IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS TO BE USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHIMNEYS AND FLUES
Year: 1843

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
MOON, of Millman Street, Bedford Row, in the County of Middlesex, Surveyor,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twenty-fifth day of April, in the sixth year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said James
Moon, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said James Moon, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James Moon, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of
years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS TO BE USED IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHIMNEYS AND FLUES;" in which said Letters Patent is
contained a proviso, that I, the said James Moon, shall cause a particular
description of the nature of my said Invention; and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
James Moon, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and

page_text: ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say :-
It has long been generally considered that circular flues of chimneys form
the best channel and conductor, and they are capable of being cleaned with
great facility. Various contrivances have been heretofore resorted to for
making circular flues; as they have heretofore been constructed by Mr. Hiort,
and others, although displaying considerable ingenuity, have been defective,
from the circumstance of the parts not bonding with the general brickwork,
consequently, injurious to the strength of a buiding, so that their use has, I
believe, for the most part, been abandoned. Circular flues have also been
formed in metal, but from the action of contraction and expansion, together
with defective bond, rendered them objectionable. Circular flues are also formed
of earthenware tubes, but which are, from the ignition of soot or the slightest
.settlement of the building, liable to burst, and are defective in bonding in with
the general work; and I mention these in order to state that I do not claim
the making of circular flues of chimneys generally, my Invention having for its
object to construct bricks of such shapes, that whilst they shall produce
circular flues or interiors of chimneys, they shall be suitable for bonding with
the general brickwork. The bricks and other connecting portions forming the
circular flues according to this Invention are moulded so as to work in and
bond with the general brickwork, and to preserve the strength of a building.
Every flue is perfect in itself and capable of being built or taken down without
injury or interference with an adjoining flue. The flues generally are formed
by four bricks to every course, and in some parts only three bricks are required
to form the circle, consequently, producing a considerable reduced number of
vertical joints, whereas the old rectangular flue requires seven bricks, with the
same number of vertical joints to every course, for the formation of a flue.
Another important advantage is that the liability from fire is considerably
lessened by these flues, as they are readily distinguishable from the general
brickwork, so that with ordinary care, timber insertions and plugging are
avoided. The diversions or elbows of the new flues are formed with splayed
moulded bricks, and a uniform size is preserved throughout, whereas in the
old flues the elbows in most cases have been formed by cutting (mostly badly
done), which causes them to be crippled and contracted in those parts,
producing obstructions and lodgments for the soot. A contraction in the throat
of these flues is formed at the opening, which produces good draught, whereas
the large voids usually left are very prejudicial to draught. The termination at
the top is made with a valvular ring and domical top, enclosed and protected with

page_text: a cap for the prevention of down currents. The flues are formed of various
sizes, suitable for their intended application. The chimney bars are formed by
a front plate and bed to receive gussets; bearing bars are placed across the.
opening to carry the throat, with hooks attached for soot bag and cloth requisite
for cleansing. Throats of moulded lumps are formed, two to each course, and
without any vertical joints externally; the flues are of moulded bricks, four to
each course, distinguished as bonders and stretchers, used alternately; the
diversions or elbows are made with splayed gathering bricks, and where elbows
are required to run horizontally, moulded springers are provided; to form the
angles, connecting bricks are designed, moulded and splayed to use; where
flues are required to run from one diameter to another, four different bricks
for shafts are designed, forming polygonal and round figures, terminating with
valvular ring and doimcal top, enclosed in moulded cap, the whole of which are
more particularly set forth and shewn in the following Drawings annexed.
Having thus described my Invention, I wish it to be understood that in thus
forming bricks suitable for making circular flues of chimneys, I claim,―
First, the so forming them so as to bond in with the general brickwork.
Secondly, I claim the making of holes through bricks suitably formed for
producing circular flues of chimneys.
Thirdly, I claim the mode of constructing chimney bars, as above described.
And, fourthly, I claim the mode of applying a domical top and valvular
ring to tops of chimneys, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Moon, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-three.
JAMES. (L.s.) MOON.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-fourth day of October,