IMPROVEMENTS IN CHIMNEY POTS OR COWLS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Whitehead, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Chimney Sweeper and Smoke-jack Cleaner, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHIMNEY POTS OR COWLS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Whitehead at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 13th
November 1866.
I, GEORGE WHITEHEAD, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Chimney
Sweeper and Smoke-jack Cleaner, do hereby declare" the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHIMNEY TOPS OR COWLS," to be as follows:-
My improved chimney pot or cowl is made by preference in two parts, one
fitting over the other. The inner portion or part is made by preference of an
octagonal shape, but it may be round, square, or of any other shape. For the
sake however of clearness I will describe it has being octagonal, the top
being covered with a cap, and made by preference somewhat conical. The
outer part, and which fits over and rests on the inner, is made of a shape to
correspond therewith, and is open at top, terminating' in a sort of crown or
canopy; ribs are brought from the top of the cap down the eight corners to
halfway down or thereabouts the top or cowl; in each square there are by
preference three apertures, preferably 'square; for the smoke to escape, which
can either ascend or descend according as the wind may effect the draught.
There are cross pieces from rib to rib which act as shields to prevent the

page_text: action of the wind when blowing down effecting the draught; when the cover
is on should wind blow in at the top it strikes the ribbed cap, and will thereby
be divided into small currents, and go down the eight compartments formed
by the outside covering resting on the ribs, the shields assisting to direct the
currents down, which will come out at the openings between the inner and
outer portions of the cowl, and instead of blowing the smoke down the
chimney will carry it out along with it by the same openings. If the wind
'blows upwards it may enter at the latter openings, and bring the smoke with
it out at the top; this top can be cleaned with the common sweeping
machine. The brush by striking against the cap will clear out the upper part,
and when at the top the bristles will expand into the twenty-four or other
number of apertures, and thereby most effectually clean them; but if there
is convenient access to the roof the outside cover can be lifted off at any time
as it fastens itself by its own weight pressing downwards, the bottom part
being wider than the upper part. These tops or cowls are made by preference
of zinc, but can also be made of iron or any other similar material. There is
a flange at the bottom on which to build brickwork, or by shortening the end
it will fit into or on any ordinary chimney pot:
i
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Whitehead in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th May 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
WHITEHEAD, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Chimney Sweeper and
Smoke-jack Cleaner, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
George Whitehead, Her special licence that I, the said George Whitehead,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George:
Whitehead, 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
CHIMNEY TOPS OR COWLS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the

page_text: said. George Whitehead, 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 George Whitehead, 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 thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to
the letters of reference marked thereon, that is to say:
.
My improved chimney top or cowl is made by preference in two parts, one.
fitting over the other. The inner portion or part is made by preference of an
octagonal shape, but it may be round, square, or of any other shape. For the
sake however of clearness I will describe it as being octagonal, the top being
covered with a cap, and made by preference somewhat conical. The outer
part and which fits over and rests on the inner is made of a shape to correspond
therewith, and is open at-top terminating in a sort of crown or canopy. Ribs
are brought from the top of the cap down the eight corners to halfway down
or thereabouts the top or cowl. In each square formed between the ribs
there are by preference three apertures, preferably square, for the smoke to
escape, which can either ascend or descend according as the wind may affect
the draught. There are cross pieces from rib to rib which act as shields
to prevent the action of the wind when blowing down affecting the draught.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a perspective view of a chimney
top or cowl constructed according to my Invention with the outside covering
removed, and showing the internal construction of the upper portion, and
Figure 2 is a similar view of the top or cowl as it appears when complete and
ready to be fitted to a chimney; Figure 3 is a detached view of the outside
covering as shown applied to the top, shown at Figure 2, and Figures 4 and 5
are views of another outside covering which I also apply to the same top or
cowl. a, a, are ribs extending downwards from the top of the cowl, as shown;
b, b, b, are apertures whereby smoke from the inside escapes, in each square
there are apertures, the number varying as desired, although I prefer three
in each, as shown; c, c, c, are the cross pieces extending from rib to rib; d, d,
are the outside coverings, either of which may be fitted on the top, as found
most desirable.
The action is as follows:-Supposing the cover shown at Figure 3 to be
applied to the cowl, should wind blow in at the top it strikes the ribbed, cap,

page_text: and will thereby be divided into sinall currents: and go down, the eight com-
partments formed by the outside covering resting on the ribs, the shields
assisting to direct the, currents down which will come out at the openings
between the inner and outer portions of the cowl, and instead of blowing the
smoke down the chimney will carry it out along with it by the same openings.
If the wind blows upwards it may enter at the latter openings and bring the
smoke with it out at the top. When the cap shown at Figures 4. and 5. is
used wind cannot enter at the top with any force so as to injure the draught,
but there is sufficient space to allow the smoke to escape under the cap;
this top can be cleaned with the common sweeping machine. The brush by
striking against the cap will clear out the upper. part, and when at the top
the bristles will expand into the twenty-four or other number of apertures, and
thereby most effectually clean them; but if there is convenient access to the
roof the outside cover can be lifted off at any time, as it fastens itself by its
own weight pressing downwards, the bottom part being wider than the upper
part. These tops or cowls are made by preference of zine, but can also be
made of sheet iron, cast iron, or other material. There is a flange at the
bottom on which to build brickwork, or by cutting off the end at the dotted
lines it will fit into or on any ordinary chimney pot.
:
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim, the construction
of chimney tops or cowls substantially in manner and for the purposes
herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Whitehead, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
GEORGE WHITEHEAD. (L.S.)