GB2513691A

GB2513691A - Flue pipe mounting apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2513691A
Application number: GB1400809.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Howard Sleight; Colin Barnes
Original assignee: Ideal Boilers Ltd
Current assignee: Ideal Boilers Ltd
Priority date: 2013-01-18
Filing date: 2014-01-17
Publication date: 2014-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 2034-01-17
Also published as: GB201400809D0; EP2946144A1; GB2513691B; EP2946144B1; WO2014111728A1; GB201300896D0

Abstract

A flue pipe mounting apparatus 2, for mounting a flue pipe 10 such that it passes through a barrier structure such as a wall 4, comprises a sleeve 8 for receiving the flue pipe. The flue pipe mounting apparatus 2 also comprises a flexible member in the form of a seal 12. The seal 12 is arranged to connect to a flue pipe 10 and is attached to the exterior surface of a wall 4 which the flue is passing through by a connection means in the form of a clamping ring 14 connected to the wall by bolts 16. The sleeve 8 and flexible member 12 are configured to enable expansion of a connected flue pipe 10 through the flexibility of the flexible member 12 and the lack of a fixed connection between the sleeve and the flue. The sleeve may include a lip or flange 9 which is flush with the exterior of the wall.

Description

I

Flue Pipe Mounting Apparatus

Technical field of the invention

This invention relates to flue pipe mounting apparatus, flue pipe mounting apparatus with flue pipes mounted therein and methods of mounting flue pipes within a mounting structure.

Background to the invention

It is known to provide flue pipes from exhaust gas generating apparatus such as condensing boilers, ovens and stoves for example. In many installations of these apparatus and flue pipes, the flue pipe is run from the apparatus through a mounting structure such as a wall or roof and the distal end of the flue pipe extends slightly beyond the mounting structure. Exhaust gases are exhausted from the distal end of the flue pipe outside of the building in which the apparatus is installed.

In use, heat generated by flue gases may cause the flue pipe to expand, and IS conversely cooling may cause the flue pipe to contract, which can cause undue stresses and strains on any connections between the flue pipe and the exhaust gas generating apparatus, or to any connections within the flue pipe itself Many flue pipes used on condensing boilers are mounted within concentric outer ducts, where exhausted flue gases pass down an inner flue pipe, and incoming combustion air for the boiler is drawn down the outer duct from outside the mounting structure. The incoming air is generally cooler than the flue gases being exhausted, and ensures that the outer duct remains cool, as well as having a cooling effect on the inner flue pipe. Consequently the outer duct does not noticeably expand or contract and expansion and contraction of the inner duct is limited. The outer duct is generally rigidly fixed and the flue pipe may comprise multiple sections connected together by socket joints. Due to the cooling effect of incoming combustion air, contraction and expansion of the inner flue pipe is mitigated and the sockets between the jointed sections are not put under undue expansion and contraction stress, There is desire in some installations to run flues as two separate pipes, one for incoming combustion air and one for waste exhaust flue gasses. These "twin" flues give increased flexibility of installation with long flue run capabilities. It is an advantage with long flue runs of this type is that the flue gets hotter than in a concentric system, and therefore tends to expand more under thermal expansion. If socket joints are used in twin flue systems, then during expansion and contraction it is possible for the sockets to disengage through movement via extension or contraction of the flue sections. Any disengagement of the flue pipe sections could be potentially dangerous and exhaust gasses could leak into the building in which the installation is mounted. Therefore, currently it is preferred to securely join flue pipe sections by means such as solvent welding, but problems still remain in accommodating any expansion or contraction of this type of flue pipe.

It is therefore an aim of embodiments of the present invention to overcome or

mitigate the problems of the prior art.

It is also an aim of embodiments of the invention to allow thermal expansion and contraction of a flue pipe, whether comprising a single flue pipe or joined sections, as the flue pipe exits an external wall, whilst providing a seal against the ingress or egress of gasses or other materials into a building.

Summary of the invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a flue pipe mounting apparatus, for mounting a flue pipe within a mounting structure, the apparatus comprising a sleeve for receiving a flue pipe therethrough and arranged in use to be located within a flue pipe mounting structure, a flexible member in the form of a seal, arranged to connect to a flue pipe in use and comprising mounting structure connection means arranged to connect the flexible member to the exterior surtice of a wall, and wherein the sleeve and flexible member are configured to enable expansion of a connected flue pipe within a mounting structure, in use.

The sleeve may comprise a flange or lip at one end, arranged to connect and lie substantially flush with an outside surtice of a mounting structure through which the flue pipe extends, in use. In this manner, the lip or flange can be configured to prevent the sleeve from moving through the mounting structures in use.

The sleeve may comprise a cylinder which comprises a cross-sectional shape of a flue pipe arranged to be received, such as circular, oval or rectangular, for

example.

The flexible member may be configured to allow expansion of an attached flue pipe longitudinally out of the sleeve through which it extends. In this way expansion of the flue pipe is translated into an extension of the flue pipe length outside of the mounting structure through which it extends, in use.

The flexible member may comprise a rubber material such as ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) based rubber, for example.

The flexible member may comprise an annular or ring-shaped seal, arranged to be secured concentrically around a flue pipe, in use.

The flexible member mounting structure connecting means may comprise a mounting structure connection plate which may be integral with or connected to the flexible member, According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a flue pipe mounting apparatus of the first aspect of the invention comprising a flue pipe mounted I 0 concentrically therethrough.

The flue pipe may be any suitable flue pipe. The flue pipe and mounting sleeve may be dimensioned such that clearance between the outer surface of the flue pipe and the sleeve is not more that 5%, 3% or preferably t?/o of the diameter of the flue pipe. In this way the clearance is effective to allow free expansion of the flue IS pipe laterally within the sleeve, whilst a1lowng longitudinal expansion of the flue pipe, in a controlled manner.

The flue pipe may be connected to the flexible member in the region of one end of the pipe. Tn some embodiments the flexible member is connected to the flue pipe at a distance from an end of the pipe of no more than 5% of the total ength of the pipe.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a flue pipe mounting apparatus of the second aspect of the invention mounted in a mounting structure, The mounting structure comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface, and may be a wall, roof or floor, for example.

The mounting structure may comprise a conduit therethrough, though which the sleeve extends. In some embodiments the sleeve is substantially the same length as the conduit. The sleeve may comprise a flange or lip arranged to lie substantially flush with the exterior surface of the mounting structure.

The flue pipe may be configured to extend past the exterior surface of the mounting structure, and the flexible member may be concentrically mounted on the flue pipe portion which is external from the mounting structure.

The flexible member may be connected to the exterior surface of the mounting structure, and may form a watertight seal between the exterior of the flue external to the mounting structure, and the mounting structure itself; thereby preventing ingress of water into the sleeve.

The flue pipe may be connected to a condensing boiler, oven, stove or any other suitable apparatus. The flue pipe may comprise multiple sections connected together.

It can be seen that the flue pipe mounting apparatus of the first to third aspects of the invention enables expansion of a flue pipe mounted within it, in a controlled manner, thus providing minimal loading being passed back along the flue pipe to the connection point of the pipe with the apparatus to which it is connected, or to any connection points in a multi-section flue pipe. This serves to reduce or eliminate the risk that the flue pipe will be disconnected from the apparatus or split apart at any connection points due to thennal expansion and contraction of the pipe in use.

The flue pipe mounting apparatus of any of the first, second and third aspects of the invention maybe utilised in configurations where a flue pipe is required to enter and exit a mounting structure horizontally, vertically or any angle therebetween, The flange or lip of the sleeve can also be configured to allow mounting of the flue mounting apparatus in a mounting structure where the exterior surface is not perpendicular to the sleeve, for example, where the sleeve is aranged vertically through a roof structure when the exterior surface of the roof structurc is pitched at an angle between horizontal and vertical.

The use of the flexible member and tailored clearance between the sleeve and flue pipe enables controlled thermal expansion and contraction both longitudinally along the pipe, and diametrically, to ensure minimum stresses are placed on any connections within or at the apparatus end of the flue pipe.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of mounting a flue pipe through a mounting structure, the method comprising: (a) mounting a flue sleeve within a conduit formed through a mounting structure, the mounting structure having an interior surface and an exterior surface; (b) mounting a flue within the flue sleeve such that the distal end of the flue extends at least marginally from the exterior surface of the mounting structure; and (c) connecting a flexible member in the region of the distal end of the flue and to the exterior surface of the mounting structure; wherein the flexible member and sleeve are configured to allow expansion of the flue.

The flexible member may comprise an annular or ring-like member which is connected concentrically around the flue pipe. The flexible member may be a flexible seal configured to provide a watertight seal, to prevent water or other material from entering the sleeve or mounting structure conduit.

The sleeve, flexible member, mounting structure and flue pipe may be as described for the first to third aspects of the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, Figure 1, which illustrates a side cross-sectional view of a flue mounting apparatus of the invention, connected to a wall.

In an embodiment of the invention, a flue pipe mounting apparatus (2) connects a flue pipe (10) within an open conduit (6) in a wall (4) of a building. The flue pipe (TO) is mounted concentrically within a sleeve (8) grouted to the conduit (6) walls. The sleeve (8) extends along the entire conduit (6), and includes a flange (9) arranged to abut and lie flush with the exterior surface (5) of the wall (4), The flange (9) prevents the sleeve (8) from being withdrawn into the conduit (6) and serves to anchor the sleeve (8) to the wall (4).

Also part of the flue pipe mounting apparatus (2) is a flexible member in the form of a seal (12), which takes the form of a concentric, flexible waterproof seal connected to the flue pipe (10) in the region of the distal end of the flue pipe (10) which protrudes from the exterior surface (5) of the wall (4). The flexible seal (12) is also clamped to the exterior surface (5) of the wall (4) by way of mounting structure connection means in the form of a clamping p1 ate (14), secured to the exterior surface (5) by screws (16). The clamping plate (14) is an annular member, which ensures that pressure is applied to the annular flexible seal (12), in order to create a water and weather proof seal around the opening of the conduit (6), through which the flue pipe (10) protrudes. The flue pipe (10) also includes that its distal end, a diffuser cover (20) which enables exhaust gasses to exit the flue pipe (10), but prevents rain or other material from entering it, As can be seen from Figure 1, the flue pipe is secured to the wall (4) by way of the flexible seal (12), at one end, and the other end (not shown) secured to a suitable apparatus which generates exhaust gasses, such as a condensing boiler, over or stove

for example.

In use, when exhaust gasses enter the flue pipe (10) and travel therethrough, the exhaust gases are generally heated, and some of that heat is transferred into the flue pipe (10) structure, As heat is transferred, the flue pipe (10) structure may expand. As this happens, the flue pipe may extend in length and/or diameter. The conduit (6), flue pipe (10) and sleeve (8) are selected to create a clearance of up to 5% of the diameter of the flue pipe (10) between the outer surface of the flue pipe (10) and the sleeve (8). In this way, any diametric expansion of the flue pipe (10) results in the flue pipe expanding into the clearance zone, and not creating any unnecessary stresses or strains on the sleeve, wall or apparatus to which the flue pipe (0) is connected. If thermal expansion results in longitudinal extension of the flue pipe (0), this is taken up by deformation of the flexible seal (12), which enables longitudinal expansion of the flue pipe (10) out of the conduit (6), and exterior to the wall (4).

Likewise, if the flue pipe (10) cools, and the flue pipe material contracts, the flexible seal deforms to enable the flue pipe to revert to its original length.

Figure 1 illustrates, as dotted lines (18, t8'), the flexible seal (12) in the standard, non-expanded state, and any expansion of the flue pipe (10) causes the flexible seal (12) to expand to the position shown by reference numerals (17, 17').

In other embodiments of the flue pipe mounting apparatus of the invention, the flue pipe can be mounted vertically or at an angle to the horizontal, with the sleeve (8) guaranteeing a smooth expansion within any conduit. By sealing a different flexible seal (t2) and clamp plate (14) shape, flue pipe mounting apparatus of the invention can be mounted on tiles, corrugations and other uneven surfaces, In addition, in some embodiments, the flange (9) of the sleeve (8) can be altered such that it is not perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sleeve (8), and extends at an acute or oblique angle therefrom, so that the flue (UD) can pass through an external surface of a mounting structure when the flue and mounting surface are not perpendicular. This would, for example allow a vertical flue to be sealed through a pitched roof The above embodiment is described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.