US2822744A - Vent cap - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 11, 195s s. EPSTEIN 2,822,744

VENT CAP `Filed March 1 5, 1956 IIIIIIIIIII 'HH nummll Y f4 v I; O60

SAUL. EPSTE/N,

l INVEN TOR. Huebner, Been/er, Warre/ I Herzig.

Affarneys.

United States Patente() VENT yCAP sul'np'sfei, ALos Angabe-:carie ApplicaanaMarch :15, 1956, seria1.N0.-s71,619f 3 claims. (01498;84) i This invention rela'te'sttoa vent cap fora gas`v ventlpipe, and'vparticularly ytor anfimprovedl vent @cap adapted for attachrnenttoV the* upper endoff'a 'gas'ueor vent Tpipe exi tending-'throughth'eroofofa building.'

Vent caps of this type are exposed to Wind and'we'ather They'ar'e designed to 4prevent waterfro'm'gettingsinto:the exiten'd ofthe-'vent pipe; andA tov maintain a desired, uniform"degree of'tdraft by :protectingtthefvent pipei from downdrafts aswell lasexcessive updra'ftsi A properly de-` signed vent cap shtiuldI result in theestablishment` of a unil fo'rmdraft forsthe ventlpipefsystem undervarying outdoor conditions. ofwind'and-weather.I "libe-'draft` in the vent pipev systemsh'ould approximate that'of anopen ended ue or vent pipef'performing" on -a clear, -quiet day;v

Furthermore, theV vent pipe cap shou'ldbefdesignedand constructed Vfor rugged, durable:- service fto Awithstand storms-z1n`til1`ighiwincl`s-` over-"a prolonged v-periodof Itime; withoutfthe-necessity .of maintenance or repairs. Inaddi-` tiongthe-ventfcap should be designedfffor-:low cost,'-ei'- cient mass'production^.f It- 'should-consist of-=a minimum number of *readily* manufactured parts-capable -of being producedebye-the employment-of a minimum numbenof operationsandrelatively inexpensive machineryt.V

Accordingly,fitis4 an importantobject of myninvention to provide-a rugged -andf'dura-ble vent caplconstruction de` V signed vto withstand-all kinds of windtandweatherwithout` the necessity -of maintenance `or lrepairs over-prolongedk periods 'of ser-vice Another object" is to provide ani-improved-vent :cap designed and rconstructed to counteract the-effeetsof downdrafts andexcessive updrafts andtoestablslra'desired, uniform draft-n the vent pipe' sys-tem approachingthat of an open'ended--ue-or vent pipe-during-a clear, quiet day.v

A further object is-to provide a' vent-cap ,designedfo'r construction from sheet-,materials and-for economic massV production by the Iemployment of a-minimum'numben-ot parts capableof beingk produced rapidly and eicientlyby a relatively few, convenientfoperations andby theuse=of inexpensive machinery 1 Additional objects will become apparentfromthe .fol. lowingdescri'pt'ion: y p

In general terms, myinventionvcomprehendsI a ventcap comprising a vent pipe section-or-stackfcollanV a flange mounted adjacent the upper vend' of the ventpipe section,

a shield' mounted on the 'flange and. extending upward; therefrom;` and acapmounted in the shield/adjacent the upperend thereof and'over the vent pipe sectionvw The` upper end ofthe vent pipe section or stack collar,-prefer ably'is made cylindrical inshape` Y The flange in this case is annular in shape and is provided with a generallylhorizontallcontinuousportionfslopingr slightly ini-a downwardly, outwardly direction, an

inner annular continuous portionv extendingfvertically and preferably upwardly of' the horizontal portion,l and an outer annular continuous pertionex-tendingverticallyand? preferably downwardly fremthe horizontal--1;\ 0rtit` nf.fThey inner annular continuousportion;ofthe-tiangeisxnadevtny 2 fit snuglyaround thefoutsi'de'-tsurfacel of the vent pipe sectionsand. is suitably xed thereto, such asby spot welding.

Ai generally cylindrical shieldfof. greater diameter than the annular.` flange is ymounted' concentrically around the fla'nge 1to1 extendvertically .upward therefrom'.vv The'lshield isfl provided: with` vertical indented: portioms: preferably ex'- tending radially inward ofy the shieldfiand` engagingthe outer annular portion; of the ange. The Vshield preferably'is--firmly-:xed to the-,outer annularzportion lof the ang'ei'at theA vertical indented portions of: the shield, such as -by spot we1ding.`

A.. generally horizontal, circular cap of a diametersubL stan'tially equal to that of the. annular flangerand prefer ably having @a continuous'peripheral portion extending vertically? downward `rof `thelcap is mountedin the'shield adjacent .the upper endffthereo;y The peripheral portion offthev cap preferablyis madeto engage'the vertical indented portions of the shield, and is rigidly xed thereto, such'asby; spot-,welding,-.

Aemore-detailed-tdescription ofz-a specific embodiment offmyl.inventionv-isf:-givenwith reference to the drawing, wherein?` vFigurenl i`s-.=a sidenelevationalview'partially in section showing-the. relationshipaof-the flange,.shield, andcap with respect to.the ventpipe-section;

Figure 2 is-.aesornewhataenlargedfragmentary View in sectional'.elevation-showing.,the flange-of the vent1cap mounted; oni-the uppenendeffavent pipe -section of larger diameter than; that shown inFigure `1;

Figure. :3'- is;l a bottomview of the. vent cap shown in Figure lnshowingtheA relationship of the diameters ofthe vent pipe; section-the ilange and. the cap,and the shield;-

Figure-4 is a perspectiverfvew showing; the -flangeas an unassembled part;

l.'Figure. 5 is .a perspective view'showing, anv alternative ange; .and-

Figure-6 is a similar yiewvshowingthek alter-native flange inverted.

Fig. .7 :is affragmentary sectional 4view, similar to a portion of Fig. .1, but showing the. structureof Figs. 5 and 6 in a finished assembly.v

In the-.specic embodiment of Ymy invention shown in the drawingta cylindrical ventpipe section vor stack collar 10 ismade of. astrip, ofsheet., material, such as asheet of galvanized iron, formed into a cylindrical section. Suitable dimples 11 are formed on the sideofrthe pipe 1,0 "to increase the eifective diameter ofthe .vent ,pipe `section and .for suitably wedging the vent pipefseetion or-stack collar 10 into theopen end of aventpipeprotruding ,fromthe lroof of-a building.V

`The upper'end of .the vent pipesectionlO fits snuggly into an annular iiange 11 vhaving an innerlannularcontinuous porti'c'm lllextending vertically upward from a. generally or approximately"horizontal, vcontinuous portion 13,s1o`ping somewhat downwardly towardtheouter periphery thereof for water runoff," as best shown, inV Figure 1.1. Thelupperfend of the vent pipe section 10 is viixedito.` th'eA inner annular portion 12 by anyf convenient means to` forni a ruggedA connection, such'as Yby spot welding,

annulrange'llis provided with'anouter annular continuous portion 14 'extendingverticallydownwardly of theA gener1ry horizonta1 portion? 13; approximately-the saine"V distance -th'afthe inner annular `portion"`12"`ex'tends' upward" of .the portion 13.' This' resultsintheformatiojnj o'fa relatively rugged annular flange 11 lixeditov th'e top, ofthe'v'entpipe section 10, which is snugly ttedinside the'n inner. annular portion 12 and is,iirmlyixedvv thereto..

In.`.cases where the venty pipe section 10` has `avlargerl diameterth'an.theidiameter of the vinnervannular portionl 121, andeh'asfan' `-outside diameter ap'proXimatelyl theysame; astheinside diameter of, the* outer annularportion;14,1',l the vent pipe section 10 can beiixed tothe insideZsurfaCe of the outer annular portion 14, such as by spot welding, as shown in Figure 2. If the vent pipe section 10 has an inside diameter approximately equal to the outside diameter of the section 10, it can be fixed to the outside ofv the outer annular portion 14. These two alternative arrangements will result in a reduction of the crosssectional area of the open end of the vent pipe section 10, but permit the use of a smaller vent cap assembly for a vent pipe of a given diameter, than in the first casek described with reference to Figure l.

Instead of using a flange 11, such as shown in Figures 1 to 4, a modified flange 16, such as shown in Figures 5 and 6, may be used. The flange 16 is provided with an inner annular continuous portion 17 similar to the inner annular continuous portion 1'2 of flange 11, a generally horizontal continuous annular portion 18 sloping slightly in a downwardly, outwardly direction similar to the portion 13 of flange 11, and an outer annular portion 19 extending vertically downwardly, similar to portion 14 of flange v11, described above in connection with Figures l to 4.

In addition, flange 16 is provided with several radially outwardly extending portions 21. There may be three, four or any desired number of radially extending portions 21. Pour such portions are shown in Figures and 6. The top portions 22 of the radial portion 21 preferably are continuations of the generally horizontal portion 18 of flange 16. The Vertical side portions 23 preferably are integral with the outer annular portions 19 and are formed to converge somewhat outwardly. Generally vertical segmental annular sections 24 formed concentrically with the outer annular portions 19, and having equal radii, are formed on the extremities of the radially extending portions 21. The outer annular sections 24 preferably are of the same height as the outer annular portions 19, but may be made of a somewhat greater height if desired.

lFirmly mounted on the flange 11 or the flange 16, as the case may be, is a generally cylindrical shield 27 having a somewhat greater inside diameter than the outside diameter of the flange 11 at outer annular portion 14, or flange 16 at outer annular portion 19. The shield 27 is made of a strip of sheet material, such as galvanized iron sheet, formed into a cylindrical section and joined rmly at extremities such as by brazing or spot welding, for example. The shield 27 can be provided with several annular beads (not shown) for the purpose of imparting additional rigidity to the shield.

Several vertical indentations 2S, such as 3 or 4, for example, are formed in the shield 27 and are equally spaced around the periphery of the shield. The vertical indentations preferably are made with flat, radially positioned sides 29 and curved bottom portions 31 having radii of curvature substantially equal to the radius of the. outer annular portion 14 of flange 11, or the outer extremity sections 24 of flange 16. The sides 29 need not necessarily be flat, but may be curved somewhat as they extend into the cylindrical wall of shield 27.

The shield 27 adjacent its loweredge is firmly fixed to the outer annular portion 14 of flange 11, or the radially projecting extremity sections 24 of flange 16, by any suitable means, such as spot welding the shield at portions' 31 to the flange in each case. This results in a firm,. rugged mounting of shield 27 on the flange 11 or 16,

as the case may be, which in turn is firmly mounted on` the vent pipe section 10, as described above. Alterna-.

tively, the shield 27 may be mounted at portions 31 to tabs extending from the lower edge of outer annular por-V tion 14 of flange` 11.

Flange 16 may be mounted on vent p1pe section 1f) at its inner annular portion 17 with portion 17 fitting snuggly around the upper end of vent pipe section 10, and extending upwardly therealong, as was `described in the case of portion 12 of flange 11. This arrangement` is best shown in Figure 7. I f

A generally horizontally disposed, circular, dished cap 32 preferably is positioned inward of the upper edge of shield 27. The cap 32 preferably contains a substantially horizontal circular portion 33 sloping slightly downwardly and outwardly of its center, a gently downwardly sloping annular portion 34 integral with portion 33 through a similar portion 36, and an outer annular portion 37 extending vertically downwardly and preferably having a diameter substantially equal to that of outer annular portion 14 of flange 11, or in the case of flange 16, substantially equal to that of outer annular sections 24.

The cap 32 is rigidly fixed to shield 27 at outer annular portion 37 and vertical bottom portion 31, of vertically extending indentations 28, by suitable means such as spot welding. The cap 32 is positioned centrally over the open end of vent pipe section 10. In this position it is designed to shed water so that the water will run ol the lower edge of outer annular portion 37 and drip outside the bounds of vent pipe section 10, preferably upon the outer portions of annular, generally horizontal, but slightly sloped portion 13, and outer annular portion 14 of ange'11.

The elects of Ywinds and air currents passing laterally A of the shield 27 is minimized. Components of these lateral air movements pass both upwardly and downwardly in shield 27, around outer annular portion 14 of flange 11, and outer annular portion 37 of cap 32. These components of air movement are exactly oppositely directed and tend to counteract each other. In this manner, their effect on the movement of gases upward through vent pipe section 10 is minimized.

If the upward and downward components of winds are not exactly counteracted in this manner, or if an updraft or downdraft of air develops in shield 27 between outer annular portion 14 of flange 11 or outer annular portion 37 of cap 32, such unbalanced components of air move vertically upward or downward in shield 27 from one end thereof to the other, without having any appreciable effect on the movement of vent gases from the open end of vent pipe section 10. Thus, the vent cap of my invention tends to produce a condition approaching that existing at the open end of an open ended vent pipe or flue on a clear day when there is no appreciable movement of air. This results in a steady, unvarying and unaffected draft in the vent system up through the open end of vent pipe section 10.

It will be observed that the vent cap of my invention is constructed of strip material formed into a minimum number of parts which can be rapidly and efficiently made by mass production methods involving a minimum number of relatively simple operations and requiring relatively simple inexpensive machinery. Also, the assembly and fixing together of the various parts of the vent cap of my invention require a minimum amount of labor. The assembled vent cap is designed for rugged and durable construction resulting in a vent cap requiring a minimum amount of maintenance or repair over prolonged periods of rough usage. The vent pipe section 10 is securely fixed in flange 11 which is ruggedly constructed. Shield 27 is securely fixed to flange 11, and cap 32, in turn, is securely mounted in shield 27.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my inven tion, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the ful-l scope of the claims so as to embrace any andY all equivalent structure.

Having described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A vent"cap comprising a vertical cylindrical vent pipe section; a generally annular flange having a generally y"horizontal continuous portion, an inner annular continuous portion extending vertically upward of the ho-A zontal portion, an outer generally annulary continuousl portion extending vertically downward of the horizontal portion, and radially extending portions having mounting surfaces extending vertically at equal radial distances from the generally annular flange; a generally cylindrical shield of greater diameter than the annular flange mounted concentrically around the flan-ge to extend vertically upward therefrom, the shield having vertical indented portions ixedly engaging the mounting surfaces of the radially extending portions of the flange; and a generally horizontal circular cap of a diameter substantial-ly equal to that of the outer annular portion of the flange having continuous peripheral portion extending vertically downward and xedly engaging the vertical indented portions of the shield adjacent the upper end thereof.

2. A vent cap comprising a vertical cylindrical vent pipe section, an annular louver having a general-ly horizontal main body portion and having circumferentially continuous inner and outer vertical flanges, a disc-shaped generally horizontal cap having a Vertical circumferential flange, the inner vertical flange of `said louver being of a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of said vent pipe section, and means securing said louver by means of said inner vertical flange to an end of Said vent pipe section, said outer vertical flange on said louver and said flange on said cap being of corresponding diameters, a generally annular vertical shield having a vertical height greater than the vertical distance between said louver and said disc-shaped cap, said shield being radially spaced from the outer flange on said louver and the ange on said cap and concentric with said disc-shaped cap and said louver, said shield being indented radially inward-ly at crcumferential'ly spaced points, and means securing said shield to said louver and said disc-shaped cap by means of said outer vertical flange on said louver and said annular ilange on said disc-shaped cap respectively, said indentations having detent means inside said shield for releasably indexing and positioning said cap and said louver therein in desired spaced relationship prior to permanent assembly.

3. A vent cap comprising a vertical cylindrical vent pipe section, an annular louver having a generally horizontal main body portion and having circumferentially continuous inner and outer vertical flanges, a disc-shaped generally horizontal cap having a Vertical circumferential flange, the inner vertical flange of said louver being of a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of said vent pipe section, and means securing said louver by means of said inner vertical flange to` an end of said vent pipe section, said outer vertical flange on said louver and said flange on said cap being of corresponding diameters, a cylindrical vertical shield having a vertical height greater than the vertical distance between said louver and said disc-shaped cap, said shield being radially spaced from the outer flange on said louver and the flange on said cap and concentric with lsaid disc-shaped cap and said louver, said shield being indented radially inwardly at circumferentially spaced points, and means securing said shield to said louver and said disc-shaped cap by means of said outer vertical ange on said -louver and said annular ange on said disc-shaped cap respectively, the said indentations having radial side walls so spaced apart that said indentations are of substantially rectangular cross sectional shape.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,229,212 Kreutzer Jan. 21, 1941 2,563,710 Epstein Aug. 7, 1951 2,563,753 Rubin Aug. 7, 1951

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