Three-way transition fitting for combustion air piping

Abstract

A transition fitting interconnects a furnace combustion air chamber to an air duct supplying combustion air to the furnace. The fitting includes a housing portion having opposed first opening and second openings, the first opening being disposed adjacent a furnace combustion air chamber upon installation and three tubular portions connected to the housing portion and disposed adjacent to the second opening. Each of the three tubular portions define a central axis and have a first opening into the housing portion and a second opening configured to receive an inlet air duct. One tubular portion is disposed at an angle to the central axes of the other two tubular portions. A peripheral flange portion sealably attaches the housing portion to a frame portion of a furnace. A removably attachable cap is configured to selectively close a tubular portion not connected to an external air duct.

1 . A transition fitting for interconnecting a furnace combustion air chamber to an air duct supplying combustion air to the furnace, the fitting comprising: 
 a housing portion having a first opening and a second opening opposite the first opening, the first opening being disposed adjacent a furnace combustion air chamber upon installation;    at least three tubular portions connected to the housing portion and disposed adjacent to the second opening;    each of the at least three tubular portions defining a central axis and having a first opening adjacent the second opening of the housing portion and a second opening configured to receive an inlet air duct, wherein the central axis of at least one tubular portion is disposed at an angle to the central axes of the other tubular portions;    a peripheral flange portion connected to the housing portion and disposed adjacent the first opening of the housing portion, the peripheral flange portion having attachment means for sealably attaching the housing portion to a frame portion of a furnace; and    at least one removably attachable cap, the at least one removably attachable cap being configured to selectively close a tubular portion not connected to an inlet air duct.    
   
   
       2 . The transition fitting as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein at least one pair of the at least three tubular portions have coincident central axes.  
   
   
       3 . The transition fitting as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the central axes of at least one pair of the at least three tubular portions are substantially parallel and noncoincident.  
   
   
       4 . The transition fitting as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tubular portion disposed at an angle is substantially perpendicular to at least one of the other tubular portions.  
   
   
       5 . The transition fitting as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the at least three tubular portions comprise three tubular portions, the three tubular portions are arranged in a T-configuration, wherein two of the three tubular portions have opposed second openings.  
   
   
       6 . The transition fitting as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the third tubular portion of the three tubular portions is substantially aligned with the second opening of the housing portion.  
   
   
       7 . The transition fitting as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein two of the three tubular portions are disposed vertically.  
   
   
       8 . The transition fitting as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the housing portion, the at least three tubular portions and the peripheral flange are of unitary construction.  
   
   
       9 . The transition fitting as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein an angular position of a central axis of at least one tubular portion of the at least three tubular portions is selectably adjustable with respect to the other tubular portions.  
   
   
       10 . The transition fitting as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one removably attachable cap has a tapered surface configured to contact an inner surface of a tubular portion.  
   
   
       11 . The transition fitting as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the at least one removably attachable cap has a rib for selective removal from a tubular portion.  
   
   
       12 . The transition fitting as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each of the tubular portions has means for preventing over-insertion of an external air duct within the tubular portion.  
   
   
       13 . A gas furnace comprising: 
 a housing including a furnace combustion air chamber configured to combust a mixture of a combustible gas from a combustible gas source and air from an air duct supplying combustion air to the furnace;    a transition fitting for interconnecting the furnace combustion air chamber to the air duct, the transition fitting comprising:    a body having a first opening and a second opening opposite the first opening, the first opening being disposed adjacent a furnace combustion air chamber;    at least three tubular portions connected to the body and disposed adjacent to the second opening;    each of the at least three tubular portions defining a central axis and having a first opening adjacent the second opening of the body and a second opening configured to receive the air duct, wherein the central axis of at least one tubular portion is disposed at an angle to the central axes of the other tubular portions;    a peripheral flange portion connected to the body and disposed adjacent the first opening of the body, the peripheral flange portion being configured to sealably attach the body to the housing; and    at least two removably attachable caps, the at least two removably attachable caps being configured to selectively close the tubular portions of the at least three tubular portions not connected to the inlet air duct.    
   
   
       14 . The gas furnace as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein at least one pair of the at least three tubular portions have coincident central axes.  
   
   
       15 . The gas furnace as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the central axes of at least one pair of the at least three tubular portions are substantially parallel and noncoincident.  
   
   
       16 . The gas furnace as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the at least one tubular portion disposed at an angle is substantially perpendicular to at least one of the other tubular portions.  
   
   
       17 . The gas furnace as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the at least three tubular portions comprise three tubular portions, the three tubular portions are arranged in a T-configuration, wherein two of the three tubular portions have opposed second openings.  
   
   
       18 . The gas furnace as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the third tubular portion of the three tubular portions is substantially aligned with the second opening of the housing portion.  
   
   
       19 . The gas furnace as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the two of the three tubular portions are disposed vertically.  
   
   
       20 . The gas furnace as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the housing portion, the at least three tubular portions and the peripheral flange are of unitary construction.  
   
   
       21 . The gas furnace as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein an angular position of a central axis of at least one tubular portion of the at least three tubular portions is selectably adjustable with respect to the other tubular portions.  
   
   
       22 . The gas furnace as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the at least two removably attachable caps each have a tapered surface configured to contact an inner surface of a tubular portion.  
   
   
       23 . The gas furnace as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the at least two removably attachable caps each have a rib for selective removal from a tubular portion.  
   
   
       24 . The gas furnace as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein each of the tubular portions has means for preventing over-insertion of the air duct within the tubular portion.  
   
   
       25 . The gas furnace as set forth in  claim 13 , comprises at least one aperture formed in the housing, wherein a selectably removable cap is disposed in each of the at least one aperture.  
   
   
       26 . The gas furnace as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein upon removal of the selectably removable cap from the at least one housing aperture, the inlet air duct is receivable inside the housing through the at least one housing aperture.