GB2303419A

GB2303419A - Flue junction piece

Info

Publication number: GB2303419A
Application number: GB9614986A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Trevor Garrod; John Bradley
Original assignee: RITE VENT Ltd
Current assignee: RITE VENT Ltd
Priority date: 1995-07-20
Filing date: 1996-07-17
Publication date: 1997-02-19
Also published as: GB9614986D0; GB9514914D0

Description

FLUE JUNCTION PIECE The present invention relates to flue junction pieces, and has particular though not exclusive application to such pieces for use as flue manifolds in multi-boiler situations.

It is relatively common practice to install a number of heating appliances such as gas-fired boilers in one location, and to interconnect the outlets from all the boilers with one another and with a common flue duct or chimney.

Boiler manufacturers recommend a predetermined distance between boiler centres in such situations, and it is conventional practice to provide standard teeconnectors to enable the individual boilers to be linked together and to the common flue.

The tee-connectors are manufactured with dimensions determined by the standard distances between the boilers.

However, if the boilers have been installed in the wrong positions, or if the distance between two boilers does not satisfy the manufacturers' recommended spacing, the standard tee-connectors are unsuitable, and it is necessary to manufacture special, nonstandard connectors.

This adds substantially to the cost of the installation, and can often significantly delay completion of the installation.

It would be desirable to be able to provide a flue junction piece capable of enabling interconnection of the outlets of boilers of different spacings.

According to the present invention there is provided a flue junction piece comprising at least three inlet/outlet branches, and, in at least one of said branches, a section selectively slidable in the associated branch between an inoperative, fully retracted position substantially within said branch and an operative displaced position forming an axial extension of said branch.

It will thus be appreciated that the provision of the slidable section effectively enables the length of the associated branch of the junction piece to be selectively chosen to accommodate a range of spacings between appliances being linked thereby.

A preferred junction piece comprises three inlet/outlet branches and is of generally T-shape, one of said branches incorporating a slidable section therein.

Conveniently the junction piece includes means on the or each slidable section and/or the associated branch to determine and/or indicate the fully retracted and fully displaced positions of the section within said branch.

Preferably the slidablesection, when in its fully retracted, inoperative position in its associated branch, does not extend into or interfere with the bore of any other branch.

By way of example only, an embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figs 1 and 2 show a junction piece according to the invention with the slidable section in its fully retracted and fully displaced positions respectively, and Fig. 3 shows two junction pieces according to the invention interconnected to one another and to a common flue.

Referring to Figs 1 and 2, the illustrated junction piece is indicated generally at 2 and is of substantially tee-shape, including a first cylindrical branch 4 for connection to the outlet from an associated boiler, and, perpendicular to said first branch 4, a pair of further branches 6,8 each also of generally cylindrical configuration.

A cap 10 closes the open end of the branch 6, while a substantially cylindrical section 12 is slidably mounted in the branch 8.

The section 12 can be selectively moved from the fully retracted position shown in Fig. 1 to the fully extended position shown in Fig. 2.

The fully retracted position is determined by cooperation between a circumferential groove 14 formed around the inner extent of the section 12 and corresponding means (not shown) formed on, to project radially inwardly from, the inner wall of the branch 8.

In this fully retracted position of the section 12, the inner end thereof is displaced from, so as not to interfere with, the bore through the branch 4.

In the fully extended position of the section 12, the groove 14 is substantially aligned with the free end of the branch 8, and means may be provided within the free end of the branch 8 to co-operate with the groove 14 and determine said extended position and to prevent total withdrawal of the section 12 from the branch 8.

Thus it will be appreciated that the provision of the slidable section 12 effectively enables the overall length of the branch 8 to be selectively chosen to lie anywhere between the fully retracted and fully extended values.

The prime purpose of the described junction piece is to act as an outlet manifold to enable the outlets from two gas-fired boilers which are a non-standard distance apart to be interconnected with one another.

Referring to Fig. 3, there are shown two junction pieces 2a and 2 according to the invention interconnected with one another to enable the outlets from two boilers (not shown) the centres of which are spaced apart by a non-standard distance X to be linked into a common chimney or flue by way of a chimney Tconnector 16.

More particularly the section 12 of the junction piece 2a is in its fully extended position and is secured therein by a locking band 18 which ensures a fluid-tight seal between the section 12 and the end of the branch 8. The cap 10 seals the end of the branch 6.

The free end of the section 12 of the junction piece 2a is connected to the free end of the branch 6 of the junction piece 2k and is secured by a gas-tight locking band 20.

The section 12 of the junction piece 2k is secured in its fully retracted position by means of a gas-tight locking band 22, the free end of said section 12 being secured by a locking band 24 to the inlet of the chimney T-connector 16, whereby the outlets from the two boilers are interconnected with one another and with a common flue.

Clearly the effective lengths of the sections 12 in their associated branches 8 can be adjusted to suit a variety of distances 'X' between the boilers and a variety of distances from the boilers to the flue.

A typical junction piece 2 will enable an adjustment in length of the branch 8 of up to 150mm to accommodate boilers the centres of which are spaced apart by between 50Omm and 650mm.

Although the illustrated junction piece is shown as part of a flue duct or chimney, it may be used in any situation in which gases or liquids are conveyed in a duct.

The normal material of the junction pieces and associated components is aluminium or stainless steel, although other metals capable of withstanding the temperatures and pressures involved may be used.

The junction piece may be other than T-shaped and may include more than three branches, while more than one branch of a junction piece may be provided with a section slidable therein. The cross-section of the branches may be other than circular, while each branch may be composed of one, two or more walls and insulation may or may not be incorporated between the walls.

Although the prime object of the junction piece of the invention is to accommodate differences between designed and actual positions of appliances and ducts and chimneys, it may be used in any situation where an installation can benefit from a component with a telescopic action to take up'any discrepancy in dimensions between layout drawings and the actual installation.

Advantages of the junction piece of the invention are that it can provide for accurate and fluid-tight interconnection of appliances at any spacing within a given range, typically 500-650mm, it is extremely easy to install, with or without adaptors between the branch 4 and the associated boiler outlet, it has extensive flexibility and is suitable for a broad range of applications, wet or dry. The groove 14 in the sliding section 12 may incorporate an 'O'-ring seal for wet systems.

Claims

1. A flue junction piece comprising at least three inlet/outlet branches, and, in at least one of said branches, a section selectively slidable in the associated branch between an inoperative, fully retracted position substantially within said branch and an operative displaced position forming an axial extension of said branch.

2. A flue junction piece as claimed in claim 1 and comprising three inlet/outlet branches and of generally T-shape, one of said branches incorporating a slidable section therein.

3. A flue junction piece as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 and including means on the or each slidable section and/or the associated branch to determine and/or indicate the fully retracted and fully displaced positions of the section within said branch.

4. A flue junction piece as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the slidable section, when in its fully retracted, inoperative position in its associated branch, does not extend into or interfere with the bore of any other branch.

5. A flue junction piece substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.