Systems for water heater baffles on recreational vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12352439-B2
Application number	US-202217900942-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 1, 2022
Priority date	Sep 1, 2022
Publication date	Jul 8, 2025
Grant date	Jul 8, 2025

Abstract

A water heater appliance for a recreational vehicle includes a tank and a flue disposed within the tank. The flue forms a U-shape that extends to and from an external side of the tank. A gas supply is in fluid communication with the flue. A burner assembly is disposed at an inlet of the flue. A baffle disposed within the flue. The baffle includes a plurality of restrictors configured to the baffle and the flue, and a flue collar mounted to the flue. The flue collar is configured to secure the baffle to the flue.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A water heater appliance for a recreational vehicle, comprising:
a tank comprising a cold-water inlet and a hot-water outlet;
a flue disposed within the tank, the flue forming a U-shape extending to and from an external side of the tank;
a burner assembly disposed at an inlet of the flue; and
a baffle disposed within the flue, the baffle comprising,
a plurality of restrictors extending to the flue, and
a flue collar configured to secure the baffle to the flue,

wherein the external side of the tank comprises a panel, the panel rotatable between an open position and a closed position, the panel comprising a slot for an exhaust outlet of the flue.

2. The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the baffle defines a helical shape and is configured to direct exhaust from the burner assembly in a spiral flow path through the flue.

3. The water heater appliance of claim 2 , wherein the restrictors are arranged on the baffle and configured to locate and fix the baffle axially in the flue.

4. The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the flue collar is fixed to the baffle and mounted to an end of the flue.

5. The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the restrictors contact the flue and are configured for conductively transferring heat to the flue.

6. The water heater appliance of claim 5 , wherein the conductive heat transfer from the restrictors heats water in the tank.

7. The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the restrictors limit motion of the baffle within the flue.

8. The water heater appliance of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical heating element.

9. The water heater appliance of claim 8 , wherein the baffle and the restrictors reduce stand-by heat loss when the water heater appliance is one or more of between cycles and heating via only the electrical heating element.

10. A water heater appliance for a recreational vehicle, comprising:
a tank comprising a cold-water inlet and a hot-water outlet;
a flue disposed within the tank, the flue forming a U-shape extending to and from an external side of the tank;
a burner assembly disposed at an inlet of the flue;
a gas supply in fluid communication with the inlet of the flue; and
a baffle disposed with the flue, the baffle comprising,
a helical shape configured to direct exhaust from the burner assembly in a spiral motion through the flue,
a plurality of restrictors configured to immobilize the baffle within the flue, and
a flue collar mounted to the flue, the flue collar configured to secure the baffle to the flue,

wherein the external side of the tank comprises a panel, the panel rotatable between an open position and a closed position, the panel comprising a slot for an exhaust outlet of the flue.

11. The water heater appliance of claim 10 , wherein the restrictors are arranged on the baffle and configured to locate and fix the baffle axially in the flue.

12. The water heater appliance of claim 10 , wherein the flue collar is fixed to the baffle and mounted to an end of the flue.

13. The water heater appliance of claim 10 , wherein the restrictors contact the flue and are configured for conductively transferring heat to the flue.

14. The water heater appliance of claim 13 , wherein the conductive heat transfer from the restrictors heats water in the tank.

15. The water heater appliance of claim 10 , further comprising an electrical heating element.

16. The water heater appliance of claim 15 , wherein the baffle and the restrictors reduce stand-by heat loss when the water heater appliance is one or more of between cycles and heating via only the electrical heating element.

17. A water heater appliance for a recreational vehicle, comprising:
a tank comprising a cold-water inlet and a hot-water outlet;
an electrical heating element;
a flue disposed within the tank, the flue forming a U-shape extending to and from an external side of the tank;
a burner assembly disposed at an inlet of the flue; and
a baffle disposed within the flue, the baffle comprising,
a plurality of restrictors extending to the flue, and
a flue collar configured to secure the baffle to the flue,

wherein the baffle and the restrictors reduce stand-by heat loss when the water heater appliance is one or more of between cycles and heating via only the electrical heating element.

18. The water heater appliance of claim 17 , wherein the baffle defines a helical shape and is configured to direct exhaust from the burner assembly in a spiral flow path through the flue.

19. The water heater appliance of claim 18 , wherein the restrictors are arranged on the baffle and configured to locate and fix the baffle axially in the flue.

20. The water heater appliance of claim 17 , wherein the flue collar is fixed to the baffle and mounted to an end of the flue.

Assignees

• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Strader Jacob
• Thenappan Subbu

Classifications

• F28F13/12

  by creating turbulence, e.g. by stirring, by increasing the force of circulation (F28F13/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F23M9/08 Primary

  Helical or twisted baffles or deflectors · CPC title

• F24H1/20

  with immersed heating elements, e.g. electric elements or furnace tubes · CPC title

• F24H1/205

  with furnace tubes · CPC title

• F23M9/003 Primary

  in flue gas ducts · CPC title