WATER HEATER CONSTRUCTION

Abstract: A water heater (10) having a tank wall (12) and a bottom head (14) welded to the wall to provide a liquid tight cham­ ber (16) therein. The bottom head has an upwardly directed circular flange (32) with a central opening therein. The flange (32) is connected to a flue tube in a unique manner. The connection between the flange (32) on the lower head and the flue tube (28) is accomplished by press-fitting the flange into the end of the tube and then welding the two parts together by a weld between the end of the tube and the outer surface of the flange (32).

Description: WATER HEATER CONSTRUCTION Background of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a water heater construction and more particularly to a gas or oil fired water heater wherein dripping of condensate on the burner is eliminated. 2. Description of the Prior Art The problem of condensate dripping onto the burner in gas or oil fired water heaters has been present in the industry for many years. Prior attempts to solve such problem are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,124,108 and 4,372,290. Such prior attempts involve burner constructions which are designed to reduce the adverse effects of the condensate dripping thereon. In the present invention, a different approach is taken, i.e., in the present design, the water heater is constructed so that any condensate flowing downwardly from the central flue will adhere to the lower surface of the bottom head and will not drip off the surface until a point outside the periphery of the burner is reached. Thus, the dripping of condensate on the burner and its attendant problems is eliminated. Summary of the Invention A water heater having a tank wall with a top and bottom head welded thereto and a combustion chamber located beneath the bottom head. A burner is mounted below the bottom head and a centrally located flue tube is fastened at its lower end to the bottom head. The bottom head has an upwardly directed circular flange with a central opening therein. The flange of the bottom head is press-fitted into the lower end of the flue tube and the flue tube is welded to the flange by a weld between the end of the flue tube and the outer surface of the flange. Condensate flowing down the inside surface of the flue tube will flow around the upper edge of the flange and will continue along the lower surface of the head member. Due to the surface tension of the water, the condensate will not drip off the lower surface of the lower head until it reaches a point outside the periphery of the burner. Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a water heater constructed in accordance with the present invention. Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to Fig. 1, water heater 10 is comprised of a tank wall 12 having a dished-shaped bottom head 14 and a top head (not shown) welded to the wall to provide a liquid tight chamber 16. A gas (or oil) burner 18 of any suitable design is mounted beneath bottom head 14 in combustion chamber 20. A layer of insulation 22 and a jacket 24 are mounted around tank wall 12. Bottom head 14 has an upwardly directed circular flange 32 having a central opening 26 therein. Flange 32 is connected to a flue tube 28 in a unique manner. A flue baffle member 30 of any suitable design is mounted in flue tube 28. The connection between flange 32 of the lower head member 14 and the flue tube 28 is accomplished by press-fitting the flange 32 into the end of flue tube 28 and then welding the two parts together by a weld 34 between the end 36 of the tube and the outer surface of the flange. The upper end of flue tube 28 is fastened to the top head of the tank in any suitable manner (not shown). The above-described construction provides several advantages over prior constructions. In prior designs, with the end of the flue tube extending inside the opening 26 in head flange 32 (see U.S. Patent No. 4,372,290), water vapor in the flue gases will condense on the inside surface of the flue tube and will drip off the end of the flue tube onto the main burner, pilot burner andzor inner mantles of the flame with adverse effects. With the construction shown and described herein, the condensate flowing down on tube surface 38 will flow around the edge 42 of flange 32 and will continue to flow along the surface 40 of head member 14 as shown by the dotted arrows in Fig. 1. Due to the surface tension of the water, the condensate will not drip off surface 40 until it reaches a point outside the periphery of burner 18. Thus, the dripping of condensate on the burner and its attendant problens is eliminated.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A water heater comprising: a tank wall having a top and bottom head welded thereto to provide a liquidtight chamber therein; a combustion chamber located beneath said bottom head; a burner mounted in said combustion chamber; a centrally located flue tube communicating with said combustion chamber and fastened at its lower end to said bottom head; said bottom head having an upwardly directed circular flange with a central opening therein, said flange being press-fitted into the lower end of said flue tube and said flue tube being welded to said flange by a weld between the end of said flue tube and the outer surface of said flange.

Inventors: VAGO, OTTO Z.
Applicants: STATE INDUSTRIES, INC.
Application year: 1985
Main classification: F24H9
IPC codes: F24H1, F24H9