U.S. patent application number 15/794974 was filed with the patent office on 2019-05-02 for flexible chimney liner.
This patent application is currently assigned to Olympia Chimney Supply, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Olympia Chimney Supply, Inc.. Invention is credited to Steven Penatzer, John Joseph Schwartz.
Application Number | 20190128518 15/794974 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 66243657 |
Filed Date | 2019-05-02 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190128518 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Penatzer; Steven ; et
al. |
May 2, 2019 |
Flexible Chimney Liner
Abstract
A flexible chimney liner is presented having a corrugation
profile with an sheet strip width of about 110 mm to about 120 mm,
preferably about 114 mm and a pitch of about 45 mm to about 55 mm,
preferably about 50 mm.
Inventors: |
Penatzer; Steven; (Pittston,
PA) ; Schwartz; John Joseph; (Mountain Top,
PA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Olympia Chimney Supply, Inc. |
Scranton |
PA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Olympia Chimney Supply,
Inc.
Scranton
PA
|
Family ID: |
66243657 |
Appl. No.: |
15/794974 |
Filed: |
October 26, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F23J 13/02 20130101;
F23J 2213/10 20130101; B21D 13/00 20130101; F23J 2213/303
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F23J 13/02 20060101
F23J013/02; B21D 13/00 20060101 B21D013/00 |
Claims
1. A chimney liner having a profile comprising a sheet strip width
of about 110 mm to about 120 mm and a pitch of about 45 mm to about
55 mm.
2. The chimney liner of claim 1 further comprising a corrugation
height of about 4.648 mm to about 4.826 mm and an angle of
corrugation less than or equal to about 10 degrees.
3. The chimney liner of claim 1 wherein the sheet strip width is
about 114 mm and the pitch is about 50 mm.
4. The chimney liner of claim 2 wherein the corrugation height is
about 4.65 mm and the angle of corrugation is about 6 degrees.
5. The chimney liner of claim 3 wherein the corrugation height is
about 4.65 mm and the angle of corrugation is about 6 degrees.
6. The chimney liner of claim 1 further comprising a corrugation
width of about 5.8 mm.
7. The chimney liner of claim 1 further comprising a corrugation
radius of about 1.27 mm to about 1.52 mm.
8. The chimney liner of claim 1 further comprising an inside
diameter of about 127 mm to about 305 mm.
9. A chimney liner having a profile comprising a sheet strip width
of about 110 mm to about 120 mm, a pitch of about 45 mm to about 55
mm, an angle of corrugation less than or equal to about 10 degrees,
a corrugation height from about 4.648 mm to about 4.826 mm, a
corrugation width of about 5.8 mm, and a corrugation radius of
about 1.27 mm to about 1.52 mm.
10. The chimney liner of claim 9 wherein the sheet strip width is
about 114 mm and the pitch is about 50 mm.
11. The chimney liner of claim 9 wherein the corrugation height is
about 4.65 mm and the angle of corrugation is about 6 degrees.
12. The chimney liner of claim 10 wherein the corrugation height is
about 4.65 mm and the angle of corrugation is about 6 degrees.13.
The chimney liner of claim 10 further comprising a corrugation
width of about 5.8 mm.
13. The chimney liner of claim 9 further comprising an inside
diameter of about 127 mm to about 305 mm.
14. A chimney liner manufacturing process comprising the steps of:
forming corrugations in a sheet strip; twisting and seaming the
sheet strip to form a chimney liner; wherein the corrugations form
a chimney liner profile comprising a sheet strip width of about 110
mm to about 120 mm and a pitch of about 45 mm to about 55 mm.
15. The process of claim 14 wherein the sheet strip width is about
114 mm and the pitch is about 50 mm.
16. The process of claim 14 wherein the chimney liner profile
further comprises a corrugation height of about 4.648 mm to about
4.826 mm and an angle of corrugation less than or equal to about 10
degrees.
17. The process of claim 15 wherein the chimney liner profile
further comprises a corrugation height of about 4.648 mm to about
4.826 mm and an angle of corrugation less than or equal to about 10
degrees.
18. The process of claim 15 wherein the chimney liner profile
further comprises an inside diameter of about 127 mm to about 305
mm.
19. The process of claim 14 wherein the chimney liner profile
further comprises an inside diameter of about 127 mm to about 305
mm.
20. The process of claim 14 wherein the chimney liner profile
further comprises an angle of corrugation less than or equal to
about 10 degrees, a corrugation height from about 4.648 mm to about
4.826 mm, a corrugation width of about 5.8 mm, and a corrugation
radius of about 1.27 mm to about 1.52 mm.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to chimney components and
in particular, to a flexible chimney liner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A chimney has a channel running its length for conveying
exhaust gases from a fireplace, furnace or boiler acting as a
heating source. Combustion products in the form of hot exhaust
gases rise up the channel to the outside. They are typically vented
vertically to ensure that the hot gases flow smoothly upward. The
venting medium passes through the structure's roof to vent to the
outside.
[0003] Over time it is not uncommon for the chimney venting medium
to lose its sealing integrity, thereby allowing exhaust gasses to
enter the living space. Rather than raising and rebuilding the
chimney it is often advantageous to create a new venting medium by
inserting a flexible chimney liner to reestablish sealing
integrity.
[0004] Chimney liners are typically produced in lengths from 15
feet to 100 feet. Due to their length they are coiled for shipping.
Uncoiling the chimney liner at the job site often presents problems
because it is very difficult to uncoil the liner. Uncoiling the
liner is time consuming and the uncoiled liner retains some memory
and does not become completely straight.
[0005] Illustrated in FIG. 1, when the chimney liner is inserted
into the existing chimney channel which may contain one or more
offsets, it often requires "fishing" the liner through the channel.
This requires that the liner be capable of flexing to pass an
offset without becoming permanently distorted.
[0006] Additionally, the chimney liner must be able to coil for
shipping without kinking The greater the flexibility the liner can
achieve without distortion the wider the range of retrofits with
which it can be used.
[0007] Accordingly, there is still a continuing need for improved
flexible chimney liner designs. The present invention fulfills this
need and further provides related advantages.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Described below is a novel chimney liner design that retains
significantly less coiling memory than existing liners so that it
uncoils much easier and once uncoiled remains straight. The novel
design also provides greater flexibility without permanent
distortion than known designs.
[0009] Additionally, its novel profile provides greater crush
resistance than known chimney liners.
[0010] In a preferred form the chimney liner has a corrugation
profile with an sheet strip width W of about 110 mm to about 120
mm, preferably about 114 mm and a pitch P of about 45 mm to about
55 mm, preferably about 50 mm.
[0011] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
be apparent from the following more detailed description of the
preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding of the present invention. These drawings are
incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification,
illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention, and
together with the description, serve to explain the principles of
the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a side cutaway view of an installed flexible
chimney liner.
[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates a section of flexible chimney liner
during fabrication from a corrugated metal sheet.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a side view of a section of flexible chimney
liner.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a side view of the lock seam of FIG. 2
[0017] FIG. PA-1 is side view of a known corrugation profile
[0018] FIG. 5 is a side view of the corrugation profile Z of FIG.
2.
[0019] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
be apparent from the following more detailed description of the
preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention
are disclosed; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed
embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be
embodied in various forms. The figures are not necessary to scale,
and some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular
components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details
disclosed are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a
basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one
skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. Where
possible, like reference numerals have been used to refer to like
parts in the several alternative embodiments of the present
invention described herein.
[0021] A flexible chimney liner 2 is fabricated using known
technology, for example, by twisting a corrugated sheet 4, for
example, a metal sheet, around a tool (not shown). FIG. 2
illustrates a section of the chimney liner 2 during fabrication
from a corrugated metal sheet 4.
[0022] The flexible chimney liner 2 includes a wall 20 formed from
the corrugated metal sheet 4. The metal sheet 4 has opposing first
and second edges extending longitudinally along the metal sheet 4.
The wall 20 includes a seam, such as lock seam 6, formed by
abutting portions of the first and second edges. The lock seam 6
extends helically about and along a length of the wall 20. The
metal sheet 4 has an interior wall side and an opposing exterior
wall side. The interior wall side defines an inner wall surface 22
of the chimney liner 2, and the exterior wall side defines an outer
wall surface 24 of the chimney liner 2. The metal sheet 4 has a
sinusoidal profile defining the corrugation peaks 26 and
corrugation valleys 28 of the chimney liner 2 (FIG. 3).
[0023] The novel profile of the corrugations (described in detail
below) is not limited by the metal sheet material or the finished
liner inside diameter DN (FIG. 3).
[0024] In its preferred form, the corrugated metal sheet 4 is
aluminum or stainless steel having a width of about 110 mm to about
120 mm, preferably about 114 mm. After fabrication the flexible
chimney liner 2 preferably has a finished inside diameter DN of
about 127 mm to about 305 mm.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a side view of the fabricated flexible chimney
liner 2. Lock seams 6 are formed during the manufacturing process
from a sheet first edge and a sheet second edge in known fashion,
for example, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The distance from lock seam
to lock seam is referred to as the pitch P.
[0026] To aid in understanding the novelty of the claimed profile,
comparison will be made to a known flexible chimney liner,
illustrated in FIG. PA-1. The height H of a known chimney liner
corrugation is 3.2 mm (0.126''). The angle .alpha. of the
corrugations, determined by facing corrugation walls 8, 8', is 53.8
degrees. The width of the corrugation CW, is 3.099 mm (0.122''),
and the radius R of the corrugation is 1.346 mm (0.053''). The
pitch P is 73 mm (2.874'').
[0027] In manufacturing a chimney liner, for a given sheet strip
width W, the pitch P is determined by the corrugation height H;
corrugation width CW; angle of the corrugations .alpha.; or a
combination of each. Therefore, if a pitch P change is desired for
a given sheet width W, the corrugation height H; and/or the
corrugation width CW; and/or the angle of the corrugations .alpha.;
or some combination of those parameters would need to be
modified.
[0028] The relationship of the sheet strip profile parameters
(radius R, width W, angle of the corrugations .alpha., and height
H) directly impact the pitch P. There is a maximum height H of any
profile beyond which the manufacturing tooling becomes too weak to
form the sheet strip properly without breaking. However, reducing
the height H will make the liner less flexible.
[0029] There is also an optimal angle of the corrugations .alpha..
As the angle .alpha. is reduced the strip formation becomes more
difficult while if the angle .alpha. is increased too much the
liner is more likely to kink when coiled.
[0030] Likewise the radius R has a direct impact on the
manufacturing process. The radius R has a value beyond which it
cannot be decreased without making the tooling too weak to form the
profile without breaking.
[0031] Unexpectedly, with a sheet strip width W of about 110 mm to
about 120 mm, preferably about 114 mm, a pitch P of about 45 mm to
about 55 mm was found to provide optimal manufacturing and finished
chimney liner characteristics.
[0032] FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion Z
(FIG. 3) of a length of the novel flexible chimney liner 2
constructed in accordance with an aspect of the present
invention.
[0033] In developing the novel profile described below it was
unexpectedly found that as the angle of the corrugations .alpha.
approaches 0 degrees (parallel) the more favorable the chimney
liner flexibility characteristics become. Significant improvement
over known corrugation geometry was found when the angle of the
corrugations .alpha. was less than or equal to about 10 degrees.
About a 6 degree angle of corrugations .alpha. achieved superior
characteristics.
[0034] When corrugation height H is smaller the chimney liner
flexibility is reduced and when it is greater the chimney liner
becomes weaker. Optimal corrugation height H providing the best
balance of flexibility to strength was found to be from about 4.648
mm (0.183'') to about 4.826 mm (0.190'') with about 4.65 mm being
preferred.
[0035] As the pitch P increases the ability to manufacture
operatively acceptable smaller diameter liners is reduced As the
pitch P decreases the liner becomes less flexible. Optimal pitch P
providing the best balance of flexibility and the ability to run
smaller diameters DN is about 45 mm to about 55 mm and most
preferably about 50 mm (1.97'').
[0036] The optimal corrugation radius R is about 1.27 mm to about
1.52 mm and most preferably about 1.397 mm (0.55''). Preferably the
lock seam 6 is about 2.5 mm wide.
[0037] As noted above, optimal chimney liner characteristics can be
obtained with a sheet strip width W of about 110 mm to about 120
mm, preferably about 114 mm and a pitch P of about 45 mm to about
55 mm, preferably about 50 mm. Additional manufacturing benefit is
obtained with also having an angle of corrugation a less than or
equal to about 10 degrees, preferably about 6 degrees, a
corrugation height H from about 4.648 mm to about 4.826 mm,
preferably about 4.65 mm, a corrugation width CW of about 5.8 mm,
and a corrugation radius R of about 1.27 mm to about 1.52 mm,
preferably about 1.397 mm (0.55'') .
[0038] Using the novel profile parameter discussed above
significantly and unexpectedly strengthens the chimney liner. Tests
have shown the novel profile will hold 400 pounds per square foot
as compared to 150 pounds per square foot with known profile
parameters. The novel profile also produces a significant increase
in flexibility, achieving a significantly greater degree of flex
without kinking than that of known profiles. Once corrugations are
kinked the chimney liner is ruined.
[0039] Although the present invention has been described in
connection with specific examples and embodiments, those skilled in
the art will recognize that the present invention is capable of
other variations and modifications within its scope. These examples
and embodiments are intended as typical of, rather than in any way
limiting on, the scope of the present invention as presented in the
appended claims.
* * * * *