Improved Means for Producing Fire.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Producing Fire.
I, ANTONIO MISTARO of No. 19 Schlösselgasse, of the City of Vienna in the
Empire of Austria, Manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention relates to a new construction of fire-generator or tinder box
which, based on chemical effects, will at once be convenient and answer every use
that can be required of such an article.
I will now describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawing
in which
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the gas generator, comprising bell, vessel and
outlet pipe.
Figs. 2 & 3 are different forms of use, the one in perspective and the other in
section,
Fig. 4 shows the tinder box in detail;
Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a revolver in which the apparatus is fitted,
Figs. 6 & 7 show a lap and manner of screwing on to other objects.
The gas generator shown in Fig. 1 consists of the vessel A, the bell B, the
bottom C for carrying the metal bodies E, and the cover D. The bell and cover
are made in one piece, the neck of said bell being made to project above the cover
in the form of a funnel a in which the pipe b for gas supply is fastened by means of
the plug c.
This plug must effect an hermetic closing of the opening and should therefore be
made out of cork saturated with paraffin or similar substance or out of vulcanized
indiarubber.
In order on the one hand to prevent metal atoms being brought along with the
gas, and thus having an unfavourable influence on the operation of the platinum
sponge or tinder holder, and to keep on the other hand the flame from beating back
down the pipe in the gas generator, a metallic sieve or gauze e is fitted on the
plug c, in which cotton from which the grease has been removed is loosely placed
so covering up the orifice of the tube b, that the metal atoms must deposit them-
selves in the cotton. Instead of cotton, a piece of pumice stone turned in conical
form and saturated with sulphuric acid could be fitted under the plug, so that it
would answer the further purpose of drying the gas which would be compelled to
pass through it.
At a suitable height in the inside of the bell, the metal bodies E are located on
the bottom C; for this purpose, projections 9 are fitted in the bell side, on which
the bottom C, made out of perforated glass or lead plate, rests. The metal
bodies E can be small staves or shavings, rivets, nails or residue from zinc or
the like.
The vessel, bell and cover are made either out of glass, porcelain, glazed clay,
or enamelled cast iron, and are filled with diluted sulphuric acid.
When the vessel is to be fastened to any object, such as a writing desk etc. it is
provided with a projection h (Fig. 6) through which the screw passes. In order
to use the gas generator on board ship, it is made out of enamelled cast-iron, and
the cover is caulked with a wax taper i (Fig. 7) or anything similarly suitable, and
screwed on to the rim of the vessel which is provided with a peg j in order to be
fitted in a cordonic suspender if necessary.
The second part of the apparatus consists of the tinder box or fire-generator
proper, of which the main feature is a loose metal tube which can be closed at any
desired place by a cock or valve. The one end of this tube is connected with the

page_text: .
gas-generator through the supply pipe, which can be of thin lead pipe as x in
Fig. 1, and which runs from the gas generator to the point where it is desired to
have the igniting place, when a indiarubber pipe b (Figs. 2, 3, and 5) is then fitted
on said lead pipe as continuation of same, and connected with the aforesaid tube
forming the fire-generator or tinder box proper. The other end of the tube being
the burning place, is formed somewhat stronger, and provided with a capillary
opening.
The tinder box or fire-generator is shown in Fig. 5 as a miniature revolver, but
it can of course just as well have other forms. The tube n is fitted in the handle
and barrel of the revolver, the gas cock & being opened by pulling the trigger
which, when released, is worked back into its original position by the spring s,
closing the gas cock k at the same time. The movement of this gas cock kis
limited by the projection m which catches against the cylinder back. The tube
terminates at the mouth of the revolver in a sort of oval point provided with a
capillary opening o. The cock of the revolver is arranged as cigar-end cutter,
and is also adapted for holding notice leaves etc. The ramrod r is for regulating
the insertion of the revolver barrel in the tinder-holder, and for this purpose can
be screwed more or less in the groove t.
The necessary platinum or irridium sponge P for igniting the gas is located in
a metal casing u as is shown in Fig. 4 and which is provided with a slot hole v
limiting the insertion of the revolver barrel, so that same does not come in contact
with the sponge.
The arrangement is generally such, that the connection between the lead pipe and
the indiarubber pipe d is effected in the sponge or tinder holder. Such sponge or
tinder holder is fastened either where it is wished to have the igniting plate or on
a movable frame, the connection of the lead and indiarubber tube being in the
latter case not in the sponge or tinder holder itself, but at another place.
In Figs. 2 & 3, alternative forms of the tinder box or fire-generator are shown
which have all the same general principle.
By the arrangement in Fig. 3 the gas cock is opened by pressure on the
button w.
The gas generator can be fixed up in any place, as, for instance, in the
corner of a room, in a box, writing desk, or any other piece of furniture, the
lead supply tube being arranged just as is customary with pneumatic ringing
apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is :-
1. A fire-generator or tinder box called "Pyrogeneto" in which hydrogen gas
is made to act on a platinum or irridium sponge or tinder and consisting of a gas
generator with vessel A, a bell B enclosed in same, a cover D and a loose bottom C
of perforated lead or glass plate resting on projections and bearing the metal
bodies E substantially as set forth and shown in the drawings.
2. In a fire-generator or tinder box called "Pyrogeneto" the forming of the
bell B and cover D in one piece and giving a funnel-shaped mouth or neck to same
for the insertion of the metal bodies, substantially as described and shown in the
drawings.
3. In a fire-generator or tinder box called "Pyrogeneto," a plug c hermetically
closing the mouth of the bell B and under which a wire sieve or gauze e
holding scoured cotton is placed, the beating back of the flame or the carrying
out of metallic atoms with the gas being thereby prevented, substantially as
described.
4. In a fire generator or tinder box named "Pyrogeneto" the use of a conical
piece of pumice stone steeped in sulphuric acid instead of a wire sieve or gauze for
the purpose of drying the gas substantially as described.
5. In a fire-generator or tinder box named "Pyrogeneto" a tube fitted in a

page_text: handle which can be either fixed, suspended or portable, and having any of the
various forms shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5 and which is closed at a suitable place by
a cock or valve, one end of said tube being connected with the gas generator by a
fixed or flexible tube, whilst the other end leads into an oval body with a capillary
opening substantially as described and shown in the drawings.
6. In a fire-generator or tinder box named "Pyrogeneto " tinder holder either
fixed in some permanent place or movable on a pedestal, and which consists of
a metallic shell fastened to a small plate, such shell being provided with a
corresponding projection for guiding the generator and bearing the platinum or
irridium, substantially as described and shown in the drawings.
Dated this 30th day of November 1892.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.