GB2210154A

GB2210154A - The closure of chimney flues

Info

Publication number: GB2210154A
Application number: GB8822362A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Sutton Phillips
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-09-23
Filing date: 1988-09-22
Publication date: 1989-06-01
Also published as: GB8722421D0; GB8822362D0

Abstract

A flue closure, for intentionally closing off a chimney flue to thus reduce heat loss, comprises an inflatable flexible bag (1) with means (7) for at least partially forming a duct to bypass the bag (1) when installed in a chimney flue, the duct forming an air vent to reduce the possibility of condensation in the flue. The duct may be centrally located, positioned at an edge of the bag, or defined between a chamfered corner of the bag and the flue. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION "IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE INTENTIONAL CLOSURE OF CHIMNEY FLUES" The present invention relates to a flue closure for use in intentionally closing off a chimney flue.

When an open fire is not in use, air can be sucked from the room in which the fire is located , due to the outside air flow over the chimney. This air flow from the room tends to unnecessarily cool the room and it has long been a known practice to at least temporarily close off the chimney flue to stop the draught, by inserting old compressed newspapers through the open fire and into the reduced dimension throat of the flue. Whilst this practice efficiently stops the draught, as then required, it is z difficult and messy task to complete as soot is usually dislodged, and subsequently undesirable condensation does tend to form in the flue above the compressed newspapers.

Also, when the fire is to be lit and the newspaper closure has to be removed, it is again a messy business removing the newspaper, usually accompanied by a fall of dislodged soot.

It is the aim of the present invention to provide a flue closure which is relatively easy to install and remove with only E minimum of soot being dislodged, The clue closure minimising any condensation formation.

According to the present invention there is provided a flue closure for use in intentionally closing off a chimney flue, said closure comprising an inflatable flexible bag with means for at least partially forming a duct arranged to bypass the bag when installed, to thus form an air vent.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the flexible bag is made of a suitable plastics material and has a generally elongated, trapezoidal, box-like configuration, dimensioned to be an interference fit in the throat of a chimney flue when inflated. Different sizes and configurations of flexible bag can be produced for different size chimney flues. Further the flexible bag may alternatively be made of a flexible rubber material.

Preferably the bag is fabricated in shaped sections which are welded, glued or otherside sealingly secured together.

The duct in one embodiment of the present invention is an elongate flexible, hollow cylindrical member, again made of a plastics material, which extends through the interior of the bag and through two facing walls of the bag. Alternatively the duct may have any desired configuration and/or be made of any other desired material. Further, if desired, the duct may be alternatively secured to the outside wall of the bag, or formed in part by the actual construction of the bag, the wall of the chimney flue completing the duct when the baa has been installed The bag may be inflated via an inlet pipe which may or may not include a one-way valve. Air may be supplied by a pump or merely by the application of a person blowing into the inlet pipe.The bag may be so inflated prior to installation in a chimney flue, the bag tnen being forced into the desired position, or with the bag deflated the bag may be located and held, by one hand, in the required location in the chimney flue, whilst the other hand operates a pump to inflate the bag, the bag then swelling to grip the walls of the flue; With this latter installation there is a minimal dislodgement of soot. To remove the flue closure, the inlete pipe is merely opened allowing the bag to deflate so that it is released from gripping the walls of the flue. The deflated bag can then be withdrawn from the chimney flue again with minimal dislodgement of soot.

The flue closure of the present invention thus positively closes off a chimney flue whilst allowing, a minimal air flow through said duct to lessen the risk of moisture e.g. condensation, building up in the chimney flue.

The present invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view from underneath, of one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 installed in the throat of a chimney flue; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of a flue with the embodiment of Fig. 4 installed.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises an inflatable bag (1) made of a flexible plastics material.

The bag (1) has an elongated, generally trapezoidal, box-like configuration and is prefabricated out of tailored sections (3) of the plastics material, the sections (3) being sealingly welded together as at (5) to form the inflatable bag (1). Alternatively said sections (3) can be glued or otherwise sealingly secured together. Further, the bag (1) can have any desired shape or size, this being dictated by the shape and size of the chimney flue on which the flue closure is to be used. As an alternative to plastics material any other flexible material which does not allow the passage of gas e.g. a rubber material, can of course be used in the manufacture of the inflatable bag (1).

In Figs. 1 and 2 a duct (7) in the form of a hollow cylindrical member, open at both ends, extends through the interior of the inflatable bag (1) and passes sealingly through two substantially parallel walls (9) of the inflatable bag (1). The hollow cylindrical member forming said duct (7) is made of a plastics material which is flexible though more rigid than the material forming the bag (1). Alternatively the duct (7) can be made of any desired material and have any chosen configuration provided it provides a bypass path around the inflatable bag (1) . If desired, the duct (7) need not extend through the inflatable bag (1), but can be secured to the outer surface of a side wall (11) - see Fig. 3. Alternatively the inflatable bag (1) can be shaped as Qt (7a) i n Figs.

4 and 5, i.e. generally rectangular and planar in its deflated state, with chamfered corner regions (7a), with part (7a) of the duct (7) thus formed in its outer configuration so that the wall (8) of a chimney flue (10) forms the remainder of the duct (7) when the bag (1) is installed in the flue (10).

To inflate the bag ;1) an inlet pipe (13) is provided on one of said substantially parallel walls (9) , said inlet pipe (13) having a friction fit closure (15) and incorporating a one-way valve if desired. Inflation can occur either by attaching an air pump to the open inlet pipe (13) or by merely blowing down the inlet pipe, the friction fit closure (15) sealing the inflated bag (1) . The bag (1) can then be forced into the throat (17) of a chimney flue (19) to thus close off the flue (19) except for the minimal cross section of the duct (7) which allows circulating air to flow past the flue closure and thus lessens the risk of moisture building up in the chimney (19). As an alternative to forcing the inflated bag (1) into the chimney flue (19) and thus dislodging soot, a deflated bag can be placed in a desired position in a chimney flue (19) and held there in one hand whilst the other hand operates a pump to inflate the bag (1). The bag (1) thus swells and presses against the flue walls, there being a minimal dislodgement of soot.

To remove the flue closure, the friction fit closure (15) is removed from the inlet pipe (13) allowing the bag (1) to deflate and merely lift off the flue walls. The bag (1) can then be easily -nved with only a minimal amount of soot being dislodged.

The present invention thus provides a simple and efficient flue closure which allows circulating air to pass to thus reduce the chance of moisture build up on the chimney, whilst preventing undesired draughts in the room into which the chimney opens.

Claims

1. A flue closure for use in intentionally closing off a chimney flue, said closure comprising an inflatable flexible beg with means for at least partially forming a duct arranged to bypass the bag when installed, to thus form an air vent.

2. A flue closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the flexible bag has a generally elongated, trapezoidal, box-like shape.

3. A flue closure as claimed in claim 2, in which the duct is formed by an elongate, flexible hollow tubular member which extends through the interior of the bag and through two facing walls of the bag.

4. A flue closure as claimed in claim 2, in which the duct is formed by an elongate, flexible tubular member secured to the outside wall of the bag.

5. A flue closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the flexible bag has a generally rectangular planar configuration before inflation, with at least one chamfered corner region.

6. A flue closure as claimed in claim 5, in which the or each chamfered corner region forms said means for partially forming the duct, when the bag is inflated.

7. A flue closure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the flexible bag is made of rubber or a plastics material.

8. A flue closure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the bag is fabricated from shaped sections.

9. A flue closure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the bag is inflatable via an inlet pipe which incorprates a one way valve.

10. A flue closure for use in intentionally closing off a chimney flue, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.