US2846935A - Flue breather - Google Patents

Description

Aug- 12, 1958 lA. J. sTlLL 2,846,935

FLUE BREATHER- Filed Feb. '16, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheetl INVENTOR.

Mawu

A TTR/VEY Aug. 12,` 1958 I Filed Feb. 16, 1956 jiy. 6.

A. J. STILL FLUE BEATHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR.

#www .jf/w BY M14 ATTORNEY United States PatentA O FLUE BREATHER August J. Still, Atchison, Kans. Application February 16,1956, serial N6. 565,886

' s claims. (c1. 9s-4s) This invention relates to a breather adapted to be connected Awith an upper portion of a ue or vent stack and has for its object to Afacilitate discharge of flue gases that tend yto collect in the upper end of flues or stacks having poor draft conditions. Other objects ofthe invention are to provide a flue breather which is constructed for facilitating application thereof to a iiue or vent at any desired location, for example, in the attic or near the ceiling of a space. which is to be heated and/ or ventilated; to provide a .breather having inlets and a damper adapted to close the inlets automatically in case of downdrafts; and to provide a simple lightweight damper which opens and closes responsive to relatively slight pressure differentials on the respective sides thereof.

. In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved structure thenpreferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

fFig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a conventional brick typeI of vchimney equipped with a breather constructed in accordance with the present invention and which is adapted to be inserted in place of one of the bricks of the chimney. r

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the breather.

lFig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view particularly illustrating the deector or baie which retards entrance of flue gases from the liue into the breather.

Fig.l 4 is la fragmentary perspective view particularly illustrating the breather inlets, gasket and damper.

` Fig. Sis a horizontal section through the breather on theline 5-5 of Fig. 2.

. Fig. 6 is aperspective view of a modified form of invention and which is particularly adapted to cylindrical vent stacks or lines,

Fig. 7 is a. vertical section through vent to which it is attached.

.Fig 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the inlet end of the breather particularly illustrating the inlet openings, gasket, and control damper.

Fig 9 is a similar perspective View but showing the parts -as viewed from within the breather.

Referring more in detail to the drawings and first to the form of invention illustrated in Figs. l to 5, inclusive:

1 designates abreather constructed in accordance with the present invention and which is particularly adapted for'usein-"connection with chimneys or flues of brick construction. The breather 1 includes a tubular body orfcasing 2 having a top and bottom 3 and 4 and side walls 5 and 6 to provide a horizontal duct or passageway '7 open fat one end for connection to a ue or chimney. The casinghas a cross sectional size and shape conforming to one of the bricks 8 of a chimney in which the devicefisto-be' inserted, as later described. The flue end of the top, -bottom and sidewalls is preferably provided with 'laterally turned flanges 9 having a depth substantially conforming tothe depthvof the'r'nortar joints 10 between the bricks whereby when the breather is inserted the breather and Patented Aug. 12, 1958 ICC within a lateral opening of the chimney that has been' provided upon removal of one of the bricks, the anges, preferably, lie ush with the inner face of the chimney and close the mortar spaces that surround the respective sides of the breather. The casing or body portion of the breather is of sufficient length to project from the outer face of the chimney and terminates in a hood 11. In the illustrated instances, the hood 11 is shown as comprising a downwardly and outwardly directed top portion 12 formed as an extension of the top 3 and which has downwardly directed side wings 13 and 14 that overlap the side walls 5 and 6, as best shown in Fig. 1. The wings are preferably secured to the side walls by suitable fastening devices such as rivets or spot welds 1S. 13 and 14 thus form the sides of the hood and also braces for supporting the top of the hood at the desired slant to protect the downwardly facing entrance 16 to the hood. Extending transversely between the walls `34 and 5-6 is a partition 17 having air inlet openings or apertures 18 therethrough and which are preferably ar-l rows to register with corresponding apertures 19 in a gasket 20 that seats against the inner' The partition and gasket are held' in position within the breather by a frame 21 having an'- therespective walls by spot welding, to-

ranged in transverse face of the partition.

outer marginal flange 22 secured to of the breather, as, for example,

support an inwardly extending marginal flange 23 'in position to seat the marginal portions of the gasket and partition members, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

In order to control inlet through the apertures 18 andv 19 into the flue and to close the apertures in case of downdrafts through the chimney, the breather includes a damper plate 24 that is preferably formed of a fire resistant light weight material such as sheet mica and which The damper` which is of a size to cover all of the apertures. is slidably supported on studs or pins 25 and 26 are spaced apart and adjustably retained in nuts 27 and 28 that are welded to the registry with openings 29 gasket through which the studs are projected and threaded into the nuts to adjust heads 31 vthereof to and' i 'from the gasket to provide the desired opening of the damper. The damper is slidably mounted on the studs between the gasket and heads 31 and to facilitate movement thereof the damper is grommets 32 through the studs extend and which grommets are sufficiently wide to prevent catching on the threads of the studs or pins 25 and 26. It is thus obvious that the studs project in the 'direction of the open end and support the damper for movement to and from the apertures responsive to pressure differential acting on the inner and outer sides of the partition.

The outlet end of the breather may entering the breather.

-A breather constructed as illustrated and described in Figs. 3 to 5 is installed at the desired position within thev chimney by removing one of the bricks 8 and cleaning out the mortar from the opening thus` provided. The

studs arev adjusted to allow the proper movement of the I after which the iianged ends of the breather are damper, inserted into the opening thus provided until the flanges 9 preferably are ush'wlth the inner face of the chimney.

The mortar space then surrounding the breather is filled' in with fresh mortar. The anges 9 form the inner particularly when However, the

The wingsouter face of the partition inand 30 in the partition and preferably provided withf be provided with a tranverse baie 33 to aid in excluding liuc gases fromthat the mortar may be pressedl tightly around the breather to securely retain the breather the iiue gases to collect in yconditions exist exteriorly breather Y.beingmounted kwithin theattic ofthe vbuilding provides for inlet of air to displace the ue gases. The air in the attic being warmer'Y than the exterior air passes through:theaopeningsy S18 :and 19with -suilcient velocity tosleep the damper.2`4 unseated :and maintainowinto the'c-himneyto'displace the stagnant fluegases. In 'case of yback "draft )as'fduring excessively windy conditions, ther back ydraft: produces suicient pressure infthe` chimney tocause therelatively light weight 'damper 24 to 'move onthepins and to makecontact with the gasket which forms apart of the .partition to close andpreventow throughC the apertures'18 and 19.

The form of invention; shown. in Figs. '6 to9, inclusive, is-rparticularly adapted for cylindricalfluesior vents. In this form 'of the Yinvention the breather has Vtop and bottom"wallsz34:and 35 fand sides 36 and 37 corresponding withthewalls-in the'rst described form 'ofthe invention.V However,fin thistinstance'the top and bottom walls 34 Aand 35 :are provided with semicircular notches 38'to'ta cylindrical coll-ar 39.to which the top, bottom andi-side 'walls Vare suitably connected as Vby `welding or the like. -The collar 39 is'of the split type and theends thereof terminate in outwardly-extending ` flanges 40 and 41 `that are :adapted to be drawntogether by fastening devices such-as bolts 42 and 43. The collar 39 has lan opening 44 inregistry with the breather duct land which also isvadapted to register with a similarly shaped openin'g-45 in thevent or flue 46 to which the breather is to be connected. Otherwise the structure corresponds with that .previously described and like designations are used on the corresponding parts.

In applying the'form of invention shown in Figs. 6 tor9, an opening 45 is made in the vent and the anged e'nds'ofnthe collar'iare spread apart to pass-over the ue 46, `after which the flanges'40 and 41 are brought together and securedby the fastening devices 42 and 43. In V.order to .prevent leakage between the collar and the wall of the'vent, lthe collar is preferably lined with a suitable gasket material 47.

Thisform of the invention is particularly adapted-for use :onlthe Ivent outlets ofetrailers to eectremoval of the Warml air-that collects under the ceiling and to `improve circulationof the air within the trailer when the trailer is being heated.

vFrom the foregoingit is'lobvious that I have provided a'uev breather that is readilyzadapted for installation'on existingilues Vor vents iand'that the damper or valve mechanism is of simple construction and adapted to operateeautom'atically responsive to pressure diierentials on the 'respective sides of the perforated inlet to the breather ducts.

What I-claim 'and desire to secure byiLetters Patent 1s:

1. A breather ladapted for connection rwith -a lateral opening in a flue for Veffecting a substantially continuous- 1y` openfinlet .foruflowof :air through said lateral opening andli'nto the upper-part of the flue to displacelflue gases tending to collect in the upper portion of the flue, said breather including a substantially horizontal tubular casingl'ha'ving an'open'end adapted to lbe connected with theflateral opening Iin said ilue, la transverse partition at-'the opposite'end ofthe casing and provided with an air inlet, guide'pins projecting substantially horizontally from the partition onthe side facing theflue, 'and a damper having free'sliding support on said guide ,pins and'to=depend from said Aguide pins in spaced relation with the partition to uncover the air inlet and provide for free How of air through said air inlet-of the partition and into theV ue for Vkeeping flue gases from collecting in the upper portion of the ue, said 'damper being movable on saidguide 'pins from said spaced position into contact with the partition for closing said air inlet openingresponsive toadowndraft in said llue `and said damper-'being retractable Onsaidfguide pins to said open position responsive to -pressure `of external air acting-on the damper after suspension of said downdraft to reestablish said air ow into the ue.

2. A breather adapted for connection with a lateral opening in a ilue for electing a substantially continuously open inlet for flow of air through said lateral opening and into the upper part of theeflue to displace ue gases tending to collect in the upper portion of the flue, said breather including a substantially horizontal tubular casing having an open end y'adapted'to be connected with the lateral opening in said'ilue, a transverse partition at the opposite end ofthe casingr and providedwith ian-ain' inlet,

I a bale extendingtransversely within=said open end ofthe casing to assist in excluding ue gases from entering the casing, guide pins projecting substantially horizontally from the partition on the side facing the flue, and a damper having free sliding support on said guide pins and to depend from said guide pins in spaced 'relationv'witlri the partition to uncover the air'inlet'aridtprovide" for "ffree ilow of Vair through saidair inletof the partition-anid'fito the flue forkeepin'g' the line-gases 'from collecting'infthe' upper-portion off the llue, 'said damperfbein'g movable'on saidy guide pins from said spaced position ito contact-"with the-partition forfclosingesaid air 'in-let'opening' responsive toa down'draft in saidfue and said damper beingy retractable on said gui-de pins to s'aid open positionre'sponsive to pressure of' external air actig'bn the ldanlper'upon suspension ofv said down'draftto reestablish said airw into thefflue. Y

3. A breather adapted for connection "with `-a'laterl opening in a ilue for effecting a'substantially'cont'iuously open inlet forflow of'air through said lateral 'opening and into'theupper'part ofithefueto -displaeef'flue"gases tending to collect inthe upper portion "ofA the hue, :said breather including a substantially horizontal f tb'lar 'casing of'rectangular cross section andhaving anbpenend adaptedto be connected vwith the lateral"op'en.ing in'said ue, a transverse partition at the-'oppositeend ofthe casingiand providedwith air inlet openings, a"ho`o'd extending outwardly from the casing in protectin'grelationwith saidl air inlet openings 'of the partition; spaced 'apart' 'guidefpns projecting substantially horizontally from the partition 'on' theV side facing the ue, a substantiallyre'ctangularldamper havingispa'ce'd apertures passing the "pinsforifreeslidiri'g support of the damper on said guide pinslan'd tofriorm'ally depend from said guide pins inspaced-"relation` Withthe partition to uncover lther air Vinlet openings and'ip vide for free ``low of airffrom thefhooid side 'of 'the'partition through said air inlet vopenings andinto:thef'flue'forikeepingiuegasesffrom collecting in the upper portion'ofthe ue, said damperbeing movable on s'aidguide'pinsfrom said spaced position into contact with'th'e 'partition for closing said fair inlet openings responsive` to va 'downdraft in said ilue and said damper being'retrac'table 'on =said guide pins to said open positonrespon'siveito' pressure of external air acting'on the damper'a'ften suspension fsid downdraft to reestablish said air ilowintotliehuefand a baille-insetV within they open end ofi the casing to exclude ue gases normallyf'from the casing.

' References Cited in the -le of 'this patent UNITED STATES v'P'A'IT'IS Cowan ......-'Aug. l2.1, 1951

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