Water heaters with combustion air inlet

Abstract

A water heater includes a water container, a combustion chamber adjacent the, water container, a burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the water container, a blower assembly positioned to receive combustion gases generated by the burner, a shield positioned below at least a heating portion of the burner, a diverter that directs combustion air into the combustion chamber below the shield, and a passageway that directs at least a portion of the combustion air from the combustion air inlet, as primary combustion air, to the burner.

1 . A water heater comprising:
 a water container;   a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;   a burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the water container;   a shield positioned below at least a heating portion of the burner;   a diverter that directs combustion air into the combustion chamber below the shield; and   a passageway that directs at least a portion of the combustion air from a combustion air inlet, as primary combustion air, to the burner.   
   
   
       2 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the combustion chamber is substantially air-tight except for an opening in the diverter. 
   
   
       3 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the diverter, substantially sealingly connects to a side wall of the combustion chamber. 
   
   
       4 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the shield directs secondary combustion air toward at least one outer portion of the combustion chamber and has an opening that permits the primary combustion air to pass to the passageway. 
   
   
       5 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the shield directs secondary air substantially to a side wall of the combustion chamber to thereby supply secondary combustion air to the heating portion of the burner and cause a temperature reduction effect on the side wall. 
   
   
       6 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the diverter directs at least a portion of the combustion air to a space between the shield, and a floor of the combustion chamber. 
   
   
       7 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the passageway is positioned along a portion of a floor portion of the combustion chamber. 
   
   
       8 . The water heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a blower assembly positioned to receive combustion gases generated by the burner. 
   
   
       9 . The water heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a blower connected to an air inlet in the combustion chamber. 
   
   
       10 . A water heater comprising:
 a water container;   a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;   burner associated wit the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the water container;   a blower assembly positioned to receive combustion gases generated by the burner;   a shield positioned below at least a heating portion of the burner that directs secondary combustion air toward at least one outer portion of the combustion chamber;   a combustion air intake system that, directs, combustion air, into the combustion chamber below the shield and comprises a combustion air supply portion, a dilution air supply portion, a connector portion connected between the blower, assembly and the dilution air supply portion, and a diverter positioned in the combustion chamber and associated with the combustion air supply portion; and   a passageway that directs at least a portion of the combustion air from the diverter, as primary combustion air, to the burner.   
   
   
       11 . A water heater comprising: a water contained;
 a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;   a burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to, combust fuel to heat water in the water container;   a shield positioned within the combustion chamber and below at, least a heating portion of the burner such that, secondary combustion air is directed substantially to a side wall of the combustion chamber to thereby supply secondary combustion air to the heating portion of the burner and cause a temperature reduction effect on the side wall;   a diverter that directs combustion air into the combustion chamber below the shield; and   a passageway that directs at least a portion of the combustion air from the combustion air inlet, as primary combustion air, to the burner.   
   
   
       12 . The water heater of  claim 11 , further comprising a blower assembly positioned to receive combustion gases generated by the burner. 
   
   
       13 . The water heater of  claim 11 , further comprising a blower connected to an air inlet in the combustion chamber. 
   
   
       14 . A water heater comprising:
 a water container;   a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;   a burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the water container;   a combustion air feed system that supplies ambient air to the combustion chamber;   a primary air passageway connected between the combustion air feed system and the burner that supplies primary combustion air to the burner; and   a secondary air passageway connected between the combustion air feed system and a space located below at least a heating portion of the burner that supplies secondary combustion air.   
   
   
       15 . The water heater of  claim 14 , wherein the secondary air passageway directs the secondary combustion air substantially to a side wall of the combustion chamber to thereby supply secondary combustion air to a heating portion of the burner and cause a temperature reduction effect on the side wall. 
   
   
       16 . The water heater of  claim 14 , further comprising a blower assembly positioned to receive combustion gases generated by the burner. 
   
   
       17 . The water heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a blower connected to the combustion air inlet. 
   
   
       18 . The water heater of  claim 14 , wherein the, secondary air passageway comprises a chamber positioned below at least a heating portion of the burner that has a plurality of openings to diffuse the secondary air toward a side wall of the combustion chamber. 
   
   
       19 . A water heater comprising:
 a water container;   a combustion chamber adjacent the water container;   a burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the water container; and   a combustion air intake system that directs combustion air into the combustion chamber comprising a combustion air supply portion and an air supply passageway portion connected between the combustion air supply portion and a side wall of the combustion chamber;   the supply air portion comprising a side wall connector portion fixed to the side wall and a coupling which connects to and substantially seals with the side wall connector.   
   
   
       20 . The water heater of  claim 19 , wherein a distal end portion of the side wall connector has a plurality of slots that engage a corresponding number of protrusions located on the coupling to substantially lock the side wall connector and coupling in a selected position with respect to each other. 
   
   
       21 . The water heater of  claim 19 , wherein the coupling slides concentrically over the side wall connector portion. 
   
   
       22 . The water heater of  claim 19 , wherein the coupling is a distal portion of an elbow in the supply air portion. 
   
   
       23 . The water heater of  claim 19 , further comprising a blower assembly positioned to receive combustion gases generated by the burner. 
   
   
       24 . The water heater of  claim 19 , further comprising a blower connected to an air inlet of the combustion chamber. 
   
   
       25 . The water heater of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a shield positioned below at least a heating portion of the burner;   a diverter that directs combustion air into the combustion chamber below the shield; and   a passageway that directs at least a portion of the combustion air from a combustion air inlet, as primary combustion air, to the burner.