Blower Housing Having Integral Exhaust Blower Discharge Drain Section

Abstract

A blower housing comprises first and second blower housing pieces for surrounding a blower fan. The first blower housing piece comprises a blower discharge section comprising an inner tubular portion, an outer tubular portion, and a drain hole. The inner tubular portion defines a blower discharge passage. The inner and outer tubular portions define an exhaust pipe cavity adapted to receive an end margin of an exhaust pipe. The tubular portions are adapted to enable condensate water that forms on the inner surface of the exhaust pipe to flow into the exhaust pipe cavity. The drain hole extends through the outer tubular portion. The drain hole is configured to enable condensate water flowing into the exhaust pipe cavity to drain from the blower housing. The first blower housing piece is a molded one-piece member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A blower housing comprising a first blower housing piece and a second blower housing piece, the first and second blower housing pieces being adapted and configured to be connected to one another in a manner to collectively surround a blower fan, the first blower housing piece comprising a blower discharge section adapted to be coupled to an exhaust pipe, the blower discharge section comprising:
 an inner tubular portion and an outer tubular portion, the inner tubular portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the inner tubular portion defining a blower discharge passage, the outer tubular portion surrounding the inner tubular portion, the outer tubular portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the outer tubular portion and the outer surface of the inner tubular portion being spaced sufficiently apart to define an exhaust pipe cavity, the exhaust pipe cavity being adapted to receive an end margin of the exhaust pipe to enable the end margin of the exhaust pipe to be positioned between the inner tubular portion and the outer tubular portion, the inner tubular portion and the outer tubular portion being adapted and configured to enable condensate water that forms on the inner surface of the exhaust pipe to flow into the exhaust pipe cavity;   at least one drain hole extending through the outer tubular portion and in fluid communication with the exhaust pipe cavity, the at least one drain hole being adapted and configured to enable condensate water flowing into the exhaust pipe cavity to drain from the blower housing via the at least one drain hole;   the first blower housing piece being a molded one-piece member.   
     
     
         2 . A blower housing as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the outer tubular portion includes an axially-extending, downstream end margin adapted and configured to be clamped onto the exhaust pipe. 
     
     
         3 . A blower housing as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the downstream end margin of the outer tubular portion includes a downstream end and a plurality of slits, each slit extending axially inwardly from the downstream end of the outer tubular portion, the slits enabling at least one section of the outer tubular portion to resiliently move radially such that the at least one section may be squeezed radially inwardly against the exhaust pipe. 
     
     
         4 . A blower housing as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the plurality of slits comprises a first pair of aligned slits. 
     
     
         5 . A blower housing as set forth in  claim 4  wherein the drain hole is circumferentially between the slits of the first pair of aligned slits. 
     
     
         6 . A blower housing as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the inner surface of the outer tubular portion subtends a circumferential arc of at least 75° between the slits of the first pair of aligned slits, the circumferential arc being devoid of slits. 
     
     
         7 . A blower housing as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the circumferential arc is at least 90°. 
     
     
         8 . A blower housing as set forth in  claim 4  wherein the plurality of slits further comprises a second pair of aligned slits, the second pair of aligned slits being generally parallel to the first pair of aligned slits. 
     
     
         9 . A blower housing as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the at least one drain hole comprises first and second drain holes. 
     
     
         10 . A blower housing as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the plurality of slits comprises a first pair of slits and a second pair of slits, the first drain hole being circumferentially between the slits of the first pair slits, the second drain hole being circumferentially between the slits of the second pair of slits. 
     
     
         11 . A blower housing as set forth in  claim 10  wherein the inner surface of the outer tubular portion subtends a first circumferential arc of at least 75° between the slits of the first pair of slits, and subtends a second circumferential arc of at least 75° between the slits of the second pair of slits, each of the first and second circumferential arcs being devoid of slits. 
     
     
         12 . A blower housing as set forth in  claim 11  wherein each of the first and second circumferential arcs is at least 90°. 
     
     
         13 . A blower housing as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the slits of the first pair of slits are collinear, and wherein the slits of the second pair of slits are collinear, the slits of the second pair of slits being parallel to the slits of the first pair of slits. 
     
     
         14 . A blower housing as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the blower discharge section of the first blower housing piece further includes first and second drain tubes protruding from the outer tubular portion, the first drain tube being in fluid communication with the first drain hole, the second drain tube being in fluid communication with the second drain hole. 
     
     
         15 . A blower housing as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the downstream end margin of the outer tubular portion includes a pair of annular rings protruding from an outer surface of the outer tubular portion, the annular rings being axially spaced from one another to define a clamp groove therebetween. 
     
     
         16 . A blower housing as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the inner tubular portion extends longitudinally generally from an upstream end to a downstream end, the outer surface of the inner tubular portion tapering radially inwardly toward the downstream end. 
     
     
         17 . A blower housing as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the blower discharge section of the first blower housing piece further includes at least one boss protruding into the exhaust pipe cavity, the boss being in a location and of a size sufficient to prevent the exhaust pipe from plugging the at least one drain hole. 
     
     
         18 . A blower housing as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the at least one drain hole comprises first and second drain holes. 
     
     
         19 . A blower housing as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the at least one drain hole comprises first and second drain holes, and wherein the blower discharge section of the first blower housing piece further includes first and second drain tubes protruding from the outer tubular portion, the first drain tube being in fluid communication with the first drain hole, the second drain tube being in fluid communication with the second drain hole.