GB2212605A

GB2212605A - Lining chimneys

Info

Publication number: GB2212605A
Application number: GB8726893A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Reginald James Hadfield
Original assignee: CICO CHIMNEY LININGS Ltd
Current assignee: CICO CHIMNEY LININGS Ltd
Priority date: 1987-11-17
Filing date: 1987-11-17
Publication date: 1989-07-26
Anticipated expiration: 2007-11-17
Also published as: GB8726893D0; GB2212605B

Abstract

A method of lining a chimney includes positioning a flexible tube (10) within the chimney flue and then inflating the tube so as to define a continuous cavity around the tube (10). The tube is positioned within the flue by spacers, some (14) of which are in the form of steel spirals whilst others (13) are in the form of refractory blocks. When the tube has been appropriately positioned and inflated, a flowable refractory material is injected into the cavity around the tube (10) and is then allowed to set. <IMAGE>

Description

LINING CHIMNEYS Field of the Invention This invention relates to a method of lining chimneys and has for its object the provision of an improved method which is of application not only to the lining of the chimneys of houses under construction but also to the repair of existing chimney structures.

Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a method of lining a chimney which includes (a) positioning a flexible tube within the chimney flue with spacers located between the tube and the chimney structure, (b) inflating the tube so that a continuous cavity is defined around the tube which is positioned by said spacers, some at least of which are in the form of spirals formed from annealed steel, (c) injecting a flowable refractory material into said cavity, (d) causing or allowing the flowable refractory material to set to form a rigid refractory lining, and (e) removing the flexible tube from within the lined chimney.

The steel spirals are preferably formed from stainless steel wire and the diameters of the coil of the spiral are preferably such that, when a spiral is placed around the flexible tube, it contacts the tube at a number of spaced positions around the circumference of the tube and also contacts each of the walls of the chimney structure. A firm location of the inflated flexible tube is thus provided without limiting the flow of the refractory material during injection thereof into the cavity around the inflated tube.

The steel spirals are preferably located at positions along the length of the flexible tube at which there is no change in the direction of the a:.is of the flue. Where there is an angular change in the direction of the flue axis, location of the flexible tube is preferably effected by a series of refractory blocks which are spaced apart circumferentially around the flexible tube.

Shuttered openings are formed in the chimney wall structure at the positions at which there is a change in the direction of the flue axis and these openings permit accurate positioning of the refractory blocks and also permit inspection of the formed refractory lining.

By injecting a flow able refractory material into the cavity around the inflated flexible tube and then causing or allowing the refractory material to set, a lining is provided in which there are no joints. The lining also acts not only to prevent the escape of flue gases but also as an insulator.

Brief Description of the Drawing The single Figure of the accompanying drawing is a vertical sectional view showing one stage of operation in the lining of a chimney by the method of the present invention Description of the Preferred Embodiment The single Figure of the accompanying drawing shows a flexible tube 10 which is formed of a synthetic plastics material and which may be coated with a release agent and which is inserted in a chimney flue 11 so as to extend for the full length of that part of the flue 11 which is to be lined. The flexible tube 10 is attached to shuttering 12 disposed adjacent the base of the flue and, as can be seen from the drawing, the length of the flexible tube 10 is such that the upper end thereof projects from the flue.The dimensions of the flexible tube 10, which is cylindrical for the majority of its length, are such that, when the tube is inflated, a generally annular space is defined around the flexible tube and into which a refractory lining material is, in due course, injected.

Before injection of the refractory lining material, a series of spacers are positioned along the length of the tube 10.

Where there are changes in the inclination of the flue, the spacers are in the form of refractory blocks 13 which are disposed around the tube 10 but with spaces between adjacent blocks 13 so as to permit downward flow of the refractory material during injection thereof.

At other positions along the length of the flexible tube 10, the spacers are in the form of spirals formed from annealed stainless steel wire. Each spiral 14 is of a length such that it extends substantially completely around the flexible tube 10 and the radius of each turn of each spiral 14 is such that each spiral 14 engages each side of the chimney flue 11 substantially centrally thereof to contre the flexible tube 10 within the flue 11 whilst providing minimal resistance to the flow of the refractory material during injection thereof from the upper end of the flue 11 as indicated by the arrow 15.

Positioning of the refractory blocks 13 is effected through openings 16 in the wall of the flue 11, these openings 16 being shuttered during injection of the refractory material and serving not only for insertion of the refractory blocks 13 but as inspection openings.

After the tube 10 has been placed in position and inflated, being located by the shuttering 12 and the spacers 13 and 14, the refractory lining material is injected into the space around the flexible tube 10, the refractory material being in a fluid state and incorporating a setting agent so that, after Injection thereof under pressure, the refractory material will set to form a continuous lining extending for the full length of the chimney flue 11.

The dimensions of the annealed stainless steel spirals 14 will be dependant on the diameter which is required for the chimney flue opening. For example, if the diameter of the flue opening is 15 centimetres, the diameter of each turn of each spiral may be 2 centimetres, the pitch of each spiral may be 1 centimetres and the annealed stainless steel wire may be itself 2 millimetres in diameter. With larger flue sizes, the sizes of the annealed stainless steel spirals 14 will be correspondingly increased.

The use of annealed stainless steel spirals ensures that the spirals 14 are not corroded by the hot flue gases. They facilitate positioning of the flexible tube 10 within the chimney flue 11 and they do not restrict the flow of the refractory lining material into the space around the flue 10.

After the refractory lining material has been injected and has set, the flexible tube 10 is deflated and is removed, together with the shuttering 12.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of lining a chimney which includes: (a) positioning a flexible tube within the chimney flue with spacers located between the tube and the chimney structure, (b) inflating the tube so that a continuous cavity is defined around the tube which is positioned by said spacers, some at least of which are in the form of spirals formed from annealed steel, (c) injecting a flowable refractory material into said cavity, (d) causing or allowing the flowable refractory material to set to form a rigid refractory lining, and (e) removing the flexible tube from within the lined chimney.

2. A method according to claim 1, in which the diameters of the coils of each spiral are such that, when a spiral is placed around the flexible tube, it not only contacts the tube at a number of spaced positions around the circumference of the tube but also contacts each of the walls of the chimney structure.

3. A method according to claim 1, in which the steel spirals are located at positions along the length of the flexible tube at which there is no change in the direction of the axis of the flue.

4. A method according to claim 3, in which, where there is an angular change in the direction of the flue axis, location of the flexible tube is effected by a series of refractory blocks which are spaced apart circumferentially around the flexible tube.

5. A method according to claim 4, in which shuttered openings are formed in the chimney wall structure at the position or positions at which there is a change in the direction of the flue axis.

6. A method of lining a chimney which includes the use of a flexible tube which is inflated within the chimney flue, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.