Improvements in Fire Lighters.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 15th Feb.,
1896
Improvements in Fire Lighters.
1, HERMANN MINUTH, Manufacturer of Cüstrin, in the Empire of Germany, 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:-
The fire lighter forming the subject of this invention is designed for quickly
igniting the fuel such as has hitherto only been obtainable by directly pouring on to
the solid fuel some inflammable liquid such as petroleum-my invention however
having many advantages in practice particularly that of avoiding any liability to
cause explosions, which has hitherto existed when petroleum has been used as
above.
My present invention is as follows ;-
I manufacture my improved fire lighter of a mixture of an incombustible
fibrous material (such as asbestos) with porous and fire-resisting substances (such
as Chamott powder (German "Chamottmehl ") gypsum, clay, kaolin, or china clay).
The fire-lighter so manufactured can be employed as many times as desired after
simply immersing it in (or otherwise charging it with) some highly or easily
inflammable liquid such as petroleum.
In order to impart to the composition a greater capacity for absorbing this liquid
I add thereto some finely divided and easily consumed substance on the burning of
which interstices are formed in the composition for instance potato flour.
A fire lighter so made although only of small size and consuming but a small
quantity of inflammable liquid gives a steady flame lasting some 5 minutes or
thereabouts which suffices for the ignition of the coal or solid fuel.
The following are suitable materials and in suitable proportions for carrying out
the manufacture of my improved fire-lighter;-
3 parts asbestos.
kaolin.
china clay.
dextrine.
6
"
+
"
"
دو
potato flour.
or thereabouts, all mixed thoroughly together, and from the composition thus
formed I prepare cylinders or blocks of say 2 inches long and of an inch diameter
(or other suitable proportions) and these are fixed on or to or carried by or in
suitable bent wire or other suitable handles of convenient length.
When it is desired to use the fire-lighter it is only necessary to first immerse it in
or saturate it with petroleum or the like aud set light to the latter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A fire lighter consisting of a mixture of an incombustible fibrous material (such
as asbestos) with substances capable of absorbing liquid and also of resisting fire
(such as Chamott powder, gypsum, kaolin and china-clay) so that it may be used as
often as desired after charging same with an inflammable liquid substantially in the
manner and for the purposes herein before described.
5
In a fire-lighter as claimed above the combination therewith of some finelv

page_text: divided and easily consumed substance for the purpose of imparting to the fire
lighter or the burning out of this added substance a greater capacity for absorbing
the inflammable liquid substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
Dated this 24th day of December 1895.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.