IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO CHIMNEY TOPS AND VENTILATORS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hugh Dyer, of Liverpool, in the County of Lan-
caster, General Foreman Bricklayer to Messrs. Holme and Nicol, of
Liverpool aforesaid, General Contractors and Builders, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO CHIMNEY TOPS AND VENTILATORS, AND
Sealed the 7th February 1865, and dated the 12th August 1864.
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
August 1864.
I, HUGH DYER, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, General Foreman
Bricklayer to Messrs. Holme and Nicol, of Liverpool, General Contractors
and Builders, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE.
MENTS APPLICABLE TO CHIMNEY TOPS AND VENTILATORS, AND APPARATUS FOR CLEAN-
ING THE SAME AND FLUES GENERALLY," to be as follows (that is to say) :-
This Invention has for its object certain improvements applicable to chimney
tops or cowls and ventilators, and apparatus for cleaning or sweeping the
same and flues generally.

page_text: To apply this Invention, say to a flue or chimney top, I construct a vertical
shaft, which at the bottom internally coincides with the openings on top of
the flue or chimney of, say, nine inches by fourteen inches. The square base
is slightly tapered upwards, and worked into a circle at about one-half its
height. The top is formed with two or more hollow arms or branches, which
extend downwards, say to about one-half the full height of the apparatus.
These hollow arms or branches are so bent as to form a semicircle on the top,
about two-thirds of their length from the apex, after which the lower ends, by
preference, extend vertically down, and are open at the bottom. The two or
more arms are constructed with an aerial section about equal to the area of
the vertical shaft. This improved chimney top may be constructed of metal,
terra cotta, or other suitable material; but by preference of terra cotta when
used for a chimney top, and of molded glass when used as a ventilator. It is
preferred to construct this improved chimney top in two parts, and fitting the
same together by a socket joint, the upper portion of which carries the hollow
arms or pendant branch or branches of pipe or pipes and the upper portion of
the vertical shaft. Internally the top of the vertical column is fitted with a
transverse working shaft or axle, upon which is mounted a small grooved guide
pulley, from the side of which spring arms, which are bent outwards to form
about a quadrant of a circle. These three, four, or any greater number of
arms that may be applied, are connected together on each side by a circular
ring or band, so as to form a skeleton or openwork deep grooved pulley. The
axis of this grooved pulley may be stationary or revolve as found most
convenient. An endless chain or wire rope, or its mechanical equivalent, is
passed over the grooved guide pulley, and extends down to the mouth of the
flue, or to the fire-place connected with the flue or flues, where, when in use,
it works over a grooved guide pulley keyed on to an horizontal driving shaft,
which is fitted on its outer end with a crank handle, and revolves in fixed
bearings attached to a portable frame, which will be hereafter described, or
through bearings formed on the upper end of a suitably forked screw clamp,
attached by set screws to the bars of the grate, or in any other convenient
manner. The object of this endless chain or wire rope or other band is to
attach thereto a circular or other suitably formed brush, such as are now
commonly used for sweeping chimneys, but it is preferred to make the stock
of the brush as small as conveniently practicable, to enable it to be more
readily passed over the top of the guide pulley. These brushes are generally
made from whalebone, piassava, or other suitable material, but it is here
preferred in some cases to use round or flat steel wire, such as that known as
crinoline steel, and forming the brushes thereof by looping up the steel wire,

page_text: so as to present no points to the sides of the flue, by which arrangement a
stiff but elastic brush, or its mechanical equivalent, may be formed, which will
not be apt to penetrate the plaster on the interior of the chimney. The brush,
of whatever form it may be, is attached to the endless belt of chain or wire
rope, or other material, by a short piece of chain or wire rope, or other
suitable material, and to prevent the endless band or endless chain getting
twisted in the upper part of the flue, a small stationary metal, rod is placed
across the flue, and passes between the fold of the endless band a little above
the take-up or mouth of the flue. The axle of the grooved pulley wheel, to
be placed within the fire-place, it is preferred to place slightly obliquely to the
horizon, and it is to be so. constructed that it may slide in and out and up and
down a given distance on the upright of the frame which carries the sliding
bearings, which is fixed at any point by set screws or otherwise for the crank
handle shaft, and is connected to an open triangular base, by preference of
iron, and which, when in use, is placed on the floor in front of the fire-place or
flue, and is supported by oblique stays extending from the angles of the
triangular base to the vertical support, and is provided with a frame or screw
in front thereof, which is capable of being distended or contracted to suit
the requirements of the various sized openings of fire-places or flue fronts, so
as to prevent the soot or other substance falling into the room during the time
the apparatus is in operation. When it is desired to clean the flue, all that
is required is to turn the crank handle, so as to draw the brush up tho'
chimney or flue over the grooved guide pulley near the head of the aforesaid
chimney top or ventilator, when it is drawn down again, and continue the
operation as often as may be necessary, after which remove the chain or other
endless band from the grooved wheel on the driving shaft, when that portion
of the apparatus can be removed, after which remove the brush, when the
lower end of the chain or endless band, having a turn or two put into it, may
be thrown over the transverse guide bar extending across the lower end of the.
flue, where it can remain until again required.
In some cases it is preferred to fit the interior of the cowl' or chimney top
internally with a fan, resembling a screw propeller, or other suitable form,
having by preference its axis at right angles to the drooping hollow passages
or side arms, and a little below the junction thereof with the vertical shaft, but
in most cases when used for a chimney or flue it is believed the fan may be
dispensed with. For the convenience of getting at the fan and the aforesaid
grooved guide pulley, and the endless band working thereon, a circular or
other suitablo opening may be made through the top of the aforesaid chimney
top or cowl, which is closed by a suitable lid. When the cowl or chimney

page_text: top herein-before described is required to be used as a ventilator, it is preferred
to use the fan only, and when it is required to clean the flue or air shaft to
remove the fan and fan shaft, and insert the grooved guide pulley and endless
chain described, by which apparatus dust or other accumulation can be
removed from the air shaft by means of the brush described, after which it is
proposed to remove the aforesaid guide pulley, endless band and brush, and
replace the fan.
When this apparatus is used for a ventilator solely in one or more of the
drooping branches or hollow arms, two or more pipes may be fixed to them,
and to extend below the base of the vertical shaft into the ceiling or other
position of the room or place which it is intended to ventilate, the pipes or
flues to act as syphons.
When it is desirable to ventilate more than one apartment, it is proposed
to divide the arms or drooping branches and vertical air shaft into passages,
so as to form syphons, which will draw in the fresh air through the short
branches, and discharge the foul air through the longer ones.
The expanding frame for holding the cloth for preventing the soot, dust, or
other accumulations of the flue falling into the room during the operation of
the cleaning of the flue may consist of a square frame of wood or other
material, formed so as to be capable of being expanded and contracted within
given limits. This frame may be formed of square timber, which is rabbeted
and undercut, to receive the other bars of timber or other suitable material,
which is capable of being drawn out to the required distance, so as to fully
enclose the opening, and be in close contact therewith at every part. This
frame is used to hold a cloth to prevent the soot or other débris entering the
room. The cloth is formed with a hole and sleeve to receive the axle of the
crank handle and grooved pulley.
The endless chain or band, guide pulley, and so forth may be applied for
the purpose of cleaning all description of flues.
Soot or dust will not readily accumulate in the drooping arms, as the
current of air will be inclined to keep them clean, and they are perfectly
protected internally from the admission of rain, snow, or hail, consequently
they will only require, if at all, to be cleaned at long intervals. Among the
advantages claimed for this improved system of generating draughts in
chimneys or air flues is that it is perfectly self-acting at all times.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Hugh Dyer. in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
February 1865...
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HUGH
DYEB, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, General Foreman Bricklayer
to Messrs.. Holme and Nicol, of Liverpool aforesaid, General Contractors and
Builders, send greeting...
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself,. Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Hugh Dyer, Her special licence that I, the said Hugh
Dyer, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Hugh Dyer, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,. the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE
TO CHIMNEY TOPS AND VENTILATORS, AND APPARATUS FOR. CLEANING THE SAME AND
FLUES GENERALLY," upon the conditon (amongst others).that I, the said Hugh
Dyer, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and. seals, should. particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Hugh Dyer, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):
This my said Invention has for its object certain improvements applicable
to chimney tops, or cowls and ventilators, and apparatus for cleaning the same
and flues generally.
To apply this my said Invention to, say, a flue or chimney top, I construct
a vertical shaft, which at the bottom internally coincides with the openings on
the top of the flue or chimney, say, nine inches by fourteen inches. The
base I slightly taper upwards, and work into a circle at or about one-
half its height. The top I form with two or more hollow arms or branches
square

page_text: extending downwards, say to about one-half the full height of the apparatus.
These hollow arms or branches I so bend as to form a semicircle on the top,
about two-thirds of their length from the apex, after which the lower ends, by
preference, extend vertically down, and are open at the bottom. These two
or more arms collectively have an airial section, about equal to the area of the
vertical shaft. This my improved chimney top may be constructed of metal,
terra cotta, or other suitable material; but I prefer terra cotta when used for
a chimney top, and molded glass when used as a ventilator. I prefer to
construct this my improved chimney top in two parts, and to fit the same
together by an horizontal socket joint on the vertical shaft, the upper portion
of which consists of the bollow curved arms or pendant branch pipes and the
head of the vertical shaft. I fit within the top of the vertical column a trans-
verse working shaft or axle, upon which is mounted a small grooved guide
pulley, from the side of which spring arms, which are bent outwards to form
about a quadrant of a circle. These three, four, or any greater number of
arms that may be applied are connected together on each side by a circular
ring or band, so as to form a skeleton or openwork deep grooved pulley. The
axis of this grooved pulley may be stationary or revolve, as found most con-;
venient, the object of the curved arms being to secure the travelling brush
being properly carried over it, and at the same time not to materially obstruct
the draught when not in use. An endless chain or wire rope, or its mechanical
equivalent is passed over the grooved guide pulley, and extends down to the
inouth of the flue or flues, where, when in use, it works over a grooved guide
pulley keyed on to an horizontal driving shaft, which is fitted on its outer end
with a crank handle, and revolves in fixed bearings attached to a portable
frame, which will be hereafter described, or through bearings formed on the
upper end of a suitably forked screw clamp attached by set screws to the bars
of the grate, or in any other convenient manner. To this endless chain or
wire rope or other band I attach a circular or other suitably formed brush,
such as are now commonly used for sweeping chimnies; but I prefer to make
the stock of the brush as small as conveniently practicable, to enable it more
readily been passed over the top of the guide pulley. These brushes are
generally made from whalebone, piassava, or other suitable material, but I;
prefer in some cases to use round or flat steel wire, such as that known as
crinoline steel, and forming the brushes thereof, by which arrangement a stiff,
but elastic brush, or its mechanical equivalent, may be formed, which will not
be apt when in use to injure the plaster on the interior of the chimney. The
brush, of whatever form it may be, I attach to the endless belt of chain or
wire rope or other material by a short piece of chain or wire rope or other

page_text: suitable material, and to prevent the endless band or endless chain getting
twisted in the upper part of the flue, I place a small stationary metal rod
across the flue, which passes between the folds of the endless band a little
above the take-up or mouth of the flue. The axle of the grooved pulley
wheel to be placed within the fire-place I prefer to place slightly obliquely to
the horizon, and to be so constructed that it may slide in and out and up and
down a given distance on the upright of the frame which carries the sliding
bearings, which I can fix at any point by means of set screws or otherwise
for the crank handle shaft, and is connected to an open triangular base, by pre-
ference of iron, and which, when in use, is placed on the floor in front of the
fire-place or flue, and is supported by oblique stays extending from the angles
of the triangular base to the vertical support; and is provided with a frame
or screw in front thereof, which is capable of being distended or contracted
to suit the requirements of the various sized openings of the fire-places or flue
fronts, so as to prevent the soot or other substance falling into the room
during the time the apparatus is in operation. When it is desired to clean
the flue, all that is required is to turn the crank handle, so as to draw the
brush up the chimney or flue over the grooved guide pulley near the head of
the aforesaid chimney top or ventilators, when it is drawn down again, and
continue the operation as often as may be necessary, after which remove the
chain or other endless band from the grooved wheel on the driving shaft, when
that portion of the apparatus can be removed, after which remove the brush,
when the lower end of the chain or endless band having a turn or two put
into it, may be thrown over the transverse guide bar extending across the
lower end of the flue, where it can remain until again required.
In some cases I prefer to fit the interior of my improved cowl or chimney
top internally with a fan resembling a screw propellor or other suitable form,
having by preference its axis at right angles to the drooping hollow passages
or side arms, and a little below the junction thereof with the vertical shaft ;
out in most cases when used for a chimney or flue the fan may be dispensed
with. For the convenience of getting at the fan and the aforesaid grooved
guide pulley, and the endless band working thereon, a circular or other
uitable opening may be made through the top of the aforesaid chimney top
r cowl, which is closed by a suitable lid. When the cowl or chimney top
erein-before described is required to be used as a ventilator, I prefer to use
he fan only, and when it is required to clean the flue or air shaft to remove
he fan and fan shaft, and insert the grooved guide pulley and endless chain
escribed, by which apparatus dust or other accumulations can be removed

page_text: from the air shaft by means of the brush described, after which I propose to
remove the aforesaid guide pulley, endless band, and brush, and replace
the fan..
When this apparatus is used for a ventilator solely, in one or more of the
drooping branches or hollow arms I fix two or more pipes to them, which may
be made to extend below the base of the vertical shaft into the ceiling or other
position of the room or place which it is intended to ventilate, the pipes or
flues acting as syphons.
...When it is desirable to ventilate more than one apartment it is proposed to
divide the arms or drooping branches and vertical air shaft into passages, so
as to form syphons, which will draw in the fresh air through the short
branches, and discharge the foul air through the longer ones..
The expanding frame for holding the cloth for preventing the soot, dust, or
other accumulations of the flue falling into the room during the operation of
cleaning the flue may consist of a square frame of wood or other material
formed so as to be capable of being expanded and contracted within given
limits. The frame I form of square timber, which is rabbeted and undercut
to receive the other bars of timber or other suitable material, which is
capable of being drawn out to the required distance, so as to fully enclose the
opening, and be in close contact therewith at every part. This frame is used
to hold a cloth to prevent the soot or other débris entering the room.
cloth is formed with a hole and sleeve to receive the axle of the crank handle
and grooved guide pulley.
The
The endless chain or band, guide pulley, and so forth may be applied for
the purpose of cleaning all descriptions of flues.
. Soot or dust will not readily accumulate in the drooping arms, as the
current of air will be inclined to keep them clean, and they are perfectly
protected internally from the admission of rain, snow, or hail, consequently
they will only require, if at all, to be cleaned at long intervals.
Among other advantages which I claim for this my improved system of
generating draughts or air flues is that it is perfectly self-acting at all times.
That this my said Invention may be 'the more readily seen and understood
I have hereunto annexed Drawings illustrating the practical application of
the same, like letters and figures marked thereon being used to denote similar
parts.
"
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of one of my improved chimney
tops or ventilators, and Figure 2 is a like sectional elevation showing the
skeleton pulley with the circular brush passing over it; Figure 3 is a side

page_text: elevation of the grooved skeleton pulley; Figure 4 is an external side
elevation of my improved chimney top or ventilator; Figure 5 is a perspective
sketch (on a reduced scale) of one my improved chimney tops or venti-
lators, and Figure 6 is a front sketch of the same shown detached; Figure 7
is a vertical sectional elevation of a fire-place, showing the forked bearings
carrying the transverse shaft, on the inner end of which is keyed the grooved
pulley, over which passes the endless chain or wire rope for operating the
travelling brush. In this modification it will be observed that the standards
for carrying the revolving shaft are attached to the bars of the grate by means
of set screws. Figure 8 is a vertical transverse section of a fire-place and
framework for carrying a long bearing for the revolving shaft, upon which is
keyed the grooved pulley for operating the chain or cord to which the travelling
brush is attached.
.
A, brickwork; B, the vertical shaft of my improved chimney top or venti-
lator, which is capped by C, the top, which consists in the modification here
shown of two curved pendant branch arms, which at the bottom open out into
the atmosphere; D (Figure 2), a transverse shaft which forms the axle of E,
an open-sided grooved pulley, a side elevation of which is shown at Figure 3,
and over which travels F, the endless band of chain, wire rope, or other
suitable material, and G, the travelling brush. H is a tight-fitting lid fitted in
the top of the chimney top or ventilator for the convenience of getting at the
open-sided pulley (E) and its transverse shaft (D); I, bottom of the grate;
K, bars of the grate; L (Figure 7), a clamp which is attached to the bars
of the grate by means of M and M', set screws; N and N¹, two forked arms
on the clamp (L), which carry the bearings for P, a driving shaft, the outer
end of which is fitted with Q, a crank handle for revolving the shaft, which
shaft is also fitted on its inner end with R, a grooved pulley, over which
travels the endless chain or band.(F), to which is suspended the travelling
brush (G) by means of T, a short chain or cord. U (Figures 7 and 8)
is a stationary transverse bar placed in the throat or take-up of the flue,
seperating the folds of the endless band to prevent the same becoming twisted
together and thereby foul when the apparatus is not in use, and over which
the lower portion is thrown when not in use. V (Figure 8) is a vertical
frame, which is arranged so as to be expanded or contracted to cover the fire-
place openings of various sizes, the same being covered with a screen of cloth
or other suitable material, and is jointed at the bottom on to an horizontal
frame resting on the floor in such a way that when not in use the same may
be folded up to a convenient size. The vertical frame is constructed with a
+

page_text: vertical standard in the centre, which carries W (Figure 8), a long hollow
bearing for P (Figure 8), a driving shaft, the inner end of which is fitted
with R' (Figure 8), a grooved pulley, and at the outer end with Q', a crank
handle.
When this improved apparatus is used simply as a ventilator on the head
of an air shaft the brushing apparatus may be dispensed with, and when used
as a chimney top the brushing apparatus may also be dispensed with, but in
the latter case I much prefer to connect thereunto the sweeping apparatus.
The arrows are used to show the direction of the draught into the open air.
In applying this apparatus to air shafts or chimnies I first build on the
top of the chimney or air shaft the vertical shaft (B), and if an air shaft, in
most cases I simply place on the top of the vertical shaft the top with the
curved pendant branch arms and its lid; then I fix on the lid in the top,
when it is complete, but when I use the brushing apparatus in conjunction
therewith, I take an endless band of chain, wire rope, or other suitable
material of the required length, and pass the same down the chimney or air
shaft; I then place the upper portion over the open-sided grooved pulley, and
place the same with its shaft in position in the chimney or ventilator top'; I
then place the rigid bar in the throat or take-up of the flue or chimney, so as
to pass between the folds of the endless band. When it is desired to clean
the flue, I take the clamp and its appendages, as illustrated in Figure 7, or
the vertical frame with its appendages, as illustrated in Figure 8, and place
them in position in front of the fire-place or lower opening of the air flue,
taking care to pass the endless band over the grooved pulley on the inner end
of the horizontal or oblique shaft. I then attach the brush to the endless
band by means of a short pendant chain or cord; I then rotate the shaft by
means of the crank handle, which draws the travelling brush up the flue and
over the open-sided grooved pulley in my improved ventilator or chimney top.
I continue to turn the crank handle in the same direction which causes the
brush to descend, and repeat this operation as often as may be deemed
necessary, so as to entirely remove the soot or dust adhering to the sides of
the flue. I then remove the clamp or frame with its appurtenances from the
grate or lower opening in the air flue, remove the brusb, and hang the lower
end of the chain or endless band over the transverse rigid bar in the throat or
take-up of the flue, so as to be out of the way until again required.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this my said Inven-
tion, and how the same may be performed, I wish it to be understood that I
do not confine myself to the precise details, relative proportions, or dimensions

page_text: herein-before described and set forth, as it will be readily seen that the same
may be entirely varied without departing from the Invention; but what I
claim is,
First, the peculiar arrangement, form, and construction of the tops of
chimnies and air shafts substantially in the manner and for the purposes
herein-before described and set forth.
Secondly, constructing the travelling brushes from elastic metallic wire of
a round or other sectional form, substantially in the manner and for the
purposes herein-before described and set forth.
Thirdly, the use of an expanding frame for enclosing mouths of fire-places
and air shafts, substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-before
described and set forth.
Fourthly, the use of the open-sided or skeleton grooved pulley within the
head of the ventilator for carrying the endless band and travelling brush,
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-before described and
set forth.
And, lastly, the peculiar construction, arrangement, and general combi-
nation of the various parts of the apparatus substantially in the manner and
for the purposes herein-before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hugh Dyer, have hereunto set my
hand and affixed my seal, this Tenth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
WILLIAM WALKER,
of 44, Castle Street,
Liverpool.
HUGH (L.S.) DYER.