Water heater appliance exhaust system for recreational vehicles

Abstract

A water heater appliance for a recreational vehicle is provided. The water heater appliance includes a cabinet, a heat exchanger positioned within the cabinet, and a combustion chamber positioned within the cabinet. The combustion chamber is in thermal communication with the heat exchanger. The water heater appliance also includes an exhaust tube fluidly coupled to the combustion chamber, and an exhaust box fluidly coupled to the exhaust tube. The exhaust box includes a first divider positioned in line with the exhaust tube, a second divider at least partially positioned below the exhaust tube, and an exhaust outlet positioned below the exhaust tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water heater appliance for a recreational vehicle, the water heater appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the vertical, lateral, and transverse directions mutually perpendicular, the water heater appliance comprising:
 a cabinet defining a front side, a back side, a first side, and a second side;   a heat exchanger positioned within the cabinet;   a combustion chamber positioned within the cabinet, the combustion chamber comprising a burner assembly, the combustion chamber in thermal communication with the heat exchanger;   an exhaust tube fluidly coupled to the combustion chamber; and   an exhaust box defining a front side, a back side, a first side, a second side, a top side, and a bottom side, the exhaust box fluidly coupled to the exhaust tube at the back side of the exhaust box, the exhaust box comprising:
 a first divider extending between the first side and the second side of the exhaust box, the first divider positioned in line with the exhaust tube; 
 a second divider extending between the first side and the second side of the exhaust box, the second divider positioned at least partially below the exhaust tube; and 
 an exhaust outlet positioned at the front side of the exhaust box. 
   
     
     
         2 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a step portion extending from the front side of the exhaust box, wherein the front side of the exhaust box defines a first height from the bottom side of the exhaust box and the step portion defines a second height from the bottom side of the exhaust box, the second height of the step portion being shorter than the first height of the front side of the exhaust box, with respect to the vertical direction. 
     
     
         3 . The water heater appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the exhaust outlet is positioned at the step portion, the exhaust outlet defining a third height from the bottom side of the exhaust box, the third height of the exhaust outlet being shorter than the second height of the step portion, with respect to the vertical direction. 
     
     
         4 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein a top height of the exhaust outlet is positioned below a bottom height of the exhaust tube, with respect to the vertical direction. 
     
     
         5 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the first divider defines a first angle, the first divider bent along the first angle. 
     
     
         6 . The water heater appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the first angle is an obtuse angle. 
     
     
         7 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the second divider defines a second angle, the second divider bent along the second angle. 
     
     
         8 . The water heater appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the second angle is an acute angle. 
     
     
         9 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the second divider comprises a tip at one end of the second divider, the tip configured to tilt downward with respect to the vertical direction. 
     
     
         10 . A water heater appliance for a recreational vehicle, the water heater appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the vertical, lateral, and transverse directions mutually perpendicular, the water heater appliance comprising:
 a cabinet;   a heat exchanger positioned within the cabinet;   a combustion chamber positioned within the cabinet, the combustion chamber in thermal communication with the heat exchanger;   an exhaust tube fluidly coupled to the combustion chamber; and   an exhaust box fluidly coupled to the exhaust tube, the exhaust box comprising:
 a first divider positioned in line with the exhaust tube; 
 a second divider positioned at least partially below the exhaust tube; and 
 an exhaust outlet positioned below the exhaust tube. 
   
     
     
         11 . The water heater appliance of  claim 10 , further comprising a step portion extending from the front side of the exhaust box, wherein the front side of the exhaust box defines a first height from the bottom side of the exhaust box and the step portion defines a second height from the bottom side of the exhaust box, the second height of the step portion being shorter than the first height of the front side of the exhaust box, with respect to the vertical direction. 
     
     
         12 . The water heater appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the exhaust outlet is positioned at the step portion, the exhaust outlet defining a third height from the bottom side of the exhaust box, the third height of the exhaust outlet being shorter than the second height of the step portion, with respect to the vertical direction. 
     
     
         13 . The water heater appliance of  claim 10 , wherein a top height of the exhaust outlet is positioned below a bottom height of the exhaust tube, with respect to the vertical direction. 
     
     
         14 . The water heater appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the first divider defines a first angle, the first divider bent along the first angle. 
     
     
         15 . The water heater appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the first angle is an obtuse angle. 
     
     
         16 . The water heater appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the second divider defines a second angle, the second divider bent along the second angle. 
     
     
         17 . The water heater appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the second angle is an acute angle. 
     
     
         18 . The water heater appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the second divider comprises a tip at one end of the second divider, the tip configured to tilt downward with respect to the vertical direction.