Motor/damper assembly for fuel-fired water heater

摘要

A motor/damper assembly installable on the top end of a fuel-fired water heater includes a support plate structure upon which a flue collar with a pivotally supported flue damper, a drive motor, and a drive shaft interconnecting the motor damper are mounted. The assembly is installed by placing the collar over the upper end of the water heater flue, securing the support plate structure to the top end of the water heater, and positioning a top cover housing on the support plate structure. Using the assembly provides improved support rigidity and alignment for the motor and shaft relative to the damper, improved repeatable precise manufacturing placement of the motor and shaft, improved construction aesthetics, with the cover also protecting the shaft from shipping and handling damages.

主权项

1. A motor/damper apparatus for use with a fuel-fired liquid heating device having a top surface defined by an outer perimeter and from which a flue upwardly projects, said motor/damper apparatus comprising:
a support structure contained within a boundary defined by the outer perimeter of the liquid heating device and having a base plate with a bottom side portion configured to rest on and be secured to said top surface of the liquid heating device, the bottom side portion comprising an opening extending upwardly therethrough sized to receive said flue, the bottom side portion forming a flat perimeter extending completely about said opening and being arranged to rest on said top surface completely about said opening, the support structure being securable to the top surface at at least one of opposing sides of said opening; an open-ended collar secured to said support structure, said collar axially extending upwardly from said opening in the bottom side and overlying said opening so that combustion exhaust products that pass through said opening also pass through said collar, said opening and a lower portion of said collar being configured to receive said flue; a damper member pivotally supported within said collar above said lower portion thereof; and a motor directly connected to and supported on a portion of said support structure and having an output shaft operatively coupled to said damper member to selectively rotate it relative to said collar.