GB2052729A - Mounting assembly for gas appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

A prefabricated mounting and flue enclosure assembly for a gas- burning appliance 14 has two side panels, 1, 2. Fixed between the side panels by snap-lock closures are an appliance mounting panel 6 and a closure valence 18. A demountable access panel 15 is provided for the flue. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to ducts for flue pipes This invention relates to flues for gas-burning appliances and, in particular, to prefabricated assernblies suitable for the installation of gas fires in dwellings.

Many dwellings are constructed without flues for gas fires and, although it is usually possibie to fit gas-burning appliances in such rooms, they have either to be of the balanced flue type, and thus mounted on an outside wall, or, alternatively, a flue has to be constructed for the appliance.

Such construction, if it is of traditional materials, is both costly (since it involves many trades) and time consuming. These drawbacks may be so inhibiting that the installation of a gas appliance is rejected.

In order to overcome this problem, prefabricated flue assemblies have been proposed.

In U.K. Patent 1,293,352 there is described a prefabricated duct assembly for the flue pipe of a gas appliance. This is constructed in three main sections, a U-shaped section and a front section which together surround the flue pipe, and a skirt which adjoins the other two sections and is adjustable to accommodate variations in height of the rooms in which it is installed. For ease of assembly the U-section and the front section are provided with complementary, interlocking edges.

This assembly is, however, not suitable for installation of an appliance which requires to be attached to the flue since there is no provision therefor. In order to meet this requirement, there has been devised a prefabricated assembly for mounting a gas-burning appliance and enclosing its flue.

According to the present invention there is provided a combined mounting and flue enclosure assembly for a gas-burning appliance having two side panel members adapted to be fixed to a wall, a first panel member mountable between the two side panel members by interlocking means and having an opening to receive the gas appliance, and a second front panel member releasably mountable between the two side panel members by fastening means and contiguous with the first front panel member.

Preferably, the combined mounting and flue enclosure assembly is provided with a third front panel member forming a closure valence panel mountable between the two side panel members by interlocking means and contiguous'with the second front panel member.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a gas fire mounting and flue enclosure assembly showing a method of mounting a floor-mounting fire, Figure 2 is an isometric view showing how the fire box is fitted to the assembled flue enclosure, Figure 3 is a sectional plan view showing the mounting of the fire box in Figure 2, Figure 4 is a sectional plan view showing the mounting of the flue pipe, Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional side view showing the mounting of a plastic ceiling trim, Figures 6a and 6b are fragmentary sectional plan views showing an interlocking arrangement of the fire opening and valence panels and the side panels, Figures 7a and 7b are fragmentary sectional plan views showing a corresponding arrangement between the front access panel and the Side panels, and Figure 8 shows the alternative mounting of the fire opening panel to accommodate a wallmounting fire.

Referring now to the drawings, a prefabricated chimney breast assembly for a gas fire has two side panels, 1,2 each having rear flanges 3, for fixing to a wall, and flanges 4 at the free vertical front edge. A timber batten 5, the width of the flange 3, is attached to each side panel to ensure adequate fixing of the side panels to the wall of the room in which the fire is to be installed.

Mountable on the front flanges 4 of the side panels, 1,2 is a panel 6 having an opening 7 to accommodate a fire box 8 which is attached to the edges of the opening and may be fixed to the room wall by means of fixing lugs 9. The fire box 8 is provided with a spacer flange 11 to prevent it from touching the floor when used in conjunction with a floor-mounting appliance. The usual closure plate 12 with a flue aperture 1 3 complete the mounting arrangenients for a gas fire 14. An access panel 1 5 is releasably mounted between the side panels above and contiguous with the fire-mounting panel.Its upper and lower edges are provided with flanges 16, 1 7 to form butt joints with similar flanges provided on the fire mounting panel 6 and on a closure valence 1 8 which is mounted above the access panel and which may be trimmed along its top edge to accommodate different floor to ceiling heights. A flexible plastic trim 1 9 (Figure 5) completes the assembly, and provides a neat seal between the top edge of the valence and the ceiling.

Typically, the side panels are 200mm wide by 2400mm high. The fire mounting panel may be 1200mm wide by 900mm high and the access panel 1 200mum wide by 1200mm high.

The fire box 8 has an opening 20 (Figure 2) and bolt holes 21 for the attachment of a fixing flange 22 of a flue pipe 23.

The flue pipe is fixed to the room wall by means of a split support bracket 24 and bolts 25 (Figure 4).

Details of the interlocking means for the fire mounting panel 6 and side panels 1,2 are shown in Figures 6a and 6b. The flange 4 of a side panel (1,2) has a spring-tempered female member 26 with a receptacle 27 and a retaining member 28.

The complementary edge of the fire mounting panel 6 has projections 29 which engage with and are held by the retaining member 28.

A similar interlocking method is employed to retain the closure valence 1 8 on the side panels. Details of the releasable fastening means for the access panel 1 5 and the side panels are shown in Figures 7a and 7b in which the access panel has a simple pressing 30. The bevelled edge 31 of the pressing facilitates assembly and removal of the access panel, for example, for inspection and maintenance purposes.

If a wall mounting fire is fitted, the fire mounting panel is arranged with the opening 7 at the top (Figure 8). In this application the fire box is supported in a raised position on a leg 32 (Figure 2).

To the reverse side of the various panels may be bonded a layer of insulating material which acts as a stiffener and also serves to reduce condensation.

The fire box 8 is preferably of metal construction with an inner metal lining providing a twin-walled construction with an insulating air space between the inner and outer casings.

Claims (10)

1. A combined mounting and flue enclosure assembly for a gas-burning appliance having two side panel members adapted to be fixed to a wall, a first front panel member mountable between the two side panel members by interlocking means and having an opening to receive the gas appliance, and a second front panel member releasably mountable between the two side panel members by fastening means and contiguous with the first front panel member.

2. A combined mounting and flue enclosure assembly according to Claim 1 including a third front panel member forming a closure valence panel mountable between the two side panel members by interlocking means and contiguous with the second front panel member.

3. A combined mounting and flue enclosure assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the opening in the first front panel member is positioned adjacent one edge which may alternatively be mounted so that it is the upper or the lower edge.

4. An assembly as claimed in either Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 further including a metal receptacle for the appliance.

5. An assembly as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the receptacle is of twin-walled construction.

6. An assembly as claimed in either Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein said receptacle has means for attachment of a flue pipe incorporated therein.

7. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 6, wherein said receptacle has fixing means for attachment to a wall.

8. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the side panels are provided with means for attachment to a wall.

9. An assembly as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said means for attachment to a wall includes a timber batten.

10. A combined mounting and flue enclosure assembly for gas-burning appliance substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.