IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND MANUFACTURE OF FIRE LIGHTERS, AND IMPROVED MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Noad, of Pelley Road, Plaistow, in the
County of Essex, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION AND MANUFACTURE OF FIRE LIGHTERS, AND IMPROVED
MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 11th November 1878, and dated the 5th September 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Noad at the
"Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th September 1878.
I, JAMES NOAD, of Pelley Road, Plaistow, in the County of Essex,
5 Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND MANUFACTURE OF FIRE LIGHTERS, AND
IMPROVED MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction
and manufacture of fire lighters, and improved machinery to be
•

page_text: employed therein. For this purpose deal or other wood is cut into
suitable lengths; these lengths are cut into flat pieces of about three-
quarters of an inch or more in thickness, and these pieces are cut into
flat pieces of about a quarter of an inch or more in thickness. This it
is preferred to do by causing them to come in contact with a series of
circular saws mounted upon a spindle or axis. The pieces thus formed
are next placed in a suitable sliding frame, and are preferably so arranged
therein that alternate pieces project about midway of their length on
either side of the others.
The means I employ to arrange these pieces in the desired position 1
consists of a number of fingers or pushers arranged in two sets, one set'
acting on each side of the pieces to form the lighter, and the fingers of
each set are arranged opposite to alternate pieces of wood. These two
sets of sliding fingers or pushers are caused to approach each other, and
in doing so act upon alternate pieces of wood and arrange them in the 1
position required for the drills or boring instruments to act upon them.
The pieces to form a fire lighter so placed and held are then slidden
forward on the sliding frames so as to come in contact with a number of
drills or boring instruments, by means of which each piece receives a
hole at or near each end, and one at the centre of the lighter; pegs or 2
dowels, preferably of a square form, are driven into the holes, the centre
dowel or peg serving to unite the parts together in such a manner as to
form a joint, thus enabling the two series of pieces of wood forming the
fire lighter to be turned on the centre dowel or pin into any suitable
angle in relation to each other, as may be be found most suitable. Thus 2
an arch is formed to support the fuel by the placing of the fire lighter
on the grate bottom, thereby allowing a free draft of air to circulate
through the lighter and fuel.
The mode in which I drive the dowels or pegs into the holes in the
pieces of wood forming a lighter is as follows:-The slide carrying the g
pieces of wood to form a lighter after having had the holes made therein
is withdrawn from the drills, and in doing so comes into position to
receive to the dowels or pegs, which are placed in suitable channels and
are acted upon by fixed pushers. Thus as the pieces of wood are in the
back action of the slide withdrawn from the drills or boring instruments 8
the pieces of wood are carried towards the dowels or pegs which are
forced into the holes therein by the last mentioned pushers.

page_text: The fingers or pushers employed to arrange the pieces of wood in the
desired position are formed in such manner as to permit the drills or
boring instruments to act on the wood without preventing the with-
drawal of such fingers or pushers from the completed lighter.
A great advantage obtained by this construction of fire lighters is,
that they may be placed perfectly flat for transport and yet readily be
pressed into the most suitable shape when required for use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Noad in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 4th March 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, James
NOAD, of Pelley Road, Plaistow, in the County of Essex, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said James Noad, Her special license.
that I, the said James Noad, my-executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said James Noad, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands,-and-Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION AND MANUFACTURE OF FIRE FIGHTERS, AND IMPROVED MACHINERY TO BE
EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
James Noad, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: •
NOW: KNOW YE, that I, the said James Noad, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction
and manufacture of fire lighters, and improved machinery to be.
employed therein. For this purpose deal or other wood. is cut into
suitable lengths. These lengths are again cut into flat pieces of about
.three quarters of an inch or more in thickness, and these pieces are
again cut into flat pieces about a quarter of an inch or more in
thickness. This it is preferred to do by causing them to come in
contact with a series of circular saws mounted upon a spindle or axis.
The pieces thus formed are next placed in a suitable sliding frame, and
are preferably so arranged therein that ultimate pieces project about
midway of their length on either side of the others.
The means I employ to arrange these pieces in the desired position:
consists of a number of fingers or pushers arranged in two sets, one set
acting on each side of the pieces to form the lighter, and the fingers of
each set are arranged opposite to alternate pieces of wood. These two
sets of sliding fingers or pushers are caused to approach each other, and
in doing so act upon alternate pieces of wood and arrange them in the
position required for the drills or boring instruments to act upon them.
The pieces to form a fire lighter so placed and held are then slidden
forward on the sliding frame so as to come in contact with a number of
drills or boring instruments, by means of which each piece receives a
hole at or near each end, and one of these becomes the centre or joint
of the fire lighter. Pegs or dowels, preferably of a square form, are
driven into the holes, the centre dowel or peg serving to unite the parts
together in such a manner as to form a joint, thus enabling the two
series of pieces of wood forming the fire lighter to be turned on the
centre dowel or pin into any suitable angle in relation to each other as
may be found most suitable. Thus an arch is formed to support the
fuel by the placing of the fire lighter on the grate bottom, thereby
allowing a free draft of air to circulate through the lighter and fuel.
The mode in which I drive the dowels or pegs into the holes in the
piece of wood forming a lighter is as follows:-The slide carrying the

page_text: pieces of wood to form a lighter after having had the holes made therein
is withdrawn from the drills, and in doing so comes into position to
receive the dowels or pegs which are placed in suitable channels, and
are acted upon by fixed pushers. Thus as the pieces of wood are in the
back action of the slide withdrawn from the drills or boring instruments
the pieces of wood are carried towards the dowels or pegs which are
forced into the holes therein by the last mentioned pushers; or the
same effect, may preferably be produced by placing the drills or boring.
instruments and the peg pushers upon a sliding table, the pieces being
held in a fixed position, and the boring accomplished by the advance of
the drills, and the pegging by the advance of the pushers.
The fingers or pushers employed to arrange the pieces of wood in the
desired position are formed in such manner as to permit the drills or
boring instruments to act on the wood without preventing the with-
drawal of such fingers or pushers from the completed lighter.
A great advantage obtained by this construction of fire lighters is that
they may be placed perfectly flat for transport.or packing, and yet be
readily pressed into the most suitable shape when required for use.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings here-
unto annexed.

page_text: -
shewn in the elevation, these teeth gear into a rack (O) which is fixed
under the slide (D), to which is attached one set of the fingers or
distributors (E). The slide (D) with the fingers (E) is driven back by
the wheel (B), and kept by a trigger (F) in that position until relieved
by a stud pin (J) on the side of the wheel (B) which lifts the trigger.
The rack (C) and slide (D) are advanced forward by means of the
weight (G) between the guides (H, H,) and the wood pieces are thus
driven between the fingers in position for boring and pegging.
The lever (8) is centred on the framing (H³). On one end of this
lever is a wheel that traverses in the channel of the cam wheel (A), the 1
other end by means of the connecting rod (8¹) is jointed to the lever (8").
One end of the lever (8) is connected with the traversing slide (10) by
the stud pin (9). The frame M with the spindles (K), and boring bits
attached thereto, and the frame (N) with the studs or pushers (U)
attached to it are fixed on the traversing slide (10).
(Q) is a frame to which is attached the hollow maundril P which is
driven. by the main driving wheel, the centre spindle (K') is furnished
with a square end (Kª) made to traverse freely in the square hole of the
maundril (P). The spindles K are geared together by the wheels (11),
the centre spindle (K³) driving the other two.
1
By the action of the lever (85) the boring bits attached to the
table (10) are advanced against the wood pieces when driven into
position, and held by the fingers-E; and the boring or drilling is thus
effected. On the return motion of the table (10) the pushers (U) force
into the holes so bored or drilled wooden pegs or dowels which are fed 2
into the small chambers or channels (B).
The given number of wood pieces required to make one fire lighter
are packed horizontally in a groove or channel provided on the table of
machine (L) or in a chamber or feed box fixed over the finger
guides (H, H,) and brought forward by hand or any common 8
mechanical arrangement.

page_text: the construction and manufacture of fire lighters, and the machinery
employed therein, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Noad, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.