US2966153A - Damper frame and damper combination - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 27, 1960 A. P. ROBINSON 2,966,153

DAMPER FRAME AND DAMPER COMBINATION Filed March 3, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. 44 5527 P Pas/-50 Dec. 27, 1960 A. P; ROBINSON 2,966,153

DAMPER FRAME AND DAMPER COMBINATION Filed March 3, 1958 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 @amz /g United States Patent DAL/[PER FRAME AND DAMPER COMBINATION Albert P. Robinson, 8505 Roosevelt Way, Seattle, Wash.

Filed Mar. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 718,817

9 Claims. (Cl. 126-288) This invention relates to improvements in the construction of present day residential fireplaces. More particularly, it has reference to certain improvements in damper frames and dampers as applied to residential fireplace constructions, whereby protection against flame and excessive heat of the fire, as maintained in the fireplace, is given both to the damper frame and to that fireplace masonry that is over and at the forward side of the frame and also is given similar protection to the metal lintel that supports the masonry across the top of the fireplace opening.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a damper frame from light weight sheet metal, and to so form it that it will define the fireplace throat; that it will properly house and support the damper in the throat and also will serve adequately and effectively to support the masonry above the fire box, or combustion chamber. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to so arrange the damper that it will serve, when open, as a shield to protect the forward masonry carrying portion of the frame from the flame and fireplace heat.

It is also an object of this invention to so design a light weight, sheet metal frame and especially the top wall portion thereof that it will have adequate strength and rigidity to serve effectively as a masonry supporting means.

Another object of the present invention is to so design the various parts comprising the frame and damper that they can be easily and inexpensively assembled in readiness for use, as a unit.

Further objects reside in the details of construction and combination of the various parts of the several embodiments of the invention and in their mode of use, as will hereafter be fully described.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a damper frame and damper embodied by this invention as installed in a fireplace.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the damper frame as seen from one side and rear, showing the damper in open position.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a damper frame embodied by this invention, having an alternative form of damper plate and plate mounting means.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

In one of its present preferred forms of construction, the damper frame is as seen in Figs. 1 and 2 wherein it is shown to be fabricated from sheet metal members that are cut, shaped and joined in such manner as to provide a structure ready for installation, as a unit, to the fireplace masonry as the fireplace is being built; the present unit being designed primarily for use with what is now designated as modern fireplace construction, wherein an angle iron member is used to support the masonry across the top of the front opening and wherein the firebox or 2,966,153 Patented Dec. 27, 1960 ice combustion chamber opens at its top into the line through a throat or passage that is defined by the damper frame.

Referring to the fireplace construction as seen in Fig. 1, 10 designates the top portion of a combustion chamber defined by opposite sidewalls 11, a back wall 12 and hearth, not herein shown. At the front, the combustion chamber 10 has the usual opening 13 and across the top of the opening, the masonry is supported by an angle iron beam 14 which is embedded at its opposite ends in the masonry at opposite sides of the front opening. The top of the combustion chamber opens directly into the bottom of the present damper frame which defines the throat or passage that leads from the combustion chamber into the chimney flue which is herein designated by reference numeral 15.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the sheet metal damper frame has an upwardly and rearwardly sloping front and top wall, designated in its entirety by numeral 17; opposite end walls 18 and 18, which lean toward each other and also converge in a rearward direction, and a forwardly leaning back wall 19 which extends about one-third the distance from the lower edge of the frame to the rear edge of the top wall 17. All of the wall forming parts are rigidly joined to provide a strong and substantial damper frame. The back wall forming plate 19 overlaps at its opposite ends with flanges 18' that are inturned from the rear edges of the end walls 18-18. Above the wall plate 19, the frame defines an opening 20 providing for outflow of gases of combustion from the combustion chamber, through the throat and into the flue 15, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1.

Cooperating with the rear wall opening 20, as presently more fully described, is the damper or lid 22, which is adjustable between open and closed positions to control the gas outflow from the combustion chamber in ac-- cordance with the usual functioning of a damper or to close off the opening against downdraft or updraft when the fireplace is not in use.

Referring more particularly to the details of formation. of the damper frame, the front wall portion 17 is fiat,

and is formed with a forwardly directed flange 17a at;

its lower edge which is embedded in the masonry of the front wall as shown. At its top edge, the wall 17 has: an upwardly and forwardly turned stifiening flange 17b..

The opposite end walls 1818 are substantially tri-- angular in form with their lower edges terminating in: horizontal, outwardly turned flanges 18x. The previous-- ly mentioned inturned flanges 18' that is formed along: the rear edge portion of each wall 18 terminates about two inches from the top edge of plate 17 as is well shown in: Fig. 2, to serve a purpose presently explained.

The rear wall plate 19 terminates at its lower edge in a rearwardly turned and upwardly inclined flange 19', and along its top edge is curved inwardly to project slight-- ly into the opening 20.

' In placing the damper frame in a fireplace the outturned flanges 17a and l8x-18x are embedded in the masonry, as indicated, and the flange at the lower edge of wall 19 is rested against the top of the back wall of the fireplace.

To strengthen and give added rigidity to the damper frame structure, it is provided across its open lower side with two brace bars herein designated by reference numeral 21. These bars are parallel and spaced from each other and from the opposite end walls of the frame as will be understood by reference to Fig. 2. Each brace 21 comprises a fiat, rigid strip of sheet metal, placed vertically on edge, and welded or otherwise fixed at its ends to the front and rear walls of the frame. The braces are also supported with their top edges in the same plane.

The damper 22 comprises a flat plate of sheet metal, disposed within the damper frame. It is of such size that, in its closed position, it completely closes the'opening 20. It will be understood by reference to Fig. 1, that the damper in all positions of adjustment, functionally rests at its lower edge upon the top edges of the brace bars 21 with its upper edge portion projecting through the opening adjacent the rear edge of the top wall 17 and is slidable on the upper end edges of the inturned flanges 18'--18 at the opposite ends of the opening 20. When in its full open position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the damper is spaced from the wall 17 and substantially parallel thereto. It is adapted to be adjusted toward and to a fully closed position by means of a lever 23 that is so fixed to it as to extend to a position accessible to a person upon reaching into the fireplace. When the damper is moved toward closed position, it slides on the brace members 2121, and as it slides it moves upwardly, and when its lower edge portion closes against the top edge portion of wall 19, its upper edge portion swings forwardly and is pressed into closing contact with the top edge of wall 17.

To prevent the damper sliding too far forwardly when in open position, it is formed at its opposite ends and adjacent its top edge with projecting ears 2424, these being bent slightly rearward and then laterally to extend slightly beyond the planes of the side walls. These ears, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 2, will prevent the top edge of the damper when open from dropping free of the frame, but will in no way interfere with its movements between open and closed positions.

One of the features of this form of construction resides in the fact that the damper 22, in its open position, acts as a shield to protect the wall 17 from fireplace heat. Also, it sets off an air passage between it and wall 17 through which cooling air entering at the front of the fireplace can flow to help keep the wall 17 from overheating.

The damper frame and damper construction of Fig. 3 embodies substantially the same features as that of Figs. 1 and 2, but with certain modifications. In describing it, parts of the fireplace and damper frame corresponding to those shown in Fig. 1 have been given corresponding reference numerals. The damper frame is substantially the same in cross-sectional shape as that of Fig. 1. It is made of sheet metal and comprises an upwardly and rearwardly sloping forward wall 17 formed at its lower edge with a horizontal, forwardly directed flange 17g that is embedded in the fireplace masonry a few inches above the front opening 13 of the fireplace and lintel 14. The opposite end walls and back wall of this damper frame are substantially like those of the device of Fig. 1. The back wall 19 terminates at its top edge in a rearwardly turned horizontal flange 19 and above this is the opening 20 from the throat into the flue 15. One or two metal brace members 21x extend horizontally between and at their ends are fixed to the walls 19 and 17 across the lower portion of the frame, between its ends. These are of shallow channel form, and set vertically on edge as in the device of Fig. 1.

A damper plate 22x is suspended from near its upper edge, to swing from the open position in which it is shown in full lines in Fig. 3, to a fully closed position over opening 20, as shown in dotted lines. The damper plate is suspended for this swinging adjustment by trunnions fixed thereto at .its opposite ends and near its top edge. These trunnions may be contained in vertical guides 31 fixed to or formed in .the end walls of the bustion chamber to a position at which it is accessible to one reaching through the fireplace opening.

Afeature-of-the-form of device shown inFig. 3 resides in the fact that when the damper 22x is in the open position in which it is shown, it acts as a heat shield for the top wall 17 to prevent its becoming overheated. It, as in Fig. 1, also defines a cooling air passage 25 between it and wall 171, and this passage could be continued to a lower level if so desired, by the attachment of extension plates to the lower edge of the damper.

The fact that the damper supporting trunnions 30 are contained in the vertical guides 31 permits the damper to retain contact with cross-brace 21x at all positions of adjustment between fully closed and fully open positions.

Each of the two constructions illustrated and described is a unitary structure, light in weight, easy'to install, relatively inexpensive, effective and efficient and practical in use.

Advantages that result from these constructions include: easy adjustability of dampers and the utilization of their weight to retain them at set positions of adjustment. For example, in the devices of Figs. 1 and 3, the weight of the damper, as rested against the top edges of braces 21 or 21x, retains the damper in the desired position of adjustment. In either of these devices, the damper plate may be adjusted from fully closed position to any position up to its full open position and no additional mechanism is required or depended upon for controlling the damper operation.

In each instance, the construction is of sheet metal and is such as to give heat protection to the masonry supporting wall.

Additional advantages reside in simplicity of construction, lightness in weight and relatively low cost.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a damper frame defining a throat passage and a damper adjustably mounted in the damper frame to control flow of gases through said throat passage; said damper frame comprising opposite end walls, a top and front forming wall and a back wall member extending between said opposite end walls along the lower part of the frame, said back wall member having its top edge substantially below the rear edge of the top and front forming wall thus to provide an outlet for said throat passage, a cross-member extended between said back wall member and the top and front forming wall of said frame, means on the opposite end walls of said frame slidably supporting said damper at points near its top edge and with its lower edge resting upon said cross-member; the lower edge of the damper and the upper edge of the cross member having frictional surfaces whereby the damper will be functionally held at any of its various positions of adjustment. 7

2. In combination, a damper frame defining a throat passage and a damper adjustably mounted within said damper frame for controlling outflow of gases through said throat passage; said damper frame comprising opposite end walls, a top and front forming wall and a back wall member extended between said opposite end walls along the lower part of the damper frame, with its top edge substantially below the rear edge of said top and front forming wall, thus to provide an outlet for said throat passage, cross-members extended between said back wall member and said top and front form ing wall; said damper extending between the opposite sidewalls of the damper frame and resting at its lower edge on said cross members and having means at its opposite ends near its top edge providing guided support from said end walls in its adjustment from a position closed against said 'back'wa'll member over said outlet to open positions at which it serves as a heat protective shield for said top and front forming wall.

3. The combination recited in claim '2 wherein said damper supporting means cooperates with said crossmember for the support of said damper parallel to said top and front forming wall and spaced therefrom and serves therewith in defining an air passage leading upwardlyito said outlet.

4. The combination recited in claim 2 wherein said damper supporting means guides the top edge of said damper to close tightly against the rear edge of said top and front forming wall when the damper is adjusted to closed position and to move downwardly and away from it when said damper plate is adjusted toward open position.

5. The combination recited in claim 2 wherein said damper supporting means comprises flanges that are turned inwardly from the rear edges of said opposite sidewalls; said flanges terminating at their upper ends in spaced relationship from the rear edge of the top and front forming wall, and said damper having sliding support near its top edge on the upper ends of said flanges.

6. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said damper is formed at its opposite ends, adjacent its top edge with laterally extending wings adapted to engage with the top portions of the rear edges of said flanges to limit the extent of opening adjustment of the damper.

7. The combination recited in claim 6 wherein said damper has a handle member fixed thereto and extended downwardly from its lower edge to serve as a means for its adjustment between closed and open position, and wherein said damper when moved to closed position closes along its side edges against said inturned flanges and by its contact with said flanges is caused to be pressed, along its top edge, against the rear edge of said top and forward wall member.

8. The combination recited in claim 7 wherein the lower edge of the damper and the upper edge of the cross-member having frictional surfaces whereby the damper will be retained at any position of adjustment between fully opened and closed positions by reason of its weight and the frictional engagement of its lower edge with said supporting cross-members.

9. In combination, a damper frame defining a throat passage and a damper adjustably mounted to control flow of gases through said throat passage; said damper frame comprising opposite end walls, a top and front forming wall and a back wall extending between said end walls along the lower part of the frame with its top edge substantially below the rear edge of the top and front forming wall thus to provide an outlet for said throat passage, 21 cross-member extended from said back wall member to the front of said frame; said damper being disposed within said frame and resting at its lower edge on said cross member, means on said frame slidably supporting said damper at points near its top edge and its ends from said opposite end walls; the lower edge of the damper and the upper edge of the cross-member having frictional surfaces whereby the damper will be retained in any of its positions of adjustment and swing, when open, to protect the front wall of the damper frame against the rising fireplace heat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 31,914 Tiberi Apr. 2, 1861 1,407,351 Myers Feb. 21, 1922 2,595,543 Robinson May 6, 1952 2,854,967 Robinson Oct. 7, 1958

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