Furnace vent and intake terminal and blockage safety shut down system

• US 6,102,030 A
• Filed: 11/12/1999
• Issued: 08/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Comfort Products Corp. (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Comfort Products Corp. (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Brown, Michael N., Wallet, Gary, Dobre, Dan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yeung, James C.
• Application Number:
  US09/438,501
• Time in Patent Office: 277 Days
• Field of Search: 126/85 B, 126/307 R, 126/312, 126/307 A, 126/116 A, 431/20, 431/89, 454/8, 454/35, 454/36
• US Class Current: 126/85.00B
• CPC Class Codes: F23J 2211/101 with coaxial duct arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F23J 2213/70 Safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F23L 17/04 Balanced-flue arrangements, i.e. devices which combine air inlet to combustion unit with smoke outlet
• CPC Class Codes: F23M 11/00 Safety arrangements

Abstract

A horizontal combined air intake and combustion gas vent terminal assembly is provided having improved wind pressure response and anti-recirculation characteristics. The terminal has a vent conduit disposed inside an air intake conduit. A scoop assembly is provided at the intake conduit inlet to increase the intake air pressure at the inlet. The vent conduit is nozzle-like to throttle combustion gases, thereby accelerating the gases and permitting the terminal to project the gases away from the intake conduit terminal. Vent conduit is disposed asymmetrically with intake conduit to further discourage mixing of intake air and combustion gases. The terminal may also be provided with a static pressure measuring means to provide an intrinsic safety shut down system within the terminal in case of blockage of the intake or vent by snow, ice or other debris.

Claims

1. A horizontal air intake and combustion gas vent terminal positionable in an exterior wall of a building for admitting outside air to a fuel fired furnace in the building and venting combustion gas therefrom to the outside of the building, the terminal comprising:

(a) a vent conduit for receiving combustion gases from the furnace, the vent conduit extending along a longitudinal vent axis and having a length and an open vent outlet end positionable to extend outwardly from the exterior wall for venting the combustion gases to the outside of the building, the vent conduit being tapered along the length thereof towards the vent outlet end for accelerating a flow of combustion gas therethrough; and

(b) an intake conduit disposed around the vent conduit and extending along a longitudinal intake axis, the intake conduit having an air flow space defined therein in cooperation with the vent conduit for receiving a horizontal flow of outside air through an open intake inlet end and delivering said air through the air flow space to the furnace, the intake inlet end being positionable between the vent outlet end and the wall; and

(c) wherein the longitudinal vent axis and the longitudinal intake axis are noncoaxial and nonparallel, and the longitudinal vent axis is disposed substantially below the longitudinal intake axis at the vent outlet end.

2. The horizontal air intake and combustion gas vent terminal of claim 1, further comprising a shield member disposed around the vent conduit and spaced apart from the intake inlet end, the shield member extending outwardly from the vent conduit to a position wherein the shield member substantially blocks direct axial access of air to the intake inlet end.

3. The horizontal air intake and combustion gas vent terminal of claim 1, further comprising a sleeve member disposed around the intake conduit having a first end merged with the intake conduit and a second end positionable to extend outwardly from the wall to a position intermediate the intake inlet end and the vent outlet end.