Improved Firelighters, and the Apparatus or Machinery for Manufacturing the same.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Firelighters, and the Apparatus or Machinery for
Manufacturing the same.
I, JOHN FINEY, of 26 Abingdon Road, Southsea, in the County of Hants, Coal
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 :-
My invention relates to firelighters and the apparatus or machinery for manu"
facturing the same, and consists of the improvements hereinafter described, the
same being partly a development of my invention for which Letters Patent were
granted to me dated the 10th day of June 1890 No. 8958.
The main object of my said invention is to produce cheap and efficient firelighters
by means of my improved apparatus or machinery.
My improved firelighters, according to one form or modification of my invention
are composed of a number of diagonally cut, or V, or wedge shaped pieces of wood
which are fitted at right angles upon other similar shaped pieces of wood in notches
provided in the latter, the whole being suitably connected together forming a
complete firelighter. I do not however confine myself in manufacturing my fire-
lighters to this particular combination of the V, or wedge shaped pieces of wood,
I may sometimes for instance make up my firelighters of a number of V, or wedge
shaped pieces laid parallel to each other in line, with an interval between each
piece but without the top pieces-the whole being fastened and held together by
end pieces thus forming a complete firelighter. In this form of firelighter it
will not be necessary to cut the notches in the pieces of wood-hereinbefore
referred to.
To insure rapid ignition of the aforesaid firelighters I may coat them wholly
or partially; with some suitable inflammable and adhesive substance which will
also serve to more effectually unite the various pieces of wood. If desired, the
spaces between the pieces of wood may be filled or partly filled, with chips of wood,
resin, coal dust, pitch, or other inflammable material.
My said invention also consists of improved apparatus or machinery, whereby I
am enabled to cut the pieces or strips of wood of the desired shape and size and
also to form the notches in same as required.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will now proceed to describe
same with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:-
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of one form or modification of my improved apparatus
or machinery, and
Fig. 2, a sectional plan on line a, a, and
Figs. 3, 4, and 5, enlarged cross sections on lines b, b, c, c, and d, d, respectively.
Figs. 6, and 7, are part plans on top of Fig. 1.
Figs. 8, and 9, shew respectively in cross section and part plan a modification
of my invention adapted only for cutting notches in the V shaped pieces of wood.
Fig. 10, shews in elevation, plan, and end view, respectively at H, J, and K, one
form of my complete firelighter, and,
Fig. 11, in elevation, plan, and end view, respectively at N, P, and O, another
form of my complete firelighter.
Figs. 12, and 13, shew in sectional elevation and cross section respectively several
firelighters (as illustrated at Fig. 10,) placed in frames M, and M', for the purpose
of being pressed together.
Fig. 14, a plan of Fig. 12, taken on line e, e.
Fig. 15, shews in perspective view one form of the pieces of wood used in the

page_text: Similar letters refer to corresponding parts in the several figures.
My improved apparatus or machine consists of a table or bed plate A, with
sides B, and top C, and two sets of saws D, D, and E, E, mounted on spindles F,
and F', in suitable bearings, the saws may be in sets made up of any convenient
number. The spindles may be connected together and operated by manual, steam,
or other motive power.
The bed plate A, at the end G, of the machine (represented by Figs. 1, to 7,)
is level for a certain distance and then gradually twists into the desired angle (such
as is shewn in enlarged cross section at Fig. 5,) which angle is then maintained to
the end G', of the said machine.
It will be observed that the saws E, E, vary in diameter as shewn at Figs. 1, 2,
and 5.
To form the V, or wedge shaped pieces of wood into the required shape,
rectangular pieces of wood I, I, of the desired length, are passed into the end G,
of the machine and fed to the saws D, D, which cut the said pieces I, I, into
four or more pieces K, K, K, K, according to the number of saws employed.
The
pieces thus cut are kept apart (after they leave the saws D, D,) by suitable
guides L, L, L, and by reason of continuous feeding into the machine of the
pieces I, I, they are pushed forward until they ultimately assume the position as
shewn at Fig. 5, in which position they are passed through the saws E, E, and
then delivered at the end G¹, of the machine in pieces of the desired V, or wedge
shape, as shewn in perspective at Fig. 15.
'
To hold the V, or wedge shaped pieces in position for cutting the notches in
same, I prefer to employ a device M, consisting of a metal or other frame open at
the top and bottom and provided with suitable slots or recesses e¹, el, in the sides,
into which the said V, or wedge shaped pieces are placed, and held by means of a
lid or cover, which may be hinged or jointed to the said frame and secured to the
same by a suitable fastener or locking apparatus such as is shewn at f¹.
To cut the notches n, n, the frame M, is placed upon and passed along the top
or cover C, of the apparatus, through which the saws D, D, project a certain
distance, the vertical cuts are thus made in the V shaped pieces secured in the
frame M, and upon passing the frame over the saws E, E, other, slanting, cuts are
made and the notches n, thus formed.
It will be noted that the end saw of the set of saws E, E, is not required to
project through the top of table for the purpose of cutting a notch, but will only
be of a diameter sufficient to cut the V, or wedge shaped pieces (Fig. 15).
After the notches n, have been thus cut, the frame M, is inverted, the adhesive
material or composition may then be applied, other V, or wedge shaped pieces of
wood but without notches-are then placed in the notches n, and the frame M',
(see Figs. 12, 13, and 14,) placed on the frame M, the whole is then passed under
a suitable press whereby the pieces constituting this form of complete firelighter
are pressed and firmly secured together.
The frame M', at its underside is made up of a suitable number of longitudinal
and transverse ribs g', g, which serve to steady and keep the V, or wedge shaped
pieces placed longitudinally and transversely in the frame M,-in position while
being pressed together. The frames M, M', may be made of a size to hold one
or more firelighters.
Sometimes I may as an alternative method form the notches n, n, by means of
the machine illustrated at Fig. 8, in cross section and Fig. 9, in part plan (taken
on line ',) in which h³, is a spindle mounted in suitable bearings, upon which
saws D', D', and E, E, in number and diameter as desired, are arranged to revolve,
being driven by manual or other power; A' is a level table of any desired length
and M', the frame or device similar in construction to that illustrated at M; A³, is a
table mounted at the desired angle, such angle being the same for its whole length.
The vertical saw cuts in the wedge shaped pieces (previously secured in the
frame M²) are made by passing the frame, which fits over the table, along the
same, and over the saws D³, D, and upon removing the frame M², to the table A³,

page_text: and passing the former over the saws E', E', the slanting cuts will be made, thus
completing the notches n¹, n¹, in the different pieces contained in the frame, the
operation can be repeated at will. Should this apparatus (Figs. 8, and 9,) be used
for cutting the notches it will be unnecessary to provide for cutting same in manner
herein first described and illustrated; and it is obvious that it will not be necessary
to then arrange for the saws D, D, and E, E, to project above the top C, of the
machine as illustrated by Figs. 1, to 7, but the saws D, D, and E, E, will only
require to be of a diameter sufficient to cut the rectangular pieces K, K, and the
V, or wedge shaped pieces K', K', (see Fig. 5).
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 :-
:-
or
1st. The improved firelighters composed of V, or wedge shaped pieces of wood
fitted together in such manner as to leave interstices in same, in some
all of which inflammable material may be placed as desired, substantially as
described.
2nd. The improved firelighters constructed substantially as described with
reference to Figs. 10, and 11.
3rd. The herein described method of cutting wood into strips by means of saws
to form V, or wedge shaped pieces.
4th. The machine consisting essentially of a bed plate or table A and top C,
twisted in such manner and for the purpose as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in accompanying drawings.
5th. The herein described method of cutting or forming the V or wedge shaped
notches n, n, in the pieces or strips of wood by means of first securing the pieces in
a device M, and passing the latter along the level top part of the apparatus over
the saws D, D, which are of equal diameter and arranged to project through the
top part C, of the apparatus, and then passing the said device M, along the angled
or inclined top part C, of the apparatus over the saws E, E, which are of varying
diameter, some being arranged to project through the top part C, of the apparatus,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6th. The frames M, and M', for holding and clamping the V or wedge shaped
pieces of wood in the proper positions for the purposes specified.
7th. The machine illustrated with reference to Figs. 8, and 9, being a modification
of my invention adapted for cutting the V, or wedge shaped notches n', n', in the
V or wedge shaped pieces of wood.
8th. The improved apparatus and machines constructed arranged and operated,
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 28th day of April 1892.
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.I.N.A.,
70, High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.