Improvements in Cowls for the Prevention of Down Draughts, Rain, and the like in Chimneys and Ventilators.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1899
Improvements in Cowls for the Prevention of Down Draughts, Rain,
and the like in Chimneys and Ventilators.
We, WILLIAM WHITEHEAD, of 62, Carter Street, Greenheys, Electrical
Engineer; THOMAS HARRIS, of S, Exchange Street, and HoWARD CURTIS SACRÉ,
of 44, Brazennose Street, both Chemical Merchants, all of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement.:-
This invention relates to improvements in cowls for the prevention of down
draughts, rain, snow and the like in chimneys and ventilators and has for its
object to render such cowls more efficient and reliable in action than hitherto has
been the case.
And in order that our invention may be more fully understood we have caused
to be appended hereunto one sheet of drawings marked with letters of reference
indicating like parts in the various figures.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section and Fig. 2 a plan at line A-A of Fig. 1 of a chimney
pot or stack furnished with a cowl constructed in accordance with one form of
our invention, and Fig. 3 a side elevation partly in section. Figs. 4 & 5 are
respectively a detached vertical section and a sectional plan of a modification of
Fig. 1.
According to one form of our invention and in applying same to an existing
chimney pot or stack a we use a short tube a' placed inside the said pot or stack
and having lugs b resting on the top thereof. The said tube is held in position
upon the chimney pot or stack by rods e secured to the said lugs and to the base
of the chimney pot or stack or the roof as may be found most convenient.
To the top of the tube a¹ we secure a cross bar d reaching a suitable distance
above the same and to the said bar we secure concentrically with the said tube the
oil cup e.
In the centre of the latter is secured a fork f between which is fulcrumed by
two pivots h, h, a block g having also two pivots i, i and fulcrumed to another
fork which to together form a universal joint for the cowl 1, the said pivots
being all in one plane and at right angles to each other.
The upper fork is furnished with a hollow shaft m to the upper end of
which is secured by means of two nuts n, n the cowl and which is closed by
means of a knob o which when removed, facilitates the filling of the cup e with
oil through the pipe m.
The position of the universal joint described relative to the cowl is such that
the centre of gravity of the cowl is below its point of motion, it being obvious
that the higher the point of motion is situated, the less sensitive will be the
cowl in its action.
In order to prevent noise which may be created by the cowl striking the top
of the tube a', we provide a buffer p of rubber or any other suitable material,
which we preferably apply to the tube a' in ring form, as shown in Fig. 1.
It will be obvious that in metal chimney pipes the said tube or extensions may

page_text: be dispensed with and the universal joint and cowl employed directly over the
same.
It will be thus readily understood that the cowl described is capable of tilting
in any direction and thus cover the side of the mouth of the chimney pipe or its
extension which is impinged upon by the wind and thereby exclude wind, rain,
snow and the like, whilst the opposite side remains open and permits the escape
of the smoke or hot gases ascending through the chimney and that the said joint
will be totally immersed in oil and the sensitiveness of the cowl thus ensured.
Referring to Fig. 3 in applying our improved cowl to an archimedian or
other rotating ventilator q we extend the spindle r of the same upwards and
secured thereto by means of a couplings the shank t of the lower fork f of the
universal joint. The exterior of the cowl / we form with wings u so as to cause
the wind to revolve the cowl and with it the archimedean ventilator q, the cowl
in the meantime being capable of tilting in any direction.
In this case we employ the buffer 2 around a disc secured to the shank t of
the lower fork f, so that it revolves with the cowl.
To prevent an upward air current striking under the cowl we may form the
top of the ventilator 9 with a bevelled flange w, see Fig. 3, which forms a baffler
or deflector and may also be used in connection with the chimney tube a¹ shown
in Fig. 1.
In order to prevent rain or the like lodging on the said baffler or deflector it
is formed with perforations w¹ through which same may escape.
According to a modification of our invention we may adapt the cowls applied
to a chimney pot, pipe or tube, also to revolve, by furnishing it externally with
wings u, as shown in Fig. 4, in which case however the hollow shaft m is formed
solid at its lower end and adapted to rotate in a footstep y see also Fig. 5 formed
on the block
which is pivoted to a ring y', pivoted at right angles to another
ring z secured concentrically at the bottom to the interior of the oil cup e.
In order to prevent the cowl being lifted out of its footstep by an upward
current of air we form the same with an annular groove m¹ and in the footstep
we employ screws engaging in the said groove.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is: —
6 IN CHIMNEY COWLS."
1st. The general construction and combination of parts constituting our
improvements operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. In combination with a chimney pot, stack or pipe a and a cowl 7, a
universal joint f, g, k, the chimney pot, stack or pipe a being adapted to support
the said universal joint and the latter the said cowl, all substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
3rd. The combination with the universal joint specified in the preceding
claim, of an oil cup e surrounding the same, all substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
4th. The cowl supported as specified in Claims 2 & 3 furnished externally
with wings u in combination with a rotary ventilator g, the said cowl serving
to rotate the said ventilator and at the same time tilt and exclude rain or the like
from the ventilator, all substantially as set forth.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicants.