GB2361524A

GB2361524A - Flue system

Info

Publication number: GB2361524A
Application number: GB0102777A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Sidney Shute
Original assignee: DUNBRIK
Current assignee: DUNBRIK
Priority date: 2000-03-23
Filing date: 2001-02-02
Publication date: 2001-10-24
Also published as: GB0102777D0; IE20010297A1; GB0007037D0

Abstract

The invention is concerned with the construction in a domestic dwelling of the prefabricated type of a class 1 flue system. Conventionally in a prefabricated home, the class 1 flue system is connected to either a frame or prefabricated panels of the prefabricated home. Instead of adopting the conventional practice of fixing the due blocks to the frame or panels, (which results in stress on the flue and/or the frame or panels when as is usual, the frame or panels shrink), intermediate U sectioned channels 50 are provided, with the open sides facing the flue blocks 36. The edges of the blocks simply locate in the channels, but are not fixed thereto, so that stress on the flue as a result of shrinkage of the frame or panels is avoided.

Description

2361524 Improved Flue System This invention relates to an improved flue

system.

In the construction of buildings, especially domestic homes, it is usual to provide the building with a flue which leads from for example the room commonly called the living room or lounge, the idea being that the flue leads to a fireplace in which a fire can be provided.

Fires in living rooms can take many forms from an open coal fire to a back boiler gas fire.

The present invention is concerned with buildings which are provided with hearths to receive open fires, be they of coal, coke, wood or the like. Such a flue system is called a Class 1 system. The system comprises an open hearth, and a flue of sufficient dimension or capacity to accommodate burning fuel. In such a system, the hearth is made up of blocks arranged to form the hearth cavity, and this is topped with the flue blocks which extend from the hearth cavity up to the top of the building, where there is a chimney. The gaseous products of combustion pass up the flue and out of the chimney to atmosphere Currently, because of a shortage of skilled building labour, there is a tendency to construct what are termed "factory built" homes. This does not mean that the entire home is built in a factory, but that as much as possible is, and sections of the building, already constructed, are taken to the site for erection.

Typically in a factory built home, timber or steel frames, or wall panels are constructed in the factory, and are transported to the site.

The hearth cavity 20 is made up of three superimposed and similarly shaped hearth blocks 14, 16 and 18, each of channel shape as shown by block 16 in the sectional view of Fig. 1.

The sides of the blocks 14 to 18 are flanked by hearth flanking blocks 22, 24 and 26 which again as shown in Fig. 1 are of L-shape in cross-section, each block having a long leg which lies ad)acent the hearth block, and a short leg which extends at right angles to the sides of the hearth blocks so as to lie in effect in alignment with the wall panels 28 and 30 forming the interior wall of the room.

Exteriorly, there is brickwork 32, and this brickwork as is common in building construction is spaced from the inner wall panels 28 and 30 to provide an insulating air gap 34. The brickwork 32 follows the shape of the hearth 12 as shown in Fig. 1 and also in Fig. 2.

On top of the hearth blocks 14 to 18 there is mounted a hearth throat block 36 the purpose of which is to narrow the flue passage from the width of the hearth cavity 20 down to the size of flue liners 38 of circular configuration as shown in Fig. 2.

The throat block 36 is flanked by flanking blocks 38 and 40 of a similar configuration to blocks 22 to 26, and the short legs of the blocks 38 and 40 align with the short legs of the blocks 14, 16 and 18.

Above the throat block 38 is a series of flue blocks 42 which are of a configuration shown in Fig. 2 in that they are square hollow form provided with an extension leg 44, and up the height of the flue stack these blocks 42 are placed alternately as shown in Fig. 4 so that the legs 44 in respect of ad)acent blocks, face in opposite directions.

3 so the edges of the blocks of the flue system fit into the channels, with clearance, so as to be free therein, to enable frame to shrink relative to the blocks,, without undue stress being placed on the blocks or the rest of the building.

The flue system is built up progressively, through upper rooms provided and arranged in the same way in relation to timber frames of upper stories.

The channels may be of galvanised steel, and they are preferably connected to the timber frame by screws, pins or other means.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein, Fig. 1 is a sectional plan of a building wall at the fireplace recess level; Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the building wall at a position above the shoulders of the flue; Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation through the wall the section being taken on the centre of the fireplace; Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the wall showing the fireplace; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional plan of the detail ringed in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, and firstly to Fig. 4, a domestic flue system is indicated generally by reference numeral 10, and is provided with the class 1 hearth arrangement 12 in which any appropriate materials may be burned.

6 material. The flanking blocks are placed so that their portions in alignment with the wall panels are engaged in the channels as described herein.

A particularly suitable and effective construction results, and stresses between the wall panels and their frames and the flue stack are avoided.

Modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as explained herein.

Finally, flanking blocks 46 and 48 which respectively are long and short are placed adjacent the flue blocks 42 as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

The ends of the blocks 46 and 48 align with the ends of the short legs of the hearth flanking blocks 22 to 26, and the throat flanking blocks 38 and 40. The reason for this is that these edges locate in guide channels 50 and 52 which are connected to the wall panels 28 and 30 as shown in Fig. 1. This means that the portions of the flanking blocks which engage in the channels 50 and 52 are free to move relative to the channels, whereby when the shrinkage as mentioned herein takes place, stresses between the blocks which engage in the channels and the channels themselves, and hence the wall panels are avoided.

The wall panels suitably are made up of frames of timber, and may be in filled with insulating or finish material such as cementitious material to form the wall panels 28 and 30, as described herein.

The detail is shown more clearly in Fig. 5, where the timber frame member adjacent the channel 52 is shown and indicated by a reference numeral 54, and that frame member is pinned or otherwise secured to the channel 52 but the short leg 56 of the flanking block 40 is free to move in the channel 52 to provide the improved effect of the invention as indicated herein.

As shown in Fig. 4 the flue blocks 42 are built up to as high a level as required until the chimney 58 is reached. In construction, the wall panels 28 and 30 are initially put in place, and the flue is built up progressively from the bottom. As the flue liners 38 are placed in position in each of the upper blocks 38 and 42, the space around the flue liner may be filled with appropriate insulating backfill 8 frame or panels to shrink relative to the blocks, without undue stress being placed on the blocks or the rest of the building.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein there is a frame and, when the timber frame is delivered to site, the channels have already been connected thereto.

9. A method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein when the flue system is built up progressively through one or more upper stories it is provided and arranged in the same way in relation to each upper story.

10. A method of constructing a class 1 flue system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7

Claims

1. A class 1 flue system located relative to a frame or panels by means of channels which are either connected to the frame or panels and/or the flue system blocks, the other of said frame or panels and/or flue block system locating freely in the channels, enabling the frame or panels to shrink, with time, relative to the flue system.

2. A flue system according to claim 1, wherein there is a frame.

3. A flue system according to claim 2, wherein the frame is of timber.

4. A flue system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the channels are mounted on the frame, and the blocks locate freely in the channels.

5. A flue system according to claim 4, when taken with claim 2 or 3. wherein the channels are of galvanised steel, and they are connected to the frame by screws, pins or other means.

6. A class 1 flue system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A method of constructing the class 1 flue system according to claim 1, wherein the channels are on the panels or frame and are located around the fireplace aperture, so as to be open inwards of the aperture, and the flue system is built up progressively, from ground level, by fitting the blocks of the flue system so that the edges of the blocks locate in the channels,, with clearance,, so as to be free therein) to enable