Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to exhaust piping for combustion devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to exhaust piping apparatus, for boilers or furnaces, that permits a combustion device with a single outlet to communicate with a location configured for either top or rear ducting combustion devices.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Combustion devices such as gas or oil fired furnaces, boilers, clothes dryers, water heaters, and other household appliances are common in residential homes. For example, boilers are used traditionally to heat water for the home. The hot water can be used in a heating circuit or to provide domestic hot water for uses throughout the house, such as in a clothes washing machine, a dishwasher, sinks, showers, utility tubs, and elsewhere. Boilers may be oil burning or gas burning.  
           [0003]    Combustion devices create waste products as a result of burning either oil or gas to generate heat. Therefore, combustion devices require ducting to vent combustion gases to the outside of the building in which they are installed. The ducting may vent the waste products via a chimney, ductwork, or other suitable outlet means.  
           [0004]    Some installation locations for combustion devices are configured for the combustion device to vent exhaust gases out the back or out the top of the combustion device. In order to make a single combustion device capable of being installed in either type of location, some combustion devices are configured to vent exhaust gas out of both the top and back of the device by having multiple flue openings.  
           [0005]    While a multiple flue opening combustion device permits one combustion device to be made for all locations whether the ducting is configured for a top or rear vented device, these types of devices require additional parts and labor. For example, the installer has to determine whether to install the exhaust piping on the top or back of the device. Installing the piping through the back requires a straight length of piping to connect the device to the ducting to the outside. On the other hand, in a case where the combustion device vents through the top of the device, a different shaped piping may be required. Top vented devices may use piping with an elbow to connect from the top of the device to the chimney or ductwork.  
           [0006]    A disadvantage of the previously known top and rear venting design is that each combustion device has two flue openings—one on the back and one on the top of the device. The unused opening may need to be sealed during installation. Alternatively, if both openings are factory sealed, one opening must be opened during installation. This requires additional parts, such as covers and seals, and labor for installing the extra seals and covers as well.  
           [0007]    When the opening is sealed during installation, the opening may be traditionally sealed with a flue cap that has a sealing rope inside the groove in the cap. The flue cap is placed in the flue hole that is not used to connect the device to the outlet. A flue cap strap may then be placed over the flue cap. A jacket cap with insulation may then be placed over the flue cap strap. When the openings are sealed during manufacture, the installer must remove the seal and cap from one of the openings to install the device and connect it with the piping to the outlet.  
           [0008]    The above problems also occur with the piping used to supply the combustion device with water, air, gas, or oil.  
           [0009]    Accordingly, a combustion device that has only one opening and is adaptable to connect to piping configured to communicate with top or back venting is desired.  
           [0010]    In addition, a combustion device that can be connected to a variety of venting configurations is desired.  
           [0011]    In addition, exhaust piping that is adaptable to permit a combustion device to exhaust gases from a single flue opening regardless of the configuration of the location ducting is desired.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    It is therefore a feature and advantage of the present invention to provide a combustion device that provides only one piping connection location.  
           [0013]    It is another feature and advantage of the present invention to provide piping that can be adapted to connect to a variety of location ducting.  
           [0014]    The above and other features and advantages are achieved through the use of a novel combustion device with multi-positioning piping as herein disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a combustion device is provided. The combustion device includes a water inlet, a water outlet, and/or an exhaust outlet, and piping configured to selectively communicate with said outlet in such a way that said piping can extend from said outlet in either one of a first direction and a second direction different from the first direction.  
           [0015]    According to another embodiment of the invention, a combustion device is provided. The combustion device includes an exhaust outlet as a means for exhausting gases, and piping, as a means for communicating with said exhausting means, configured to selectively communicate with said outlet in such a way that said piping can extend from said outlet in either one of a first direction and a second direction different from the first direction.  
           [0016]    According to another embodiment of the invention, a vent pipe system for a combustion device is provided. The system includes a first pipe having one end slanted at a diagonal, and a second pipe having one end slanted at a diagonal and configured to communicate with said first pipe such that the slanted ends of said first and second pipes can attach to each other to comprise a straight pipe or a bent pipe, wherein said first pipe is configured to attach to a combustion device and said second pipe is configured to attach to ducting.  
           [0017]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method of adapting a combustion device to selectively vent combustion gases behind or above the combustion device having a single outlet is provided. The method includes configuring the outlet at an angle with respect to a vertical and horizontal direction, providing a pipe with a diagonally slanted end, and configuring the slanted end to attach to the outlet, wherein the slanted end and the outlet configured at an angle may selectively attach to allow the pipe to extend substantially horizontally and substantially vertically from the combustion device.  
           [0018]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.  
           [0019]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
           [0020]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention where the piping extends vertically from the combustion device.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention where the piping extends horizontally from the combustion device.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a prior art boiler.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 is an exploded side view of two piece piping with a flat end to communicate with a combustion device.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 is an exploded side view of the two piece piping of FIG. 4 arranged so that it may communicate with a top venting boiler.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 is a side view of flexible piping according to one embodiment of the invention configured in a straight position and configured to communicate with a combustion device according to the invention.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 8 is a side view of flexible piping according to one embodiment of the invention configured in a straight position.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 9 is a side view of the flexible piping of FIG. 7 wherein the flexible piping is in a bent position.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 10 is a side view of the flexible piping of FIG. 6 where the flexible piping is in a bent position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0031]    One embodiment of the present invention provides a combustion device with a single flue outlet, the combustion device capable of communication with a variety of location ducting configurations. For example, the combustion device may be adaptable to a location where the ducting to the outside is configured to communicate with a combustion device that has the exhaust gases vented out the rear or the combustion device may be adaptable to a location where the ducting to the outside is configured to communicate with a combustion device that has the exhaust gases vented out the top of the combustion device.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a combustion device such as a boiler  10  is provided with an outlet  12 , shown in FIG. 3, and piping  14 . In FIG. 1 the piping  14  is attached to the boiler  10  in a manner as to cause the exhaust gases to be vented above the boiler  10 . In some respects this configuration may be analogous to venting the exhaust gases out of the top of the boiler  10 .  
         [0033]    The piping  14  may be attached to the boiler  10  in a location arranged diagonally from the top  16  and back  18  portions of the boiler  10 . The piping  14  has an angled end  20 . The angled end  20  has a long  22  and short  24  portion. In order to permit the piping  14  to extend substantially vertically from the boiler  10 , the long portion  22  is attached near the back  18  of the boiler  10  and the short portion  24  is attached near the top portion  16  of the boiler  10 .  
         [0034]    In a preferred embodiment, the piping  14  can be attached to the outlet  12  of the boiler  10  with nuts and bolts (not shown). It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the piping  14  may also be attached to the boiler  10  with screws, a seal, clamps, or any other means known in the art. The piping  14  may also be attached to ducting to the outside (not shown) which may be provided at the location. The piping  14  may attach to the ducting by clamps, screws, nuts and bolts, or any other means known in the art.  
         [0035]    In another embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG. 2, the piping  14  is attached to the outlet  12  such that the piping  14  extends substantially horizontally from the outlet  12 . To achieve this, the short portion  24  of the piping is attached to the outlet  12  closer to the back side  18  of the boiler  10 , and the long portion  22  of the piping  14  is attached to the outlet  12  closer to the top  16  of the boiler  10 .  
         [0036]    In a preferred embodiment, the angle of the outlet  12  between the top  16  and back  18  of the boiler  10  is approximately 45°. The angle of the end of the piping  14  in the preferred embodiment is also approximately 45°.  
         [0037]    Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 illustrates piping  40  that can communicate with the outlet  12 , located on a top  16  or back  18  portion of a boiler  10 , for example, a boiler as shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 5, two sections of piping  42  and  44  are provided. The section of piping  21  that communicates with the outlet  12  has a flat end  46 . Piping  42  and  44  attached to each other via angled ends  48  and  50 . When it is desired that piping  42  and  44  comprise a straight section, long end  52  attaches to short end  54  and short end  56  attaches to long end  58 .  
         [0038]    As shown in FIG. 6, when it is desired that piping  42  and  44  comprise an angled section, short end  56  attaches to short end  54  and long end  52  attaches to  58 .  
         [0039]    It can be appreciated by one skilled in the art that piping  42  and  44  will permit combustion devices with a flue vent opening on a top, side, or rear portions to be adaptable to differing types and configurations of ducting at a particular site. Thus, piping  42  and  44  may not require a combustion device with an angled outlet  12  as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and  3 . It can further be appreciated that an installer skilled in the art can determine what kind of shape (i.e., straight or angled) the installer will desire for a particular location and attach sections  42  and  44  accordingly.  
         [0040]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, angled ends  48  and  50  are angled 45° compared to a flat end (i.e., 46). Preferably, sections  42  and  44  will form straight sections, an approximately 90° section, and sections with angles in between 90° elbow and a straight section if they are attached in a non-planar manner. Other embodiments of the invention may use ends  48  and  50  with different angles and comprise other than 90° elbow sections. Angle selection may be done according to specific requirements of a particular location. In fact, installers may modify the angles to a particular location.  
         [0041]    According to another embodiment of the present invention a flexible vent pipe  70  may be provided. A flexible vent pipe  70  will also permit a combustion device with a single flue outlet to be adaptable to a variety of ducting types and configurations. The flexible pipe  70  will permit the pipe  70  to be flexed to fit between the flue vent of the combustion device and the ducting in the device installation location.  
         [0042]    In order to achieve flexing, the flexible piping  70  may be comprised of a resilient material, a corrugated material, or multiple sections moveably connected. Other embodiments may incorporate a hoop and foil type construction to achieve flexibility. Other types of materials, connections, or methods used in the art may be used.  
         [0043]    Such flexible piping  70 , shown in FIGS.  7 - 10 , may have an angled end  72  to communicate with a flue outlet on a combustion device. Piping  70 , shown in FIG. 10, also has an angled end  72  to communicate with a flue outlet on a combustion device. Piping  70 , shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, has a flat end  74  to communicate with a flue outlet on a combustion device.  
         [0044]    The flexible piping  70  may be flexed to comprise approximately a 90° elbow as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. In some embodiments, the flexible piping  70  may be flexed to greater than 90°. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that an installer will flex the flexible piping  70  to a shape required by a particular installation location to attach a flue vent to ducting the outside.  
         [0045]    While the embodiments described above are directed to exhaust piping and a combustion device, some embodiments of the present invention can include a similarly configured inlet and inlet piping for the combustion device. The inlet and inlet piping can supply water, air, gas, or oil to the combustion device. An angled inlet and piping, similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, are within the scope of the invention. Also contemplated by the present invention is inlet piping similar to that shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.  
         [0046]    The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirits and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 2