Method and apparatus for mounting a boiler on a wall or floor

Abstract

A method and apparatus for mounting a boiler to either a wall or floor is provided. The boiler is also adaptable to a pipe up or down configuration. An improved apparatus and method of draining condensate is also provided.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A boiler configured for mounting to at least one of a floor and a wall comprising: 
 a mounting bracket attached to the boiler and configured to provide a structure to mount the boiler to the wall; and    at least one foot attached to the boiler configured to provide a support for the boiler when the boiler is set on the floor.    
     
     
         2 . The boiler of  claim 1 , further comprising piping for at least one of a boiler water inlet, boiler water outlet, and fuel inlet configured to be selectable between protruding out of a top portion of the boiler and protruding out of a bottom portion of the boiler.  
     
     
         3 . The boiler of  claim 2 , further comprising knockouts attached to at least one of the top portion and the bottom portion of the boiler wherein the knockouts fill holes in the at least one of the top and bottom portion of the boiler and configured to be removed and uncover at least one hole for the piping to protrude out of the boiler.  
     
     
         4 . The boiler of  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one foot is attached to the boiler by threads and is configured to adjust in height by twisting and wherein the boiler may be leveled by adjusting the height of the at least one foot.  
     
     
         5 . The boiler of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one handle attached to the boiler.  
     
     
         6 . The boiler of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrical outlet mounted to the boiler.  
     
     
         7 . The boiler of  claim 1 , further comprising an electronic controller mounted to a top portion of the boiler.  
     
     
         8 . The boiler of  claim 1 , further comprising an aluminum heat exchanger contained within the boiler.  
     
     
         9 . The boiler of  claim 8 , wherein the heat exchanger cools exhaust gases effectively to permit exhaust gas ducting to be comprised of PVC, ABS or CPVC pipe.  
     
     
         10 . The boiler of  claim 1 , further comprising a one-piece heat exchanger contained within the boiler.  
     
     
         11 . The boiler of  claim 1 , further comprising a counter-flow heat exchanger contained within the boiler.  
     
     
         12 . The boiler of  claim 1 , further comprising a condensate trap connected to a heat exchanger contained with the boiler, wherein the condensate trap has a reduced diameter portion which reduces the effective height of the condensate trap.  
     
     
         13 . The boiler of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 duct work for inleting outside air for combustion in the boiler and outleting combustion air from the boiler to the outside, wherein the duct work terminates with a termination unit comprising:    a termination cap mounted on said side wall on an exterior surface thereof and having first and second portions for receiving ends of a vent pipe and air supply pipe, respectively, when the pipes are extended through a side wall;    a face plate on said termination cap at an exposed location spaced outwardly from said exterior surface when the termination cap is mounted on the side wall;    wherein said face plate has a vent opening therethrough aligned with said vent pipe to vent through the face plate exhaust gases from the boiler which flow through the vent pipe; and    wherein said termination cap has a termination cap wall which extends around said first and second portions and within which the end of the air supply pipe is situated with said end of the supply pipe exposed to receive incoming air; and    a plurality of air intake openings in said termination cap wall for receiving incoming air supplied to the supply pipe.    
     
     
         14 . A boiler configured for mounting to at least one of a floor and a wall comprising: 
 means for mounting attached to the boiler and configured to provide a structure to mount the boiler to the wall; and    means for supporting the boiler attached to the boiler and configured to provide a support for the boiler when the boiler is set on the floor.    
     
     
         15 . A method of installing a boiler comprising: 
 selecting whether to mount the boiler on a floor or on a wall; and    at least one of mounting the boiler to a wall and mounting the boiler to the floor, wherein the boiler is configured to be selectively mounted to the floor and the wall.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein mounting the boiler to the wall includes using a bracket provided with the boiler.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein mounting the boiler to the floor includes placing the boiler on feet provided with the boiler and leveling the boiler by adjusting the height of the feet.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further including attaching a combustion gas outlet associated with the boiler to duct work comprising PVC, ABS or CPVC pipe.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein mounting the boiler to the wall further comprises: 
 removing at least one knockout in the boiler;    extending at least one of a water inlet, a water outlet and a fuel inlet through a hole created in the boiler by the removal of the knockout.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing a boiler with an aluminum heat exchanger.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing a boiler with a one-piece heat exchanger.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising mounting a boiler controller to an upper portion of the boiler so it is assessable to a boiler user whether the boiler is mounted to the floor or the wall.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing a boiler with a shortened condensate trap, wherein the condensate trap has a dimple in a U portion of the trap which lengthens the trap's effective height.  
     
     
         24 . A shortened trap comprising: 
 a U shaped pipe configured to trap water to prevent gases from flowing through a portion of the trap;    a reduction in a diameter associated with the pipe, the reduction located in the pipe to lengthen the effective height of the pipe.    
     
     
         25 . The trap of  claim 24 , wherein the trap is mounted in a boiler to trap condensate fluid.  
     
     
         26 . The trap of  claim 24 , wherein the reduction in diameter is accomplished by a dimple in the pipe.  
     
     
         27 . A shortened trap comprising: 
 means for trapping water to prevent gases from flowing through a portion of the trapping means; and    a reduction in a diameter associated with the trapping means, the reduction located in the trapping means to lengthen the effective height of the trapping means.    
     
     
         28 . A method of reducing the length of a U shaped trap comprising reducing a diameter of a pipe associated with the trap wherein the reduction in diameter is located in the pipe to lengthen the effective height of the pipe.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein reducing the diameter is accomplished by putting a dimple in the pipe.