US3398671A

US3398671A - Roof ventilator with u-shaped flue cap

Info

Publication number: US3398671A
Application number: US587476A
Authority: US
Inventors: Salvador J Acosta
Original assignee: W A CALL Mfg Inc
Current assignee: W A CALL Mfg Inc
Priority date: 1966-10-18
Filing date: 1966-10-18
Publication date: 1968-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 1985-08-27

Description

7, 1968 s. J. ACOSTA 3,398,671

ROOF VENTILATOR WITH U-SHAPED FLUE CAP Filed Oct. 18, 1966 INVENTOR.

SALVADOR 1.4100874 United States PatentC 3,398,671 ROOF VENTILATOR WITH U-SHAPED FLUE CAP Salvador J. Acosta, San Jose, Calif., assignor to W. A.

Call Mfg. Inc., San Jose, Calif., a corporation of i California Filed Oct. 18, 1966, Ser. No. 587,476 10 Claims. (Cl. 98-60) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a cap arrangement for pipes and ventilating fines and the like. In the construction of buildings it is common practice to extend flue ducts and pipes up through the roof for an appreciable distance to v discharge fumes, gases, odors and smoke. In general it is the custom to extend asbestos type flues from burners and the like through the roof. According to safe practice these flues and pipes must be protected by a sleeve-like covering in order to prevent leaks through the roof during inclement weather. Moreover, it is also necessary to cover the open upper end of such metal covering with a hood to prevent rain and snow from going down the flue. More important, however, it is essential that the hood be in situ to prevent downdrafts which might extinguish the flame of gas burners and the like.

7 A long standing major problem in the construction art resides in the fact that the installation of such cap and hood arrangements must be inspected by building inspectors before they will be acceptable for use. Consequently, only partial installation can be made to enable such inspection after which the balance of structure, such as hooding, can be completed. Since the upper sleeve and cap are .often laid aside until the inspector comes to examine the installation, often such parts are misplaced, lost and/or damaged.

The present invention contemplates the provision of an assembled sleeve and cap arrangement which remains a single unit facilitating inspection without removal of parts.

It is an object of this invention to provide a unitary cap and sleeve assembly for vent flues which can be installed complete and later inspected and ultimately used.

It is another object to provide a flexible cover for a vent flue within a baffle cap and means for securing such cover during use and enabling partial removal for purposes of inspection and/or cleaning.

It is yet another object to provide a flexible cover having one side fixed to a vent sleeve and its other side releasably attachable to such sleeve for enabling inspection down the open end of such vent sleeve. In this connection it is a further object to provide such flexible cover with downwardly diverging edges between its top and connecting sides to assure against back pressures building up within the flue pipe upon which the ventilator cap is mounted.

It is still further object to coordinate such flexible cover with a baffle cap circumscribing the same and the open upper end of the ventilator sleeve and flue to guard against cross drafts through the flexible cover.

These and other objects and advantages of the present 3,398,6 71 Patented Aug. 27, 1968 invention will become apparent in the following description and drawing in which: i

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of sleeve, cap and'hood for roof ventilators embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial section through FIG. 1' taken substantially along line 22 therein.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of that portion of" the present invention shown in FIG. 2, parts being broken away for purpose of illustration.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a modified-form of the present invention adapted for oval type flues and pipes asdistinguished from the round type of FIGS. 1 to Referring to the drawing'a complete roof ventilator unit is shown in FIG.- 1 as comprising a roof cone 11, a sleeve 12, a baffle cap 13 and aflue cover 14 embodying the present invention. I

The flue or pipeF by which fumes-are conducted from the source to the open air above the roof is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1. This flue F may be round or oval shaped as required. It extends through a rough opening 0 in the sheathing S of the roof R. The roof cone 11 fits over the flue pipe F and has a base plate 15 secured to the sheathing S. The roof cone 11 also includes a frusto conical cone 16 having its broad base sealingly secured to the base plate 15 by a suitable seam, crimping and solder in a conventional manner. The upper end of the frusto conical cone 16 is open to a size conforming to the outer diameter of the flue pipe F for frictional-sliding fit relative thereto.

The sleeve 12 is slightly tapered from a larger size at its open bottom 17 to its open upper end 18 sized to fit snugly the outer dimension of the flue pipe F adjacent its open upper end E. The larger open bottom 17 of the sleeve 12 is slightly larger in size than the cone to fit over the tapered upper end of the frusto conical cone 16. The arrangement is such as to have the sleeve tiltably supported on the conical member 11. To this extent the lower end of the sleeve 12 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed tabs 19 pivotally secured to the frusto conical cone 16 by aligned rivets 20 midway the upper and lower ends of the cone 16. In the case of an oval shaped flue sleeve and cone as exemplified in FIG. 4, the rivets 20 would be aligned on the opposite ends of the long axis of the structure. The sleeve 12 is thus supported on the pivot pins or rivets 20 and the open bottom 17 of the sleeve free to move into different angular positions relative to the cone 16. In this manner the sleeve 12, although secured to the cone 16 is adjustable angularly relative to the cone. By this arrangement, regardless of the pitch of the roof or its nearness to level, the sleeve 12 can always be vertically disposed in alignment with the flue rising through the roof.

As previously stated, the upper end of the flue pipe F fits relatively snugly within the tapered upper end 18 of the sleeve 12 so as to prevent fumes from passing down into the house or building.

The baffle cap 13 is suitably secured to the upper end 18 of the sleeve 12 by a plurality of brackets 21. In the case of a round unit (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) three such brackets would be used. However, in the oval shape (FIG. 4) four such brackets 21 would be employed. These brackets 21 .are identical in that each has a lower portion 22 secured to the sleeve 12, an offset medial portion 23, and an upper portion 24 secured to the baflle cap 13 within its orbit.

The bafl lle cap 13 surrounds the open upper end 18 of the sleeve 12 and is concentrically spaced relative thereto. Assuming the upper end 18 of the sleeve 12 to be approximately four inches in diameter, the cap 13 is spaced approximately 1% inches from the sleeve. The lower edge 25 of the cap 13 is disposed below the upper edge of the sleeve such that an imaginary line L extended between them is at an angle between 22 and 28 relative to horizontal H. In this manner the open upper end of the sleeve 12 is shielded against direct lateral drafts of outside wind. The fumes, etc., rising out of the flue F usually being of a higher temperature tend to rise rather than descend through the baffle cap 13.

The upper end of the baffle cap 13 is open. However, in accordance with the present invention, the open upper end of the sleeve 12 and flue pipe is suitably covered by a flip-cap 26. This flip-cap 26 is formed of flexible sheet metal similar to that of the cone, sleeve and baflle. The flip-cap 26 is formed of an oval or disc-shaped blank B having a major diameter slightly less than that of the inner diameter of the baffle cap 13. This blank B is U- shaped about its major diameter and has a pair of diametrically

opposed tabs

27 and 28, on an axis transverse to the crown 29 of the U-shape. One of the tabs 27 is secured by rivets 30 to the upper end 18 of the sleeve 12. In FIG. 1 the tab 27 is shown secured by the same rivets 30 between the lower portion 23 of a single back bracket 21 and the sleeve. However, in FIG. 4 the tab 27 is shown secured directly to the sleeve 12.

The bowed portion 29 of the flip-cap 26 has a radius substantially identical to that of the open upper end 18 of the sleeve 12 so that the tab 28 diametrically opposite the tab 27 secured to the sleeve assumes a position against the sleeve 12.

The tab 28 cooperates with a loop 31 on the sleeve 12 to receive the tab 28 for holding the flip-cap 26 in a position to overlay the upper end of the sleeve 12. The loop 31 may be struck out from the material constituting the sleeve or may be a loop strap having its ends soldered to the sleeve as shown. In either case, the tab 28 can be inserted downwardly through the loop 31 and its extreme end 32 bent up to hold the flip-cap in bowed position over the open upper end of the sleeve 12.

By the foregoing arrangement the open upper end B of the flue pipe F is covered against rain or snow as well as downdrafts of wind. However, should inspection be required, it can be done by simply releasing the tab 28 from the loop 31 to free the flip-cap 26 for flexing upwardly and outwardly within the baflle cap 13. In this manner the open upper end of the sleeve and flue pipe are exposed to view for inspection and/or cleaning. When the tab 28 is again inserted through the loop 31 and its extreme end 32 bent up the flip-cap 26 again covers the open end of the flue and sleeve to serve its purpose as a cover and deflector.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the top periphery of the bowed portion 29 of the cap 26 spans the inner diameter of the baflle cap 13. However, the curved

lower edges

33 and 34 of the flip-cap 26 diverge inwardly of the baffle cap 13 and toward the sleeve 12 thus providing sufficient area of exit for fumes, smoke and odors such as to assure against back pressure within the flue as well as guarding against downdraft of wind into the same.

While I have described my new unitary cover, cap and mounting for roof type ventilators in specific detail, it will be appreciated that the same may be susceptible to variation, alteration and/or modification without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention therein. I therefore desire to avail myself of all variations, alterations and/or modification as may fairly come within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A unitary roof ventilator adapted for installation as a single unit over a flue pipe and the like extending vertically upward through an opening in a roof structure and comprising in combination:

(a) a base including a plate adapted to be secured parallel to such roof structure and a roof cone formed integrally with said base plate to circumscribe such flue pipe and provide a weathertight flashing around the same and the opening in such roof structure,

(b) an open-ended sleeve having its lower end permanently connected to said roof cone by diametrically opposed rivets for rockability about an axis transverse to the pitch of such roof structure and for disposing said sleeve concentric to such vertically extending flue pipe,

(c) a baflle cap having an open top and bottom,

(d) bracket means between the upper end of said sleeve and said baflie cap for permanently securing the latter concentric to said sleeve with the upper end above the open upper end of said sleeve and the lower open end of the baflle cap disposed in spaced realtion to and below the open upper end of said sleeve, and

(e) an inspection flip-cap confined within said batfle cap comprising a U shape bowed flexible blank having one leg thereof permanently secure to the upper end of said sleeve and diametrically opposite means on said sleeve and blank for releasably securing the other leg of said blank to said sleeve to thereby form a U shaped down draft cover over said flue pipe and facilitate detachment of said other leg of said blank from said sleeve to thereby free said one leg of said flip-cap for manual flexing of the latter to partially uncover said flue pipe during inspection and cleaning of said flue pipe after permanent installation of said unitary roof ventilator thereon.

2. The roof ventilator in accordance with claim 1 in which the baffle cap thereof has the lower edge of its open lower end disposed at an angle of between 22 and 28 to horizontal below and relative to the open upper end of said sleeve.

3. The roof ventilator in accordance with claim 1 in which said flip-cap comprises a substantially circular U- shaped blank having a bowed portion spanning the inner confines of said baflle cap and overlying the open upper end of said sleeve.

4. The roof ventilator in accordance with claim 1 in which said flip-cap comprises a substantially elliptical U-shaped blank having a bowed portion spanning its major axis and parallel to the major diametric of such flue pipe and overlying said flue pipe and the open upper end of said sleeve for covering the same.

5. The roof ventilator in accordance with claim 4 in which the baflle cap thereof has the lower edge of its open lower end disposed at an angle of between 22 and 28 to horizontal below and relative to the open upper end of said sleeve.

6. In combination with a roof ventilator of the type having a roof cone flashing for a flue pipe and the like extending vertically above a roof structure and a cover sleeve having its lower end connected to said roof cone flashing,

(a) a batfle cap having an open top and bottom,

(b) bracket means between the upper end of said sleeve and said baflle cap for supporting the latter concentric to said sleeve with its upper end above the open upper end of said sleeve and its lower open end disposed in spaced relation to and below the open upper end of said sleeve, and

(c) an inspection flip-cap confined within said baffie cap comprising a U-shaped flexible blank having a pair of diametrically opposed tabs on opposite sides of said blank, means for securing the tab on one side of said blank to the upper end of said sleeve and a loop formed on the other side of said sleeve releasably securing the tab on the other side of said blank to the upper end of said sleeve.

7. The roof ventilator in accordance with claim 6 in which said flip-cap comprises a substantially circular U- shaped blank having a bowed portion spanning the inner confines of said baflle cap and overlying the open upper end of said sleeve.

8. The roof ventilator in accordance with claim 6 in which said flip-cap comprises a substantially elliptical U- shaped blank having a bowed portion spanning its major axis and parallel to the major diametric of such flue pipe and overlying said flue pipe and the open upper end of said sleeve for covering the same.

9. The roof ventilator in accordance with that of claim 6 in which the bafile cap thereof has its lower open end disposed at an angle of between 22 and 28 to horiz0ntal below the open upper end of said sleeve.

10. The roof ventilator in accordance with claim 9 in which said flip-cap comprises a substantially elliptical U- shaped blank having a bowed portion spanning its major axis and parallel to the major diametric of such flue pipe and overlying said flue pipe and the open upper end of said sleeve for covering the same.

6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 879,987 2/ 1908 Thompson 9846 1,510,265 9/1924 Filkins 98-60 1,704,942 3/ 1929 Hopson 9846 2,909,113 10/ 1959 Hatcher 98-84 XR 2,985,091 5/1961 Hatcher 98-46 ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner. M. A. ANTONAKAS, Assistant Examiner.