GB2358457A - Gas flue block system - Google Patents

Abstract

A flue system comprises a pair of vertically disposed timber studs provided with a guide means (114, 116) for receiving a plurality of superposed flue blocks (108), each with a hollow passage therethrough, in order that the flue construction is aligned with the studs. The arrangement is such that the block is wider than the distance between the extremities of the guide means.

Description

2358457 Gas Flue Block System This invention relates to a gas flue block

system, and more particularly relates to a gas flue block system for use in buildings erected from purpose built frames of wood, metal or other material.

Although the following description relates almost entirely to the provision of flue systems in domestic premises, it will be instantly appreciated by the skilled person that the flue system hereinafter described and constituting the invention may have application within any building whose walls are substantially erected between and/or supported by vertical members.

There is an increased trend within the construction industry to provide a means of constructing domestic premises quickly and inexpensively while nevertheless maintaining the, rigidity and insulation characteristics of the premises. Accordingly, partially prefabricated wall and decking structures are experiencing a growth in demand, and many new-build premises are being constructed from such structures.

1n particular, many new domestic premises are being erected using timber frames comprising a decking structure which constitutes a particular floor of the premises and vertically orientated stud members positioned peripherally around the said decking structures and connected thereto to partially define the walls of the premises. Wall insulation is typically provided between said vertical studs around the decking structure and wall panels are then secured on either side of the studs to define an insulating wall. Alternatively, a wall panel may be secured to the studs immediately above the decking structure to define an internal wall, and bricks and mortar wall may be erected on the other side of the studs to define an external wall of said premises.

2 In any event, where a domestic gas appliance is to be located in a particular room of premises so construction, there is a requiremecit to provide a flue passage having an opening at a suitable location within said room and rising away from said opening towards a fliA'e:l exit block through which flue gases from the domestic gas applian,,,,4le can be vented safely.

A typical prior art timber frame building construction having fhjc construction disposed between a pair of vertical studs thereof c:n be seen 11-1 Figures 1 and 2 respectively. In Figure 1, there is shown.. partial cut-away perspective view of a typical timber frame back i back house construction 2 comprising many vertical stud membel.,; three of which are shown at 4, 6, 8 arid between two (4, 6) of whl,,llh:; there is disposed a flue construction 10. Panels 12 on one side the said flue construction, and 14 on the other are secured to tc stud members, as are decking structures 16, 18, 20, 22 which defidic floors of the building.

In Figure 2, the particular configuration of the various flue block,' making up the flue construction is more clearly shown. The studs 1 6 are topped by a lintel 24 and with panels attached to either side (Di said studs a cavity is defined into which flue blocks 26 and flankit blocks 28 are disposed. It can be seen from Figure 2 that abovel plurality of channel flue blocks 32, the flue blocks 26 are mount in offset fashion, but the offset of the passage through each of Sa blocks is the same such that a flue passage 34 shown in dotted i straight walled.

Referring finally to Figures 3 and 4 in which there is shown sectional view through a typical "back-to-back" wall constructio comprised of studs 4, 6 to which is attached a panel 12/13 an behind which a flue passage 34 is defined within a flue block 3 flanked on either side by flanking blocks 28, 30 of different sizes. Figure 4 shows an external wall construction provided behind and to the outside of the flue construction.

There are a number of features of the flue constructions described which should be noted and which are important in the context of this invention. Firstly, it should be noted that to prevent any significant sway of the flue construction, the flanking blocks are retained in channel sections 38, 40 secured along the vertical length of the studs 4, 6.

Secondly, it can be seen from Figure 2 that a great many individual flue and flanking blocks are required in the construction of the flue as a whole, especially when it is also considered that the flue construction may be over 5m in height and the height of the individual flue blocks is only of the order of 224mm. Thus flue construction according to this method is highly labour intensive. Furthermore, the various blocks are required to be marked to ensure that they are correctly positioned by the builder at the time of erection. The erection of flue constructions is therefore a skilled task, and this necessarily increases the overall cost of the premises in which the flue is provided. Additionally, the cost of manufacture of the flue system is necessarily increased on account of the number of additional flanking blocks which have to be provided.

Thirdly, it is to be noted that one of the reasons for providing this type of flue construction is that standard flue blocks, such as those used in the construction of flues integrally within block walls can be used.

Fourthly, it is the convention of timber frame builders to horizontally locate the studs around the decking structures at intervals of approximately 60Omm centres. The conventional flue block width is 450mm, which leaves insufficient space on either sid of the flue block for substantial enough flanking blocks, especialt when the flue block offset is taken into account. It is therefore h special requirement of timber frames in which flue constructions ai.

to be provided that the separation of at least a pair of vertical studs is approximately 777mm. This provides sufficient space on eith( r side of the flue blocks to insert substantial flanking blocks. Hencl, not only is the flue construction described excessively complex o.O account of the number of different components, its expense il S further increased by the need to displace at least a pair of stuo members apart from one another by a further 177mrn before thilb particular flue construction can be installed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a flue system foir use in premises constructed using timber frames which mitigates th disadvantage of cost and requirement for skilled labour during fluic; construction.

It is a further objection of this invention to provide a flue syste:r4 which is intrinsically simple to construct.

According to the invention there is provided a flue syste-th comprising a pair of substantially vertically disposed timber studs between which a flue construction is to be disposed, said studs being provided with guide means to ensure the flue construction i,is aligned with said studs, characterised in that the majority of saii i E flue construction is constituted of a plurality of superposed flue blocks having a hollow passage therethrough whose vertical axis of symmetry is substantially coincidental with the vertical axis of symmetry of the block itself, and in that the width of said block is at least greater than the distance between the extremities of tW guide means such that the extremities of the block are received i said guide means.

Preferably, the width of said block is marginally less than 560mm, which is the conventional spacing between vertical studs in timber frame constructions.

Preferably, the guide means comprise U-shaped channel sections secured to inner surfaces of said vertical studs such that the extremities of said flue blocks can be received between the flanges of said channel section.

Preferably, the depth of the flue block in the region of the extremities thereof is less than in the central region of the block wherein the hollow passage is provided, such that nibs are defined at said block extremities.

Preferably, the system also comprises one or more starter recess flue blocks which define a recess at the base of a flue in which a domestic gas appliance can be located, said recess flue blocks having a substantially central recess portion and extremities on either side thereof which are received in the guide means.

Preferably the depth of the recess flue block in the region of the extremities is less than the overall depth of said recess flue block thus defining nibs at said extremities which are received in said guide means.

Preferably the width of said recess flue blocks is approximately 560mm.

Most preferably the depth of said nibs of said recess flue block are less than the separation distance between the two flanges of the channel sectioned guide means.

6 It is to be mentioned that the recess flue block is an independenill ly claimable aspect of this invention.

It will be seen from the above that the complex task of constructlill' the flue is precluded because now it is a simple mater qf superposing the flue blocks one atop the other and securing same bl ly applying a layer of mortar to the upper surfaces thereof. There is no need for alternating offset construction as the hollow passages in:1 each and every flue block are centrally disposed and therefore, in combination with the engagement of the nibs of the blocks withip the guide means, the hollow passages automatically line up to define the flue passage within the wall of the premises.

The recess flue block is provided with nibs at its extremities which are received in the guide means in a similar manner to the nibs the flue blocks, but whereas the nibs of the flue blocks are on y marginally less in depth than the distance between the flanges of the channel sectioned guide means, the depth of the nibs on the reces flue blocks is si nificantly less to allow same to be laterally shifted 9 while said nibs are within the guide means. This is of gre, i advantage and flexibility because occasionally builders insei acoustic quilts between adjacent flue constructions in back-to-back premises construction to deaden sound. With the recess flue block 1 of the present invention, the thickness of the quilt can easily lc 1 accommodated.

A specific embodiment of the invention is now described by way (1 example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figures 1-4 show various views of a prior art flue construction,

Figure 5 shows a sectional view of a wall construction having a fli( 1 block according to the invention therein, 7 Figure 6 shows a sectional view of a wall construction having recess flue block therein according to the invention, Figure 7 shows a sectional view of a back-to-back wall construction in which two adjacent recess flue blocks are disposed.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 there is shown a wall construction 100 having two wall members 101A, 101B comprising panelling 102, 103 secured to vertical studs 104, 105, 106, 107, and a flue block 108 interposed between a pair of studs 105, 107, and having nib portions 110, 112 which are received in guide means 114, 116 which in this embodiment are channel sections.

It is to be noted that the depth of the nib portions is only marginally less than the distance between respective flanges of the guide means in which said nib portions are received. This ensures that the flue construction is prevented from lateral displacement or sway out of the plane containing the wall section 101A.

It will also be seen from the Figure that the width of the flue block is only marginally less than the separation distance between the studs 105, 107. This allows single flue blocks with their nibs received in the guide means to be lowered individually down within said guide means atop one another to complete the flue construction. There. is no need therefore to use a number of differently sized blocks and an alternating style construction, heretofore considered necessary.

In Figure 5 there is shown a party dividing wall construction 120 having a recess flue block 122 defining a recess 124 in which a domestic gas appliance can be located.

8 In similar manner to the flue blocks described with reference to S Figure 5, the recess flue block 122 is provided with nib portioi 126, 128 which are received in channel sectioned guide means 130, 132 which are the same guide means as referenced in Figure 5. The depth of the nib portions 126, 128 of the recess flue block S however noticeably less than the distance between the flanges of tl le guide means so that the recess flue block can be slid back and forth within said guide means in the direction shown at 134. Thus in the case shown in Figure 6, the recess flue block assumes a position deep within the wall in which it is disposed, and gaps referenced A exist between the nib portions and the front flanges of the guide 1 means. During construction of the flue, these gaps A will ideally bile; filled with mortar to secure the recess flue block in place.

Alternatively, in the configuration shown in Figure 7, an acoustic quilt is provided between two adjacent recess flue blocks 138, 140' to absorb any sound produced by the domestic appliances located in each of the recesses 142, 144. In this instance, the recess flue blocs are moved away from one another such that the nib portions 146), 148, 150, 152 abut the front flanges of the guide means 154, 156, S 158, 160 in which they are received. Gaps referenced as A th appear between the nib portions and the rear flange of said gul( e 1 means. As above these gaps are filled with conventional mortar t p secure the recess flue blocks in place.

It will thus be understood that the recess flue blocks allow for a unprecedented degree of flexibility in flue constructions, becaus the degree of movement does not affect the mounting of the flljl.! blocks above the recess flue blocks.

In summary therefore, An improved gas flue block system described for use in con'unction with partially pre-built structure, used in the modern construction of domestic and residentia.

9 premises is disclosed. The structures usually comprise timber decks which provide the floors of the premises and vertically orientated timber stubs which partially define the walls of the premises and support the decks. Conventionally, the separation between the studs is insufficient to allow for a conventional flue construction therebetween, which is in any event time consuming on account of the number of components required therefor. The invention provides a system wherein flue blocks of greater width than conventional flue blocks interact with channel sections secured on opposing faces of the studs to ensure that the flue construction remains aligned with the studs. Additionally, the flue blocks are of reduced depth on either side so that nibs are defined which are narrower than both the central portion of the flue block in which a hollow flue passage is defined and also than the width of the channel section secured to the studs in which said nibs are located to allow for some flexibility of construction in that the flue blocks can be displaced inwardly or outwardly of the walls constructed on either side of the studs as desired.

Claims (9)

1. A flue system comprising a pair of substantially vertically! disposed timber studs between which a flue construction is to be disposed, said studs being provided with guide means to ensure t1le! flue construction is aligned with said studs, wherein the majority of I said flue construction is constituted of a plurality of superpos(,,,Id 1 flue blocks having a hollow passage therethrough whose verticl axis of symmetry is substantially coincidental with the vertical axisli of symmetry of the block itself, and in that the width of said blo.-h is at least greater than the distance between the extremities of te I guide means such that the extremities of the block are received iin said guide means.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the width of said blochl is marginally less than 560mm, being the conventional spacing between opposing sides of vertical studs in timber frarqc constructions.

3. A system according to either claim 1 or 2 wherein the guid& means comprise U-shaped channel sections secured to innei surf-aces of said vertical studs such that the extremities of said flu( blocks can be received between the flanges of said channel section.'L

4. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the deptl of the flue block in the region of its extremities is less than in th( central region of the block wherein the hollow passage is provided said reduced depth portions at the flue block extremities definij nib s.

5. A system according to any preceding claim which ah; comprises one or more starter recess flue blocks which define recess at the base of a flue in which a domestic gas appliance can located, said recess flue blocks having a substantially central recess portion and extremities on either side thereof which are received in the guide means.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein the depth of the recess flue block in the region of the extremities is less than the overall depth of said recess flue block thus defining nibs at said extremities which are received in said guide means.

7. A system according to either claim 5 or 6 wherein the width of said recess flue blocks is approximately 560mm.

8. A system according to either claim 6 or 7 wherein the depth of said nibs of said recess flue block are less than the separation distance between the two flanges of the channel sectioned guide means.

9. A recess flue block for use in the system of claims 5-8.