In 1989, Orton received a patent for inventing downdraft venting of electric kilns. Since that time, Downdraft venting has become the standard method used to vent fumes from electric kilns.

With downdraft venting, gases are pulled out of the kiln near the bottom of the kiln and then mixed with room air and exhausted to the outside through a duct.

Downdraft venting systems are considered better than hoods because they improve firing conditions in the kiln while removing essentially all fumes from the kiln room.