US2321919A - Chimney ventilator or cowl - Google Patents

Description

Jime 15, 1943- v. J; KENNEDY 2,321,919

CHIMNEY VENTILATOR OR COWL Filed Dec. 28, 1940 Vic for .f/iennedy Patented June 15, 1943 when STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,321,919 CHIMNEY VENTILATOR 0R COWL Victor J. Kennedy, Kahoka, Mo.

Application December 28, 1940, Serial No. 372,153

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in chimney hoods or cowls and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a hood or ventilating cowl for chimneys which is designed in such a way as to conform with the natural tendency of gases rising from a burning body, to follow a spiral path and which, in addition to this, will protect the chimney against the entrance of rain.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chimney ventilator which by assisting the rising gases from the chimney to follow a spiral path, will increase the draft efiect so as to improve the action of the chimney in discharging the smoke and gases rising therethrough from a furnace, fireplace or other area in which fuel is burned,

A further object of the invention is to provide a spiral chimney hood or ventilator which is so designed that it will carry off any moisture falling thereon and also carry off any moisture deposited as-condensation upon the under surfaces, in such a way as to prevent the moisture from entering the chimney, and which will also function as-a wind guard to prevent back drafts or down drafts in the chimney.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, with modifications mark no material departure from l the salient features of the invention as expressed inv the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in top plan of one form of the ventilator constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1, a portion of the structure being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line Fi 1.

I Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view in top plan of another form of ventilator constructed in accordance with the invention.

: Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of the form of ventilator shown in Fig. 5.

'Fig. '7 is a vertical section on the line |'l of Fig. 5. I

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective unapplied of one of the semi-elliptical members comprised in the cap.

Referring now more particularly to thedrawing, while both of the illustrated forms of the invention possess the same fundamental features, certain details of construction are different in the two forms, therefore, a detailed description will first be given of the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. In this form of the invention, the numeral I designates a flue pipe. This pipe at its top end is cut to form the two semi-circular spirally directed edges 2, the top and bottom ends of these spiral edges being in the same horizontal planes and the spirals being both of right-hand. There are thus formed the two diametrically opposite vertical or longitudinally extending edges 3, each of which joins the upper end of one of the semi-circular spiral edges 2 with the bottom end or lower end of the other spiral edge.

The numeral 4 generally designates a cap which is made up of two semi-elliptical sections 5, each of which has a straight long edge 6 corresponding with the long axis of the ellipse and an outer elliptical edge I which connects the ends of the long edge 6. At the central part of the long edge 5 of each semi-elliptical section 5 of the cap is formed a substantially triangular plate 8, which is perpendicular to the surface of the section with which it is joined, and these plates are disposed in side by side relation and secured together in any suitable manner as by turning over an edge of one plate across the, adjacent edge of the other plate, as indicated at 9, so that the planes of the two elliptical portions of the cap will be substantially perpendicularly related or, in other words, the edges 6 of the two portions will be at right angles, as shown in Fig. 3. Thus the cap when viewed in top plan as in Fig. 1, will appear to have a circular peripheral form and, in fact, the periphery of the two portions of the cap, when viewed in top plan do define a circle, the diameter of which is materially greater than the diameter of the fiue pipe over which the cap is located. After the portions of the cap are secured together, the cap is then attached to the Vertical edges 3 at the ends of the spiral edges 2, so as to be maintained in spaced relation with these spiral edges and thus form in conjunction therewith the spiral smoke and gas escape openings it, which are covered or shielded from above by the cap.

} Encircling the cap 4 is a shield skirt H which is secured to the periphery of the cap and, therefore, is maintained in spaced relation with the wall of the pipe I, and the top end of this sleeve is in the plane of the joined top edges of the plates 8, as shown in Fig. 4, and is open. The skirt is provided with two opposite spiraled lower edges I2, each of which substantially conforms to the curvature of the adjacent spiral edge 2 of the flue pipe but lies below such spiral edge, so that the portion of the skirt immediately adjacent each of its spiral edges I2 serves as a vertical shield for the adjacent opening II], which it covers. Each of these vertical shields which follows the curvature of the pipe and covers the adjacent opening I0, is indicated by the numeral I3.

Each of the opening covering shields I3 has an inturned end portion I4 which is secured to the wall of the pipe below a vertical edge 3, as is most clearly brought out in Fig. 4, and from this attached end I4, each of the shield portions I3 through a portion of its length, has a top edge I5 which converges, as shown in Fig. 2, with an end of a spiral edge I2, and these short edges I5 each extends along a portion of the elliptical edge of a cap portion 5.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the structure described provides a pipe having at its upper end two laterally opening spiral outlets or smoke openings, each of which is covered throughout its length by a laterally projecting hood and that each of the smoke openings is vertically shielded as a result of which smoke and gases rising through the pipe will strike the under sides of the two portions of the cap and be conducted upwardly and outwardly in a spiral path, and at the same time the caps prevent the entrance of rain into the pipe and the shield portions I3 of the sleeve prevent air being driven directly into the openings. However, air currents moving horizontally can enter between the convergent edges I2 and I5 to flow over the tops of the portions 5 of the cap-and thus create an upward suction which will facilitate the escape of gases from the flue.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 to 7, the flue pipe is indicated by the numeral I6. This flue pipe is cut at its top edge to have a single spiral edge I! which extends entirely around the pipe, thereby forming a'single vertical edge 98 which extends from the lower end of the spiral edge entirely to the upper end thereof. The numeral I9 designates a cap which is formed from a single piece' of material and cut and shaped to provide a fiat spiral body which has the two oppositely directed upper and lower radial edges '20 and'2l, respectively, which converge at the center of the cap. Extending vertically between these radial edges is a plate or wall 22, which maintains the said radial edges in spaced relation. The cap is placed in position over the upper end of the pipe I6 so as to be coaxial therewith and the outer edge 23 of the cap plate 22 is secured along the vertical edge I9 of the pipe from the upper end thereof and terminates short of the lower end, as is clearly shown in Fig. 7, as a result of which the cap I9 is maintained spaced from the spiraledge I1, and there is thus provided between this spiral edge and the under side of the cap, the spiral smoke outlet 24 which extends entirely around the pipe.

The diameter of the cap I9 is greater than the diameter of the pipe I6, as is clearly shown in Fig. '7 and in Fig. 5, so that the outer portion of the cap projectsbeyond the wall of the-pipe and there is secured to this outer portion the depending spiral shield skirt 25, which is of constant width throughout and, therefore, of spiral form, and the lower edge of this skirt extends below the spiral edge I'I, thus effectively shielding the outlet 24 from the direct entrance of air currents into the opening. At its lower end this skirt is turned in toward the wall of the pipe I6, as indicated at 26, and is secured to the pipe. At its upper end the skirt is carried around beyond the wall 22, so that the inner face of the upper end of the skirt is opposed to and in spaced relation with the wall 22. The highest part of the cap I9 is provided with a continuing portion 21 which bridges the space between the top of the vertical wall 22 and the highest part of the top edge of the skirt 25. With this construction, it will be readily apparent that the smoke or gases rising through the pipe I6 will flow out laterally through the spiral opening 24 against the under side of the cap I9 and the inner side of the skirt 25, and will be made to follow the gradually rising spiral area formed between the skirt and the wall of the pipe and pass out to the atmosphere between the upper end portion of the skirt and the Wall 22. With this arrangement also it will be apparent that in addition to conducting the gases upwardly along a spiral path, the gas and smoke outlet opening is effectively shielded against the direct entrance of air currents thereinto and also rain falling upon the shield or cap and skirt will be carried downwardly and discharged along the outer side of the pipe without entering the pipe.

It will also be readily apparent that in both illustrated forms of the invention, the construction is such that any moisture condensing upon the under surface of the cap and of the shield skirts or sleeves will be conducted downwardly and discharged belowthe smoke escape openings and that, therefore, no moisture, whether it be in the form of rain and snow or in the form of condensate, can enter .the pipe of either of the devices through the smoke escape opening.

What is claimed is: I

.1. A device of the character stated, comprising a flue pipe, means forming a top in spaced relation with'the top end edge of the pipe, said top and the adjacent edge of the pipe being constructed and arranged to form a spirally extending outlet opening, means supported by the pipe. and connected with the top forming a spiral downwardly opening channel into which the first opening discharges, the said spiral channel having its upper end opening upwardly above the top of the'pipe.

2. A device of the character stated, comprising a flue pipe, a cap covering an end of the pipe, the said end of the pipe being cut obliquely to form a spirally directed edge, said cap being in spaced relation with said edge and forming therewith a discharge opening for the pipe, .the cap extending throughout its circular extent in a radial direction beyond the wall of the pipe, and a vertical shield connected with the outer edge of the cap and extending axially of the pipe in spaced relation therewith and across said opening, said shield being in spaced relation with the pipe at the said end thereof to form a smoke discharging passage.

3. A device of the'character stated, comprising a pipe which is vertically arranged in use; said pipe being cut at'its upper end to form a spirally directed top-edge and a vertical edge at an end of saidspiral edge, acap joined to said vertical edge and supported thereby in spaced relation with the spiral edge to form with the spiral edge a discharge opening, the cap extending radially of the pipe beyond the wall thereof, and a shield skirt secured to the outer edge of the cap and suspended therefrom in spaced relation with the pipe Wall and extending from the cap beyond the lower edge of said opening, said shield skirt being turned inwardly at the lower portion thereof toward and joined to the pipe and being spaced from the pipe at its upper portion to provide an upper outlet.

4. A device of the character stated, comprising a flue pipe which is disposed vertically in use, said flue pipe at its upper end being cut to provide two semi-circular spirally extending edges, the upper end of each spiral edge being joined to the lower end of the adjacent spiral edge by a vertical edge, a cap comprising two semi-elliptical fiat portions disposed in planes extending obliquely of the axis of the pipe, said portions each having a straight edge comprising the long axis of the ellipse, said portions having their straight edges secured together and in crossed relation, said cap being disposed over the spirally cut end of the pipe and secured at opposite sides to the said vertical edges, each of said portions being supported in spaced relation with and parallel with one of said spiral edges to form in association therewith a smoke discharge opening, said cap portions extending radially of the pipe beyond the walls thereof, and a shield skirt secured to the outer edge of each cap portion and depending therefrom in spaced relation with the wall of the pipe to cover the adjacent opening, each shield skirt being inturned at its lower end only and secured to the pipe.

5. A device of the character stated, comprising a flue pipe which is disposed vertically in use, said flue pipe at its upper end being cut to provide two semi-circular spirally extending edges, the upper end of each spiral edge being joined to the lower end of the adjacent spiral edge by a vertical edge, a cap comprising two semi-elliptical fiat portions disposed in planes extending obliquely of the axis of the pipe, said portions each having a straight edge comprising the long axis of the ellipse, said portions having their straight edges secured together and in crossed relation, said cap being disposed over the spirally cut end of the pipe and secured at opposite sides to the said vertical edges, each of said portions being supported in spaced relation with and parallel with one of said spiral edges to form in association therewith a smoke discharge opening, said cap portions extending radially of the pipe beyond the walls thereof, a skirt encircling the upper end of the pipe and said cap and secured to the periphery of the cap portions, said skirt having two spirally cut lower edges disposed below said openings and spaced from the wall of the pipe and each extending throughout the spiral extent of a capportion and partway across the adjacent cap portion, said skirt being secured to diametrically opposite sides of the pipe from the lower edge of the skirt and throughout a portion of its length and the upper end of the skirt being open.

6. A device of the character stated, comprising a pipe which is disposed vertically in use, the upper end of the pipe being cut to provide a spiral edge extending throughout the circular extent of the pipe, the pipe body having a longitudinal edge joining the two ends of the spiral edge, a cap comprising a body formed of fiat material having a circular periphery and a spiral form, the body having two radially extending divergent edges and a Wall connecting said edges, said cap body being disposed over and coaxially with the spiraled edge of the pipe and said wall being secured along the said longitudinal edge of the pipe whereby the cap is maintained in spaced relation with said spiral edge and coacts therewith to provide a spiral outlet opening, the diameter of the cap being greater than the diameter of the pipe whereby the periphery of the cap extends beyond the Wall of the pipe, and a shield guard secured around the periphery of the cap and extending therefrom longitudinally of the pipe over said spiral opening, said skirt at its lower end being inturned toward and secured to the pipe and at its upper end being spaced from said wall to form an upper gas escape passage.

VICTOR J. KENNEDY.

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