Improvements relating to Fire-lighters, and in the Means and Method employed for the Manufacture of same.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Fire-lighters, and in the Means and
Method employed for the Manufacture of same.
We, EDWARD GREENFIELD, of St. Alban's Place, Islington Green, London, N.,
Manufacturer, and ROBERT JOHN HEARN, of 14 Dartmouth Park, Highgate Road,
London, N., 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 :-
The improvements according to this invention may briefly be described as con-
sisting of improvements upon the invention described in the Specification of Edward
Greenfield in respect of which Letters Patent were granted to him bearing date
19th March 1886 number 3886. In accordance with which said invention a fire
lighter is constructed of separate hars or strips of wood, or composition of a woody
fibrous or mineral nature, which, under one of the modifications described in said
Specification are some 4 inches long, inch wide and inch thick and built upon
a standard or base of any suitable height so as to allow clear and unoccupied spaces
to serve for air supply during process of combustion, and also securing an air
chamber underneath the fire lighter, by means of which a free current of air circulates
under and passes upwards through the superposed bars of the fire lighter while the
same is under combustion.
Now, by means of the present improvements upon the invention above referred to,
we are enabled under one of the heads thereof to effect in a very rapid, simple and
economical manner the conversion or reduction of the material employed for the
production of fire lighters in accordance with the present invention, by means of
which we can produce and put on the market really efficient fire lighters at a con-
siderably reduced charge relatively to that which has hitherto applied in this particular
branch of industry.
"
Further, it forms an essential constructional feature characteristic of the fire
lighters in accordance with our invention, that by the means and method of grooving
or slotting which we adopt as hereunder described, said fire lighters, in the various
forms and arrangements of same hereinafter referred to, are rendered "ventilating
and allow of and promote facile and perfect combustion whilst at the same time they
are considerably more economical than the devices referred to in the Specification of
the invention of prior date hereto above cited.
:-
دو
In carrying out our invention we proceed as follows under one head thereof :-That
is to say When wood is used as the material for the fire lighters, we take deal or
batten ends or boards but preferably the latter, of 1 inch to 1 inch in thickness and
4 inches to 6 inches in width. These are "deepened or divided by means of a fine
edge "ground off" saw and are afterwards cut into sections of from 6 to 2 inches in
depth proportionately to the size of fire lighter which it may be desired to produce.
When deals or battens are used for conversion into the sections above referred to, we
either select battens of the required width, or we cut the deals into suitable sizes.
The subdivided sections above referred to and produced in the manner above
described are then enclosed in a suitably formed case, box or receptacle A, shewn in
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 being an end elevation,
Figure 2, a longitudinal section, Figure 3 an elevation with the hinged portion
removed and Figure 4 an inverted plan.
Figures 5 and 6 are respectively side and end elevations of one of the subdivided
sections aforesaid produced in the manner above described.
Figures 7 and 8 are respectively end and side elevations of two of the subdivided
sections arranged in a triangulated form, the sections being joined together at the
apex by staples d, shown enlarged at Figure 9, and thus forming a
lighter.
duplex" fire
:

page_text: The case, box, or receptacle A is open at both ends, one end a being hinged at the
bottom or top to the sides of the box at a' and locked by the hook or catch c engaging
with the eye c' placed at the top or sides of the box. Either one or both ends of the
box or case may be hinged. These ends are partially cut away and have slots formed
therein to allow of the free passage of the saws. The subdivided sections, when placed
in the box or case and the hinged end or ends firmly secured, are effectually retained
in position by the inwardly projecting flanges or strips provided at the lower edges of
the sides of the box and by the inwardly projecting portions of the ends of the box.
In order to afford a large bearing surface for the case or box, longitudinal blocks
strips or plates, may also be adapted externally to the lower ends of the sides
thereof.
saw,
Throughout the several views Figures 5 to 9 inclusive B represents the subdivided
sections and 6 the ventilating slots formed therein. The before referred to case or
receptacle A is packed with any convenient number of the subdivided pieces or
slices B. By way of example, we find that for the facility of handling, about thirty
pieces is a convenient number. The case with its charge is now removed to a high
speed saw bench, the spindle of which has mounted thereon one or several circular
saws which latter would preferably be arranged in one or two sections or groups of
three or four saws and acting on the principle of what is known as a "drunken "
-that is to say, having a certain amount of lateral play, for instance. three or six,
four or eight saws, on one spindle; and the whole of the sliced sections or thin slabs,
forming the contents of the case or box, have formed in each, and at one operation,
the ventilating slots above referred to. Each of said thin slices or slabs will then
assume the form shewn at Figures 5 and 6 which we may designate as the resultant
fire lighter in its initial or primitive form as distinguished from the combination
devices hereunder described. With a view to increase the inflammability of said slices
or slabs we immerse same in any suitable imflammable composition, with which a
dyeing or colouring solution is incorporated, the colouring result being both a novel
feature and serves also to render the fire lighters according to our invention of
attractive appearance.
Taking the case of the initial or primitive fire lighter, Figures 5 and 6, this would
be used by being placed in the grate or stove in an inclined position so as to take a
bearing against the interior of the grate or stove. Under another arrangement of
the initial fire lighters we cause same to assume the form of two sides of a triangular
structure, Figures 7 and 8 and we here employ for the purpose of securing or stapling
together at the apex or ridge of the structure, Figure 9, any suitable type of wire
stapling machine which may be conveniently worked by hand or treadle and be
utilized for the purpose of forming the staples and driving the two ends of the latter
into the top of the fire lighter Figure 9 at suitable distances apart longitudinally.
A further modification of the improvements according to the present invention is
shewn at Figures 10 and 11 of the accompanying sheet of drawings. As we have
found in practice that the efficiency of the fire lighters described and referred to in
the hereinbefore cited Specification of the invention of Edward Greenfield is materially
increased by making the intermediate bars or members a of the device of reduced
depth relatively to the outer ends or sides a¹. This latter arrangement of the fire
when placed on the coals allowing of the freer passage of air and thus facilitating
combustion.
In whichever of the forms above referred to our improved fire lighters may assume,
free access of air is allowed thereto, and perfect combustion is promoted and effected
owing to the ventilating features special to our fire lighters and as hereinbefore
referred to.
Another advantage possessed by the improved fire lighters shown at Figures 5 to 9,
is in reference to the small space occupied by same when packed for transit or stored
ready for use or sale. Thus, in illustration of this feature, we may state that a card
board box, measuring only 7 by 6 by 6 inches would contain not less than 40
complete fire lighters.
We wish it to be understood that although we have herein referred to and described

page_text: in detail the mode of procedure and means adopted in forming the ventilating slots
or grooves which applies in the case wherein wood is the material of which the fire-
lighters consist. Still in the cases where compositions or various inflammable
matters are employed and the use of saws would not be applicable the slotting or
grooving would be readily effected by moulding, stamping, pressing or otherwise,
according to the nature or character of the composite matter to be operated upon.
We also wish it to be understood that we do not confine ourselves to the mere
particular shape or configuration of the slots or grooves as shewn in the accompanying
drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is-
First. The ventilating fire lighters herein described and identified, Figures 5,6, 7, 8,
9, 10 and 11 of the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Second. The arrangement of case, box, or receptacle, Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 as
and for the purposes herein specified in the manufacture of the fire lighter Figures 5 to 9
inclusive.
Third. The dyeing, tinting or colouring of fire lighters as and for the purposes
Dated this 8th day of September 1890.
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agent for Applicants.