Improvements in the Manufacture of Artificial Fuel and Fire Lighters.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Sept., 1898-Accepted, 29th Oct.,
1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Artificial Fuel and Fire
Lighters.
-
I, HENRY GARDNER, of 21, Benson Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lan-
caster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to a composition which, when suitably moulded
into blocks of the desired shape and size, forms an artificial fuel that whilst
burning will not give off practically any offensive smell and that may with
safety be stored in closed places, such as ships coal bunkers, as it is not liable
to decomposition on contact with moisture or overheating, and to give off ex-
plosive or inflammable gases, as is usual with artificial fuel composed largely
of small coal or coal dust as heretofore made. The composition, which may
he modified so as to be applicable as a fire lighter, consists chiefly of the fibrous
parts of vegetable matter, such as wood, peat and the like, to which may be
added small pieces of paper pulp, vegetable rags, such as cotton, hemp and the
like, and limestone in a suitable condition, the proportions of the ingredients
being varied to suit the purpose for which the fuel is intended. The various
ingredients are thoroughly mixed together and then saturated, under pressure
or otherwise, with one or more suitable by-products of petroleum; tho mass is
again thoroughly mixed together and afterwards pressed to shape in moulds.
In some cases a suitable binding substance may be added to the composition.
It is to be understood that the quantities of the various vegetable materials,
the limestone, and the binding substance employed in conjunction with the
petroleum by-products, may be varied according to whether the fuel is intended
for burning quickly or slowly, or as a quick-burning and readily ignited fire
lighter.
When wood fibre is employed, the wood is cut into suitable pieces, which are
then roughly pulverized and passed through a disintegrator, where the small
dust or any foreign substance not required is removed. The wood may be
treated, for instance, before being cut up, for the purpose of extracting from it
constituents such as acetic acid and the like that would otherwise cause the
fuel to give off, whilst burning, noxious or objectionable fumes.
Suitable wood shavings may be substituted for the wood fibre prepared as
described, peat, paper pulp or rags, if desired.
From artificial fuel or fire lighters manufactured in the manner described
obnoxious fumes or dangerous gases are not liberated as is the case with artificial
fuel composed of small coal or coal dust.
Date : 0.1 day of Decembar 1907

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Artificial Fuel and Fire
Lighters.
I, HENRY GARDNER, of 21, Benson Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lan-
caster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
5
This invention has reference to the manufacture of a composition for use as
an artificial fuel such that whilst burning it will not give off practically any
offensive smell or smoke, which can be readily moulded into pieces of any desired
shape and size, and which may with safety he stored in closed places, such as
ships' bunkers, closed cupboards, or cellars, as it is not liable to decomposition
on contact with moisture or overheating, or to give off smoke, obnoxious fumes,
or dangerous gases, as is usual with artificial fuel composed largely of such
ingredients as small coal, coal dust, resin, tar, and the like, as heretofore made.
The composition cousists chiefly of the fibrous parts of vegetable matter,
such as wood, peat and the like, to which are added small pieces of paper or paper
pulp, vegetable rags such as cotton, hemp and the like, and limestone in a finely
powdered condition, the several substances being thoroughly mixed together and
then saturated, under pressure or otherwise, with one or more suitable by-pro-
ducts of petroleum, or other fatty matter, after which the mass of material is
thoroughly mixed and pressed to shape in moulds. The proportions of the
several ingredients are varied according to the purpose for which the fuel is 2
intended; for example, whether the fuel is intended for burning quickly or
slowly, or as a quick-burning and readily ignited fire lighter. When wood is
employed, it is cut into suitable pieces, which are then roughly pulverized and
passed through a disintegrator, where the small dust or any foreign substance
not required is removed. The wood may be treated, for instance, before being 2
cut up, by a steaming process in conjunction with a suitable alkali, for example
caustic soda, or by other suitable process for the purpose of extracting from it
such constituents as acetic acid and tho like that would otherwise cause the
fuel if made from untreated wood to give off, whilst burning, noxious or objec-
tionable fumes. Suitable wood shavings may be substituted for the wood fibre, a
prepared as described, peat, paper, paper pulp or rags, if desired.
The following suitable proportions of the ingredients are given by way of
example:-
Wood or peat
-80 per cent.
Paper pulp rags etc. 18 per cent.
Powdered limestone = 2 per cent.
The various ingredients are thoroughly mixed together and then saturated,
under pressure or otherwise, as hereinbefore stated, with one or more suitable
by-products of petroleum or other suitable fatty matter, and to ensure that the
saturation and mixing should be complete, the mass is highly heated, steamed

page_text: of obtaining heat in a short space of time suitable for use in rooms or places
where a supply of heat is ordinarily not available. Such heating-candles, for
example, may be employed in rooms of hotels for heating curling tongs, or
shaving water. The composition may also be moulded in shapes applicablu
for use in supplying heat to steam generators such as are used with motor-
driven vehicles and the like, in which case the composition is conveniently
moulded into the form of candles or bars, round or otherwise, and which may
be provided with one or more perforations passing from one end to the other
for the passage of air to aid the combustion. Such candles or bars can conveniently
be used in a suitable support with a spring at the bottom of the candle to con-
stantly press it up into a position suitable for burning it being stopped by a
suitable cross wire or the like at the top of the support as well understood.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:―
1. The herein described manufacture of a composition for use as artificial
fuel or for like purposes and composed of a mixture of wood or peat or wood
and peat, with or without paper, paper pulp, and vegetable rags, and finely
powdered limestone, saturated with inflammable matter such as one or more
by-products of petroleum, substantially as described.
2. Artificial fuel or combustible material composed of the ingredients herein-
before mentioned saturated with one or more by-products of petroleum or the
like and pressed to shape as set forth
Dated this 2nd day of September 1898.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.