US 12,253,283 B1
Water heater with compact heat exchanger
Jonathan Neal Gourlie, Sun Prairie, WI (US)
Assigned to Bock Water Heaters, Inc., Madison, WI (US)
Filed by Bock Water Heaters, Inc., Madison, WI (US)
Filed on Jul. 24, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/783,042.
Int. Cl. F24H 1/00 (2022.01); F24H 1/18 (2022.01); F24H 8/00 (2022.01); F24H 9/00 (2022.01)
CPC F24H 9/0031 (2013.01) [F24H 1/18 (2013.01); F24H 8/006 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A water heater comprising:
a water tank having an outer shell extending between an upper wall and a lower wall, wherein the tank has an inlet for connection to a source of combustion gases;
a first flue extending downwardly from the inlet, and terminating at a lower end in a cylindrical first flue segment having a first axis, the first flue segment being terminated at a first bevel cut on a plane which is at a 45-degree angle to the first axis;
a plurality of first fins of a first radial length fixed to the interior of the first flue segment above the first bevel cut, wherein each of the plurality of first fins has an outer end fixed to a cylindrical wall of the first flue segment and an inner end, and wherein each of the plurality of first fins extends radially inwardly substantially toward the first axis from the cylindrical wall of the first flue segment, and wherein the distance in the radial direction from the cylindrical wall to an internal end defines the first radial length;
a cylindrical second flue of a second diameter, and having a second axis which is perpendicular to the first axis, the second flue having a second bevel cut which is at a 45-degree angle to the second axis and which is mated in a water-tight fashion to the first bevel cut of the first flue segment, the second flue having a third bevel cut which is at a 45-degree angle to the second axis and is positioned opposite the second bevel cut, wherein the second flue is spaced above the water tank lower wall a distance greater than the second diameter;
a third flue which terminates at a lower end in a cylindrical third flue segment having a third axis which is parallel to the first axis, the third flue segment being terminated at a fourth bevel cut which is made on a plane which is at a 45-degree angle to the third axis and which is mated in a water-tight fashion to the third bevel cut of the second flue, the third flue extending upwardly away from the second flue; and
a plurality of second fins of a second radial length fixed to the interior of the third flue segment above the fourth bevel cut, wherein each of the plurality of second fins has an outer end fixed to a cylindrical wall of the third flue segment and an inner end, and each of the plurality of second fins extends radially inwardly substantially toward the third axis from the cylindrical wall of the third flue segment, a distance in the radial direction from the cylindrical wall of the third flue segment to an internal end defining the second radial length, wherein the second radial length is greater than the first radial length.