Gas furnace

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11629883-B2
Application number	US-201916522759-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2019
Priority date	Jul 26, 2018
Publication date	Apr 18, 2023
Grant date	Apr 18, 2023

Abstract

A gas furnace is provided. The gas furnace includes a combustion part in which a fuel gas is burnt to generate a combustion gas, a heat exchanger having a gas flow path through which the combustion gas flows, a blower configured to blow air around the heat exchanger, and an inducer configured to discharge the combustion gas from the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes at least one single path in which a single gas flow path is formed a single-multiple return bend configured to communicate with the single path and convert a flow direction of the combustion gas, and at least one multiple path having a plurality of paths that communicate with the single-multiple return bend and form multiple gas flow paths.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gas furnace, comprising:
a combustion portion in which a fuel gas is burnt to generate a combustion gas;
a heat exchanger having a gas flow path through which the combustion gas flows;
a blower configured to blow air around the heat exchanger; and
an inducer configured to discharge the combustion gas from the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger comprises:
at least one single path in which a single gas flow path is formed, the at least one single path including an inflow single path in which a combustion gas inlet is formed;
a single-multiple return bend configured to communicate with the at least one single path and convert a flow direction of the combustion gas; and
at least one multiple path having a plurality of paths forming multiple gas flow paths that are separated from each other, wherein the single-multiple return bend extends in a first direction crossing the at least one single path and the at least one multiple path, and is connected to the at least one single path and the at least one multiple path, wherein each of the plurality of paths is configured to communicate with the single-multiple return bend in parallel with the others of the plurality of paths, wherein a diameter of each of the plurality of paths decreases as a distance from the single path increases in the first direction, wherein an end of each of the plurality of paths is positioned deeper inside of the single-multiple return bend as the distance from the single path increases in the first direction, wherein a diameter of a gas flow path formed in the inflow single path gradually increases from the combustion gas inlet to an end opposite the combustion gas inlet, wherein a plurality of concave portions recessed inward is formed in a surface of at least two paths among the plurality of paths provided in the at least one multiple path, wherein a concave portion of the plurality of concave portions formed in a surface of one side of each of the at least two paths is staggered from a concave portion of the plurality of concave portions formed in a surface of the other side opposite to the one side, wherein a concave portion of the plurality of concave portions formed in a surface of a path positioned on an upper side among the at least two paths is staggered from a concave portion of the plurality of concave portions formed in a surface of a path positioned on a lower side, and wherein shapes of the plurality of concave portions formed in the surface of the path positioned on the upper side among the at least two paths and the plurality of concave portions formed in the surface of the path positioned on the lower side are different.

2. The gas furnace of claim 1 , wherein the at least one single path comprises at least one intermediate single path disposed between the inflow single path and the at least one multiple path, wherein a single-single return bend is disposed between the inflow single path and the intermediate single path to convert a flow direction of the combustion gas, and wherein the single-multiple return bend is disposed between the intermediate single path and the at least one multiple path.

3. The gas furnace of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is formed by joining a pair of panels, and wherein the gas flow path is formed in each of the pair of panels by a pair of convex portions protruding outwardly that face each other.

4. The gas furnace of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of a flow path of each of the at least two paths decreases as the flow path progresses in a lower direction of the at least one multiple path from a portion where the plurality of concave portions is not formed, and a depth of a concave portion of the plurality of concave portions decreases as the concave portion progresses toward a lower side of the at least one multiple path.

5. The gas furnace of claim 4 , wherein a length of each of the at least two paths increases as it progresses toward the lower side of the at least one multiple path.

6. The gas furnace of claim 1 , wherein, in the single-multiple return bend, a diameter of a flow path of a portion connected to the at least one multiple path decreases as the flow path progresses toward a lower side of the at least one multiple path.

7. The gas furnace of claim 1 , wherein a single discharge path to discharge the combustion gas by unifying the multiple gas flow paths is formed in an end portion of the at least one multiple path.

8. The gas furnace of claim 7 , wherein the single discharge path comprises a combustion gas discharge port that is formed in a position close to a lowermost path among the plurality of paths provided in the at least one multiple path.

9. The gas furnace of claim 2 , wherein a diameter of a gas flow path formed in the single-single return bend increases as the gas flow path progresses from a portion connected to the inflow single path to a portion reaching a predetermined acute angle, and decreases as the gas flow path progresses from the portion reaching the predetermined acute angle to a portion connected to the at least one intermediate single path.

10. The gas furnace of claim 9 , wherein a diameter of a gas flow path formed in the at least one intermediate single path decreases as the gas flow path progresses toward a downstream of the at least one intermediate single path.

11. The gas furnace of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger further comprises an opening that extends, between the at least one single path and the at least one multiple path, in a direction parallel to a downstream direction of the at least one multiple path.

12. The gas furnace of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of combustion portions is provided, wherein a plurality of heat exchangers is provided in correspondence with the plurality of combustion portions, and wherein the plurality of combustion portions and the plurality of heat exchangers are disposed in parallel with each other.

13. The gas furnace of claim 7 , wherein a cross section of a flow path formed in the single discharge path has an elliptical shape.

14. The gas furnace of claim 13 , wherein the cross section of the flow path formed in the single discharge path remains the same irrespective of a distance in a longitudinal direction of the single discharge path from the end portion of the at least one multiple path.

15. The gas furnace of claim 7 , wherein a diameter of the single discharge path decreases as the single discharge path progresses in the first direction.

16. The gas furnace of claim 1 , wherein a width of the plurality of concave portions formed in the surface of the path positioned on the upper side among the at least two paths is smaller than that of the plurality of concave portions formed in the surface of the path positioned on the lower side.

17. The gas furnace of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of concave portions formed in the surface of the path positioned on the upper side among the at least two paths has a circular shape, and the plurality of concave portions formed in the surface of the path positioned on the lower side has an elliptical shape.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Kim Jusu
• Park Janghee
• PARK Hansaem
• Jeong Yongki
• Ha Doyong

Classifications

• F28F1/025

  with variable shape, e.g. with modified tube ends, with different geometrical features (F28F1/06, F28F1/08, F28F9/16, F28F9/18 take precedence) · CPC title

• F24H3/065

  using fluid fuel · CPC title

• F28D2021/0024

  for combustion apparatus, e.g. for boilers · CPC title

• F28D7/1623

  with particular pattern of flow of the heat exchange media, e.g. change of flow direction · CPC title

• F28F13/08

  by varying the cross-section of the flow channels · CPC title