GB2101295A

GB2101295A - Flue box assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2101295A
Application number: GB08212440A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Wright
Original assignee: J Williams
Current assignee: J Williams
Priority date: 1981-04-29
Filing date: 1982-04-29
Publication date: 1983-01-12
Also published as: GB2101295B

Abstract

A flue box assembly, for mounting in an aperture in a party wall, and which provides two mutually insulated, open-fronted compartments (14a, 14b) over each of which a gas fire may be mounted, is constructed in such a manner that the two compartments are each of greater depth on one side than the other, and flue outlets (16c, 16b) each extend upwardly from the two compartments on the side thereof of greater depth, being off-set on opposite sides of a transverse centreline of the flue box assembly, and being off-set from the longitudinal centreline. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to the installation of gas fires in domestic premises This invention is concerned with improvements relating to the installation of gas fires in domestic premises.

Conventionally, the provision of a fireplace in a domestic premises required the building of a chimney breast to accommodate the fireplace and the chimney. In the building of adjoining premises, it has been common practice to provide the fireplaces on a common transverse centreline, as this simplifies the building structure, the two chimneys being arranged generally back-to-back.

It is now becoming increasingly common to erect a domestic premises with a pre-fitted, flushmounted gas fire, which is mounted on a flue box secured in the opening conventionally occupied by the fireplace.

The thickness of a party wall between adjoining domestic premises is commonly about 300 mm. A flue pipe for a conventional gas fire is generally in the order of 150 mm outside diameter. This, together with the size of the rear gas outlet of a gas fire, and the building regulation for the requirement of sound insulation between adjoining premises, requires the retention of that a chimney breast to afford the necessary room for two flue boxes to be mounted back-to-back.

The provision of a chimney breast has been recognised as being disadvantageous, in that it reduces the available floor area of the premises.

Additionally, the increasing utilisation of prefabricated building components, such as prefabricated timber frames and prefabricated building panels, makes the involvement of "wet trade" building work increasingly less desired.

It is with the problems set out above with which the present invention is primarily concerned.

According to this invention there is provided a flue box assembly which provides two mutually insulated, open-fronted compartments on opposite sides thereof, over each of which a gas fire may be mounted, and a flue outlet extending from each compartment, said flue outlets extending on opposite sides of a transverse centreline of the assembly.

Preferably the construction is such that each compartment has a greater depth on one side than the other, and the flue outlets each extend from that part of their associated compartments of greater depth.

Preferably the assembly comprises connecting members which are connected to the flue outlets and which have outlet portions, adapted to be connected to flue pipes, which lie generally on the longitudinal centreline of the assembly.

The flue box assembly may comprise two similar flue box units which are secured together back-to-back, rear walls of the units providing a central partition to mutually insulate the two compartments, and preferably the central partition also comprises insulating material, conveniently in sheet form, between the two rear walls.

Alternatively, the assembly may comprise a body of unitory construction which is divided by a central partition to afford said two compartments.

In either event, avantageously the depth of the assembly is no greater than 300 mm.

In this manner gas fires may be mounted in the domestic premises on each side of the party wall on the same transverse centreline, without the provision of a chimney breast, ora chimney breast of any significant thickness. This greatiy simplifies the construction of the party wall, in that it enables the party wall to be erected conveniently from prefabricated timber frames and prefabricated building panels, without the use of any 'wet trade" worker.

Most conveniently the central partition is generally inclined to the longitudinal centreline of the flue box assembly, preferably intersecting the transverse centreline at the point of its intersection with the longitudinal centreline, preferably at an angle of between 5 and 200 to the longitudinal centreline.

In this manner, it has been found practical to connect the gas outlet of a gas fire to the flue outlet within the depth of the compartment to one side of the transverse centreline of the flue box.

Thus, conveniently the two flue outlets are also off-set from the longitudinal centreline of the flue box, preferably in use being connected by elbows to a twin flue pipe which extends upwardly with the twin pipes thereof side-by-side in the longitudinal direction of the party wall and within the party wall.

According to this invention there is also provided a building comprising (a) a party wall; (b) a flue box assembly in an aperture within the party wall, the flue box assembly providing two mutually insulated, open-fronted compartments on opposite sides thereof, a flue outlet extending from each compartment, which flue outlets are off-set on opposite sides of the transverse centreline of the flue box assembly; and (c) a gas fire secured to each side of the flue box assembly, the gas outlets of which open into the two compartments on opposite sides of the assembly.

Preferably the building comprises twin flue pipes, to which the flue outlets are connected and which extend upwardly with the twin pipes thereof side-by-side in the longitudinal direction of the party wall, within the party wall.

Preferably the assembly comprises a sound insulating material between the two compartments, preferably being a mineral insulating material in sheet form.

There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of two flue box assemblies which are preferred embodiments of this invention, and which have been selected for the purposes of illustrating the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the flue box assembly which is the first embodiment of this invention; FIGURE 2 is a schematic plan view showing the flue box assembly of Fig. 1 in position within an aperture in a party wall; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing a flue box assembly of opposite hand, also mounted in position within the aperture of the party wall; and FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the flue box assembly which is the second embodiment of this invention.

The flue box assemblies which are the preferred embodiments of this invention are specifically for use in enabling a gas fire to be mounted on each side of a conventional party wall in a domestic premises of 300 mm thickness, in a manner such that, on both sides, the gas fire is mounted generally flush with the wall surface, the fires being on the same transverse centreline, and not requiring the provision of a chimney breast.

The flue box assembly which is the first embodiment of this invention comprises a rectangular, double-skinned metal body 6, the front and rear sides of which are open, as at Ba, Bb, flanges 1 Oa, lOb extending around the openings.

The flue box assembly is adapted to be mounted in an aperture A in a party wall between adjacent domestic premises, specifically a party wall of 300 mm thickness, and within ,r,e space between adjacent timber frames 22, 24 conventionally 550 mm apart, heat insulzr;ng material being interposed between the tinioer frame and the flue box.

Thus. in the preferred embodiment, the fiue box assembly is 300 mm in depth. 505 mm wide and 600 mm in height.

It is however to be understood that where appropriate, the flue box assembly will be constructed to different dimensions.

Within the body there is mounted a panel 12 of insulating material, particularly a sound absorbent non-combustible mineral material, for example, of the type known as Rociewool 337, the panel being in the form of 50 mm thick sheet, and dividing the box vertically into front and rear compartments 1 4a, 1 4b respectively.

In plan view, the panel is inclined at about 10 to the longitudinal centreline of the body (Figure 2) so that each of the two compartments is deeper on the left-hand side than the right-hand side.

Extending through a top wall of each of the compartments is a flue outlet 1 6a, 1 6b respectively, each of 125 mm inside diameter, each of which being closer to the left-hand side of the compartment.

The body additionally comprises mounting brackets 18, by which the flue box may be screwed to the timber frames 22 and 24, on both sides of the party wall, with the rear facets of the flanges 1 Oa and lOb generally flush with the plastered faces of the wall on both sides thereof.

Mounting brackets 20 may be secured by holes drilled into the flanges on both sides, and by the use of self-tapping screws, in any desired position, appropriate to the type of gas fire being mounted.

A gas fire may then be mounted to the brackets on each side of the flue box assembly, with the fire extending over the opening 8a or 8b.

By inclining the panel 12 to the longitudinal centreline in a maner in which the panel intersects the longitudinal centreline generally on the transverse centreline, there is sufficient distance between the front (open) face of the flue box on each side and the panel to accommodate the rear spigot (gas outiet) of the gas fire, and by off-setting the outlets on either side of the transverse centreline, specifically on the side of the associated compartment of greater depth, such rear spigot may be connected to the flue outlet without any significant restriction as could impede upward flow of burned gas.

The two flue outlets 1 6a ann 1 6b may then be connected, by a short adaptor, onto a conventional twin-wall flue pipe, the pipes of which being 1 50 mm outside diameter and being located generally side-by-side en the party wall is less than 300 mm hi'';es it may be convenient to utilise flue orresponding ' . orresponding to those numbered 1 spa jnd 1 6b, of non-circular (e.g. oval or rectangular) cross-section, to obtain the required change in the cross-section area, the short adaptors effecting change in the cross-section to that of the flue pipes.

The flue box assembly which is the second embodiment of this invention comprises two similar flue box units 56, each comprising a generally rectangular frame 58 and a back wall 60. The frame 58 is of varying depth, as illustrated in Figure 4. so that the open-fronted compartment 62 defined by the frame and the back wall 60 is of greater depth on one side (specifically the left hand side) than the other side. Extending from the base of the frame, generally centrally thereof, is a leg 64. and extending from the top of the frame on the side thereof of greater depth, is the flue outlet 66.

The two flue box units are secured together back-to-back, as is shown in Figure 4, with a sheet of non-combustible sound insuiation material inserted as a sandwich between the back walls 60. The assembly as a whole is thus of constant depth, in the preferred embodiment being approximately 300 mm.

The flue outlets 66, additional to extending from their respective compartments on opposite sides of the transverse centreline A-A of the assembly, are also offset from the longitudinal centreline B-B.

Thus the assembly may be secured in an aperture in a party wall of standard 300 mm depth without any significant protrusion beyond the surfaces of the party wall. Prior to such securement, the legs 64 of the units will be cut to the required length.

When so installed in an aperture in a part wall, a gas fire may be mounted over the front of each of the two compartments, the gas outlets of the fires extending on the left hand side (as viewed from the front of the fire) thereof so as to project into that part of the compartment 62 of greater depth, enabling the outlet to be readily accommodated within the flue box unit. As with the first embodiment, in the second embodiment connector members 68 are mounted on the flue outlets, having outlet portions 69 to which flue pipes may be connected, such flue pipes lying generally side-by-side longitudinally within the party wall.

Claims

1. A flue box assembly which provides two mutually insulated, open-fronted compartments on opposite sides thereof, over each of which a gas fire may be mounted, and a flue outlet extending from each compartment, said flue outlets extending on opposite sides of a transverse centreline of the assembly.

2. An assembly according to Claim 1 wherein the construction is such that each compartment has a greater depth on one side than the other, and the flue outlets each extend from that part of their associated compartments of greater depth.

3. An assembly according to one of Claims 1 and 2 comprising connecting members which are connected to the flue outlets and which have outlet portions, adapted to be connected to flue pipes, which lie generally on the longitudinal centreline of the assembly.

4. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising two similar flue box units which are secured together back-to-back to provide the assembly, rear walls of the units providing a central partition between the two compartments.

5. An assembly according to Claim 4 wherein the central partition comprises insulating material between the two rear walls.

6. An assembly according to Claim 5 wherein the insulating material is in sheet form.

7. An assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the flue box assembly comprises a body of unitory construction which is divided by a central partition to afford said two compartments.

8. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, the depth of the assembly is no greater than 300 mm.

9. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the central partition is generally inclined to the longitudinal centreline of the flue box assembly.

10. An assembly according to Claim 9 wherein the central partition intersects the transverse centreline of the assembly at the point of its intersection with the longitudinal centreline thereof.

11. An assembly according to Claim 10 wherein the angle of intersection is between 50 and 200 to the longitudinal centreline.

12. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the two flue outlets are also off-set from the longitudinal centreline of the flue box assembly.

13. A building comprising a party wall; a flue box assembly in an aperture within the party wall, the flue box assembly providing two mutually insulated, open-fronted compartments on opposite sides thereof, a flue outlet extending from each compartment, which flue outlets are off-set on opposite sides of the transverse centreline of the flue box assembly; and a gas fire secured to each side of the flue box assembly, the gas outlets of which open into the two compartments on opposite sides of the assembly.

14. A building according to Claim 13 comprising twin flue pipes, to which the flue outlets are connected and which extend upwardly with the twin pipes thereof side-by-side in the longitudinal direction of the party wall, within the party wall.

15. A building according to one of Claims 13 and 14 wherein the flue box assembly comprises a sound insulating material between the two compartments, preferably being a mineral insulating material in sheet form.

1 6. A building according to any one of Claims 1 3 to 1 5 wherein the flue box assembly comprises two similar flue box units which are secured together back-to-back, rear walls of the units providing a central partition to mutually insulate the two compartments.

17. A building according to any one of Claims 13 to 15 wherein the flue box assembly comprises a body of unitory construction which is divided by a central partition to afford said two compartments.

18. A flue box assembly constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference (a) to Figures 1, 2 and 3, or (b) to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

1 9. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.