Improvements in Matches, Fusees, and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 27th Apr., 1895
Improvements in Matches, Fusees, and the like.
I GEORGE WHITE THOMAS of No. 19 Myddelton Square in the County of
Middlesex Gentleman 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 object of my invention is to protect matches fusees and the like from injury
when exposed to the action of a moist atmosphere which in some situations and
climates so affects matches and the like when exposed to its action as to render
them useless.
According to my said invention I render matches and fusees and the like proof
against the action of moisture by applying to the said matches fusees and the like
or to the parts of them which are rubbed in order to ignite them a coating or
covering consisting of certain or all of the following matters namely-Carnauba
wax (sometimes termed "stone wax "), Japan-wax or other wax, resin, gutta percha,
india rubber, drying oil, paraffin, spermaceti, fat, certain products obtained
from fat.
The mixture which I prefer to use consists of Carnauba wax and linseed oil
(either raw or boiled) and either Japan-wax or solid paraffin or both. The relative
proportions in which the said matters are required to be used are dependent on
the melting points of such of them as are solid and on the condition of the oil
(i.e. whether raw or boiled) and on the temperature to which the matches will be
exposed prior to use at which temperature the coating mixture is required to be
hard and solid. For instance where Carnauba wax having a melting point of
189 degrees Fahrenheit and Japan-wax and solid paraffin having a melting point
of 150 degrees Fahrenheit and raw linseed oil are selected for use a mixture
having a melting point of from 155 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit is produced by
using the said matters in the following proportions namely,
Carnauba wax
-
Japan-wax or solid paraffin or both in conjunction
Oil
5 parts by weight
94 parts by weight
1 part by weight.
If the Carnauba wax and Japan-wax and solid paraffin selected for use have
higher or lower melting points the proportions in which they require to be used
will need variation in order to produce a mixture having the same melting point
as that of the mixture above described.
The mixture herein before described as that which I prefer is hard and solid at
a temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit and is therefore suitable where the
matches are intended for use in any part of the world where the temperature of
the atmosphere never exceeds 140 degrees Fahrenheit. If a composition having
a higher melting point be desired a larger proportion of Carnauba wax must be
used and in cases where the highest temperature to which the matches will be
exposed prior to use is much less than 140 degrees Fahrenheit the proportion of
Carnauba wax may be decreased. In all cases the coating mixture should be so
prepared that it will be hard and solid at the highest temperatur: to which the
matches are likely to be exposed prior to use.
In place of Carnauba wax or in place of a portion thereof a suitable proportion
or suitable proportions of common resin or other resin may be used. In place of
the linseed oil or in place of a portion thereof a suitable proportion or suitable
D
...

page_text: proportions of any one or more or all of the following matters may be used.
namely; gutta percha or india rubber or poppy oil or rape oil or walnut oil or any
other drying oil. In place of either the Japan-wax or the paraffin or in place of
a portion thereof a suitable proportion or suitable proportions of one or more or
all of the following matters may be used namely any kind of wax or spermaceti or
sheep's fat or cocoa-butter or other kind of fat or product obtained from fat which
in conjunction with the other ingredients selected for admixture therewith will
produce a composition which will be firm and solid at a sufficiently high temperature
namely at a temperature a few degrees higher than the highest temperature to
which the matches are likely to be exposed prior to use. For instance a mixture
consisting of Carnauba wax and gutta percha and sheeps' fat is suitable for use
and a mixture consisting of common resin and gutta percha and sheeps' fat is
suitable for use and a mixture consisting of Carnauba wax and common resin and
linseed oil and india rubber and beeswax and cocoa-butter and palmatin and
stearin and solid paraffin is suitable for use provided that in either case the
proportions of the several ingredients be such that the mixture will be firm and
solid at a sufficiently high temperature. It is obviously impracticable to specify
all of the various combinations or mixtures which may be produced by substitution
of one for another of the several matters herein before mentioned and referred to
as suitable for use and it is unnecessary to do so the only essential point to be kept
in view in preparing any mixture of the said matters being the requirement
herein before stated namely firmness and solidity of the mixture at a sufficiently
high temperature.
I prepare the matters and mixtures hereinbefore referred to for use as
follows;
I take the matters selected for admixture and place them together in an
enamelled metal pan or other suitable vessel and heat them by means of a water
bath or any other suitable and convenient means and then stir the said matters
until they are completely dissolved and thoroughly incorporated or blended. The
mixture is then ready for use and may either be at once used or be put aside for
future use.
In the latter case the mixture must be heated to a temperature a few
degrees above its melting point when required for use and kept in a liquid state
while it is being used.
In applying the coating mixture to matches I proceed as follows
"
;-
I take the matches after their manufacture in the ordinary manner has been
completed and after the "dips or portions of deflagrating compound with which
they are tipped have become thoroughly dry and (if the stalks of the matches be
of wax or other material not liable to absorb moisture) I insert the "dips" only of
the said matches in the liquid mixture with which they are to coated and withdraw
them. A thin coating of the said mixture which solidifies almost instantly is thus
produced on the "dips" of the matches which coating prevents them from
absorbing wet or moisture. If the stalks of the matches to be treated be of wood
or other material which is liable to absorb moisture I either take the matches after
their manufacture in the ordinary manner has been completed and entirely immerse
them in the coating mixture or I take the "splints" or sticks before they are
tipped with deflagrating composition and saturate them with any of the mixtures
herein before described and referred to as suitable for coating the dips of matches
or with any other matter or mixture of matters which will prevent absorption of
moisture by the said splints or sticks and I afterwards tip them with a deflagrating
composition in the ordinary way or in any other suitable way and when the said
composition is dry I coat the " dips as hereinbefore described with reference to
wax matches.
"
It is desirable to avoid heating the coating mixture much above its melting
point as the action of a high degree of heat on the dips of the matches is liable to
produce vaporization of the constituents of the deflagrating composition the escape
of vapour from which composition after the coating mixture has been applied
thereto would produce unsoundness of the coating. For the same reason it is

page_text: desirable in coating the matches to immerse them in and withdraw them from the
liquid ccating mixture moderately quickly that is to say there should be only a
momentary dwell between the acts of immersing the matches in and withdrawing
them from the liquid coating mixture.
My invention is applicable not only to ordinary matches but also to "safety
matches" namely matches which ignite only when rubbed on a specially prepared
surface. In applying the coating mixtures to such matches and to fusees and the
like I proceed in the same manner as hereinbefore described. It is not necessary
to coat the tablets on which safety matches are to be rubbed in order to ignite them
nor is it necessary to treat the said tablets in any way.
I am aware that it has been proposed to protect matches from injury due to the
action of moist atmospheres by coating them with paraffin alone and I make no
claim to the use of paraffin for the said purpose otherwise than in admixture with
other matters as herein before described. I have ascertained that paraffin alone is
unsuitable for the said purpose on account of its liability to crystallization whereby
the integrity of the coating is destroyed and access of moisture to the deflagrating
composition permitted. In the mixtures hereinbefore described crystallization of
the paraffin is prevented by the presence of the linseed oil or other matters
hereinbefore referred to as suitable for use in substitution therefor.
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 ;-
The improvements hereinbefore described in matches fusees and the like that is
to say the application to matches fusees and the like of a coating or covering
consisting of any of the mixtures of matters comprehended in the foregoing
statement.
Dated this Fourteenth day of March 1895
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.