Chimney smoke scrubber

Abstract

A chimney smoke scrubber adapted for domestic use includes a chimney cap enclosure secured atop the chimney or flue pipe of a combustion unit. A blower is connected to the chimney cap enclosure to draw smoke and combustion gases from the enclosure and deliver them under pressure to a scrubber chamber. The scrubber chamber comprises a tank holding a charge of aqueous solution, and the duct outlet from the blower is submerged within the tank. The smoke and flue gases bubble through the water, cooling and cleaning them, extinguishing all cinders, and removing all fly ash. A thermal sensor within the chimney or flue pipe is connected to start the blower motor whenever there is a sufficient temperature rise to indicate that a fire has been started within the combustion unit. The unit switches on automatically only when needed, and remains in operation as long as the fire burns. The blower, motor assembly and scrubber chamber are enclosed within a weatherproof enclosure secured on the roof of the building adjacent to the chimney cap enclosure, the entire assembly forming a compact unit that is easily installed. The scrubber chamber is vented from the weatherproof enclosure to release the cleaned combustion gases to the atmosphere. The chimney cap enclosure includes a flapper valve to discharge combustion gases to atmosphere if the smoke scrubber fails to operate, or combustion gas flow exceeds the blower capacity.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.