초록 ▼

A water heater includes a water tank adapted to contain water; a flue extending through the water tank and having a first end communicating with the water heater's combustion chamber for the flow of products of combustion through the tank; a damper communicating with the flue; and an apparatus for c

A water heater includes a water tank adapted to contain water; a flue extending through the water tank and having a first end communicating with the water heater's combustion chamber for the flow of products of combustion through the tank; a damper communicating with the flue; and an apparatus for creating a flow of air proximate the second end of the flue to resist the flow of warm air out of the second end of the flue due to standby convection.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A water heater comprising: a water tank adapted to contain water; a combustion chamber beneath the water tank; a burner within the combustion chamber and operable to create products of combustion; a flue extending substantially vertically through the water tank and communicating with t

1. A water heater comprising: a water tank adapted to contain water; a combustion chamber beneath the water tank; a burner within the combustion chamber and operable to create products of combustion; a flue extending substantially vertically through the water tank and communicating with the combustion chamber to conduct the products of combustion from the combustion chamber and to transfer heat to water stored within the water tank; and an airflow apparatus capable of creating airflow in the absence of any opposition to the airflow, the airflow having a pressure, the airflow apparatus communicating with the flue and operable such that the pressure of the airflow resists standby convection flow of flue gases out of the flue when the burner is not operating, and wherein the airflow apparatus is adjustable to vary the magnitude of the airflow to substantially equalize the airflow and the standby convection flow of flue gases to create a substantially stagnant state within the flue when the burner is not operating. 2. The water heater of claim 1, wherein the airflow apparatus includes a gate at least partially restricting the airflow and wherein the magnitude of the airflow is varied by adjusting the gate.3. The water heater of claim 1, further comprising a power source adapted to supply power to the airflow apparatus, wherein the magnitude of the airflow is varied by adjusting the magnitude of the power supplied to the airflow apparatus by the power source.4. The water beater of claim 1, wherein the airflow apparatus is adjusted based on the temperature of the water within the tank.5. The water heater of claim 1, wherein the airflow apparatus is adjusted based on the temperature of the gas within the flue.6. The water beater of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of one of the exhaust within the flue and the water within the tank, and wherein the airflow apparatus is adjusted based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor.7. The water heater of claim 1, wherein the airflow apparatus is adjusted based on the velocity of the standby convection flow of flue gases.8. The water heater of claim 1, further comprising a hot wire anemometer that measures the velocity of the standby convection flow of flue gases, and wherein the airflow apparatus is adjusted based on the velocity measured by the anemometer.9. The water heater of claim 1, further comprising a fuel valve adjustable between settings to variably provide fuel to the burner, wherein the airflow apparatus is adjusted based on the setting of the fuel valve.10. The water heater of claim 1, further comprising a fuel valve adjustable between settings to variably provide fuel to the burner, and a rotary rheostat that measures the setting of the fuel valve, wherein the airflow apparatus is adjusted based on the setting measured by the rotary rheostat.11. The water heater of claim 1, further comprising a fuel valve adjustable between settings to variably provide fuel to the burner, and a potentiometer that measures the setting of the fuel valve, wherein the airflow apparatus is adjusted based on the setting measured by the potentiometer.12. The water heater of claim 1, wherein the airflow apparatus includes a fan capable of rotating at a speed to create the airflow and wherein the magnitude of the airflow is varied by adjusting the speed of the fan.13. The water heater of claim 1, wherein the airflow apparatus includes first and second electrodes having opposite polarities and spaced from each other, the water heater further comprising a power source interconnected between the first and second electrode to create a voltage difference between the first and second electrodes, the first electrode creating ions, the ions being biased for movement toward the second electrode to generate the airflow, and wherein the magnitude of the airflow is varied by adjusting the voltage difference.14. A water heater comprising: a wa ter tank adapted to contain water; a combustion chamber beneath the water tank; a burner within the combustion chamber and operable to create products of combustion; a flue extending substantially vertically through the water tank and communicating with the combustion chamber to exhaust the products of combustion from the combustion chamber and to transfer heat to water stored within the water tank; and an airflow apparatus capable of creating airflow in the absence of any opposition to the airflow, the airflow having a pressure, the airflow apparatus communicating with the flue and operable such that the pressure of the airflow slows the exhaust of the products of combustion through the flue when the burner is operating to increase the time the products of combustion reside in the flue, wherein the airflow apparatus is adjustable to vary the magnitude of the airflow during operation of the burner to control the time the products of combustion reside in the flue. 15. The water heater of claim 14, wherein the water heater does not include a physical baffle positioned within the flue.16. The water heater of claim 14, wherein the water heater includes a physical baffle positioned within the flue.17. The water heater of claim 14, wherein the airflow apparatus is operable such that the pressure of the airflow resists standby convection flow of flue gases out of the flue when the burner is not operating.18. The water heater of claim 14, wherein the burner operates at different phases, and wherein the airflow apparatus is adjusted based on the phase of the burner.19. The water heater of claim 14, wherein the airflow apparatus includes a fan capable of rotating at a speed to create the airflow and wherein the magnitude of the airflow is varied by adjusting the speed of the fan.20. The water beater of claim 14, wherein the airflow apparatus includes first and second electrodes having opposite polarities and spaced from each other, the water heater further comprising a power source interconnected between the first and second electrode to create a voltage difference between the first and second electrodes, the first electrode creating ions, the ions being biased for movement toward the second electrode to generate the airflow, and wherein the magnitude of the airflow is varied by adjusting the voltage difference.21. A water heater comprising: a water tank adapted to contain water; a combustion chamber beneath the water tank; a burner within the combustion chamber and operable to create products of combustion; a flue extending substantially vertically through the water tank and communicating with the combustion chamber to conduct the products of combustion from the combustion chamber and to transfer heat to water stored within the water tank; and an airflow apparatus capable of creating first airflow in the absence of any opposition to the first airflow, the first airflow having a first pressure, the airflow apparatus communicating with the flue and operable such that the first pressure of the first airflow resists standby convection flow of flue gases out of the flue when the burner is not operating, and wherein the airflow apparatus is also capable of creating a second airflow in the absence of any opposition to the second airflow, the second airflow having a second pressure, the airflow apparatus operable such that the second pressure of the second airflow assists the flow of flue gases out of the flue when the burner is operating. 22. The water heater of claim 21, further comprising a power source adapted to supply power to the airflow apparatus, wherein the airflow apparatus includes first and second electrodes alternately connectable to the power source, and a third electrode positioned between the first and second electrodes, the third electrode having an opposite polarity to the first electrode when the power source supplies power to the first electrode thereby creating a voltage difference between the first and third electrodes, and wherein the first electrode creates ions that are biased toward the third electrode to create the first airflow.23. The water heater of claim 22, wherein the third electrode has an opposite polarity to the second electrode when power source supplies power to the second electrode thereby creating a voltage difference between the second and third electrodes, and wherein the second electrode creates ions that are biased toward the third electrode to create the second airflow.24. The water heater of claim 21, further comprising a switch that alternately connects the power source to the first and second electrodes.25. A water heater comprising: a water tank adapted to contain water; a combustion chamber beneath the water tank; a burner within the combustion chamber and operable to create products of combustion; a flue extending substantially vertically through the water tank and communicating with the combustion chamber to conduct the products of combustion from the combustion chamber and to transfer heat to water stored within the water tank; a catalytic converter communicating with the flue; an airflow apparatus capable of creating airflow in the absence of any opposition to the airflow, the airflow having a pressure, the airflow apparatus communicating with the flue, the airflow apparatus operable such that the pressure of the airflow resists standby convection flow of flue gases out of the flue when the burner is not operating; and an additional airflow apparatus creating airflow in the absence of any opposition to the air flow, the additional airflow apparatus communicating with a source of air and the flue and positioned between the catalytic converter and the combustion chamber, wherein the additional airflow apparatus is operable to add air from the source of air to the products of combustion within the flue when the burner is operating to increase the effectiveness of the catalytic converter. 26. The water heater of claim 25, wherein the additional airflow apparatus only operates to add air to the products of combustion within the flue when the catalytic converter is below a preset temperature.27. The water heater of claim 25, wherein the additional airflow apparatus includes a fan capable of rotating to create the airflow.28. The water heater of claim 25, wherein the additional airflow apparatus includes first and second electrodes having opposite polarities and spaced from each other, the water heater further comprising a power source interconnected between the first and second electrode to create a voltage difference therebetween, the first electrode creating ions, the ions being biased for movement toward the second electrode to generate the airflow.