Air funnel for a heat pump system of a water heater

Abstract

A water heater includes a heat exchanger that absorbs heat from process air for delivery into a heat exchange media and that has an outer perimeter that defines a first dimension, a blower that selectively draws the process air through the heat exchanger, and a funnel that extends between the outer perimeter of the heat exchanger and the blower. The funnel includes a rounded port proximate the blower. The rounded port has an inner perimeter that defines a second dimension which is smaller than the first dimension. The funnel has an inner surface that maintains an air pressure of the process air to be generally consistent within the heat exchanger. A portion of the funnel forms a portion of a blower housing for the blower.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water heater comprising:
 a heat exchanger that absorbs heat from process air for delivery into a heat exchange media, the heat exchanger having an outer perimeter that defines a first dimension;   a blower that selectively draws the process air through the heat exchanger; and   a funnel that extends between the outer perimeter of the heat exchanger and the blower, the funnel including a rounded port proximate the blower, the rounded port having an inner perimeter that defines a second dimension, the second dimension being smaller than the first dimension, the funnel having an inner surface that maintains an air pressure of the process air to be generally consistent within the heat exchanger, wherein a portion of the funnel forms a portion of a blower housing for the blower.   
     
     
         2 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger includes a rectilinear shape. 
     
     
         3 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the rounded port is circular. 
     
     
         4 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the funnel includes a transition section that engages the heat exchanger, the transition section having a pressure maintenance portion and a pressure regulation portion. 
     
     
         5 . The water heater of  claim 4 , wherein the funnel includes a converging section that defines the rounded port and directs the process air from the transition section to the inner perimeter of the rounded port, wherein the pressure regulation portion includes a concave curvature, and wherein the converging section includes a convex curvature. 
     
     
         6 . The water heater of  claim 4 , wherein the pressure maintenance portion maintains the air pressure of the process air within the heat exchanger and within a portion of a space within the funnel that is immediately adjacent to the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The water heater of  claim 5 , wherein the pressure regulation portion operates to gradually and evenly decrease the air pressure of the process air between the pressure maintenance portion and the converging section. 
     
     
         8 . The water heater of  claim 5 , wherein the transition section and the converging section operate to evenly increase an air velocity of the process air as it moves between the heat exchanger and the blower, and wherein a depth of the converging section is approximately equal to a depth of the pressure regulation portion. 
     
     
         9 . An airflow system for a water heater, the airflow system comprising:
 a heat exchanger that draws heat from process air, wherein the heat exchanger delivers the heat to a heat exchange media, the heat exchanger having a rectilinear cross-section defining a first area;   a blower that delivers the process air through the heat exchanger; and   a funnel that directs the process air from the heat exchanger to the blower, wherein the funnel manages an air pressure of the process air to be consistent within the heat exchanger, and wherein the funnel regulates the air pressure of the process air to decrease evenly and consistently between a downstream surface of the heat exchanger and an outlet port that directs the process air into the blower, the outlet port having an inner perimeter that defines a second area that is smaller than the first area, wherein the funnel includes a concave portion that is downstream of the heat exchanger and a convex portion that is downstream of the concave portion, and wherein the convex portion extends from the concave portion to the outlet port.   
     
     
         10 . The airflow system of  claim 9 , wherein the funnel includes a transition section that engages the heat exchanger, the transition section having a pressure maintenance portion and the concave portion, wherein the concave portion is at least partially defined by parabolic panels that extend between the pressure maintenance portion and the convex portion. 
     
     
         11 . The airflow system of  claim 10 , wherein the pressure maintenance portion maintains the air pressure of the process air to be consistent within the heat exchanger and within a portion of a space within the funnel that is immediately adjacent to the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         12 . The airflow system of  claim 11 , wherein the concave portion and the convex portion manipulate the process air to gradually and evenly decrease the air pressure of the process air between the pressure maintenance portion and the outlet port. 
     
     
         13 . The airflow system of  claim 9 , wherein the outlet port is circular. 
     
     
         14 . The airflow system of  claim 10 , wherein the pressure maintenance portion of the funnel at least partially surrounds an outer edge of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         15 . The airflow system of  claim 10 , wherein the concave portion includes tapered fillets that are positioned between adjacent parabolic panels of the parabolic panels. 
     
     
         16 . A heat pump system for a water heater, the heat pump system comprising:
 an evaporator that draws heat from process air and delivers the heat to a heat exchange media, the evaporator having a generally rectilinear cross-section that defines a first area;   a blower that delivers the process air through the evaporator; and   a funnel that at least partially surrounds an outer edge of the evaporator and includes a circular port that directs the process air from the evaporator to the blower, the circular port defining an inner perimeter that defines a second area, the second area being smaller than the first area, wherein the funnel manages an air velocity of the process air to be even and consistent within the evaporator, and wherein the funnel regulates the air velocity of the process air to define a consistent increase as the process air moves between a downstream surface of the evaporator and the circular port.   
     
     
         17 . The heat pump system of  claim 16 , wherein the funnel includes a transition section that engages the evaporator, the transition section having a pressure maintenance portion and a pressure regulation portion, the pressure regulation portion including a plurality of parabolic panels that form a concave portion of the funnel. 
     
     
         18 . The heat pump system of  claim 17 , wherein the funnel includes a converging section that defines the circular port and directs the process air from the transition section to the inner perimeter of the circular port. 
     
     
         19 . The heat pump system of  claim 18 , wherein the pressure maintenance portion maintains the air velocity of the process air to be consistent within the evaporator. 
     
     
         20 . The heat pump system of  claim 19 , wherein the pressure regulation portion operates to gradually and evenly increase the air velocity of the process air between the pressure maintenance portion and the converging section, wherein the plurality of parabolic panels extend from the pressure maintenance portion to the converging section.