Condensate trap on a condensing gas-fired furnace

• US 4,856,550 A
• Filed: 03/30/1988
• Issued: 08/15/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lennox Manufacturing Inc. (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smelcer, Jimmy C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Larry
• Application Number:
  US07/175,266
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 126/110 C, 126/99 R, 137/192, 137/132, 137/314, 137/409
• US Class Current: 137/192
• CPC Class Codes: F16T 1/22 of closed-hollow-body type
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 8/006 Means for removing condensate from the heater
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/00 Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3068 Float

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a condensate trap for a condensing furnace comprising a housing having an inlet adapted to be connected to a condensing heat exchanger, an outlet for flue gas and an outlet for condensate. The housing has a chamber therein, a valve seat defining an opening from the chamber, a float valve in the chamber adapted to close the opening, and a drain orifice in the outlet for condensate forming a dam to prevent negative pressure from undesirably dislodging the float valve from the opening. The drain orifice is constructed and arranged to retain condensate at a level higher than that of the bottom of the valve seat.

Claims

1. A condensate trap for a condensing pulsating combustion gas-fired furnace comprising a housing having an inlet adapted to be connected to a condensing heat exchanger, an outlet for flue gas and an outlet for condensate, said housing having a chamber therein, an opening defined in the chamber, a float valve in the chamber adapted to close the opening, and a drain orifice in the outlet for condensate forming a dam to prevent negative pressure from undesirably dislodging the float valve from the opening, said housing being comprised of two portions detachably connected to one another for allowing access for cleaning and inspection and also for allowing rotatable adjustment of one portion with respect to the other.

2. A condensate trap as in claim 1 wherein the float valve comprises a generally spherical ball.

3. A condensate trap as in claim 1 wherein said opening is defined in a valve seat.

4. A condensate trap as in claim 1 wherein said housing has a wall with a hole therein, and a valve seat in said hole defining said opening.

5. A condensate trap as in claim 3 wherein the drain orifice is constructed and arranged to retain condensate at a level higher than that of the bottom of the valve seat.

6. A condensate trap as in claim 1 wherein the two portions are detachably connected by clamp means comprising clamp sections joined by fastening means.

7. A condensate trap as in claim 1 wherein a cylinder within the housing forms said chamber, said float valve being disposed in said cylinder, and a float cap secured to said cylinder for confining said float valve therein.

8. A condensate trap as in claim 5 wherein the drain orifice has a substantially flat top.

9. A condensate trap as in claim 8 wherein the flat top is disposed generally horizontally in the outlet for condensate.

10. A condensate trap as in claim 9 wherein the drain orifice has a noncircular recess in the exterior surface thereof to facilitate proper orientation of the drain orifice in the outlet for condensate.