Process for the Production of Artificial Fuel.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1899
Process for the Production of Artificial Fuel.
I, ARNOLD KERN, Junior, 5, Abendrothstrasse, Hamburg, in the Empire of
Germany, Merchant, 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 : —
There are already a number of processes known by which such naturally liquid
combustible materials as petroleum are produced in a solid form by saturating
porous substances therewith; solid fatty bodies such as stearine, palmitine, resin
and similar substances being sometimes added. There has however here-
tofore existed only one preparation which has held spirits of wine united in a
solid form and this substance has had the disadvantage that is dissolves when
ignited, because the component parts which gave the preparation its solid form,
were solid fatty bodies whose melting point is below the temperature at which
spirits of wine will burn.
According to my invention a substance is used as a medium for holding the
spirit which is not a melting material but is nevertheless so porous that a quick
burning is obtained.
I use dry kieselguhr or other similar porous or infusorial material which
on account of its great porosity possesses a great power of absorbing the spirit.
Experiments have shown that kieselguhr, for example impregnated with spirit
retains the same even in the open air for more than twenty-four hours, during
which time only small quantities evaporate. Charcoal or similar substances
can also be used in addition whereby the burning process is caused to continue
after the spirit is burnt and when an extinguishing of the flame is threatened
before the addition of fresh spirit. Sawdust can also be used for this latter
purpose.
The spirit in this solid form has the advantage over other spirit preparations
of being capable of being used everywhere without danger and a leakage of the
holder of the burning material or an explosion is quite impossible. The prepara-
tion of spirit is suitable for every means of transit. It can also be stowed away
on ships like any other goods. A separation or melting, as in the case of the
analogous preparations hereinbefore referred to and which contain solid organic
additions, is impossible. Its solid form enables workmen who are engaged in
the fields or woods to take the preparation with them and use it for lighting
fires, whilst suitable apparatus can be constructed for household use in which
the preparation can be used for burning purposes in a perfectly safe manner and
without the risk of spilling the inflammable spirit.
It is obvious that kieselguhr which is used in the present process (or a sub-
stance imitating the same made of a similar porous infusorial earth) is suitable
also as a mass for the absorption of other combustible bodies of the aliphatic
series.
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:-
Tinat A process for the production of enirit in a calid and dry form in which

page_text: kieselgul or other similar porous or infusorial material earth or artificial imita-
tion thereof is employed in conjunction with wood, charcoal, or other combustible
substances, substantially as described.
、
Second. A mode of carrying out the process referred to in Claim 1 in which
kieselguhr or other similar porous or infusorial material is employed as the
means of impregnation for mineral and vegetable oils, particularly petroleum,
for the purpose of bringing otherwise liquid combustible materials into a solid
form, substantially as described.
this hot day of October 109J.
A. KERN,
Per W. H. Beck,
Agent, 115, Cannon Street, London, E:C.-