IM- PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO CHIMNEYS OR FLUES FOR IMPROVING THE DRAUGHT THEREIN, AND FOR PREVENTING DOWN DRAUGHTS, OR THE DESCENT OF SMOKEINTO APARTMENT
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Aytoun, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mil
Lothian, North Britain, Writer to the Signet, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO CHIMNEYS OR FLUES FOR IMPROVING
THE DRAUGHT THEREIN, AND FOR PREVENTING DOWN DRAUGHTS, OR THE DESCENT
TER
Lothian, North Britain, Writer to the Signet, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO CHIMNEYS OR FLUES FOR IMPROVING
THE DRAUGHT THEREIN, AND FOR PREVENTING DOWN DRAUGHTS, OR THE DESCENT
OF SMOKE INTO APARTMENTS."
Sealed the 16th April 1862, and dated the 17th October 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Aytoun at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th
October 1861.
I, ROBERT AYTOUN, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North
Britain, Writer to the Signet, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO CHIMNEYS OR
FLUES FOR IMPROVING THE DRAUGHT THEREIN, AND FOR PREVENTING DOWN DRAUGHTS,
OR THE DESCENT OF SMOKE INTO APARTMENTS," to be as follows,, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to the application or adaptation and use of an
automatic or self-acting valve or valvular movement in or to chimneys and
flues and chimney tops of various kinds and in various situations for the
purpose of curing what are commonly known as smoky chimneys.
According to one modification whereby this Invention is or may be carried
out in actual practice, the apparatus consists of a horizontal valve seat or
frame, fixed air-tight in the interior of the chimney or flue, either immediately
above the fire grate or in any other part of the chimney, or in or upon the
chimney top. The actual working face of the seat is formed at an angle, and

page_text: the valve itself, which is counterbalanced by a weight along the back edge, is
fitted to vibrate on knife edge or other centres or journals, carried by the
frame, a suitable stop being fitted upon the frame to prevent the valve from
opening back too far. The valve opens upwards and partially opens or closes
the flue passage in accordance with the requirements of the draught, but
always insuring such an escape area as best suits the draught action. When-
ever there is a tendency to a "blow down" to produce what is known as a
"down draught," the external pressure from above at once closes the valve,
and the discharge of smoke downwards is immediately checked.
In applying
this valve to a chimney top, it is fitted into the bottom of a metal frame or
holder, which again is fitted into the top of the chimney top.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Aytoun in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th April 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
AYTOUN, Writer to Her Majesty's Signet in Scotland, send grecting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Robert Aytoun, Her special licence that I, the said Robert Aytoun, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert
Aytoun, or 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 IN
APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO CHIMNEYS OR FLUES FOR IMPROVING THE DRAUGHT
THEREIN, AND FOR PREVENTING DOWN DRAUGHTS, OR THE DESCENT OF SMOKE INTO
APPARTMENTS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert
Aytoun, or 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Aytoun, 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:-
My said Invention relates to the application or adaptation and use of an
automatic or self-acting valve or valvular movement in or to chimneys and
flues and chimney tops of various kinds, and in various situations, for the
purpose of curing what are commonly known as smokey chimneys.
According to one modification, whereby this Invention is or may be carried
out in actual practice, the apparatus consists of a horizontal valve seat or
frame, fixed air-tight in the interior of the chimney or flue, either immediately
above the fire grate or in any other part of the chimney, or in or upon the
chimney top. The actual working face of the seat is formed at an angle, and
the valve itself, which is counterbalanced by a weight along the back edge, is
fitted to vibrate on knife edge or other centres or journals carried by the
frame, a suitable stop being fitted upon the frame to prevent the valve from
opening back too far. The valve opens upwards and partially opens or closes
the flue passage in accordance with the requirements of the draught, but
always insuring such an escape area as best suits the draught action. When-
ever there is a tendency to a "blow down," to produce what is known as a
"down draught," the external pressure from above at once closes the valve,
and the discharge of smoke downwards is immediately checked. In applying
this valve to a chimney top it is fitted into the bottom of a metal frame or
holder, which again is fitted into the top of the chimney top.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Aytoun, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of April, in the year of our
Lord 1862.