Improvements in the Flues of Domestic Fire-places.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 2nd June, 1890-Accepted, 5th Julv. 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Flues of Domestic Fire-places.
I KENNETH MCKENZIE, Mason, residing at number Thirty eight Frederick Street
Edinburgh do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the making of the flues or vents of fire places in
rooms in such a way that no back smoke or back draughts or blow downs can ariso:
and also for the prevention of fires in chimneys.
This Invention consists in a cast metal cone shaped flue or channel having its
narrow end at the top, being built into the fireplace. The lower sides of this flue or
channel are partly closed by two metal plates, one at each side and placed at an
upward angle.
Between the sides of the said flue or channel, and connecting the back with the
front thereof, and forming a solid connection between the back and front is a
diamond shaped cast metal cone, hereinafter called the central cone.
This is placed
at a distance of about three inches or thereby from the bottom of the flue and the
lower point thereof is on the same level with the top of the two metal plates above
mentioned.
Between the lower point of the central cone and the said two metal plates there is
a free space of two inches on each side of the cone for the egress of the smoke from
the fire to the flue.
The smoke passes up each side of the flue being forced up by the draughts which
are caused by the two narrow openings between the metal plates aforesaid and the
central cone.
At a point of between nine and ten inches from the bottom of the flue a damper
is fixed so as to regulate the draught. The mouth of the flue projects about
two inches from the plumb of front plate of the flue; and the base of the mouth does
not exceed five inches above the top rib of the grate.
The vent or flue can be so constructed that it can be very easily and completely
swept or cleaned at any time. It can be made of different sizes to suit different sizes
of fire places.
In the case of a fire occurring in the chimney the damper is shut or closed and
thus blocks the access of air to the chimney from below.
The Invention can also be specially adapted to kitchen fire places, by the use of
folding plates which can be opened or contracted as may be necessary and which
regulate the flow of draught into the flue.
Dated this Second day of September Eighteen hundred and eighty-nine years.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Flues of Domestic Fire-places.
I, KENNETH MCKENZIE, of 38 Frederick Street, Edinburgh, in the County of
Midlothian, North Britain, Mason, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
My invention, which relates to improvements in the flues of domestic fire-places,
has for its object the constructing of such flues in a manner to prevent back-smoke,
back-draughts, or blow-downs.
My Invention consists of a cast or other metal flue or channel, tapered so that it
is narrower at the top than at the bottom. The lower sides of this flue or channel

page_text: are partly closed by two metal plates, one at each side, and placed at an upward angle.
Between the sides of this flue there is also a diamond-shaped piece of metal, which
forms a connection between the back and front thereof. This diamond-shaped piece
of metal is so placed that its lower point is at or about the same level as the top of
the metal plates before mentioned. At or near the top of this flue or channel there
is another diamond-shaped piece of metal, placed or fixed in the same manner, or in
a somewhat similar manner, as the diamond-shaped piece of metal just mentioned.
This flue or channel is also provided with a damper to regulate the draught. The
bottom of the chimney is almost entirely closed in, and access is had to it through
a sweep's damper. The sweep's damper would remain open to the extent of an inch
or thereby, for the purpose of ventilating the room. The said flue or channel may
also be made of brick or fireclay.
In order that my Invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect I have hereunto appended two explanatory sheets of drawings, in the several
Figures of which, corresponding parts are marked with the same letters of
reference.
Figure 1. is a front elevation showing my improvements.
Figure 2. is a vertical section of the same; while Figure 3 is a transverse section.
Figure 4. shows my improvements as applied to an ordinary room grate.
A is the tube or channel; BB are the metal plates; C is the diamond-shaped
piece of metal; D is the damper; and E is the diamond-shaped piece of metal
at the top of the tube or channel.
In carrying my Invention into practice, I build this tube or channel A into the
back of the fire-place, so that the lower end lies about five inches or so above,
though not directly over, the top rib of the grate, as shown in Figure 4. As the
smoke leaves the fire, it passes up the tube or channel A, through the spaces aa,
between the metal plates B B and the diamond-shaped piece of metal C till it reaches
the top, when it passes through the spaces bb between the top of the tube and the
metal piece E, and then goes up the chimney as shown at Figure 2.
The damper D can be adjusted to regulate the draught, and in the case of a fire
occurring in the chimney, the damper could be closed and thus shut off the access of
any air to the chimney from below, and so assist in extinguishing the fire.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
The tube or channel A, metal plates B B, diamond-shaped pieces C and E, and
damper D, as and for the purposes herein before described and shown on the
accompanying sheets of drawings.
Dated this 31st day of May 1800
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.