GB2512464A

GB2512464A - The chimney ferret

Info

Publication number: GB2512464A
Application number: GB1402220.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Andrew Waugh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-02-08
Filing date: 2014-02-08
Publication date: 2014-10-01
Also published as: GB201402220D0

Abstract

A chimney cap comprising 4 parts (A, B, C and D), the first part A sits vertically in the chimney and has arms which rest on the top edges of the chimney and lifting lugs, part C slots into a slot in part A and also includes arms which rest on the top edges of the chimney, part D is a circular cap which fits onto part A, part D includes slots which accept the lifting lugs of part A, a handle part B which includes arrow heads or hooks which allow the ends of the handle to pass through apertures in the lifting lugs of part A when they have passed through the slots in part D. The device can be lifted by the handle to be placed in a chimney, the construction of the device means that lifting part A by the handle lifts part C and D as they rest upon part A. The circular cap D may have a convex upper surface to prevent pooling of water and allow water to run off. Parts A and C may have tapered portions which extend into the chimney when in use.

Description

Summary

The chimney ferret is for use on chimneys which are no longer used to discharge smoke but which have not yet been capped, at least at this level. It is to prevent rain, snow or hail from falling down the chimney, whilst continuing to allow ventilation.

The Chimney Ferret consists of three pieces of fired brick/tile clay which are assembled on site and held together by a plastic lifting handle to enable the product to be lifted by crane and placed exactly in a chosen, chimney pot high upon a roof. It is held together in position within the chimney by gravity.

The invention consists of the combined innovation of the product and its method of installation.

The Product The design is shown on the three accompanying sketches. These are shown at half scale. The shape and dimensions are to fit a standard chimney pot which has an internal diameter of about 240mm.

Without significantly changing the principal features of the design, the shape can be adapted to different sized chimney pots (or even square ones). Using brick clay means that set-up costs are not prohibitively against adapting the product to retro-fit a variety of chimneys.

The pieces are each a slab of about 20mm thickness and are assembled before lifting up for installation. When installed,the Part A sits vertically in the chimney and is held there by the arms on either side overlapping the chimney's rim. There are two lifting-lugs at the top.

Part C also sits vertically in the chimney. By lowering it to part A at right angles, the slots in each connect and part C can then also sit in the chimney,held up by its arms. Parts A and C both have tapering fins underneath,to give it weight, in order to keep the ferret horizontal and to self-centre the ferret within the chimney as it is lowered in by crane.

Part D is the circular cap itself. This fits horizontally on top of part A with the lifting lugs protruding through the two slits in part D. Part D is itself slightly dished, with the upper side bulging upwards a little.

When the clay pieces are assembled, the flexible plastic lifting handle, part B, is then inserted through the holes of the lifting lugs, each end from an opposite side to assure fully vertical hanging.

The arrow heads' of the ends are folded for insertion and then inserted until the vanes of the arrows are fully through the hole. The handle is then pulled back from the hole until it is lodged securely. The length of the handle's central shaft is of the length needed to form an equilateral triangle between the lifting lugs and the crane hook when the product is lifted up for installation Installation The method of installation is integral with the product. The ferrets are brought to or near to the site and assembled and placed in a truck carrying a light, long-reach hydraulic crane.

N

Each ferret is in turn hooked by the handle and lifted up to the chosen chimney. The crane uses a hook which can be released remotely (several models are on the market for this) . A CCIV camera is installed on the crane's jib so as to give a close-up view just above the horizontal of the chimney pot.

The crane driver will be using firstly direct vision and then CCIV to guide the ferret to the correct position for lowering. This can be done at any time during daylight except during high winds. Use

Once installed, the ferret will prevent rain from falling down the chimney. A gap between the cap and the arms will allow continuing use of the chimney to ventilate the house and to reduce condensation of the water vapour which results from human transpiration, washing and cleaning, laundry and cooking.

The upward bulging of the cap is to prevent rain water from pooling on the top of the cap which would eventually lead to frost damage.

The degree of energy saving will depend on the indoor temperature maintained before and after installation, the design and internal layout of the chimney stacks,the number of chimneys capped, the size of the house and the local rainfall and its monthly profile. But the fitting of caps on chimneys is long-established and there is consensus on the general merit of closing up holes in a roof.

The ferret requires no maintenance and should last as long as roof tiles made in similar materials, in excess of 100 years.

Disposal When no longer needed, the ferret can be taken for use elsewhere by lifting it out; or can be disposed of by breaking it up to become inorganic building waste suitable for use in hardcore. The plastic handle can be re-cycled. CIams