Cross compatible adapter for chimney sections with common outer diameters

Abstract

An adapter and adapter system for coupling a female end of a first chimney portion to a male end of a second chimney portion. The adapter includes a first radial adapter portion, wherein a first inner surface and a first outer surface of the first radial adapter portion are coaxial. The adapter further includes a first locking interface protruding outward from the first outer surface and configured to engage with a first locking interface of the first chimney portion. The adapter further includes a second radial adapter portion with a second inner surface and a second outer surface extending along the first axis and a second locking interface protruding inward from the second inner surface and configured to engage with a second interlocking interface of the second chimney.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adapter configured to couple a female end of a first chimney portion to a male end of a second chimney portion, the adapter comprising:
 a first radial adapter portion with a first inner surface and a first outer surface extending along a first axis, wherein the first inner surface and the first outer surface are coaxial;   a first locking interface protruding outward from the first outer surface and configured to engage with a first locking interface of the first chimney portion;   a second radial adapter portion with a second inner surface and a second outer surface extending along the first axis, wherein the second inner surface and the second outer surface are coaxial;   a second locking interface protruding inward from the second inner surface and configured to engage with a second interlocking interface of the second chimney, wherein the first outer surface is configured to be received within the female end of the first chimney portion and the second inner surface is configured to receive the male end of the second chimney portion.   
     
     
         2 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the first outer surface of the first radial adapter portion forms a radial surface having a first radius and the second inner surface of the first radial adapter portion forms a second radial surface having a second radius, wherein the first radius and the second radius are different. 
     
     
         3 . The adapter of  claim 2 , wherein the first radius is smaller than the second radius. 
     
     
         4 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the first locking interface of the adapter is configured to engage with a first locking interface of the first chimney portion when the adapter is oriented in a position within the female end of the first chimney portion and one of the first chimney portion and the adapter is rotated with respect to the other of the first chimney portion and the adapter and the second locking interface of the adapter is configured to engage with a second locking interface of the second chimney portion when male end of the second chimney portion is oriented to a position within the adapter and one of the second chimney portion and the adapter is rotated with respect to the other of the second chimney portion and the adapter. 
     
     
         5 . The adapter of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an insulation member configured to be proximal to the first inner surface of the first radial adapter portion.   
     
     
         6 . The adapter of  claim 5 , wherein the radial insulation member further comprises a radial insulation member inner surface and a radial insulation member outer surface, wherein the insulation member inner surface and the insulation member outer surface are coaxial. 
     
     
         7 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the second locking interface of the adapter is formed as a partially curved protrusion. 
     
     
         8 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the second locking interface of the adapter is formed as an angled protrusion. 
     
     
         9 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the first locking interface of the adapter is formed as a curved protrusion. 
     
     
         10 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the first locking interface of the adapter is formed as an angled protrusion. 
     
     
         11 . An adapter system configured to couple a female end of a first chimney portion to a male end of a second chimney portion, the adapter system comprising:
 an adapter comprising:
 a first radial adapter portion with a first inner surface and a first outer surface extending along a first axis and, wherein the first inner surface and the first outer surface are coaxial; 
 a first locking interface protruding outward from the first outer surface and configured to engage with a first locking interface of the first chimney portion; 
 a second radial adapter portion with a second inner surface and a second outer surface extending along the first axis, wherein the second inner surface and the second outer surface are coaxial; 
 a second locking interface protruding inward from the second inner surface and configured to engage with a second interlocking interface of the second chimney, wherein the first outer surface is configured to be received within the female end of the first chimney portion and the second inner surface is configured to receive the male end of the second chimney, wherein the adapter system further comprises: 
   an inner sleeve configured to fit within the adapter, the first chimney portion, and the second chimney portion; and   a clamping ring configured to interface with and hold together a first chimney portion flange of the first chimney and a second chimney portion flange of the second chimney portion.   
     
     
         12 . The adapter system of  claim 11 , wherein the first outer surface of the first radial adapter portion forms a radial surface having a first radius and the second inner surface of the first radial adapter portion forms a second radial surface having a second radius, wherein the first radius and the second radius are different. 
     
     
         13 . The adapter of  claim 12 , wherein the first radius is smaller than the second radius. 
     
     
         14 . The adapter system of  claim 11 , wherein the first locking interface is configured to engage with a first locking interface of the first chimney portion when the adapter is oriented in a position within the female end of the first chimney portion and one of the first chimney portion and the adapter is rotated with respect to the other of the first chimney portion and the adapter and the second locking interface of the adapter is configured to engage with a second locking interface of the second chimney portion when the male end of the second chimney portion is oriented to a position within the adapter and one of the second chimney portion and the adapter is rotated with respect to the other of the second chimney portion and the adapter. 
     
     
         15 . The adapter system of  claim 11 , wherein the second locking interface of the adapter is formed as a partially curved protrusion. 
     
     
         16 . The adapter system of  claim 11 , wherein the second locking interface of the adapter is formed as an angled protrusion. 
     
     
         17 . The adapter system of  claim 11 , wherein the first locking interface of the adapter is formed as a curved protrusion. 
     
     
         18 . The adapter system of  claim 11 , wherein the first locking interface of the adapter is formed as an angled protrusion.