inlet.

Claim 8

A combined air and water temperature conditioning system as defined in claim 6, wherein said insertable coil is adapted to cool air flowing in said air path in said air handler.

Claim 9

A combined air and water temperature conditioning system as defined in claim 5, wherein said insertable coil is mounted in said air handler by sliding type brackets.

Claim 10

A combined air and water temperature conditioning system for heating water and for cooling or heating indoor room air, comprising: a domestic type water heater having a water tank having a top end, a top edge, a combustion chamber wherein fuel is consumed producing products of combustion adjoining said tank whereby heat is directly transferred from said combustion chamber to said tank, a flue communicating with said combustion chamber passing through said tank and exiting said top end, a flue gas conduit having a substantially horizontal segment, an air handler of modular design mounted atop of said water heater having a blower adapted to provide a current of air across a heating coil containing water from said water heater, and said water heater having a top adapted to accommodate said modular air handler on said top, said flue gas conduit horizontal segment extending laterally beyond said top edge below said air handler and the combination of said air handler and said water heater forming a self-contained unit with water heated by said water heater being transferred to and returned from said air handler internally to said unit.

Claim 11

A combined air and water temperature conditioning system for heating water and for cooling or heating indoor room air, comprising: a domestic type water heater having a water tank having a top end, a top edge, a combustion chamber wherein fuel is consumed producing products of combustion adjoining said tank whereby heat is directly transferred from said combustion chamber to said tank, a flue communicating with said combustion chamber passing through said tank and exiting said top end, a flue gas conduit having a substantially horizontal segment, an air handler of modular design mounted atop of said water heater having a blower adapted to provide a current of air across a heating coil containing water from said water heater, and said water heater having a top adapted to accommodate said modular air handler on said top, said flue gas conduit horizontal segment extending laterally beyond said top edge below said air handler and the combination of said air handler and said water heater forming a self-contained unit with water heated by said water heater being transferred to and returned from said air handler internally to said unit.

Claim 12

A combined air and water temperature conditioning system as defined in claim 9, wherein said water heater includes a driven draft direct vent system comprising a housing associated with the exterior of said water heater body to provide an air pressure chamber defined in part by said water heater body and in part by walls of said housing, said air pressure chamber having a first opening communicating with the exterior of said housing, and a second opening communicating with a combustion air inlet passage, a combustion air fan operatively associated with said first opening to move air into said air pressure chamber, and an inlet conduit assembly extending from said first opening to the outdoor atmosphere.

Claim 13

A combined air and water temperature conditioning system as defined in claim 9, wherein said water heater includes a flue pipe terminating at an open end atop said water heater and an outlet conduit assembly communicating said open end of said flue pipe with the outdoor atmosphere, said outlet conduit assembly including a first section extending horizontally from said open end of said flue pipe to a position laterally spaced from said water heater.

Claim 14

A combined air and water temperature conditioning system as defined in claim 9, wherein said air handler has a generally rectangular housing, said air inlet is located on a side of said housing and said outlet is located on the top of said housing.

Claim 15

A combined air and water temperature conditioning system as defined in claim 9, wherein said air handler includes an insertable coil means for affecting the temperature of said current of air.

Claim 16

A combined air and water temperature conditioning system as defined in claim 10, wherein said water heater has an electrical control system and said air handler has an electrical control system and said water heater electrical control system is entirely separate from said air handler electrical control circuit.

Claim 17

A modular combination water heater and space heater comprising: a water heater adapted to heat a body of water having a top end, a water containing tank, a combustion chamber adjoining said tank wherein fuel is consumed producing products of combustion adjoining said tank whereby heat is directly transferred from said combustion chamber to said tank, a flue communicating with said combustion chamber passing through said tank and exiting said top end, a flue gas conduit segment conducting said products of combustion away from said water heater, a cold water inlet, and a hot water outlet; an air handler assembly comprising a housing a water line including a hot water coil connection opening to the exterior of said housing, a coil supply line communicating said hot water outlet with said hot water coil connection, a cold water coil connection opening to the exterior of said housing, a coil return line communicating said cold water inlet with said cold water coil connection, a coil within said housing communicating said hot water coil connection with said cold water coil connection, a duct opening communicating the exterior of said housing with the surface of said coil, and a blower adapted to move air into said housing through said duct opening and across said coil, said housing being mounted to said top end of said water heater above said flue gas conduit segment; and, a pump moving hot water from said water heater tank to said air handler through said water line.

Claim 18

A modular combination water heater and space heater comprising: a water heater adapted to heat a body of water having a top end, a water containing tank, a combustion chamber adjoining said tank wherein fuel is consumed producing products of combustion adjoining said tank whereby heat is directly transferred from said combustion chamber to said tank, a flue communicating with said combustion chamber passing through said tank and exiting said top end, a flue gas conduit segment conducting said products of combustion away from said water heater, a cold water inlet, and a hot water outlet; an air handler assembly comprising a housing a water line including a hot water coil connection opening to the exterior of said housing, a coil supply line communicating said hot water outlet with said hot water coil connection, a cold water coil connection opening to the exterior of said housing, a coil return line communicating said cold water inlet with said cold water coil connection, a coil within said housing communicating said hot water coil connection with said cold water coil connection, a duct opening communicating the exterior of said housing with the surface of said coil, and a blower adapted to move air into said housing through said duct opening and across said coil, said housing being mounted to said top end of said water heater above said flue gas conduit segment; and, a pump moving hot water from said water heater tank to said air handler through said water line.

Claim 19

A combination water heater and space heater comprising: a water heater adapted to heat a body of water having a water containing tank, a combustion chamber adjoining said tank in which fuel is consumed producing heat and products of combustion whereby heat is directly transferred from said combustion chamber to said tank, a top end, a cold water circulator inlet, a hot water circulator outlet, a flue communicating with said combustion chamber passing through said tank and exiting said top end and a water heater thermostat sensing the temperature of water in said tank and initiating operation of said water heater in response to a low temperature condition within said tank; an air handler assembly mounted on said top end comprising a housing; a water line comprising a heat exchanger, a pump, a cold water return line communicating said heat exchanger to said cold water circulator inlet, a hot water line communicating said heat exchanger to said hot water circulator outlet; an inlet air opening, an outlet air opening, a blower adapted to move air into said inlet opening, through said heat exchanger and out said outlet opening, a control unit controlling said blower and said pump in response to demand for air heating.

Claim 20

A combination water heater and space heater comprising: a water heater adapted to heat a body of water having a water containing tank, a combustion chamber adjoining said tank in which fuel is consumed producing heat and products of combustion whereby heat is directly transferred from said combustion chamber to said tank, a top end, a cold water circulator inlet, a hot water circulator outlet, a flue communicating with said combustion chamber passing through said tank and exiting said top end and a water heater thermostat sensing the temperature of water in said tank and initiating operation of said water heater in response to a low temperature condition within said tank; an air handler assembly mounted on said top end comprising a housing; a water line comprising a heat exchanger, a pump, a cold water return line communicating said heat exchanger to said cold water circulator inlet, a hot water line communicating said heat exchanger to said hot water circulator outlet; an inlet air opening, an outlet air opening, a blower adapted to move air into said inlet opening, through said heat exchanger and out said outlet opening, a control unit controlling said blower and said pump in response to demand for air heating.

Claim 21

The combination water heater and space heater of claim 16 wherein said water circulator inlet is in said top end, said water circulator outlet is in said top end, said pump is contained within said housing; and, said air handler water line is contained within said housing and between said housing and said water heater.

Claim 22

The combination water heater and space heater of claim 16 wherein said flue communicates with a flue gas conduit having a substantially horizontal segment positioned below said air handler assembly communicating with said flue, said horizontal segment conducting the products of combustion laterally beyond the edge of said top end.

Claim 23

The combination water heater and space heater of claim 16 wherein said water heater additionally comprises a cylindrical side wall, a cold water source inlet in said side wall and a potable hot water outlet in said side wall.

Claim 24

A combination water heater and space heater comprising: a water heater adapted to heat a body of water having a water containing tank, a combustion chamber adjoining said tank in which fuel is consumed producing heat and products of combustion whereby heat is directly transferred from said combustion chamber to said tank, a top end having an edge, a cold water inlet, a hot water outlet and a flue communicating with said combustion chamber passing through said tank and exiting said top end; an air handler assembly comprising a housing, a water line comprising a hot water coil connection, a coil supply line communicating said hot water outlet with said hot water coil connection, a cold water coil connection, a coil return line communicating said cold water inlet with said cold water coil connection, a coil within said housing communicating said hot water coil connection with said cold water coil connection, a duct opening communicating the exterior of said housing with the surface of said coil and a blower adapted to move air into said housing through said duct opening and across said coil, said housing being mounted to said top end of said water heater; a flue gas conduit having a substantially horizontal segment positioned below said air handler assembly communicating with said flue, said horizontal segment conducting the products of combustion laterally beyond the edge of said top end.

Claim 25

A combination water heater and space heater comprising: a water heater adapted to heat a body of water having a water containing tank, a combustion chamber adjoining said tank in which fuel is consumed producing heat and products of combustion whereby heat is directly transferred from said combustion chamber to said tank, a top end having an edge, a cold water inlet, a hot water outlet and a flue communicating with said combustion chamber passing through said tank and exiting said top end; an air handler assembly comprising a housing, a water line comprising a hot water coil connection, a coil supply line communicating said hot water outlet with said hot water coil connection, a cold water coil connection, a coil return line communicating said cold water inlet with said cold water coil connection, a coil within said housing communicating said hot water coil connection with said cold water coil connection, a duct opening communicating the exterior of said housing with the surface of said coil and a blower adapted to move air into said housing through said duct opening and across said coil, said housing being mounted to said top end of said water heater; a flue gas conduit having a substantially horizontal segment positioned below said air handler assembly communicating with said flue, said horizontal segment conducting the products of combustion laterally beyond the edge of said top end.