Non-metallic vent cap

Abstract

A vent assembly includes a base, an intake duct, an exhaust duct, and a cap assembly. The base includes a vertically oriented, outward facing primary surface and defines a duct aperture that extends through the outward facing primary surface. The base includes a metallic material. The intake duct is coupled to the base within the duct aperture, and the exhaust duct is oriented coaxially within the intake duct. An end of the exhaust duct extends distally beyond an end of the intake duct. The cap assembly includes first, second, and third members, wherein at least one of the first, second and third members includes a non-metallic material. The first member includes an intake aperture aligned with the duct aperture of the base and is sized to substantially cover the outward facing primary surface. The second member includes an exhaust aperture sized to receive the exhaust duct. The third member is positioned distally beyond an distal end of the exhaust duct in a flow path of exhaust gases exiting the exhaust duct.

1 . A vent assembly, comprising: 
 a base including a vertically oriented, outward facing primary surface and defining a duct aperture that extends through the outward facing primary surface, the base comprising a metallic material;    an intake duct coupled to the base within the duct aperture, and an exhaust duct oriented coaxially within the intake duct, wherein an end of the exhaust duct extending distally beyond an end of the intake duct; and    a cap assembly comprising first, second, and third members that each comprise a non-metallic material, the first member having an intake aperture aligned with the duct aperture of the base and sized to substantially cover the outward facing primary surface, the second member having an exhaust aperture sized to receive the exhaust duct, and the third member positioned distally beyond an distal end of the exhaust duct in a flow path of exhaust gases exiting the exhaust duct.    
   
   
       2 . The vent assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second and third cap assembly members are spaced apart from each in a direction along an axis of the exhaust duct.  
   
   
       3 . The vent assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cap assembly is configured for assembly together as a single unit that is coupled to and removable from the base as a single unit.  
   
   
       4 . The vent assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the non-metallic material comprises a ceramic fiber and a binder.  
   
   
       5 . The vent assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first cap member includes a lip positioned vertically above the intake aperture that protrudes in a direction along a length of the exhaust duct.  
   
   
       6 . The vent assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second and third cap members each include a primary surface facing away from the base and a plurality of engagement member extending towards the base.  
   
   
       7 . A vent assembly, comprising: 
 a base member configured for mounting to a wall structure;    a intake duct coupled to the base member;    an exhaust duct extending coaxially through the intake duct and extending distally beyond an open end of the intake duct; and    a vent cap assembly configured to mount to the base member and the intake and exhaust ducts, the vent cap assembly comprising at least one non-metallic structure configured to direct away from each other fluids entering and exiting the intake and exhaust ducts.    
   
   
       8 . The vent assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the vent cap assembly comprises a first non-metallic member that defines an aperture sized to receive the intake duct.  
   
   
       9 . The vent assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the vent cap assembly further comprises a second non-metallic member that defines an aperture sized to receive the exhaust duct, wherein the intake duct terminates between the first non-metallic member and the second non-metallic member.  
   
   
       10 . The vent assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the vent cap assembly further comprises a third non-metallic member that is oriented at least partially in a flow path of exhaust exiting the exhaust duct, wherein the exhaust duct terminates between the second non-metallic member and the third non-metallic member.  
   
   
       11 . The vent assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the non-metallic members comprise a ceramic fiber and a binder.  
   
   
       12 . The vent assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the non-metallic members comprise a compression molded ceramic fiber.  
   
   
       13 . The vent assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the vent cap assembly is configured to substantially conceal the base member from view.  
   
   
       14 . A method of mounting a venting assembly to a vertically oriented surface, the method comprising: 
 mounting a base plate to the vertically oriented surface, the base plate defining a vent aperture;    mounting an intake duct to the base plate within the vent aperture;    positioning an exhaust duct within the intake duct with an open end of the exhaust duct extending distally beyond an open end of the intake duct; and    detachably mounting a vent cap assembly to the base plate, the vent cap assembly including at least one cap member that comprise a non-metallic material, the vent cap assembly configured to direct intake air into the intake duct and direct exhaust gases out of the exhaust duct and away from the open end of the intake duct.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the vent cap assembly includes a plurality of cap members that each comprise a non-metallic material, the method further comprising coupling the plurality of cap members to each other before mounting the vent cap assembly to the base plate.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one cap member comprises a compression molded ceramic material.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the vent cap assembly includes a plurality of cap members, and one of the cap members is mounted to a distal end of the exhaust duct to provide a barrier between the open end of the exhaust duct and the open end of the intake duct.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising substantially concealing the base member from view when mounting the vent cap assembly to the base member.  
   
   
       19 . A method of manufacturing a vent assembly, the vent assembly including a base member and a vent cap assembly, the vent cap assembly including at least first and second vent cap members, the method comprising the steps of: 
 coupling the vent cap members together with at least one first fastener that extends from the first vent cap member and into engagement with the second vent cap member; and    coupling the vent cap assembly to the base member with at least one second fastener that extends through the first vent cap member into engagement with the base member.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising forming at least one of the vent cap members from a non-metallic material.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising forming at least one of the vent cap members from a compression molded ceramic material.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one first fastener is concealed from view when the vent cap assembly is coupled to the base member.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising mounting an intake duct to the base member in alignment with a vent aperture defined in the base member.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising aligning an exhaust member co-axially within the intake member, the exhaust member extending distally beyond an open end of the intake member.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising mounting the second vent cap member adjacent to the open end of the exhaust member at a position between the open ends of the intake and exhaust ducts.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the vent cap assembly further includes a third cap member, and coupling the vent cap members together includes extending the at least one fastener through the second vent cap member and into engagement with the third vent cap member.