Partitioned chimney cap and fireplace venting system

Abstract

A fireplace chimney cap includes a body having first and second apertures in fluid communication defining a first cavity therebetween. The first cavity is configured and disposed to receive combustion air through the first aperture, then through the second aperture for delivery to a fireplace combustion chamber. The body has third and fourth apertures in fluid communication defining a second cavity therebetween. The second cavity is configured and disposed to receive combustion gases from the fireplace combustion chamber through the third aperture, then through the fourth aperture for exhausting exterior of the body. The first and second cavities are fluidly separated from each other. The first and fourth apertures are configured and disposed to provide a pitot effect to more readily draw both combustion air into the first cavity and combustion gases into the second cavity in response to the first aperture disposed upwind and fourth aperture position disposed downwind.

1 . A fireplace chimney cap comprising:
 a body having a first aperture and a second aperture in fluid communication defining a first cavity therebetween, the first cavity configured and disposed to receive combustion air through the first aperture and then through the second aperture for delivery to a fireplace combustion chamber;   the body further having a third aperture and a fourth aperture in fluid communication defining a second cavity therebetween, the second cavity configured and disposed to receive combustion gases from the fireplace combustion chamber through the third aperture and then through the fourth aperture for exhausting exterior of the body, the first and second cavities fluidly separated from each other; and   wherein the opposed first and fourth apertures are configured and disposed to provide a pivot effect to more readily draw both combustion air into the first cavity and combustion gases into the second cavity in response to the first aperture disposed upwind and fourth aperture disposed downwind.   
   
   
       2 . A fireplace chimney cap comprising:
 a body having a first aperture and a second aperture in fluid communication defining a first cavity therebetween, the first cavity configured and disposed to receive combustion air through the first aperture and then through the second aperture for delivery to a fireplace combustion chamber;   the body further having a third aperture and a fourth aperture in fluid communication defining a second cavity therebetween, the second cavity configured and disposed to receive combustion gases from the fireplace combustion chamber through the third aperture and then through the fourth aperture for exhausting exterior of the body, the first and second cavities fluidly separated from each other; and first aperture disposed upwind and fourth aperture position disposed downwind.   
   
   
       3 . The cap of  claim 2 , wherein the first and fourth apertures are configured to prevent bird entrance. 
   
   
       4 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a partition disposed between the first and second cavities. 
   
   
       5 . The cap of  claim 4 , further comprising a partial partition disposed adjacent the first aperture. 
   
   
       6 . The cap of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of vanes associated with at least one of the first and fourth apertures. 
   
   
       7 . The cap of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the plurality of vanes is curved. 
   
   
       8 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the first and fourth apertures are oriented at an angle from corresponding upwind and downwind directions. 
   
   
       9 . The cap of  claim 8 , wherein the angle is about 90 degrees. 
   
   
       10 . The cap of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of vanes associated with at least one of the first and fourth apertures. 
   
   
       11 . The cap of  claim 8 , wherein a portion of at least one vane of the plurality of vanes associated with the first aperture is disposed upwind. 
   
   
       12 . The cap of  claim 8 , wherein a portion of at least one vane of the plurality of vanes associated with the fourth aperture is disposed downwind. 
   
   
       13 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the body is configured to be securable to differently sized chimney flues. 
   
   
       14 . The cap of  claim 2 , wherein the body is configured to be securable to differently sized chimney flues. 
   
   
       15 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the body is configured to selectably receive a blower in at least one of the first cavity and the second cavity. 
   
   
       16 . The cap of  claim 2 , wherein the body is configured to selectably receive a blower in at least one of the first cavity and the second cavity. 
   
   
       17 . The cap of  claim 15 , wherein the blower received by the body is selectable from a plurality of different constructions. 
   
   
       18 . A method of installing a fireplace chimney cap to a chimney flue, the steps comprising:
 providing a body having a first aperture and a second aperture in fluid communication defining a first cavity therebetween, the first cavity configured and disposed to receive combustion air through the first aperture and then through the second aperture for delivery to a fireplace combustion chamber, the body further having a third aperture and a fourth aperture in fluid communication defining a second cavity therebetween, the second cavity configured and disposed to receive combustion gases from the fireplace combustion chamber through the third aperture and then through the fourth aperture for exhausting exterior of the body, the first and second cavities fluidly separated from each other;   selectably installing a blower in at least one of the first and second cavity;   securing the body to a chimney flue with the first aperture disposed upwind, thereby establishing a pivot effect to more readily draw both combustion air into the first cavity and combustion gases into the second cavity.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the installed blower is selectable from a plurality of different constructions. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of installing a blower includes a step of securing a conduit to a blower installed in the first cavity and to a combustion air supply opening configured for conveying the combustion air from exterior of the body to the combustion chamber. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of installing a blower includes a step of securing a conduit to a blower installed in the second cavity and to a flue opening configured for conveying the combustion gases from the combustion chamber to exterior of the body. 
   
   
       22 . A fireplace venting system comprising:
 a heat exchanger assembly having a combustion chamber, a chimney flue having an opening connected to a top portion of the combustion chamber, a heat source disposed within the combustion chamber for producing hot gases in response to combustion, a front opening, and a fireplace screen or the like for closing the front opening to separate the combustion chamber from an area to be heated, the heat exchanger assembly comprising:   a baffle for sealing the chimney opening, the baffle having at least one flue opening for exhausting combustion gases into the chimney flue and at least one combustion air supply opening for receiving combustion air into the combustion chamber;   at least one elongated heat exchanger core having an outer hollow member with opposing combustion gas inlet and outlet ends separated by an outer member length, and an inner hollow member disposed within and generally coextensive with the outer hollow member forming an annular passageway therebetween, the inner hollow member having a medium inlet end and a medium outlet end, and further defining an interior passageway for a heat transfer medium flowing generally from the medium inlet end toward the medium outlet end, at least a portion of combustion gas flow within the annular passageway being generally in a counter-flow heat exchange relationship with the medium flow within the inner hollow member, the annular passageway receiving combustion gases from the combustion chamber at the gas inlet end and discharging combustion gases from the gas outlet end; and   at least one nozzle disk configured and disposed in the annular passageway to induce a swirling flow pattern of the combustion gases about the inner hollow member generally between the combustion gas inlet and outlet ends; and a supply conduit in flow communication with the medium inlet end for directing a flow of the heat transfer medium toward the medium inlet end of the inner hollow member and a return conduit in flow communication with the medium outlet end for receiving the heat transfer medium from the medium outlet end of the inner hollow member; and   a fireplace chimney cap comprising:   a body having a first aperture and a second aperture in fluid communication defining a first cavity therebetween, the first cavity configured and disposed to receive combustion air through the first aperture and then through the second aperture for delivery to the fireplace combustion chamber;   the body further having a third aperture and a fourth aperture in fluid communication defining a second cavity therebetween, the second cavity configured and disposed to receive combustion gases from the fireplace combustion chamber through the third aperture and then through the fourth aperture for exhausting exterior of the body, the first and second cavities fluidly separated from each other; and   wherein the opposed first and fourth apertures are configured and disposed to provide a pivot effect to more readily draw both outside air into the first cavity and flue gas into the second cavity in response to the first aperture disposed upwind and fourth aperture disposed downwind.   
   
   
       23 . The cap of  claim 22 , wherein the body is configured to selectably receive a blower in at least one of the first cavity and the second cavity. 
   
   
       24 . The cap of  claim 23 , wherein the blower received by the body is selectable from a plurality of different constructions.