An Improved Chimney Top, Cowl, or Windguard for Preventing Down Draught
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left; 21st Aug., 1891-Accepted, 17th Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Chimney Top, Cowl, or Windguard for Preventing
Down Draught.
I, JOSEPH BENSON LIBBY, of 1 Clyde Place, Sophia Road, Leyton, in the
County of Essex, Retired Draper, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows
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My invention relates to an improved chimney top for fixing upon domestic or
other chimneys in lieu of the usual pot or tallboy the object of which is to prevent
downdraught, and facilitate updraught as a cure for smoky chimneys.
up
In carrying my invention into effect I construct of sheet iron, zinc, or any other
suitable metal or material, a chimney top, or pot of any desired length and
preferably rectangular in cross section surmounted by a convex cover, the under or
concave surface of which I find in practice it is best to cover with similar metal or
material so that it may present a flat surface to the interior of the chimney. Two
of the four sides of said chimney top or pot and parallel with each other are solid
from top to bottom that is to say they have neither aperture or break therein, and
fit close to and connected with the cover before mentioned. The other two
parallel sides extend from the bottom to within a given distance from the top so
that a large opening is left between the top of these latter sides and the cover.
Within each of the latter sides are two other openings preferably rectangular and
one above the other, each of which is shielded at the upper edge and ends by
suitable louvres fixed to said sides. Within said chimney top or pot I provide a
central vertical oscillating partition pivotted by any suitable means to and upon
the before mentioned solid sides, and centrally with the louvred sides, and in such
a manner that the lower half below the fulcrum is heavier than the upper half, so
that said partition will always remain vertical until disturbed. The length of said
partition is such that its upper end just clears the inner surface of the cover while
in a position of rest, and when said partition is tilted either way its upper end
protrudes beyond and without the upper opening of the side to which it inclines,
while its lower end would abut against the inner surface of the opposite side just
below the bottom louvred opening.
The manner of operation is as follows,
Given that when the chimney top or pot is fixed upon the chimney stack its
louvred sides stand east and west. Should the wind be blowing from the east its
power would force the upper end of said partition to the west and through the
upper opening in the west side, while its lower end would abut against the inner
surface of the east side below the lower louvre, so that the wind would pass through
the sides of said chimney without the remotest possibility of its going down the
chimney, and both louvres at the west side being uncovered the smoke would
exhaust therethrough, and coming in contact with the current of air passing through
the pot would materially assist the updraught, and should the wind be blowing
from the west the exactly opposite action would be the result. Should the wind
be blowing from the north or south it would be prevented from entering the
chimney top or cowl by reason of the resistance offered by the solid sides thereof.
A suitable flange or flanges is provided upon the lower end of said chimney
top or cowl for the purpose of attaching same to and with the brickwork of the
chimney stack to which it is to be affixed.
Dated the 6th day of December 1890.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Chimney Top, Cowl, or Windguard for Preventing
Down Draught.
I, JOSEPH BENSON LIBBY of 1 Clyde Place, Sophia Road, Leyton, in the
County of Essex, Retired Draper, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved chimney top, or cowl, for fixing upon
domestic or other chimneys in lieu of the usual pot, or tallboy, or in addition
thereto, the object of which is to prevent downdraught, and facilitate updraught as
a cure for smokey chimneys.
In order that my said invention and the manner of its operation may be clearly
understood, I have appended hereunto a sheet of drawings, in which,
Fig. 1 is a perspective elevation of a complete chimney top, cowl, or windguard,
constructed according to my invention, as it would appear when in actual use.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section of same.
Fig. 3 is a detached view in perspective, of the internal oscillating partition, and
Fig. is a view of one of the plates and pin, which form the pivot upon which
Fig. 3 oscillates within Figs. 1, and 2.
In carrying my invention into effect I construct of sheet iron, zinc, or any other
suitable metal, or material, a chimney top, pot or windguard Fig. 1, of
any desired
length, and preferably rectangular in cross section, surmounted by a cover A, the
upper, or outer surface of which is convex, and preferably finished with a point as
shewn, which may if desired be furnished with a weather vane, the under, or inner,
or concave side I cover with similar metal, so that it may present a flat surface A¹
to the interior of the chimney. Two of the four sides of said chimney top, or cowl B,
and C, are parallel with each other and are solid from top to bottom that is to say,
they have neither aperture or break therein, and fit close to, and are connected
with the cover A, the other two sides connecting B and C, and shewn by D, and E,
extend from the bottom to within a suitable distance from the top, so that a large
opening is left between D, and E, and the cover A, within each of said openings,
at a suitable distance from each other, I provide two or more stays, or ties,
extending from B, to C, and connected thereto, and shewn by a, b, c, d in Figs. 1
and 2, so that two or more openings, preferably rectangular, are formed thereby,
one above the other, the lower of said openings being partly formed by the upper
surfaces of D and E, said pot, or cowl is provided on each side with a suitable
number of louvres, preferably three, as shewn in Fig. 2, and furnished with solid
ends. Two of said louvres F, and G, are fixed upon the edges of B and C, imme-
diately above and resting in touch with a and c, further reducing the size of the
openings between a and c and the cover A; the other or remaining louvres H, I, J
and K, are fixed upon B, and C, in a similar manner to F, and G, but covering the
openings between a, and D, c, and E, formed by the stays b, d. Upon the outer
surfaces of B, and C, I fix by any suitable means stud plates L, Fig. 4, the studs
of which e penetrate the sides B and Û and project within the pot, or cowl, so that
two pivots are thereby formed, and upon these I mount an oscillating partition M,
shewn detached by Fig. 3, said partition M may be of sheet iron, or other suitable
metal, and is weighted at its lower end by means of a heavy metallic piece f
screwed, or otherwise fixed thereto, so that when mounted upon the studs e, by
means of the tubular formation g, it would always assume a vertical position until
disturbed. The upper end of M, may be solid as shewn at Fig. 3, or provided with
an opening, as shewn at Figs. 1, and 2, and the length of said partition is such
that, when mounted upon the studs e, the upper edge, just clears, or is a short
distance from the under surface of A', while in a position of rest as in Fig. 2, and
when tilted either way its upper end would protrude beyond and without the
openings above the louvres F, and G, while its lower end f, would abut against

page_text: and within the upper surface of the lower louvre at the opposite side as shewn by
the dotted lines in Fig. 2, and more particularly by Fig. 1, and the manner of
operation is as follows.
It is obvious that, if the wind be blowing in a direction to impinge upon the solid
sides B, or C, that the same would be prevented thereby from passing into, and
down the chimney, and if a current of air was passing crosswise to that just
described, it would not be possible for it to enter either of the smaller openings by
reason of the louvres upon that side, but it would be free to enter the upper
opening between the top louvre and A, but meeting with the upper end of the
oscillating partition M, this would be immediately tilted in the direction of the
current, and it lower end close the chimney from downdraught, as in the following
example.
Given that when the chimney top, or cowl as described is fixed upon the chimney
stack or pot, its louvred sides stand east and west, should the wind be blowing from
the east, or in the direction indicated by the arrow X Fig. 1, its power would force
the upper end of M, to the west, its lower end fabutting against the louvre J, the
current would thereby be shut off from passing down the chimney, and would pass
out at the west side in the direction indicated by the arrow X X, and vice versa should
the wind be blowing from the west, without the remotest chance of its going down
the chimney.
In Fig. 2 I have shewn by dotted lines the position of the oscillating partition M
in both the cases last cited, from which it will be seen that should the wind be
blowing from the left, and entering Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrow X Fig. 1,
and M tilted to the right and the current passing out as at X X in Fig. 1, the smoke
would exhaust through the louvres G, I, K, as shewn by the arrows in Fig. 2, and if
the current be in the opposite direction, through the louvres F, H, J, as shewn in
the same fig., and the smoke coming in contact with the current of air passing out
over the top of M, would materially assist, or augment the updraught, therefore a
chimney provided with my invention would have absolutely a better updraught in
windy weather, than in a calni, without the faintest possibility of a downdraught.
I have previously mentioned that I may construct the partition M, with or without
the opening h, and I am guided in this by the position of the chimney and other
surrounding circumstances.
A suitable flange, or flanges may be provided upon the lower end of said pot or
cowl, for the purpose of attaching same to, and upon the brickwork of the chimney
stack, or may be rendered circular at its lower end for slipping upon, or within a
chimney pot.
The neutrality of the partition M in calm weather constitutes the apparatus. an
open chimney, and the manner of constructing the cover A, so as to form a hollow
chamber, would, as it becomes heated to some extent assist convection, and further
facilitate updraught, and the oscillation of M during high winds keeps that much
of the sides B, C, within its travel perfectly clear of soot, and the sweeps brush by
reason of the wheel on the top thereof would pass up at either side of M and so
clear the louvres if necessary.
I wish it understood that although in the description herein contained, and the
appended drawings, I have shewn three louvres upon each of the sides upon which
they are fitted, I do not confine myself to that, or any other number of louvres, and
I may lengthen or shorten the oscillating partition M as may be required according
to the number of louvres employed, and decorate, ornament or vary the design of
the whole apparatus according to taste, so long as the manner of construction
remains substantially as described, without departing from the principle of my
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1st. The construction and use of a chimney pot, cowl, or windguard, made of

page_text: any metal, or material, and having external openings covered by louvres for the
prevention of downdraught and facilitating updraught, in combination with an
internal oscillating partition actuated by the external current, and operating sub-
stantially as herein set forth, and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
2nd. The improved chimney top, pot, cowl or windguard for preventing down-
draught, consisting of two solid, and two partly open sides B, C and D, E, the
latter provided with a suitable number of louvres upon the external surface, a
hollow chamber A forming the top or cover for said cowl, the internally oscillating
partition M, with, or without an opening, weighted at f, and having a tubular
formation g, by which M may
be pivotted upon studs e, the whole constructed and
arranged to operate automatically as and for the purposes specified substantially as
described and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of August 1891.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.