The present invention is related to and claims the benefit of Canadian Application Serial No. 3,108,480, filed on Feb. 9, 2021, and entitled VENT TERMINATION FOR HOUSEHOLD EXHAUST, COMBUSTION GASES AND AIR INTAKE and which is hereby incorporated in its entirety including all tables, figures, and claims.
The present technology is a combined air intake and combustion gas vent termination for a gas appliance that can be installed on an outside wall of a building. More specifically, it is a low-profile vent termination for use with a gas-burning appliance, such as a gas fireplace or stove, in which the air intake is adjacent to the exhaust vent.
Depending on the environment, the design of venting for condensing appliances may need to take into consideration wind, drafts and icing. Winds and drafts around the distal end of venting can lead to backpressure in the outlet which in turn leads to a reduction in the draw of combustion air. This reduces combustion efficiency and can result in the combustion flame being extinguished. Wind can also blow the flame out. Large temperature differentials and below freezing temperatures can lead to icing of the distal end. This can lead to a buildup of combustion gases, including carbon monoxide inside the building. Another problem that is more specific to direct vented appliances is recirculation of combustion gases into the terminal intake which reduces the efficiency of combustion in the appliance.
There are numerous venting systems for exhausting combustion gases. For example, United States Patent Application Publication No. 20180306460 discloses an apparatus and method for avoiding frost and ice buildup in and on vent pipes that transport a stream of gas from the inside to the outside of a building. The apparatus and method comprise a heat-conducting path that extracts heat energy from the stream of gas exiting the vent pipe and transfers this energy to the frost and ice condensing surfaces at or near the terminus of the vent pipe. The heat-conducting path comprises a heat pipe. In one embodiment the heat-conducting path further comprises a heat exchanger. The passive transfer of heat energy via the heat-conducting path, from the stream of gas to the condensing surfaces of the vent pipe, avoids frost and ice buildup in or around the terminus of the vent pipe. This requires that there is a length of vent pipe so as to allow for the heat exchange. It can be mounted on the outside wall of a building. It does not address the problem of wind or drafts extinguishing the flame of a condensing appliance.
United States Patent Application Publication No. 20170336073 discloses an apparatus and method for avoiding frost buildup on the air intake and or ice buildup on the ice condensing surfaces of the exhaust vent of a condensing appliance. The apparatus comprises a heat-conducting path that extends between the exhaust gas in the exhaust vent of the appliance, and the frost condensing surfaces at or near the air intake opening of the combustion air vent. The heat-conducting path has a first section in thermal contact with the exhaust gas and a second section in thermal contact with the frost condensing surfaces at or near the air intake. In one configuration, the heat-conducting path is a heat pipe. In one configuration the heat-conducting path is a heat exchanger assembly. The passive transfer of heat energy via the heat-conducting path, from the exhaust gas to the frost condensing surfaces at or near the air intake, avoids frost buildup. This requires that there is a length of vent pipe so as to allow for the heat exchange. It can be mounted on the outside wall of a building. It does not address the problem of wind or drafts extinguishing the flame of a condensing appliance.
United States Patent Application Publication No. 20170320175 discloses a termination for use with a furnace. The termination, in one embodiment, includes a face plate including an exhaust region and an air supply region, the face plate having a front surface and an opposing back surface. The termination, in this embodiment, further includes an exhaust termination portion extending from the back surface in the exhaust region, the exhaust termination portion capable of engaging a terminal end of a variety of different size exhaust conduits associated with a furnace. The termination, in this embodiment, further includes an opening extending through the face plate in the exhaust region, the opening aligned with the exhaust termination portion. It does not address the problem of wind or drafts extinguishing the flame of a condensing appliance.
United States Patent Application Publication No. 20160215978 discloses a throttled vent termination or cap for use in conjunction with a direct vent appliance and venting system. The direct vent termination includes an inner pipe and a concentric outer housing surrounding the inner pipe to form a void between the inner pipe and the outer housing. The void adapted to provide intake are to the air intake section of the vent system. An end cap is provided at a first end of the outer pipe, the inner pipe to the end cap and having an exhaust opening therein. An intake region is formed in the outer housing providing access to the void. A throttle cover which is configured to be movably positioned and thereafter secured at one of a number of positions over the intake region using a throttle guide is provided to thereby regulate air flow into the void. It does not address the problem of wind or drafts extinguishing the flame of a condensing appliance.
United States Patent Application Publication No. 20100089382 discloses a combined air intake and combustion gas vent terminal for engagement with at least one of a pair of pipes extending horizontally and being spaced apart to accommodate the inward flow of combustion air and the outwardly flow of exhaust air from a furnace. The terminal assembly is installed entirely outside of the building and has a stepped structure for engaging the pipes such that it can accommodate different sized pipes. The parallel pipes reduce overcooling of the exhaust gases. A baffle is disclosed for reducing mixing of the combustion air and exhaust gases.
United States Patent Application Publication No. 20060243268 discloses a vent cap for a direct vent system. The cap may include a base plate and a semicircular outer housing secured to the base plate. A divider is coupled within the outer housing, with the divider forming in exhaust region and an inlet region. The divider is normal to the exhaust pipe and the intake pipe, which are coaxial. A heat shield is positioned within the semicircular outer housing in the outlet region. A direct vent pipe coupling is provided in the base plate and includes a first pipe having an outlet coupled to the divider.
United States Patent Application Publication No. 20060009146 discloses a vent assembly for use with a vent pipe assembly that includes an intake member defining an intake aperture and an exhaust member defining an exhaust aperture. The intake member and the exhaust pipe are coaxial. The vent assembly may include a flow guide positioned adjacent to the intake aperture and configured to direct fluid flow into the intake aperture, a divider positioned between the exhaust aperture and the intake aperture normal to the intake member and the exhaust member and configured to minimize fluid flow between the exhaust aperture and the intake aperture, and a wind shield coupled to a distal end of the exhaust member adjacent to the exhaust aperture and configured to minimize reverse flow into the exhaust aperture. The vent assembly is configured to minimize the flow of fluids exhausted from the exhaust aperture into the intake aperture, to minimize reverse flow in the exhaust member, and to improve the flow of intake air into the intake aperture.
What is needed is a vent termination for a direct vent appliance that uses a B vent for the exhaust gases. It would be preferable if it was low profile. It would be further preferable if it reduced or eliminated the effect of wind or drafts on backpressure. It would be further preferable if the vent termination reduced or eliminated the potential for wind to blow the flame out. It would be preferable if it reduced or eliminated icing. It would be preferable if included an outer shell to protect passersby from burns.
The present technology is a vent termination for a direct vent appliance that uses a B vent for exhaust gases. It is low profile, extending from the exterior of the building by about 3 or 4 inches. It reduces or eliminates the effect of wind or drafts on backpressure. It reduces or eliminates the potential for wind to blow the flame out. It reduces or eliminates icing. It includes an outer safety cage to protect passersby from burns.
In one embodiment, a vent termination for a gas appliance is provided, the vent termination comprising: a back which includes an exhaust vent aperture for accepting an exhaust vent and an air intake aperture for accepting an air intake pipe; a cover opposite the back, the cover including a face and a margin, the margin surrounding the face, extending toward the back and including a plurality of slots, which are for fluid communication with an ambient environment and which form a grill; a base; a top opposite the base; sides attached to and extending between the back, the cover and the top; a frame surrounding the margin and attached to the margin; and a divider disposed between the exhaust vent aperture and the air intake aperture, the divider extending between the back and the cover and defining an exhaust chamber and an air intake chamber, the exhaust chamber in fluid communication with both the plurality of slots and the exhaust vent aperture, the air intake chamber in fluid communication with both the plurality of slots and the air intake chamber.
The vent termination may further comprise an upper baffle which is attached to the back and extends towards the face to define an upper gap between the face and the upper baffle and an upper channel between the upper baffle and the frame, the upper channel in fluid communication with the upper gap; and a lower baffle which is attached to the back and extends towards the face to define a lower gap between the face and the lower baffle and a lower channel between the lower baffle and the frame, the lower channel in fluid communication with the lower gap.
In the vent termination, the upper baffle may be angled downward.
In the vent termination, the plurality of slots may terminate within the frame.
In the vent termination, the margin may be angled toward an inner surface of the frame at an angle of 30 to 60 degrees.
In the vent termination, the exhaust chamber may be 33 to 55 percent larger than the air intake chamber.
In the vent termination, the exhaust vent aperture may be proximate to the air intake aperture.
In the vent termination, the exhaust vent aperture may be beside the air intake aperture.
In the vent termination, the exhaust vent aperture may be above the air intake aperture.
In the vent termination, the divider may be diagonally disposed.
In the vent termination, the vent termination may have a depth of no more than 5 inches.
The vent termination may further comprise an outer safety cage, the outer safety cage fitting over the cover.
In another embodiment a combination is provided comprising an exhaust vent, an air intake pipe, and a vent termination, the vent termination including: a back which includes an exhaust vent aperture in fluid communication with the exhaust vent and an air intake vent in fluid communication with the air intake pipe; a cover opposite the back, the cover including a face and a margin, the margin surrounding the face, extending toward the back and including a plurality of slots, which are for fluid communication with an ambient environment and which form a grill; a base; a top opposite the base; sides attached to and extending between the back, the cover and the top; a frame surrounding the margin and attached to the margin; and a divider disposed between the exhaust vent aperture and the air intake aperture, the divider extending between the back and the cover and defining an exhaust chamber and an air intake chamber, the exhaust chamber in fluid communication with both the plurality of slots and the exhaust vent aperture, the air intake chamber in fluid communication with both the plurality of slots and the air intake chamber.
In the combination, the exhaust vent and the air intake pipe may terminate at the back of the vent termination and may not extend into the vent termination.
In the combination, the exhaust vent may be a B vent.
Except as otherwise expressly provided, the following rules of interpretation apply to this specification (written description and claims): (a) all words used herein shall be construed to be of such gender or number (singular or plural) as the circumstances require; (b) the singular terms “a”, “an”, and “the”, as used in the specification and the appended claims include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise; (c) the antecedent term “about” applied to a recited range or value denotes an approximation within the deviation in the range or value known or expected in the art from the measurements method; (d) the words “herein”, “hereby”, “hereof”, “hereto”, “hereinbefore”, and “hereinafter”, and words of similar import, refer to this specification in its entirety and not to any particular paragraph, claim or other subdivision, unless otherwise specified; (e) descriptive headings are for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any part of the specification; and (f) “or” and “any” are not exclusive and “include” and “including” are not limiting. Further, the terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted.
Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. Where a specific range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is included therein. All smaller sub ranges are also included. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges are also included therein, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the relevant art. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used, the acceptable methods and materials are now described.
Vent—in the context of the present technology, a vent refers to an exhaust vent, flue, duct or pipe through which exhaust gases or household exhaust passes to the outside of a building.
B vent—in the context of the present technology, a B vent is a double walled vent through which exhaust gases pass to the outside of a building. B vents normally are for vertical installation only.
Direct vent—in the context of the present technology, a direct vent is a double walled vent (a coaxial vent). The exhaust gases or household exhaust passes through the inner bore defined by the inner cylinder and the combustion air passes through the outer annular bore defined by the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. A direct vent can be installed vertically or horizontally.
Termination—in the context of the present technology, a termination is attached to the exterior of the building or is attached to a snorkel or is part of a snorkel. The air intake and exhaust vent terminate at the termination.
A termination, generally referred to as 10, is shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The divider 52 is located between ⅓ and ½ of the width of the interior space 50. Thus, the exhaust chamber 54 for mixing with the outside air is much larger than the air intake chamber 56 by about 33% to 55%. The flow of exhaust gases and air are also shown in
As shown in
The divider 52 is located between ⅓ and ½ of the height of the interior space 50. Thus, the exhaust chamber 54 for mixing with the outside air is much larger than the air intake chamber 56 by about 33 to 55 percent. The flow of exhaust gases and air are also shown in
In another alternative embodiment the exhaust vent 62 and the air intake pipe 64 are in a diagonal relation, with the exhaust vent 62 preferably above the air intake pipe 64. In another embodiment, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The divider 52 is located between ⅓ and ½ of the width of the interior space 50. Thus, the exhaust chamber for mixing with the outside air is much larger than the air intake chamber 56. The flow of exhaust gases and air are also shown in
For household exhaust such as dryer vents, fan vents, kitchen hood vents and the like, a code approved vent is used and is directly vented into a single chamber 94, as there is no need for an air intake.
While example embodiments have been described in connection with what is presently considered to be an example of a possible most practical and/or suitable embodiment, it is to be understood that the descriptions are not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the example embodiment. Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific example embodiments specifically described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed in the scope of the claims, if appended hereto or subsequently filed.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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3108480 | Feb 2021 | CA | national |