AN IMPROVED POROUS PRODUCT OR VEHICLE FOR COMBUSTIBLE AND OTHER LIQUIDS, APPLICABLE AS A FIRE-LIGHTER OR VAPORISER, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
POROUS PRODUCT OR VEHICLE FOR COMBUSTIBLE AND OTHER LIQUIDS,
APPLICABLE AS A FIRE-LIGHTER OR VAPORISER, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
A communication from abroad by Colonel Ferdinand Staaff and Charles
Östlund, both of Paris, France.
Sealed the 29th September 1877, and dated the 10th April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th April 1877.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED POROUS PRODUCT OR VEHICLE FOR
COMBUSTIBLE AND OTHER LIQUIDS, APPLICABLE AS A FIRE-LIGHTER OR VAPORISER,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Colonel Ferdinand
Stanff and Charles Östlund, both of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to a porous product applicable as a vehicle or absorbent
for combustible and other liquids for use as a fire-lighter, torch, vaporiser, and other
purposes. The product, which is made in cylindrical or other shaped blocks, is
compounded of moist clay and sawdust or other combustible matter in fine powder.
The composition after being dried is highly calcined, so as to entirely destroy the
combustible matter (sawdust), leaving a number of internal cavities or pores, which
enable the blocks to absorb in the manner of a sponge the inflammable or other
liquids with which it is to be impregnated according to the purpose to which these
incombustible capillary or porous ceramic blocks are to be applied.
The blocks are impregnated by placing them in a trough or other container of the
combustible or other liquid, or they may be placed upon a layer of some substance
which has been previously soaked therewith, the pores of the blocks being filled by
capillary action.
The chamber in which the blocks are placed is provided with an air-tight cover
to prevent the evaporation of the liquid and the escape of any disagreeable odour, as
well as to prevent danger of explosion. The blocks thus form portable stores
of liquid, which may be used for lighting domestic fires, and also serve as a
substitute for pumice-stone in petroleum furnaces. These fire-lighters emit long
bright flames.
The blocks may also be used with advantage as torches, flares, and signals,

page_text: The blocks being highly absorbent present a large evaporating surface owing to
the highly divided state of the liquid they contain. They may also be used as
perfume vaporisers, or for charging the atmosphere of a room or other place with tar
or other vapors, or serve for establishing a source of volatile sulphide of carbon
around the stocks of vines infested with phylloxera.
Lastly, these blocks may be substituted for the sponge used in benzoline lamps.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Scal Patent Office on the 6th
October 1877.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED POROUS PRODUCT OR VEHICLE FOR
COMBUSTIBLE AND OTHER LIQUIDS, APPLICABLE AS A FIRE-LIGHTER OR VAPORISER,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Colonel Ferdinand
Staaff and Charles Östlund, both of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to a porous product serving as a vehicle or absorbent for :
combustible or other liquids, and applicable for use as a fire-lighter, torch, vaporiser,
and for other purposes. This product is made of a mixture of moist clay and saw-
dust, or other combustible matter in fine powder, and formed into small cylindrical
or other shaped blocks, which after being dried are calcined until the combustible
matter (sawdust) is entirely destroyed, whereby a number of internal cavities or
cells are left in the blocks, which enable the blocks to absorb in the manner of a
sponge the inflammable or other liquids with which it is to be impregnated,
according to the purpose to which it is to be applied.
These incombustible capillary or porous ceramic blocks are impregnated by placing
them in a bath of the combustible or other liquid, or they may be placed upon a bed
of some absorbent substance previously soaked with such liquid, which is then
drawn into the pores of the blocks by capillary action.
The bath in which the blocks are placed is provided with an air-tight cover to
prevent the evaporation of the liquid, the escape of any disagreeable odor, or danger
of explosion. The blocks thus impregnated form portable stores of liquid in. a
divided state, which may be conveyed where required for producing fire, or flame, or
any other effect. They may be used for lighting domestic fires, and as a substitute
for pumice-stone in petroleum furnaces. These fire-lighters emit long bright flames,
and inay therefore be used with advantage as torches, beacons, or signals.
The blocks present a large evaporating surface, and may be used as vaporisers for
charging the atmosphere of a room or other place with perfume, or with vapors
having disinfecting or vermin-killing properties, or for evaporating volatile sulphide
of carbon around the stocks of vines infested with phylloxera.
Lastly, these blocks may be substituted for the sponge used in benzoline lamps.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the porous product manufactured
as herein described and its application as a vehicle or absorbent for combustible
and other liquids, as and for the various purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
AT ADV