US3269296A - Ventilating device - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 30, 1966 c. A. BEST VENTILATING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 19, 1964 CHARLES A. BEST INVENTOR.

a E! II 4:. II M 4 AGENT Aug. 30, 1966 c. A. BEST VENTILATING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 19, 1964 CHARLES A. BEST INVENTOR.

BY AGENT United States Patent 3,269,296 VENTILATING DEVICE Charles A. Best, 10045 NE. Shaver, Portland, Greg. Filed May 19, 1964, Ser. No. 368,609 3 Claims. (CI. 98-67) This invention relates generally to improvements in ventilating fixtures and more particularly to a chimney cap especially adapted for use in areas where winds are such as to occasionally disrupt the normal draft within a chimney.

A primary purpose of this invention is the provision of a novel chimney cap or ventilating fixture of the character described capable of inducing chimney draft by directing the wind flow to cause an area of low pressure within the fixture.

A second purpose of this invention is the provision of a ventilating fixture having wind deflecting means capable of convenient positioning thereon at the time of installation for most eflicient operation in accordance with conditions as above pointed out.

Another purpose of this invention is the provision of a chimney cap of pleasing appearance, positive in operation without reliance, as heretofore, upon movable, wind-actuated means which not only require maintenance but are also susceptible to rust and corrosion causing them to become inoperable.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention in an operative position upon a chimney top.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevation of FIGURE 1 with fragments broken away for convenience of illustration.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional detail view on an enlarged scale taken approximately along the line 33 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention.

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of a further modified form of the invention.

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of FIGURE 5 rotated through 90 degrees, and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail View of brackets utilized in the embodiment shown in FIGURES 5 and 6.

With continuing reference to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like parts, and particularly FIGURE 1 thereof, the ventilating fixture made in accordance with this invention and indicated general-1y at 1 is superimposed upon chimney C to which it may be cemented or bonded if desired or necessary. The main body of the fixture comprises a hollow, rectangular vertically disposed housing 2 of cast cement or the like having a vertical passageway 2A therethrough and openings 3A and 4A in its end walls 3 and 4 and openings 5A and 6A in side walls 5 and 6 respectively. The housing 2 is provided with a perimetrical shoulder 10 (FIGURE 3) rel-ieved along its top marginal surface as at 11 to provide a recess for stabilized reception of a rectangular sheet metal frame 12.

An upwardly inclined deflector plate 13 may 'be struck upwardly from the sheet metal frame '12 as an integral part thereof, as shown, and stabilized by brackets 14 secured in any suitable manner such as by soldering, spot welding, riveting or the like to the underside of the deflector plate 13 and to the top flange of the frame 12. Although not shown, it will be readily understood that the deflector plate may be formed from a separate piece of sheet metal and secured along one of its sides to the frame 12. The frame is of substantially channel'section having a top flange 12A supported within the recess 11 and a bottom flange 15 in facial contact with the underside of the shoulder 10. When so installed, the frame '12 and deflector plate are firmly attached to the top of the ventilator and are thus prevented from vibrating or rattling as a result of Wind forces from any direction.

As best illustrated in FIGURE 2, the openings 3A and 5A are provided with louvers 16 and 17 carried by frames 18 and 19 each of which is provided with a pair of integral tabs 18A and 19A bent outwardly from their respective frames for firm clamping engagement with the inner walls of the vertical passageway 2A.

In the first modification illustrated in FIGURE 4, the structure of the housing 251 is identical with housing 2, shown and described in FIGURES 1-3. The walls of this housing 21 are provided with draft openings 24-27, but I dispense with the louvers shown in the first form of the invention. I also dispense with the upwardly inclined deflector plate 13 and instead rely upon the flat limperforate top surface 28 of a frame 29 for wind deflecting purposes. This form of the invention is for use in areas where air turbulence caused by local obstructions result in winds from various directions including downward air currents.

In the further modification illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6, I provide a housing 30 having a vertical passageway 30A therethrough and openings 31 and r32 provided in adjacent walls thereof. In this form of the invention, 11 dispense with the frame 12 of FIGURES 1-3 and instead provide an inclined deflector plate 34 having an edge portion 35' bent downwardly and inwardly as shown for firm engagement with the underside of a shoulder 36 of the housing. The ends of this edge portion are bent upwardly as at 35A to prevent any lateral movement of the frame. The deflector plate 34 is further stabilized in its inclined position by a pair of brackets 37 of angular section secured at their upper ends to the underside of the deflector plate in any approved manner and similarly secured at their bottom ends to an angular cap strip =38. The brackets 37 are provided with flanges 39 (FIGURE 7) to further secure the deflector against accidental or unintentional displacement. Due to the inherent flexibility of the deflector plate, it will be readily understood that the deflector assembly in its entirety may be advantageously sprung into engagement with the shoulder 66 or removed therefrom for re-positioning without the use of tools of any kind. To further enhance such secure engagement, I bend the ends of the inwardly turned corner portions of the deflector plate upwardly into engagement with the adjacent surfaces of the shoulder as at 35A. Louvers 33 are provided within the housing in a manner similar to that previously described.

Both forms of the louvered chimney caps will be positioned so that the inclined deflector plates 6'4 and 13 are, as far as possible, crosswise to the prevailing wind direction. In locations where the prevailing wind is essentially at right angles to the deflector, it is necessary to provide only one of the openings with louvers since the upwardly directed flow of air within the housing will influence the lesser flow of air entering the other opening in a like direction. In the above described configuration the flow of air through and over the chimney cap results in an area of reduced air pressure beneath the upper end of the deflector plate 34. The combined influence of the area of reduced pressure and the upwardly directed vflow of air will result in a draft being induced within the chimney. The louver attaching tabs permit easy repositioning of the louvers for purposes of determining the most advantageous configuration. Air flowing in a direction opposite to the Patented August 30, 113(7136 prevailing direction of wind will be diverted from entering the chimney, to a considerable extent, through the openings, thus preventing any downward drafts within the chimney.

Although I have the invention applied to a chimney, this does not necessarily prescribe any limits of utility since obviously the device may be advantageously used in any other installation where ventilation induced by airflow and draft is desired.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A ventilating fixture for a chimney comprising in combination,

a hollow rectangular housing having openings in at least two of its walls and terminating at its upper end in an outwardly extending perimetrical shoulder,

said shoulder having upper and lower surfaces and an end wall substantially perpendicular to said surfaces,

louver means mounted within certain of said openings,

an upwardly inclined rectangular deflector plate of flexible sheet metal and integral with shoulder attachment means, and

said attachment means including angularly related portions embracing said surfaces and end wall on at least two sides of said shoulder.

2. A ventilator fixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprises a rectangular frame of sheet metal embracing each of said surfaces and end wall of said shoulder, and including upright bracket means interconnecting said frame and said plate for reinforcing the plate against wind-deflecting forces.

'3. A ventilating fixture as claimed in claim -1 wherein said portions are integral with said plate at spaced apart points and embrace said shoulder on opposite sides of said housing whereby deformation of said plate will cause relative movement between said portions to enable said portions to be sprung outwardly for embracing engagement with said shoulders.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 30,630 12/ 1894 Taylor.

887,677 5/ 1908 Marcks 9 877 2,7 04,503 3 L955 Roos 9868 3 ,125,942 3 19-64 Smith 98--73 FOREIGN PATENTS 195,01 7 1 l9 3 8 Switzerland.

FR'EDERICK L. MATTESON, iJR., Primary Examiner.

ROBERT A. OLEARY, Examiner.

C. R. REMKE, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A VENTILATING FIXTURE FOR A CHIMNEY COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A HOLLOW RECTANGULAR HOUSING HAVING OPENINGS IN AT LEAST TWO OF ITS WALLS AND TERMINATING AT ITS UPPER END IN AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PERIMETRICAL SHOULDER, SAID SHOULDER HAVING UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES AND AN END WALL SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID SURFACES, LOUVER MEANS MOUNTED WITHIN CERTAIN OF SAID OPENINGS, AN UPWARDLY INCLINED RECTANGULAR DEFLECTOR PLATE OF FLEXIBLE SHEET METAL AND INTEGRAL WITH SHOULDER ATTACHMENT MEANS, AND SAID ATTACHMENT MEANS INCLUDING ANGULARLY RELATED PORTIONS EMBRACING SAID SURFACES AND END WALL ON AT LEAST TWO SIDES OF SAID SHOULDER.

Images