Year: 1897

page_text: I, WILLIAM HENRY BOATWRIGHT, Butler, of 51, East 73rd Street, New York City,
in the County and State of New York, United States of America, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improvement in chimney cowls and it has for its object
to provide a cowl which will accommodate itself to the wind no matter in what
direction it may be blowing. A further object of the invention is to construct a
chimney cowl having a conical and pivoted top in such a manner that the pivotal
connection will be simply formed and will not wear to any material extent and
whereby further the conical cap may be lifted by the wind to a predetermined
extent only, thus breaking the force of the wind should it get under the cap, and to
provide also a deflector formning a portion of the smoke-conducting pipe on the body
of the cowl in conjunction with which the conical cap will operate.
According to this invention the smoke-conducting pipe or body portion of the
cowl is provided with a flange at its upper edge which is shaped substantially as the
frustum of a cone and extends outwardly and downwardly from the upper edge of
the pipe or body so as to surround the same. Within the pipe or body are located
usually two brackets adapted as bearings for the lower portion of an upright spindle
which extends a predetermined distance beyond the upper edge of the pipe or body
and is provided with a somewhat conical or rounded upper end. This spindle is
adapted primarily as a support and pivot for a conical cap made preferably as light
as possible consistent with strength and at its apex a bearing is firmly secured upon the
inner side of the cap which is made of tough glass, porcelain, china, or equivalent
material, the said bearing being provided with a socket in its lower face in which the
pivot end of the spindle is made to enter. Thus, no matter to what extent the cap
may be rotated or rocked upon the spindle the bearing thereof will practically not
become worn and the cap itself will be protected.
It is desirable that the cap should rise to a certain extent but be prevented from
rising to such a distance that the spindle can leave its bearings since it is of great
advantage at times to break the force of the wind by the yielding motion of the cap
if the wind should eddy under the same. To this end chains or cables or the
equivalents thereof are attached either to the bearing or to the inner face of the cap
and led downward around the spindle and connected with a ring or its equivalent
loosely mounted upon the spindle the said ring being prevented from travelling up
the spindle beyond a predetermined distance by a collar on the spindle. Thus in
operation, no matter from what quarter the wind may blow, the conical cap will be
tipped upon one side, that side presented to the wind until its lower edge will come
in engagement with the conical flange on the body of the cowl or smoke-pipe. In
this manner the wind will be effectually prevented from entering the said body or
pipe and will be deflected to either side of the cowl, creating a proper draught.
When there is no wind the cap will remain stationary balanced upon its spindle and
the cap together with the conical flange will effectually prevent the sun from shining
into the body or pipe (since the sun tends to keep the gases in the chimney) and

page_text: therefore the gases will always have free exit. Furthermore the conical flange will
serve to shed any water that may be driven against the upper portion of the pipe or
body.
1005
1, WILLIAM HENRY BOATWRIGHT, Butler, of 51, East 73rd Street, New York City, in
the County and State of New York, United States of America, do hereby declare the
nature of iny invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,' to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to an improvement in chimney cowls, and it has for its
object to provide a cowl which will be exceedingly simple, durable and economic in
its construction, and one which will accommodate itself to the wind no matter in
what direction it may be blowing. A further object of the invention is to construct
a chimney cowl having a conical and pivoted top in such a manner that the pivotal
connection will be simply formed and will not wear to any material extent, and
whereby further the conical cap may be lifted by the wind to a predetermined extent
only, thus breaking the force of the wind should it get under the cap, and to provide
also a deflector forming a portion of the smoke-conducting pipe on the body of the
'cowl, in conjunction with which the conical cap will operate.
The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several
parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this
specification, which represents a central vertical section through a portion of the
smoke-conducting pipe or body of a cowl, the improved cap being connected
therewith.
In carrying out the invention the pipe A may be the upper end of a smoke-
conducting pipe, or it may constitute the body portion of the cowl. The said
pipe A is provided with a flange 10, formed at its upper edge, which flange is
shaped substantially as the frustum of a cone and extends outwardly and downwardly
from the upper edge of the pipe or body, surrounding the same.
Within the pipe or body, usually two brackets 11 and 12 are located, adapted as
bearings for the lower portion of a spindle 13. The spindle is upright, and extends
a predetermined distance beyond the upper edge of the pipe or body A, being
provided with a somewhat conical or rounded upper end. This spindle is adapted
primarily as a support and pivot for a conical cap B, made preferably as light as
possible consistent with strength, and at its apex a bearing 14 is firmly secured upon
the inner side of the cap, which is made of tough glass, porcelain, china, or equivalent
material, the said bearing being provided with a socket 15 in its lower face, of
substantially conical formation, in which socket the pivot end of the spindle is made
to enter.
Thus it will be observed that no matter to what extent the cap may be rotated or
rocked upon the spindle, the bearing thereof will practically not become worn, and
the cap itself will be protected.
It is desirable that the cap should rise to a certain extent, but be prevented from
rising to such a distance that the spindle can leave its bearings, since it is of
great advantage at times to break the force of the wind by the yielding motion of
the cap if the wind should eddy under the same. To this end chains or cables 16,

page_text: or the equivalents thereof, are attached either to the bearing 14 or to the inner
face of the cap, which chains are led downward around the spindle, and connected
with a ring 17, or its equivalent, loosely mounted upon the spindle, the said
ring being prevented from travelling up the spindle beyond a predetermined distance
by a collar, sleeve or Hange 18, produced on the spindle.
Thus in operation, no matter from what quarter the wind may blow, the conical
cap will be tipped upon one side, that side presented to the wind, until its lower edge
will come in engagement with the conical flange 10 of the body or pipe A. In this
manner the wind will be effectually prevented from entering the said body or pipe
and will be deflected to either side of the cowl, creating a proper draft. When there
is no wind the cap will remain stationary, balanced upon its spindle 13, and the cap,
together with the flange 10, will effectually prevent the sun from shining into the
body or pipe A (since the sun tends to keep the gases in the chimney), and therefore
the gases will always have free exit. Furthermore, the flange 10 will serve to shed
any water that may be driven against the upper portion of the pipe or body.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A chimney cowl, substantially as herein shown and described.
2. In a chimney cowl, the combination, with a tubular body and a spindle carried
by the body and extending therefrom, of a conical cap pivotally supported upon the
spindle over the upper or outer end of the body, the cap being provided with a
non-metallic bearing for the spindle, as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a chimney cowl, the combination, with a tubular body and a spindle carried
thereby and extending therefrom, of a conical cap provided with a bearing at its apex,
of a harder material than that of which the cap is constructed, the said bearing being
adapted to receive the upper end of the spindle, a stop located upon the spindle, and
chains or cables extending downward from the upper portion of the cap around the
spindle, and an apertured plate connecting the lower ends of the chains or cables
below the said stop, the plate being loosely mounted upon the spindle, whereby the
conical cap may rise from the spindle a predetermined distance, substantially as
shown and described.
4. In a chimney cowl, the combination, with a tubular body provided with an
annular downwardly and outwardly tapering flange located at its upper end, and a
spindle carried by the body and extending beyond its flanged end, of a tubular cap
having a bearing receiving the spindle, made of a harder material than that of which
the cap is constructed, a guide plate loosely mounted upon the spindle, a flexible
connection between said plate and the upper portion of the cap, and a stop located
above the plate, as and for the purpose set forth.
5. In the construction of chimney cowls, a body section provided with a spindle,
and a conical cap pivoted upon the spindle, the bearing in the cap receiving the
spindle being made of a harder material than that of which the cap is constructed,
as and for the purpose specified.
6. In a chimney cowl, a tubular body, and a conical cap pivotally suspended over
the body and capable of rocking upon its pivot support, the cap being capable of
rising from its support a predetermined distance, as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 25th day of November 1897.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.