Intake Device for a Chimney Termination

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/631,520 filed Jan. 31, 2022, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 12,292,192, which is the U.S. national phase of PCT Application No. PCT/US2020/045646 filed Aug. 10, 2020, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/884,859 filed Aug. 9, 2019, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference herein.

A device for a chimney termination is provided that creates positive pressure along the intake of the termination.

Chimney vent termination assemblies are available in a variety of different shapes and sizes. Generally, the chimney termination assembly is attached to the vent pipes of an appliance. One example is U.S. Pat. No. 7,458,888.

In at least one embodiment, a termination assembly for a chimney is provided having an intake tube adapted to receive intake air to be delivered to an appliance. An exhaust tube is adapted to receive exhaust air from the appliance, the exhaust tube terminating in an exhaust layer. An intake layer is disposed above or below the exhaust layer. The intake layer has a first ring and mounted to an exhaust plate separating the exhaust layer from the intake layer. At least one frustoconical ring is spaced apart from the first ring and directs intake air at an angle toward the first ring into a positive pressure area. An intake plate is mounted to the frustoconical ring opposite the first ring. The positive pressure area is defined within the first ring and the frustoconical ring and between the exhaust plate and the inlet plate. The intake tube originates in the positive pressure area.

In at least one embodiment, a termination assembly for a chimney is provided having an exhaust layer with an exhaust tube adapted to receive exhaust air from an appliance, where an outlet opening of the exhaust tube terminates in the exhaust layer. An intake layer is separated from the exhaust layer. The intake layer has an enclosure defining a positive pressure area within the enclosure and a plurality of openings directing intake air at an angle toward the positive pressure area. An intake tube is adapted to receive intake air at an inlet opening positioned in the positive pressure area. The positive pressure area in the intake layer has a pressure greater than the atmospheric pressure outside the termination and in the exhaust layer to prevent flow in the exhaust tube from being reversed.

In another embodiment, the plurality of openings is formed by at least one frustoconical ring spaced apart from an enclosure portion. The openings are formed between the frustoconical ring and the enclosure portion. The angle of the openings is defined by the angle between a lower edge and an upper edge of the frustoconical ring.

In another embodiment, the frustoconical ring is spaced apart from the enclosure portion by a plurality of flaps, wherein the flaps are oriented radially.

In another embodiment, the termination assembly has at least two frustoconical rings spaced apart by the flaps.

In another embodiment, a first frustoconical ring has a first angle, and a second frustoconical ring has a second angle different than the first angle.

In another embodiment, the angle is in the range of 20-degrees to 80-degrees to a longitudinal axis of the positive pressure enclosure.

In another embodiment, the frustoconical ring has a circular-shaped circumference along a cross-section.

In another embodiment, the frustoconical ring has a polygonal-shaped circumference along a cross-section.

In another embodiment, the exhaust tube extends through the intake layer.

In another embodiment, the exhaust tube and intake tube are arranged coaxially.

In another embodiment, the exhaust tube is arranged inside the intake tube.

In another embodiment, the exhaust tube and intake tube are arranged collinearly.

In another embodiment, the plurality of openings is formed by a plurality of louvers.

In another embodiment, the louvers are formed integrally in the positive pressure enclosure.

In another embodiment, the intake layer is separated from the exhaust layer by a first plate, wherein the exhaust tube extends through the first plate.

In another embodiment, the intake layer is defined between the first plate and a second plate opposite the first plate, wherein the exhaust tube and intake tube extend through the second plate.

In another embodiment, each of the plurality of openings has a cross-sectional area that decreases from an exterior surface of the enclosure toward the positive pressure area of the enclosure.

In at least one embodiment, a termination assembly for a chimney is provided having an exhaust layer with an exhaust tube adapted to receive exhaust air from an appliance. An outlet opening of the exhaust tube terminates in the exhaust layer. An intake layer is separated from the exhaust layer. The intake layer has an enclosure defining a positive pressure area within the enclosure and a plurality of openings. Each of openings has a cross-sectional area that decreases from an exterior surface of the enclosure toward the positive pressure area within the enclosure. An intake tube is adapted to receive intake air at an inlet opening positioned in the positive pressure area. The positive pressure area in the intake layer has a pressure greater than the atmospheric pressure outside the termination and in the exhaust layer to prevent flow in the exhaust tube from being reversed.

In another embodiment, the enclosure comprises at least two rings spaced apart by a plurality of flaps, wherein the flaps are oriented radially. The plurality of openings is formed between the two rings and two adjacent flaps.

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

To operate correctly, direct vent appliances, such as fireplaces or furnaces, must exhaust the burnt gas via a dedicated exhaust and pull in fresh air for combustion from a dedicated intake. The design of these appliances, and the specialty gas terminations which serve them require that the exhaust gases flows on the exhaust side of the system and the intake air flows on the intake side of system for the fireplace to start correctly upon ignition and flow correctly within the appliance. Correct airflow provides for efficient combustion by providing enough oxygen, such as a stoichiometric combustion. The correct airflow may also provide internal air wash systems for the glass front of fireplaces.

A direct vent gas fireplace will not function correctly if it is suffering from reverse flow. Reverse flow is simply the exhaust side of the vent termination acting as the intake side of the system and the intake side of the system functioning as the exhaust side. When reverse flow occurs, exhaust is drawn back into the vent system and the fireplace can ‘starve’ from not having enough oxygen for combustion within the exhaust gases. Reverse flow may also inhibit proper function of the appliance. In the event of a direct vent gas fireplace which has a larger exhaust vent tube diameter than the intake vent tube, there simply is not enough pipe and termination volume to exhaust the exhaust gases for the fireplace thus creating a restriction that prevents proper operations or causes the fireplace to shut down via its internal operational or safety settings.

The device chimney termination assemblyhaving a positive pressure enclosureof the present application prevents reverse flow and creates positive pressure on the intake side of the vent system adjacent the intake vent.illustrates a chimney termination assemblyhaving the positive pressure enclosure, shown in more detail in.

The positive pressure enclosurefor a direct vent gas termination may be attached to the termination assemblyor formed as part of the termination assembly. The positive pressure enclosurechannels air into an enclosed or semi-enclosed space via openingsin an intake layerhaving the intake tube. A Venturi effect is observed when the air enters the intake layer through the constricted openings. The air speed increases through the openings, while pressure decreases according to the Venturi effect and Bernoulli's principle. Once the air flows within the enclosure, the airspeed decreases and pressure increases, creating a positive pressure areawithin the enclosurethat has a pressure greater than the atmospheric pressure and greater than an exhaust layerto ensure that air driven into the termination assemblyby wind in a flows easier an intake layerthan air can flow out. This drives air into intake tubeto be used as combustion air in the appliance and ensures combusted exhaust air to flow out of the exhaust tube.

As shown in, the positive pressure enclosureis formed of a rain guard ringpositioned above pressure creator rings. As illustrated, the rain guard ringand pressure creator ringshave a generally circular cross section. However, the rain guard ringand pressure creator ringsmay have other cross-sectional shapes, such as polygonal or other suitable shapes.

In the illustrated embodiment, the rain guard ringis generally cylindrical. The pressure creator ringsslopes inward and upward towards the rain guard ringand forms a generally conical shape that is truncated, or frustoconical.

The ringsare spaced apart from the rain guard ringand from adjacent ringsby flaps. The flapsare angularly aligned to be parallel to the lateral conical surface of the pressure creator rings. As such, the flapsare not parallel to each other and are angled to direct incoming airflow into the positive pressure enclosure.

Referring back to, the termination assemblyincludes a lid. The lidforms the top of the termination assembly. The intake and exhaust assemblies are housed inside an outer bodythat forms the outside of the termination. As shown, the outer bodyhas a grill or mesh along an outer surface to prevent debris such as leaves from getting into the intake or exhaust assemblies. In another embodiment, the bodymay be rectangular, or another suitable shape. In a further embodiment, the positive pressure enclosuremay be formed integrally with the body along the outer surface.

The termination assemblyhas an exhaust layer. The exhaust layeris connected to the lidand extends below the lower side of the lid. As shown, the exhaust layerhas wind baffles.

A first plate, or exhaust plate, defines the bottom of the exhaust layer. The platedefines an openingthat cooperates with an exhaust tube. Exhaust air from the appliance flows through the exhaust tubeand exits the termination at the exhaust layerin the opening between the wind baffles. The exhaust tubeextends through the openinginto the exhaust layer.

The plateseparates the exhaust layerfrom an intake layer. The positive pressure enclosureis positioned on the intake layer. The exhaust tubeextends through the intake layer, but does not have any opening along the intake layer.

An upper surfaceof the positive pressure enclosureabuts the exhaust plate. A second plateforms the bottom of the intake layer. The positive pressure enclosurehas a pressure creating zoneor cavity that is defined inside the rings,and between plateand the intake plate. A second plateforms the bottom surface or mounting surface of the termination assembly.

As shown in, the second platehas two openings. The intake tubeextends through the plate. The platealso has vent tube openingthrough which the exhaust tubeextends. The plateabuts a lower edgeof the positive pressure enclosure. The lower edgeis defined by the lower opening of the lower ring.

illustrates a section view of a portion of the chimney termination assemblyand the positive pressure enclosure. As shown, the exhaust tubeterminates in the exhaust layerat an outlet opening. The intake tubeoriginates in the intake layerat an inlet opening.

As shown in, clean air enters the intake layeralong the intake, or windward sidebased on the wind direction. Clean air is directed upward and inward by the angled openings between the frustoconical rings. The angled openingshave a cross-sectional area that decreases from an exterior surface of the enclosuretoward the positive pressure areawithin the enclosure. This creates positive pressure in a zone around the intake openingof the intake tube. The positive pressure enclosuremakes it more difficult for the clean air to exit the intake layeron a leeward side. Instead, the clean intake air enters the intake tube. ‘Dirty’ combusted air exits on the exhaust side, opposite the intake sideso that there is not a risk of exhaust air entering the intake.

As shown in the section view of the positive pressure enclosurein, the conical ringshave an upper edgethat is positioned inward and above the lower edgeof the rain guard ring. The upper edgehas a diameter A, as shown in. The lower edgeof the ringshas a diameter B and is general equal to the cylindrical openingof the rain guard ring. The diameter A of the upper edgeis less than the diameter of the lower edge B. The angle defined between the lower edgeand the upper edgemay in the range of 20-degrees to 85-degrees to a central longitudinal axisof the positive pressure enclosure. As shown, the angle is approximately 70-degrees. The positive pressure enclosuremay also be oriented so the openingsdefined by the rings,are angled downward.

The flapsare also angularly oriented relative to the pressure creator rings. As such, the flapsare not parallel to each other and are angled to constrict and/or direct incoming airflow into the positive pressure enclosure. Adjacent flapsare oriented at converging angles toward the inside of the enclosure. Together with the frustoconical rings, the flapsdefine the plurality of openingsalong the enclosurethat have a decreasing cross-section. As the openings narrow, airflow is constricted, and airflow speed is increased due to a venturi effect. This makes it easier for air to enter the enclosure, than for air to exit and creates the positive pressure area.

As shown in, the angled ringsmay be shaped to have different angles between the lower edgeand the upper edgeto create openingsat different angles to restrict airflow along the length of the opening channels. For example, as shown in, a lower ringis oriented at a steeper angle than an upper ring. In one example, the upper ringmay have an of 69-degrees, while the lower ringhas a steeper angle of 73-degrees between the lower edgeand upper edge.

In the embodiment shown, the enclosurehas two pressure creator rings. However, other numbers of pressure creator rings may be utilized. For example, the enclosuremay have one pressure creator ring, or three of more pressure creator rings. In another embodiment, the positive pressure enclosuremay be rectangular, other polygonal or another geometric cross-section and the pressure creator ringsmay have corresponding slanted lateral walls extending between the smaller upper edgeand the larger-circumference lower edge. For example,illustrates a positive pressure enclosurebeing octagonal and having pressure creator ringshaving an octagonal periphery.

shows the exhaust layerremoved from the bodyof the chimney termination. In, the positive pressure enclosureis connected to the exhaust layerso the upper surfaceabuts the exhaust plate. While the exhaust layeris illustrated above the intake layer, the intake layerand enclosuremay also be positioned above the exhaust layer.

illustrates the intake plateremoved from the bodyof the chimney termination. The intake platehas an opening for the exhaust tube. The intake tubeextends through the intake plate. The intake plateshows an embodiment where the intake tube and exhaust tube are co-linear. Collinear refers to a term used in the industry term referring to parallel, but spaced apart intake and exhaust tubes. The intake platehas an opening for the exhaust tube, but the exhaust tube extends through the intake layer to the exhaust layer.

shows a lower perspective view of a chimney termination assembly where the intake tubeand exhaust tubeare coaxial. The exhaust tubeand intake tubeare centered about the same axis. As shown, the exhaust tubeis the inner tube, and the intake tubeis the outer tube. As shown in, the exhaust tubeand intake tubeare generally centered along a central longitudinal axisof the termination assembly. However, the exhaust tuberand intake tubemay share an axis that is offset from the central longitudinal axis of the termination assembly.

is a section view through the chimney termination assemblyofshowing airflow creating positive pressure in the co-axial embodiment. Wind blows clean air into the intake layerthrough the openings. The clean air is directed upward and inward by the angled openingsbetween the frustoconical ringstoward the positive pressure areawithin the enclosure. The inlet openingof the inlet tubeis positioned within the intake layerand the positive pressure area. ‘Dirty’ combusted air exits on the exhaust side, opposite the intake side so that there is not a risk of exhaust air entering the intake.

is a perspective view of a chimney termination assemblyshowing a positive pressure enclosurehaving openingsformed with louvers. As shown in, the positive pressure enclosuremay be formed integrally with the outer bodyof the termination. The body may have angled slots, or a series of louversextending inward from the exterior surface of the body. The bodymay be cylindrical having a circular or rectangular cross-section or other geometric cross section. As shown in, the louversextend inward from the exterior surface and are angled downward. The louversmay also be oriented to slope upward. The louversmay be formed integral with the bodyusing a die to punch the louvers.

The louversmay be shaped as a scoop and enclosed on the sides. The side wallsof the louvermay be angled inward so the opening area of the louverdecreases from the exterior to the interior of the enclosureto create positive pressure. The enclosuremay include a plurality of louversin an array, such as the three rows with two louversas shown. The louversmay also be formed as elongated openings.

The rain guard ringmay also be part of the outer bodyof the termination and may be square, as shown in, or round, polygonal or other suitable geometry. That part of the body can be left “unpunched” and attach pressure creating features to the interior of the body directly or as previously noted form them into the body itself.