Improvements in Fire-lighters.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1898-Accepted, 10th Sept., 1898
COMT DETE DI ECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire-lighters.
I, HERMANN MULLER, of 92, Newlands Park, Sydenham, London, S.E., Commission
Agent, 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 an improved fire-lighter, applicable also as a spirit-lamp,
and has for object to provide a fire-lighter which shall be indestructible, economical
and effective in use, while at the same time it can, when desirable, be employed as a
spirit-lamp for boiling kettles or for analogous purposes.
And in order that this my said invention may be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect, reference is hereby made to the accompanying sheet of
illustrative drawings, wherein :-
Fig. 1, is a perspective view of a fire-lighter in accordance with my invention.
Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, being modified forms thereof, while
Fig. 7, shews a convenient form of box for use in conjunction with my improved
fire-lighter.
In carrying my invention into practical effect, I fashion the fire-lighter in two
ways, either in the form of a carbon composition, or as a briquette.
For the carbon composition I take crushed carbon in any suitable form, either as
coke, wood (or animal) charcoal, and mix same with any suitable adhesive material
such as tar, gummy substances or the like. The mixture so formed is then worked
into a plastic state and moulded to the required shapes, preferably by means of suit-
able presses. If desirable, the composition may be dried (after being moulded) and
then burnt to a red heat in a suitable kiln or retort.
In applying the invention to the manufacture of briquettes, I employ fire-clay,
with or without the addition of silica, but preferably containing about 80 per cent.
of same, together with, approximately, 18 per cent. of oxide of aluminium, and 2 per
cent. of oxide of iron. Though these proportions are convenient, they may be varied
according to the porosity of the briquette to be manufactured.
The fire-clay aforesaid is mixed and worked with water, to form a plastic inass,
which is moulded to the required shapes, dried, and finally burnt to a red heat.
Referring to the drawings, I have there shewn examples of various forms of fire-
lighters, though, of course, the shapes of these can be varied as found desirable or
convenient.
a is a box of metal or other suitable material, designed to receive a fire-lighter b.
In preparing the fire-lighter for use, the latter is placed in the box a which is then
covered with the lid a¹ and the fire-lighter completely saturated with methylated
spirit, petroleum or other suitable inflammable fluid. After the fire-lighter is
sufficiently saturated with the said fluid, it is employed in the manner usual with
fire-lighters. When the said fire-lighter b has kindled the fire, it is removed and re-
saturated ready for further use. The said fire-lighters may be provided with suitable
perforations 6, in order the better to assist combustion.
For use as a spirit lamp, the fire-lighter is employed in conjunction with an ordi-
nary tripod stand for supporting a kettle or the like, the heat obtained from the

page_text: ignition of the said fire-lighter being sufficient for the purpose of boiling the kettle,
for instance, without the additional aid of coal, wood, or the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
The improved indestructible fire-lighter, applicable also as a spirit lamp, composed
of the ingredients in or about the proportions hereinbefore specified, and prepared in
the manner stated, substantially as described.
Ɑ this lɔrn day of July 1898.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for Applicant.