US2295839A - Overhead chimney damper - Google Patents

Description

K..c. GRIGSBY 2,295,839 OVERHEAD CHIMNEY DAMPER Filed March 25, 1941 s sheets-sheet 1 Sept. 15, 1942.

Attorney ...AWVIITIJ SePt- 15, 1942- K. c. GRIGSBY 22955839 OVERHEAD CHIMNEY DAMPER Filed March 25, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,M Il

Inventor @Mana A ttor e] Sept. 15, 1942. K. c. GRlGsBY OVERHEAD CHIMNEY DAMPER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 25, 1941 I f1 ventor www, f 4775.4,

v 9 v BJ' v Attori/6 1' Patented Sept. 15, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OVERHEAD CHIMNEY DAMPER Kermen C. Grigsby, Waukegan, lll.

Application March 25, 1941, Serial No. 385,171

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in chimney dampers and more particularly to a damper for installation at the top of a chimney especially in instances where the chimney is used for fireplaces.

An important object of the invention is to provide a damper for the upper end of chimneys to eliminate any downdraft whatsoever, which at present causes soot settlement on rugs, furniture, draperies and other household furniture.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a damper for the upper end of chimneys which willvserve to close off the chimney and prevent loss of radiated heat caused by updraft when the fireplace is not in use.

Other objects reside in the provision of means for the exclusion of insects and other creatures, to reduce the nre hazard of sparks emanating from the chimney and others which will become apparent to the reader of the following specilication.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional view through a chimney and replace showing the damper installed.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the damper with a portion broken away.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the damper.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the clamper looking at a side portion ninety degrees removed from that shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view through the damper taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Figure 6.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken sul@k stantially on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the weight.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 5 denotes a fireplace from which rises a chimney 6. The damper unit generally referred to by numeral l forms the present invention and is installed at the extreme upper end of the chimney 6. l

As can be clearly seen in Figures 5 and 6, the unit 'I consists of a shell 8 open at its upper and lower ends and having a cross shaft 9 therein with its ends journaled in openings of opposed side walls of the shell. Numeral I8 denotes a damper plate welded or otherwise secured at an intermediate portion to the shaft 9 and when in closed position has one end resting on a shelf I I while its other end bears against a cleat I2.

As is apparent in Figures 5 and 6 55 some clearance I3 is allowed between the side walls of the shell 8 and the side edges of the damper plate I0.

Ears I4 and I5 are provided on the inside of the shell 8 and one end of the damper plate l0 and between these ears is connected a tension spring I6 which serves to hold the damper plate in the closed position shown in Figure 6. An ear Il is provided at the other end of the damper plate I8 and has a chain I8 or other elongated flexible element extending therefrom and across a guide I9 which depends from the lower portion of the shell 8. This chain'extends down the chimney to an eye 20 on a weight 2|. When this eye 28 is engaged over a hook 22 projecting fr0-m a side wall of the fireplace 5, the chain I8 will be loosened so that the spring I6 will serve to maintain the damper plate Ill in closed position. However, when the eye 20 is removed from the hook 22, the weight will gravitate to the position shown in Figure 1 in broken lines, pulling open the damper plate I0 as is desired when the fireplace 5 is to be used. As shown in Figure 1, the hook 22 acts as a guide for the chain I 8, so as to keep the weight 2l toward one side of the fireplace.

A stop lug 23 is provided on one side wall of the shell 8 to limit opening movement of the plate I8.

The upper end of the shell 8 is provided with an outwardly disposed ange 24 upon which sits a foraminous dome 25 which serves to break up sparks and under all circumstances prevent insects from entering the chimney. The dome 25 can be spot-welded to the flange 24.

Another purpose for the grill or foraminous dome 25 is the fact that cross currents of air passing over the flue are cooled, the cooled air striking the grill thus creating a lower temperature on the grill which is conducted downwardly through the metal walls, thus eliminating hazards of overheating and warping of the damper.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the claimed as new is:

In combination with a chimney, a damper unit comprising a shell fitted into the top of the chimney, a central transverse rock shaft in said shell, a damper plate in said shell fixed to said shaft and centered relative thereto for opening invention, what is and closing movement into vertical and horizontal positions, respectively, a coil spring connected to one side of the damper plate and to said shell for moving the plate toward closing position, an abutment ledge in said shell for limiting closing movement of said plate, a pull chain connected to said, plate at the side thereof opposite the spring connected side and for moving said plate into opening position, said chain extending down said chimney, a depending U-shaped guide on said shell adjacent one side thereof for guiding the chain to hang therefrom at one side of the chimney, and an abutment stop above said shaft for limiting opening movement of said plate.

KERMEN C GRIGSBY.

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