GB2191571A

GB2191571A - Sealing flues

Info

Publication number: GB2191571A
Application number: GB08614211A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Jennison
Original assignee: Ti Parkray Ltd
Current assignee: Ti Parkray Ltd
Priority date: 1986-06-11
Filing date: 1986-06-11
Publication date: 1987-12-16
Also published as: GB8614211D0

Abstract

A flue sealing method and device are disclosed in which a flue sealing device 1 in the form of a brush having a hole 4 for receiving a flue pipe 5, and a multiplicity of radially extending flexible wires 3 surrounding said hole, is inserted upwards into a chimney flue 8, the flexible wires 3 being deformed into close contact with the walls of the chimney flue 8 regardless of any irregularities therein, to form the foundation for sealant 9 which is applied through the hole 4 for sealing the flue pipe 5 to the chimney flue 8 (Fig. 2). The brush may be attached to a flue pipe by which the brush is inserted in the flue, or may be connected to an adapter pipe which is coupled to a flue pipe. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Flue sealing method and device This invention relates to a method of sealing an applianceflue pipe in a chimneyflueandtoaflue sealing device.

It is often required to seal the flue pipe of, say, a solidfuel orgas-fired appliance in achimneyflue.

Typicallythefluepipewill be inserted upwards into thechimneyflue,which usually is of brick construction, and one method of making a seal between the two involves breaking through the brickwork of the chimney above the point where the seal is to be made in orderto insert the sealing material. Such a method of sealing the flue pipe has obvious disadvantages. Other problems that are usually encountered are that often the particular configuration ofthe chimney flue is not known beforehand and also it is necessary to take account of any irregularities that might exist on the inside of the chimney flue such as misaligned bricks or projections of cement rendering.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved flue sealing method and device.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of sealing a flue pipe in a chimney comprising the steps of inserting into said chimney a sealing device having a hole for receiving a flue pipe and a multiplicity of outwardly extending flexible elements surrounding said hole, and applying a sealant to said device for sealing itto the walls ofsaid chimney.

In a preferred method for carrying outthe aforesaid first aspect of the invention in which the hole in said sealing device iscircularandtheflexible elements extend radially therefrom, the sealing device is inserted upwards into a chimney and a sealant, typically a mortar mix, is applied to the upper surface of said device, preferably through the hole thereof.

It may be arranged that the sealing device is inserted into the chimney with the aid of a flue pipe, to which the sealing device may be attached.

According to a further aspect according to the present invention there is provided a flue sealing device having a hole for receiving a flue pipe and a multiplicity of outwardly extending flexible elements surrounding said hole.

In a preferred arrangementforcarrying outthe aforesaid further aspect, the hole in said sealing device will be circular, the flexible elements extending radially therefrom.

Advantageouslytheflexible elements are formed from wire, preferably stainless steel wire, possibly of corrugated form, and conveniently these may extend from an annular mettalic support in which they are secured. The metallic support may be attached to a flue pipe for insertion into a chimney.

The flue sealing device may be of circularform or it may be of rectangular e.g. square form .

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1, is a schematic view of a flue sealing brush in accordance with the present invention, and; Figure 2, depicts the flue sealing brush of Figure 1 inserted into a chimney flue.

In Figure 1 of the drawings there is shown a flue sealing brush 1 which consists of an annular metallic support 2 in the outward periphery of which is secured a multiplicity of radially extending flexible wires 3. The metallic support 2 is provided with a central hole4which is adapted to receive and bea closefitto an appliance flue pipe which is shown in Figure 1 as a flue connector pipe 5. Thefluesealing device 1 may be used on its own in conjunction with an applianceflue pipe orit may be actuallyattached to a flue pipe connector, such as the connector pipe 5, which may then be provided with an adapterto couple itto an appliance flue pipe.

In Figure 2 ofthe drawings there is shown a cross-sectional view of a typical fireplace installation using the flue sealing brush 1 of Figure 1. In Figure2 a fireplace surround 6 is shown having an opening 7 through itgiving access to a brick chimney flue 8. It is normally required to insert an appliancefluepipeor, as is shown in the drawing, an appliance flue connector pipe 5 in the chimney flue 8 and to seal this to the walls ofthe chimney flue 8. This is achieved in accordance with the present invention by inserting the flue sealing brush 1 of Figure 1,which may or may not be attached to the flue connector pipe 5, in through the opening 7 in the fireplace surround 6 and forcibly inserting it upwards into the chimney flue 8.It is normally arranged that the outer periphery of the flexible wires 3 of the flue sealing brush 1 hays a diameterwhich is largerthanthe anticipated largest dimension of the chimney flue 8 so that in forcing the sealing device 1 upwards into the flue 8, the flexible wires 3 of the device 1 are deformed downwards so thatthe endsthereof make contact with the walls ofthe chimneyflue 8 regardless of any irregularities that may exist in the chimney walls. The wires 3 then form the foundation for sealant 9, such as mortar mix, which is inserted upthrough theflue connector pipe and which is used to provide a seal between the flue connector pipe and the walls of chimney flue 8.

In a preferred form itis proposed that theflexible wires 3 of the flue sealing brush 1 be formed from stainless steel wire, possibly of corrugated form, but it will be appreciated that flexible elements other than wire and possibly being non-metallic may be used.

In addition, although in the embodiment described the outer periphery ofthewires 3 define a flue sealing brush ofcircularform, it should be appreciated that the flue sealing brush may have a periphery of square or rectangu lar form which may be better suited to chimneys of this form, or it may be of any other convenient shape.

1. A method of sealing a flue pipe in a chimney comprising the steps of inserting into said chimney a sealing device having a hole for receiving a flue pipe and a multiplicity of outwardly extending flexible elements surrounding said hole, and applying a

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Flue sealing method and device This invention relates to a method of sealing an applianceflue pipe in a chimneyflueandtoaflue sealing device. It is often required to seal the flue pipe of, say, a solidfuel orgas-fired appliance in achimneyflue. Typicallythefluepipewill be inserted upwards into thechimneyflue,which usually is of brick construction, and one method of making a seal between the two involves breaking through the brickwork of the chimney above the point where the seal is to be made in orderto insert the sealing material. Such a method of sealing the flue pipe has obvious disadvantages. Other problems that are usually encountered are that often the particular configuration ofthe chimney flue is not known beforehand and also it is necessary to take account of any irregularities that might exist on the inside of the chimney flue such as misaligned bricks or projections of cement rendering. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved flue sealing method and device. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of sealing a flue pipe in a chimney comprising the steps of inserting into said chimney a sealing device having a hole for receiving a flue pipe and a multiplicity of outwardly extending flexible elements surrounding said hole, and applying a sealant to said device for sealing itto the walls ofsaid chimney. In a preferred method for carrying outthe aforesaid first aspect of the invention in which the hole in said sealing device iscircularandtheflexible elements extend radially therefrom, the sealing device is inserted upwards into a chimney and a sealant, typically a mortar mix, is applied to the upper surface of said device, preferably through the hole thereof. It may be arranged that the sealing device is inserted into the chimney with the aid of a flue pipe, to which the sealing device may be attached. According to a further aspect according to the present invention there is provided a flue sealing device having a hole for receiving a flue pipe and a multiplicity of outwardly extending flexible elements surrounding said hole. In a preferred arrangementforcarrying outthe aforesaid further aspect, the hole in said sealing device will be circular, the flexible elements extending radially therefrom. Advantageouslytheflexible elements are formed from wire, preferably stainless steel wire, possibly of corrugated form, and conveniently these may extend from an annular mettalic support in which they are secured. The metallic support may be attached to a flue pipe for insertion into a chimney. The flue sealing device may be of circularform or it may be of rectangular e.g. square form . An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1, is a schematic view of a flue sealing brush in accordance with the present invention, and; Figure 2, depicts the flue sealing brush of Figure 1 inserted into a chimney flue. In Figure 1 of the drawings there is shown a flue sealing brush 1 which consists of an annular metallic support 2 in the outward periphery of which is secured a multiplicity of radially extending flexible wires 3. The metallic support 2 is provided with a central hole4which is adapted to receive and bea closefitto an appliance flue pipe which is shown in Figure 1 as a flue connector pipe 5. Thefluesealing device 1 may be used on its own in conjunction with an applianceflue pipe orit may be actuallyattached to a flue pipe connector, such as the connector pipe 5, which may then be provided with an adapterto couple itto an appliance flue pipe. In Figure 2 ofthe drawings there is shown a cross-sectional view of a typical fireplace installation using the flue sealing brush 1 of Figure 1. In Figure2 a fireplace surround 6 is shown having an opening 7 through itgiving access to a brick chimney flue 8. It is normally required to insert an appliancefluepipeor, as is shown in the drawing, an appliance flue connector pipe 5 in the chimney flue 8 and to seal this to the walls ofthe chimney flue 8. This is achieved in accordance with the present invention by inserting the flue sealing brush 1 of Figure 1,which may or may not be attached to the flue connector pipe 5, in through the opening 7 in the fireplace surround 6 and forcibly inserting it upwards into the chimney flue 8.It is normally arranged that the outer periphery of the flexible wires 3 of the flue sealing brush 1 hays a diameterwhich is largerthanthe anticipated largest dimension of the chimney flue 8 so that in forcing the sealing device 1 upwards into the flue 8, the flexible wires 3 of the device 1 are deformed downwards so thatthe endsthereof make contact with the walls ofthe chimneyflue 8 regardless of any irregularities that may exist in the chimney walls. The wires 3 then form the foundation for sealant 9, such as mortar mix, which is inserted upthrough theflue connector pipe and which is used to provide a seal between the flue connector pipe and the walls of chimney flue 8. In a preferred form itis proposed that theflexible wires 3 of the flue sealing brush 1 be formed from stainless steel wire, possibly of corrugated form, but it will be appreciated that flexible elements other than wire and possibly being non-metallic may be used. In addition, although in the embodiment described the outer periphery ofthewires 3 define a flue sealing brush ofcircularform, it should be appreciated that the flue sealing brush may have a periphery of square or rectangu lar form which may be better suited to chimneys of this form, or it may be of any other convenient shape. CLAIMS

1. A method of sealing a flue pipe in a chimney comprising the steps of inserting into said chimney a sealing device having a hole for receiving a flue pipe and a multiplicity of outwardly extending flexible elements surrounding said hole, and applying a sealant to said device for sealing itto the walls of said chimney.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the hole of said sealing device is circular and the flexible elements extend radially therefrom.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, in which the sealing device is inserted upwards into a chimney and in which a sealant is applied to the upper surface ofsaid device.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, in which the sealant is applied to the upper surface of the sealing device through the hole thereof.

5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the sealing device is inserted in the chimney with the aid of a flue pipe.

6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the sealing device is attached to a flue connector pipe by means of which it is inserted in the chimney.

7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim in which the sealant is a mortar mix.

8. A method as claimed in any preceding claim in which the flexible elements of said sealing device are formed from wire.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, in which the wire elements are corrugated.

10. A method as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, in which the wire elements extend from an annular metallic support in which they are secured.

11. Amethod as claimed in any of claim 8to lOin which the wire elements are made of steel.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, in which the wire elements are made of stainless steel.

13. Aflue sealing device having a hole for receiving a flue pipe and a multiplicity of outwardly extending flexible elements surrounding said hole.

14. A device as claimed in claim 13, in which the hole of said sealing device is circular and the flexible elements extend radially therefrom.

15. A device as claimed in claim 14, in which the flexible elements are formed from wire.

16. A device as claimed in claim 15, in which the wire elements are corrugated.

17. Adevice as claimed in claim 15or 16, in which the wire elements extend from an annular metallic support in which they are secured.

18. Adevice as claimed in claim 17, in which said support is attached to a flue connector pipe.

19. A device as claimed in any of claims 13to 18, in which the wire elements are made of steel.

20. Adevice as claimed in claim 19, in which the wire elements are made of stainless steel.

21. A device as claimed in any of claims 13to 20, ofcircularform.

22. A device as claimed in any of claims 13 to 20, of rectangularform.

23. A device as claimed in claim 22, of square form.

24. A method of sealing a flue pipe in a chimney substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

25. Afluesealing devicesubstantiallyas hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.