GB2457222A

GB2457222A - Modular flue cowl

Info

Publication number: GB2457222A
Application number: GB0721283A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Douglas Leicester; Elizabeth Jean Leicester
Original assignee: YORKSHIRE CHMNEY SUPPLIES
Current assignee: YORKSHIRE CHMNEY SUPPLIES
Priority date: 2007-10-30
Filing date: 2007-10-30
Publication date: 2009-08-12
Also published as: GB0721283D0

Abstract

A modular flue cowl comprises a cap 2, an optional circumferential bird guard grill 3, and means 4, 5 for fastening the perimeter of the cap to the grill or a flue outlet. A method of assembling and fitting such a flue cowl is also provided. Preferably, the cap is profiled and comprises a substantially central domed region 7. In a further aspect, a kit for assembling a modular flue cowl is provided which comprises a cap with at least one integral leg (5a-d, fig.3a) to suit a particular fuel and/or shape of flue outlet. The kit includes an anti-downdraft section (8, fig.2a), to provide additional anti-downdraft properties to the cowl, and/or a square bird guard (9, fig.2b). In use, the modular flue cowl comprises a single, common, cap that can be used in conjunction with a variety of flue outlets.

Description

FLUE COWL

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a novel flue cowl and especially a modular flue cowl and to methods related thereto.

Background to the Invention

Any heating appliance burning gas, oil of solid fuel needs a flue to carry away the by products of combustion, in the case of a conventional vertical flue (also referred to as a chimney) the flue also creates the updraft necessary for the appliance to function properly. The proper function of the flue can be affected by wind blowing down causing the draft to reverse. The flue can also become blocked, in particular with nesting material, or indeed birds, or other vermin. This poses a safety risk due to the likelihood of carbon monoxide poisoning in the event of a blocked flue as well as the nuisance.

Finally the flue and appliance can be damaged and/or cause nuisance from the ingress of rain. * * *

It is common for some sort of cowl (also known as a terminal) to be fitted to a flue to ***e prevent/reduce the likelihood or one or more of the potential problems associated with the evacuation of flue gases from a flue or to seal off an unused flue while maintaining proper ventilation of that flue. The cowl will generally have one or more of the following **..

properties: rain protection, bird protection, protection from downdrafts, a means of cleaning, and/or a method of fixing to the flue outlet.

Flue cowls have been in use for centuries and there are numerous designs available commercially. However, almost all of the designs of flue cowls commercially available suffer from the disadvantage of comprising of bulky units and the fitter is required to have available a large range of cowl types to accommodate a variety of flue outlets, fuel types and to solve a variety of potential flue problems/requirements. Therefore chimney sweeps and /or chimney engineers are usually only able to carry a small number of units with them when visiting sites. In recent years new legislation specifies the need for proper termination of a flue with a cowl which must meet strict specifications determined by the type of fuel used and design of the flue outlet. Therefore, there has long been a need for a flue cowl that overcomes or mitigates the disadvantages presented by existing cowls.

Attempts have been made to try to address this problem. Thus, for example, a space saving cowl is commercially available from BHC of Aldershot, Hampshire in the UK.

These commercially available space saving flue cowls are stackable and therefore reduce the demand for space. However, this is not a modular system and each unit only provides .. one solution to a cowl requirement. Therefore whilst the cowls may be stackable, an engineer or fitter would still be required to stock at least five types of cowl, namely, gas *.* 20 anti-downdraft, solid fuel anti-downdraft, square gas, square solid fuel and a capper for S...

unused flues. Therefore the saving of space achieved by such stackable cowls is S... . minimized. * . ,

We have now found a flue cowl design which addresses the disadvantages of existing flue cowls. In particular, we have developed a modular flue cowl which comprises a single, common, cap that can be used for a variety of specific applications.

Statements of the Invention

Thus, according to a first aspect of the invention we provide a modular flue cowl which comprises a cap, an optional circumferential grill and means of fastening the perimeter of the cap to the grill or flue outlet.

Preferably the modular flue cowl is profiled. Thus for example, the cap may comprise a substantially raised central central region in the form of a dome.

The flue cowl of the invention also includes a fastening means which preferentially comprises one or more legs. It will be understood by the person skilled in the art that it would be preferable for a plurality of legs to be provided, e.g. at least a pair of legs and preferably two pairs of legs, although any number of two or more legs would be feasible.

Furthermore, it will be understood by the person skilled in the art that although the use of legs and one or more straps is preferred, other fastening means may be utilised in the modular flue cowl of the invention. Other such fastening means include but shall not be limited to hook bolts or some other means that operate by exerting pressure to the inside of the pot, fixing clips or straps that attach to the base of the grill or cowl body. * * ** S. * S *

The one or more legs may comprise a bendable material, such as a metal. Preferably the legs will comprises a thin strip of metal e.g. a leaf of metal that is sufficiently robust to support a cowl cap, but thin enough to be bendable by hand. The leg(s) may comprise more than one sheet of material e.g. two leaves of metal. This is advantageous because, inter alia, in use the legs may position one inside a chimney or flue outlet and the other outside. Furthermore, the leg may be provided along its length with one or more clips which may be adapted to engage with the grill.

The cap may also include one or more clips which are adapted to engage with the grill.

O These clips may be independent of the legs, however, it is preferred that the grill clips may be part of a base into which the legs may be located. Preferably each base will be provided with a pair of grill clips, positioned either side of the leg. It is desirable, though not essential that each leg is located on a base provided with grill clips as hereinbefore described.

The grill itself may be a single unit or it may be modular. It is preferred for the grill to be modular, since this will make it easier to stack and/or it will take up less space that if it is 0*** * * * a single unit. When the grill is modular it is preferred that it will comprise two modules, thus for fitting to a circular or round chimney pot, a modular grill may comprise a pair of substantially semi-circular panels. S...

S S...

It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that the cap of the flue cowl may be fitted without a bird guard grill. Therefore, according to a further aspect of the invention we provide a cap for use with a modular flue cowl wherein the cap comprises at least one integral leg.

As hereinbefore described a cap according to his aspect of the invention may comprise at least a pair of integral legs.

The cowl of the invention may comprise any conventional material known to be used in flue cowls. However, preferably the cowl is provided in galvanised and powder coated mild steel, stainless steel or aluminium.

We further provide a kit for assembling a modular flue cowl which comprises a cap provided with at least one integral leg and optionally a grill to suit a particular fuel and/or shape of flue outlet, an anti-downdraft section to provide additional anti-downdraft properties to the cowl and/or a grill to fit on a square outlet.

According to a yet further aspect of the invention we provide a method of assembling and fitting a flue cowl which comprises the steps of, S... * S *

(i) assembling a modular flue cowl by placing a flue cap upside down, optionally selecting a bird guard grill, trapping the optional bird guard grill under flange clips, *S..S.

:...:2o bending the legs of the flue cap substantially perpendicular to the cap and feeding the S...

free end through the grill and securing the grill by bending a clip about the grill; and *. * . *S.. S. *S *. . * .

(ii) installing the flue cowl by locating the cap and grill assembly over the chimney pot or flue outlet, bending one of the leaves of each of the legs to sit inside the pot and the other to sit outside the pot, locating a strap around the rim of the pot trapping the externally positioned legs, tightening the strap and bending the free end of the legs back upon themselves around the clip.

Brief description of the drawings

Specific embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompany drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the modular flue cowl according to the invention; Figure 2a is a perspective view of a modular flue cowl with an additional anti-downdraft cowl; Figure 2b is a perspective view of a modular flue cowl with a square bird guard; Figure 2c is a perspective view of a stainless steel modular flue cowl without a bird guard; Figure 3a to 3f are schematic representations of the assembly of a modular flue cowl *.S. * * *

according to the invention; and S...

Figure 4a to 4e are schematic representations of the installation of a modular flue cowl S.....

**20 according to the invention. S...

::: While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments are shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Referring to figure 1, the modular flue cowl (1) comprises a cap (2), a bird guard grill (3), fastening strap (4) and leg (5). It will be appreciated that a plurality of legs (5), e.g. four legs (5) may be provided. The cap (2) comprises a profiled or domed disc and is provided with a circumferential lip (6) and is domed with a substantially central convexity (7).

Referring to Figures 2a to 2c; in Figure 2a a flue cowl (1) is provided with an additional anti-downdraft cowl (8) perspective view of a modular flue cowl with an additional anti-downdraft cowl; in Figure 2b a modular flue cowl (I) is provided with a square bird guard (9); and in Figure 2c a modular flue cowl (1) is provided with a stainless steel cap (10) and the bird guard grill (3) is absent. * S* S. S *. * . 5..

Referring to Figures 3a to 3f; to assemble a modular flue cowl (1) according to the 55*5** ***20 invention, first place the cap (2) upside down on a stable surface, then select a bird guard S...

grill (3). In the embodiment shown the bird guard grill (3) comprises a pair (only one S...

shown) of substantially arcuate grills. The internal surface (11) of the cap (2) is provided with a circumferential flange (12) and the flange is provided with a plurality of bendable legs 5a-d and flange clips (13). In use, the holes (14), e.g. the end and/or middle holes, of the grill (3) are located adjacent the legs 5a-d and trapped under the flange clips (13).

Each of the legs 5a-d is then bent substantially perpendicular to the cap (I) and the free end (15) (distal to the cap) of each leg is fed through the grill (3). Each of the legs (5) is provided with a clip (16) along its length. The clip (16) is then bent back on itself to grip the grill (3).

Referring to Figures 3e and 3f in particular, an additional anti-downdraft cowl (8) may be included. The assembly is similar to that hereinbefore described, but the legs (5) are bent around anti-downdraft cowl (8). The anti-downdraft cowl 8 is itself provided with legs (17) (not shown) which may be used to engage with the grill (3) (not shown).

Referring to Figures 4a-e, a flue cowl (I) according to the invention may be installed by locating the cap (2) and grill (3) assembly over the chimney pot (18) flue outlet. Each of the legs 5a-d comprises at least two leaves such that one leaf (not shown) may be bent to sit inside the pot (18) and the other leaf (19) may be bent to sit outside the pot (18). A strap (20), e.g. ajubilee hose clip, is placed around the rim (21) of the pot (18); trapping I...

the externally positioned leaves (19) of the legs (5); and then tightened. The flue cowl (1) is further secured by bending the free end of the leaves (19) of the legs (5) back upon ** 20 themselves around the strap (20). Any surplus may be trimmed from the leaves (19) of the legs (5) if desirable. S... * . *. *. * . S

S

Claims

CLAIMS1. A modular flue cowl which comprises a cap, an optional circumferential grill and means of fastening the perimeter of the cap to the grill or flue outlet.
2. A modular flue cowl according to claim I wherein the cap is profiled.
3. A modular flue cowl according to claim 2 wherein the profiled cap comprises a substantially central domed region.
4. A modular flue cowl according to claim I wherein the fastening means comprises a plurality of legs.
5. A modular flue cowl according to claim 4 wherein the leg is located on a base which is provided with one or more clips adapted to engage with the grill.
6. A modular flue cowl according to claim 4 wherein the leg is provided along its length with a clip adapted to engage with the grill. S...

***20
7. A modular flue cowl according to claim 4 wherein the leg comprises a leaf of bendable metal. * . **.. * SS * . . * S
8. A modular flue cowl according to claim 7 wherein the each leg comprises a pair of leaves.
9. A modular flue cowl according to claim I wherein the grill is modular.
10. A modular flue cowl according to claim 9 wherein the modular grill comprises a pair of substantially semi -circular panels.
11. A cap for use with a modular flue cowl wherein the cap comprises at least one integral leg.
12. A cap according to claim 11 wherein the cap comprises at least a pair of integral legs.
13. A cap according to claim 12 wherein the integral leg is located on a base which is provided with one or more clips adapted to engage with a grill or flue outlet. S..
14. A kit for assembling a modular flue cowl which comprises a cap provided with at S...least one integral leg and optionally a grill, to Suit a particular fuel and/or shape of flue S.....outlet, an anti-downdraft section to provide additional anti-downdraft properties to the S...cowl and/or a square bird guard. *.S. * . S... *. S. * . .
15. A method of assembling and fitting a flue cowl which comprises the steps of, (i) assembling a modular flue cowl by placing a flue cap upside down, optionally selecting a bird guard grill, trapping the optional bird guard grill under flange clips, bending the legs of the flue cap substantially perpendicular to the cap and feeding the free end through the grill and securing the grill by bending a clip about the grill; and (ii) installing the flue cowl by locating the cap and grill assembly over the chimney pot or flue outlet, bending one of the leaves of each of the legs to sit inside the pot and the other to sit outside the pot, locating a strap around the rim of the pot trapping the externally positioned legs, tightening the strap and bending the free end of the legs back upon themselves around the clip.
16. A modular flue cowl, cap, kit or method as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompany drawings. *... * S * **** * . S...S*55S** * S S.. * S S.'. * S S... S. * * S S *