Distribution tee assembly

Abstract

A distribution tee assembly 10 for transferring the products of combustion from a heat exchanger 12 to an exhaust vent system 14 . The distribution tee assembly 10 includes a distribution tee 16 having an inlet pipe 18 and two transverse outlet pipes 20, 22 . A transition region 24 is located proximate a wall of the distribution tee 16 . In the transition region there is positioned a deflector vane 28 which diverts incoming combustion products toward the transverse outlet pipes 20, 22 . If one of the outlet pipes is capped, all of the combustion products are diverted to the unblocked transverse outlet pipe.

1 . A distribution tee assembly for transferring the products of combustion from a heat exchanger to an exhaust vent system, the distribution tee assembly comprising: 
 a distribution tee having an inlet pipe and two transverse outlet pipes; and    a transition region including a deflector vane located proximate a wall of the distribution tee for receiving and diverting incoming combustion products to the transverse outlet pipes, the deflector vane guiding the flow of the products of combustion and increasing a vent length capability of the furnace.    
   
   
       2 . The distribution tee assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the deflector vane comprises a leading edge formed at the intersection of a pair of curved walls that is presented to incoming products of combustion as they enter the transition region and deflects them towards the two transverse outlet pipes.  
   
   
       3 . The distribution tee assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet pipe includes a domed terminal region proximate the transition region.  
   
   
       4 . The distribution tee assembly of  claim 1  further include a flue collar that is attached to each of the two transverse outlet pipes.  
   
   
       5 . The distribution tee assembly of  claim 3  wherein the domed terminal region intersects the two transverse outlet pipes at a pair of curved crotch sections.  
   
   
       6 . The distribution tee assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the two transverse pipes have an average diameter (D) and the leading edge extends into the transition region by a distance (d) that is less than (D).  
   
   
       7 . The distribution tee assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the inlet pipe has a longtitudinal axis and the leading edge lies parallel to the longtitudinal axis.  
   
   
       8 . The distribution tee assembly of  claim 1  wherein one of the two transverse outlet pipes has a means for blocking flow of the products of combustion therethrough so that the products of combustion flow from the transition region outwardly from the other of the two transverse outlet pipes that is not occluded by the means for blocking.  
   
   
       9 . The distribution tee assembly of  claim 2  wherein the leading edge is curved.  
   
   
       10 . The distribution tee assembly of  claim 2  wherein the leading edge is inclined to a longitudinal axis of the inlet pipe.  
   
   
       11 . The distribution tee assembly of  claim 1  wherein the two transverse outlet pipes are aligned.  
   
   
       12 . The distribution tee assembly of  claim 1  wherein the two transverse outlet pipes are oriented so that their longitudinal axes lie within 20 degrees of each other.  
   
   
       13 . The distribution tee assembly of  claim 1  further includes means for blocking located proximate an end of one of the two transverse outlet pipes.  
   
   
       14 . A method for configuring a distribution tee assembly for transferring the products of combustion from a heat exchanger to an exhaust vent system, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a distribution with an inlet pipe and two transverse outlet pipes;    locating a deflector vane in a transition region positioned proximate a wall of the distribution tee; and    blocking one of the two transverse outlet pipes.