GB2518685A

GB2518685A - Improvements to the erection of flue systems

Info

Publication number: GB2518685A
Application number: GB1317296.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Hamnet
Original assignee: A1 SHEET METAL FLUES Ltd
Current assignee: A1 SHEET METAL FLUES Ltd
Priority date: 2013-09-30
Filing date: 2013-09-30
Publication date: 2015-04-01
Also published as: GB201317296D0; GB2518685A8

Abstract

A folding flue system is assembled and integrated into a plant room 109, the flue system comprising portions 100 and 101, in which hinge 108 is connected to flanges 103 and 104 which feature arrayed around their circumferences a plurality of orifices which allow connection of the flanges by securing means. The flanges preferably include a gasket (105, fig 1) to create an airtight seal between then when secured together. The hinging motion of the flue controlled either manually or mechanically at the point of installation of the packaged plant room. The arrangement may include plural flue portions connected in a chain by hinges 108 to allow a flue to be assembled.

Description

Improvements to the erection of flue systems.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to the established process of transporting a packaged plant room, which requires a flue, from construction premises to installation site and commissioning. Packaged plant rooms in varying sizes and with varying capacities are the power bases for applications used in many industrial and commercial sectors, from schools and offices to industrial buildings and manufacturing facilities and are used to provide a broad range of energy solutions. The generic term packaged plant room' defines a self-contained assembly, the elements which could contain water services, drainage, gas facilities, air conditioning, ductwork, electrical and BMS containment fan coil units, either individually or collectively.

Often called PAMs (Pre-Assembled Modules) they may be fully integrated into floor, ceiling or riser voids of buildings and pre-insulated. This enables the benefits of prefabrication to be applied to all buildings of any size, with all componentry wrapped up together in a single unit and transported to site for simplicity and reduced downtime for either new-build or retro-fit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

An essential component for most packaged plant rooms is the flue, or chimney which exhausts waste gases. In current practice when a packaged plant room is fitted to a transporter for delivery to installation site the flue is not assembled with it but travels separately, or is attached to a transporter in an appropriate position, ready to be individually connected on site. Flues are by nature extended cylinders, need to connect to packaged plant rooms vertically, are therefore impossible to transport assembled with packaged plant rooms and are subject to separate transportation and commissioning by assemblers qualified in health and safety.

One drawback and shortcoming in the prior art is the necessity to separate the flue from the packaged plant room for transportation, which means co-ordinating final assembly with two sets of installers; the first from the packaged plant room manufacturer and the second a skilled team from the flue manufacturer to erect the flue and sign off health and safety regulations.

A second drawback and shortcoming in the prior art is the cost associated with separate assemblies.

A third drawback and shortcoming in the prior art is the need to send two skilled personnel to erect the flue after the packaged plant room has been installed.

A fourth drawback and shortcoming in the prior art is the difficulty of access encountered for industrial and commercial day to day secondary operations, particularly when window cleaning cradles are employed which are often unable to negotiate around non-folding flues.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks and shortcomings in the prior art by offering a flue system integrated with a packaged plant room at the point of original assembly, such that only one individual, the driver of the vehicle used to transport the assembly (who may be unskilled in Health and Safety regulations and who is employed by the manufacturer of the packaged plant room), is needed to transport the complete assembly to site for commissioning, thus rendering redundant a traditional second visit by a skilled two-person team to erect the flue.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to aspects of the present invention there is provided foldable portions of a flue which are assembled into a packaged plant room at its place of manufacture; the foldable portions separable and integrated into one or more interconnected hingeable portions to enable transportation and to be ready for manual or automatic erection means at a place of installation by an unskilled operator through one or more hinging systems about its circumference, whereby aftached to edges of the plurality of flue portions are matching flanges around which are arrayed orifices which line up with orifices in one or more opposite flanges, separated by gaskets which create airtight seals when portions of a folding flue are hinged to close then butt-joined together by securing means to form a single elongate flue of any length.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method to control the erection of a hinged flue by mechanical means, which may be hydraulics.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided various cross sectional shapes of flues in addition to the industry standard of circular cross section.

In order that the nature of the present invention may be clearly understood an embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 depicts a partial cutaway section of a perspective view of a hinged flue in a closed position according to aspects of the present invention.

Figure 2 depicts a perspective view of a hinged flue in an open position according to aspects of the present invention.

Figure 3 depicts a schematic side view of a hinged flue in a folded position controlled by hydraulic means integrated into a generic containerised packaged plant room at place of manufacture ready for transportation to installation site according to aspects of the present invention.

Figure 4 depicts a schematic side view of a hinged flue controlled by hydraulic means sited in an intermediate position during the process of erection according to aspects of the present invention.

Figure 5 depicts a schematic view of a hinged flue fully-erected by hydraulic means integrated into a generic containerised packaged plant room on site ready for installation according to aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In figure 1 two portions of flue 100 and 101, which may be cylindrical, are shown butted upto each other in a cutaway section assembly. Flanges 103 and 104 are butt-welded to the ends of the two said flue portions, which are brought together with gasket seal 105 in between and secured via an array of a plurality of fixtures 106. A bellied-out cover band 107 is fitted over the aforesaid connection for security, cleanliness and aesthetics.

Figure 2 depicts a schematic view of a flue in an open position in two portions connected together preferably by hinge 108 and connected to the outer perimeter of both flanges 103 and 104 which joins them flexibly together. Hinge 108 consists of a plurality of knuckles, each alternate knuckle preferably fillet-welded to each flange.

In figure 3 a schematic side view of a flue is shown in two portions 100 and 101 positioned at right angles to each other connected together by hinge 108; integrated into a generic packaged plant room 109; controlled by hydraulic means 110 and supported by cradle 111, which may also be a securing means for transportation.

In figure 4 a schematic view of two portions of a hinged flue 100 and 101 is shown in an intermediate position which may be en route to erection on site or folding for transportation, controlled by hydraulic means 110, integrated into a generic packaged plant room 109.

In figure 5 a schematic view of two portions of a hinged flue 100 and 101 is shown in an installed position ready for commissioning! integrated into a generic packaged plant room 109.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any number of combinations of the aforementioned features and/or those shown in the appended drawings provide clear advantages over the prior art and are therefore within the scope of the invention described herein. The foregoing description details certain preferred embodiments of the present invention and describes the best mode contemplated. Therefore, the description provided herein is to be considered exemplary, rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that defined by the following claims and the full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled.

Claims

Claims 1 Improvements to the erection of flue systems comprising foldable portions of a flue which are assembled into a packaged plant room at its place of manufacture; the foldable portions separable and integrated into one or more interconnected hingeable portions to enable transportation and to be ready for manual or automatic erection means at a place of installation by an unskilled operator through one or more hinging systems about its circumference, whereby attached to edges of the plurality of flue portions are matching flanges around which are arrayed orifices which line up with orifices in one or more opposite flanges, separated by gaskets which create airtight seals when portions of a folding flue are hinged to close then butt-joined together by securing means to form a single elongate flue of any length.
2 Improvements to the erection of flue systems according to claim 1 in which a plurality of foldable portions of the flue are interconnected at opposing ends in a zigzag formation and integrated at its base into a packaged plant room at its place of manufacture.
3 Improvements to the erection of flue systems according to claim 1 in which means of erection at the place of installation is accomplished by a single unskilled operator using manual methods.
4 Improvements to the erection of flue systems according to claim 1 in which means of erection at the place of installation is accomplished by a single unskilled operator using mechanical assistance.
Improvements to the erection of flue systems according to claim 1 in which the flue is predominantly circular in cross section.
6 Improvements to the erection of flue systems according to claim 1 in which the flue is predominantly square in cross section.
7 Improvements to the erection of flue systems according to claim 1 in which the flue is predominantly hexagonal in cross section.
8 Improvements to the erection of flue systems according to claim 1 in which the flue is predominantly rectangular in cross section.
9 Improvements to the erection of flue systems according to claim 1 in which the flue is predominantly elliptical in cross section.
Improvements to the erection of flue systems according to claim 1 in which the flue is predominantly pentagonal in cross section.
11 Improvements to the erection of flue systems according to claim 1 in which the flue is predominantly multi-sided in cross section.