WO2014045130A1

WO2014045130A1 - Rotary chimney cleaning device

Info

Publication number: WO2014045130A1
Application number: PCT/IB2013/054651
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gintaras Eduardas Baguckis
Original assignee: Uab "Triju Artele"
Priority date: 2012-09-20
Filing date: 2013-06-06
Publication date: 2014-03-27
Also published as: LT6029B; LT2012086A

Abstract

The purpose of this invention is a device for cleaning of chimney walls that exhibits the following characteristics: chimney walls are cleaned from bellow; device is suitable for metal and masonry chimneys of all types, diameters, length and shapes; it thoroughly cleans of chimney walls without scratching; the structure is reliable, powerful, easy to use, requires minimal physical effort; designed with common users in mind. The exclusive feature of this invention is that the chimney cleaning brush (2) rotates around its axis and cleans chimney walls in the horizontal direction; the bristles (8) of the said brush are made of nylon and have a rectangular twisted rope shape and remove even the smallest contaminants, however strongly attached they might be, from chimney walls when the brush rotates; the said brush is driven by a rotation mechanism (4) that is coupled to the brush via members (3) of the foldable shaft. Such chimney cleaning device is capable to quickly, reliably and thoroughly clean chimneys of any type from deposits of combustion products (soot, creosote) and is a dream come true for any home owner.

Description

ROTARY CHIMNEY CLEANING DEVICE

Technical Field

This invention is related to chimney cleaning devices designed to remove soot and creosote released during a combustion process and deposited on flue walls. It is also related to chimney cleaning techniques.

Background Art

There are numerous patented chimney cleaning devices. The first wave of massive patenting of such devices came in 1905-1915. At that time cleaning of chimneys was an important and prominent occupation since a large proportion of people lived in single-unit houses and was using chimney sweep services. A multitude of various chimney cleaning devices was patented at that time, though most of them were intended for professional chimney sweeps. The second wave of patenting, although considerably less intensive, came in 1935-1940. The third wave (even smaller) came in 1970-1980. Over the last 20-30 years, patents for chimney cleaning devices dried out almost completely.

A known American patent No. US973911, published on October 25, 1910, describes a basic set of brushes for sweeping chimney walls. A part of the set is intended for cleaning vertical walls, a part, for horizontal walls (the bottom). The said brushes are attached to long pole-type holders to clean walls deep inside chimneys. Yet brushes of this type are to be used by professionals with adequate skills. Moreover, the brushed can be used on from above (this means that the sweep needs to climb on the roof) and quickly clog.

Another known American patent No. US764265, published on July 5, 1904, describes a chimney sweep structure that is lowered into a chimney by a well-type lowering/raising mechanism. The key part of the structure is made of hooks attached to the sides of the inserted structure that clean the chimney internals on ascent. Lowering of the structure into a chimney proceeds due to its own dead weight and a lifting mechanism is used for raising it. However, the structure suffers from significant flaws: it is extremely cumbersome; the hooks scratch chimney walls; it is suitable only for high straight stacks and is intended only for professional use.

Another known American patent No. US730359, published on June 9, 1903, describes a manual umbrella-shaped spring design consisting of cleaning hooks that can be variably extended depending on the control spring tension. Yet this chimney cleaning design is suitable only for sweeping of straight low chimneys of a square profile. The spring mechanism of the design is vulnerable to contamination and fails when soot gets inside.

Yet another known American patent No. US966853, published on August 9, 1910, describes a plate with sharp protrusions around the edges that perform the cleaning. The structure is lowered by means of a large weight attached underside. The whole mechanism is particularly complicated and cumbersome, includes many connecting parts, and is adapted to the internal profile of a specific chimney.

The next patent according to the technical level is the American patent No. US1964057, published on June 26, 1934. The patent describes a relatively simple chimney cleaning system that can clean chimneys of practically any geometry. The system consists of a cleaning brush (shape of the brush is highly similar to that of a bottle brush) that is lowered into a chimney flue and removed by means of a sufficiently thick cable. The brush bristles are made of metal or another hard material to keep them straight during cleaning of chimney walls. One end of the said cable is connected to the brush, and the other end is wound on a drum bracket that adjusts the cable length. The mechanism enables cleaning of irregular shaped chimneys from both top and bottom. However, the cleaning device is not very effective since cleaning is only performed in the vertical direction. The design itself is not easy to use since continuous movement of the brush requires considerable manual effort.

Overall, the historical patents for chimney cleaning systems for the most part describe cumbersome systems exclusively for professional use.

Technical Problem

Technical Solution

The invention seeks to propose a chimney wall cleaning device that exhibits the following characteristics:

- enables cleaning from bellow (as well as from above) ;

- cleaning procedure is suitable for metal and masonry chimneys of any diameter, length or shape;

- chimney walls are cleaned without scratching ;

- the device is easy to operate, exhibits high capacity and requires minimal physical strength;

- the device is reliable and light ;

- designed for common users, not professional chimney sweeps.

The key exclusive features of this invention are the following:

- the brush for cleaning of chimney walls rotates around its axis (as an impeller) and cleans chimney walls in the horizontal direction ;

- the said brush has nylon bristles of a rectangular twisted rope shape that clean (collect) even the smallest contaminants, however strongly attached they might be, from the (internal) chimney walls when the brush rotates (operates) ;

- the said brush is driven by a rotation device (e.g., a hand drill with an adapter in its head) that is coupled to the brush via extension members of the shaft.

Such chimney cleaning device is capable to quickly (due to easy assembly/dismantling thereof), reliably (due to simple design and a small number of components) and very thoroughly clean chimneys of any type, diameter or shape. Operation of the cleaning device requires minimal physical effort (thus it is suitable for men and women alike) and is designed with a common user in mind (nor a professional). This effective and potent yet simple and reliable tool is a dream comes true of any chimney owner. Operation of the tool is safe and reliable - it can be used day and night, in bad weather conditions that make climbing on the roof unsafe and even by people with disabilities.

Advantageous Effects

Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 shows the general structure of the chimney cleaning device (schematic view).

Fig. 2 shows close-up of the rotation mechanism and its coupling to a member of the foldable shaft.

Fig. 3 shows close-up of the joint between members of the foldable shaft.

Fig. 4 shows close-up of the brush structure.

Fig. 5 illustrates the operation of the invention during chimney the cleaning process.

Best Mode

The highest safety hazard to people and property is posed by combustion products - soot and creosote - that are released during combustion and deposited on chimney walls. These materials are highly flammable, and their accumulations in chimneys can cause fires. Sticky particles of these materials attach to chimney walls under the influence of high temperature, moisture and draft. The accumulated deposits (tar) not only reduce chimney capacity, but cause a fire hazard as well. Reduced chimney capacity diminishes effectiveness of heating devices (e.g., fire places, stoves, etc.) and increases their wear. Therefore, chimneys of active heating devices require continuous maintenance and periodic cleaning. Everyday chemical cleaning agents and fuel additives cannot replace mechanical cleaning - removal of tar with a brush. Chimney sweeping with a brush usually is a difficult and tedious job that requires time, patience and knowledge. For this reason and for a long time, it could be reliably done only by professional chimney sweeps.

The rotary chimney cleaning device/structure described in this invention features many useful characteristics and radically simplifies chimney cleaning procedure.

Fig. 1 shows the general structure of the chimney cleaning device (1). It consists of the following components: a brush (2), members (3) of a folding shaft, and a rotation mechanism (4). One end of the folding shaft (3) is attached (fastened) to the brush (2), and the other end, to the rotation mechanism (4). The number of folding shaft members (3) determines the distance between the brush (2) and the rotation mechanism (4), i.e., the increased depth of brush (2) insertion is achieved by joining a larger number of foldable shaft members (3). When all three structural components (2, 3, and 4) are coupled together, torque is transmitted from the rotation mechanism (4) to the elements (3) of the foldable shaft and to the brush (2). The brush (2) is inserted into a chimney flue and starts sweeping the walls with rotary action.

The rotary chimney cleaning device eliminates the need for ladders and other auxiliaries since climbing on the roof is not required. A chimney of any length can be easily cleaned from bellow by inserting the brush (2) through the opening in the heating device. Operation of the said rotary chimney cleaning device (1) does not require specialized knowledge, intense physical efforts (cleaning can be easily done by women) or multiple cleaning products. The easy-to-use device (1) allows to reduce expenses and to obtain peace of mind by enabling quick, reliable and easy cleaning of a chimney to ensure its good and hazard-free condition.

Fig. 2 shows close-up of the rotation mechanism (4) and its coupling (fastening) to a member (3) of the foldable shaft. A simple hand drill can be used as the rotation mechanism (4) with an adapter (6) inserted in its head and coupled with the nearest (first) member (3) of the foldable shaft via a locking connector (7). Laboratory tests demonstrated that a hand drill suites very well in the scheme of the invention (1). A hand drill (4) can ensure lasting and reliable operation of the device (1).

Fig. 3 shows close-up of a joint in the foldable shaft. A connector (7) is used to join two members of the foldable shaft.

Fig. 4 shows close-up sectional view of the brush (2) structure. The brush (2) is rotary since the action of the rotation mechanism (4) makes it turn around its axis. The brush (2) speed can be from several hundred to several thousand revolutions per minute depending on the hand drill (2) capacity. The drill-powered chimney cleaning device (1) according to this invention exhibits extraordinary cleaning power. The said brush (2) consists of bristles (8), the bristle holder (9) and the bristle mounting units (10). The bristles (8) of the brush (2) and the members (3) of the foldable shaft are made of nylon - an exceptionally durable, flexible, wear proof and chemical agents resistant material. Nylon gives strength and durability to the bristles (8) of the brush (2) and exceptional flexibility to the members (3) of the foldable shaft enabling them to navigate easily all bends of the flue and reach the top of the chimney, i.e., the device (1) is suitable for chimneys of any diameter, length or shape. The bristles (8) of the brush (2) have a special shape of rectangular twisted rope. Their shape reminds long and narrow drill bits. Driven by a powerful drill, they remove deposits of any firmness by fragmenting and scrapping. Furthermore, the nylon brush (2) of the invention is superior to the conventional metal brush since it does not scratch chimney walls and is suitable to chimneys of all types, including metal and masonry chimneys.

Fig. 5 illustrates the operation of the invented chimney cleaning device (1) during the cleaning process. The whole structure of the device (1) is easy to assemble and dismantle. Laboratory tests and measurements revealed that the optimal brush (2) diameter is 45 cm and the optimal length of flexible members (3) of the foldable shaft is 1 m. However, different dimension may also be used.

The above descriptions of the preferred embodiment scenarios are provided to illustrate and describe this invention. This is not an exhaustive or limited invention that seeks to establish an exact form or embodiment scenario. The above description is an illustration, not a limitation, and should be treated as such. Obviously, many modifications and variations can be evident for professionals of corresponding fields. The embodiment scenarios are selected and described to explain in the best possible manner to professionals of corresponding fields the principles of this invention and their best practical applications in various embodiment scenarios and variations adjusted for specific application or implementation. All terms used in the scope of the invention as defined by its definition and their equivalents are to be understood in the broadest meaning possible unless indicated otherwise. Modifications of embodiment variations described by professionals of corresponding fields should be acknowledged as remaining in the scope of this invention according to the following definition.

Mode for Invention

Industrial Applicability

Sequence List Text

Claims

1. Chimney cleaning device,

for cleaning of chimney walls from bellow (as well as from above), with a cleaning brush,

characterized in that it contains these components:

a rotary brush (2) made of bristles (8), a bristle holder (9) and bristle mounting units (10), where the said rotary brush (2) is coupled with a member (3) of the foldable shaft via a locking connector (7);

a rotation mechanism (4), consisting of a hand drill, the hand drill head (5), and the adapter (6) that couples the said rotation mechanism (4) with a member (3) of the foldable shaft via a locking connector (7);

members (3) of the foldable shaft that make the shaft by connecting to each other by means of locking connectors (7);

where:

the rotary brush (2), the shaft and the rotation mechanism are coupled sequentially by means of locking connectors (7);

the number of folding shaft members (3) determines the length of the shaft or distance between the brush (2) and the rotation mechanism (4), i.e., the increased depth of brush (2) insertion is achieved by joining a larger number of foldable shaft members (3);

the brush for cleaning of chimney walls rotates around its axis and cleans chimney walls in the horizontal direction.

2. A chimney cleaning device according to claim 1, characterised in that the bristles (8) of the brush (2) and the members (3) of the foldable shaft are made of Nylon - an exceptionally durable, flexible, ware proof and chemical agents resistant material - that gives strength and durability to the bristles (8) of the brush (2) and exceptional flexibility to the members (3) of the foldable shaft enabling them to easily navigate all bends of a flue and reach the top of a chimney, i.e., the device (1) is suitable for chimneys of any diameter, length or shape and of all types, including metal or masonry chimneys .

3. A chimney cleaning device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the bristles (8) of the brush have a special shape of rectangular twisted rope and resemble long narrow drill bits (driven by a powerful drill, they remove deposits of any firmness by fragmenting and scrapping).

4. A chimney cleaning device according to any of the claims 1-3, characterized in that the optimal brush (2) diameter is 45 cm.

5. A chimney cleaning device according to any of the claims 1-4, characterized in that the optimal length of foldable shaft member (3) is 1 m.