The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 02, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 16, 2001
Troy E. Trant, Montgomery, AL (US);
Gary A. Elder, Montgomery, AL (US);
William T. Harrigill, Montgomery, AL (US);
Bruce A. Hotton, Montgomery, AL (US);
Shannon H. McCall, Montgomery, AL (US);
The Water Heater Industry Joint Research and Development Consortium, Reston, VA (US);
Abstract
Fuel fired power vented and natural draft type water heaters are provided with flammable vapor sensors operative to detect flammable vapors exteriorly adjacent the water heater and responsively preclude fuel flow to the burner portion of the water heater. In each water heater a flow tube is extended between the flammable vapor sensor and the draft structure of the water heater and forms a flow path isolated from the combustion chamber of the water heater. In the event that flammable vapors are present exteriorly adjacent the water heater, the forced or natural draft of the water heater creates a biased flow of flammable vapors which is sequentially drawn across the vapor sensor and through the isolated flow path to the draft structure of the water heater.