Firestarter using Diatomaceous Earth and Organic Fibers

Abstract

A fire starter which contains about 1% to 16% long porous organic fibers and 1% to 8% diatomaceous earth additives to create a firestarter that is capable of being extruded at lower pressures and contains air pockets to aid in oxidation.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY[0001]This invention relates to a fire starter construction, a method of making a fire starter with wax and wood particles, but with the additions of organic porous flammable fibers and non-organic porous material.[0002]Fire starters are common in the form of a block of wax and wood particles(some dangerous ones with liquid organic fuel saturated in them). This type of starter is generally provided in block form of predetermined lengths. The block is placed below or next to a quantity of material to be burned, such as coal or a wood log, and is ignited using a flame source. The wax and wood particle mixture burns to ignite the charcoal or wood. While this type of fire starter is generally functional to ignite such material, it has many disadvantages.[0003]A) Traditionally large quantity of fire starter material must be used to generate a sufficiently intense flame to ignite the burnable substrate. Even the use of flammable papers like newspaper are common.[0004...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]Artificial firelogs that embody features of this present invention typically compose of: combustible cell materials, and a wax or other binder blended and shaped in a method typical of firelogs available in the past. The present invention adds long organic fibers to this combination of materials during the creation of the firestarter. These long organic fibers may be supplemented by similar agricultural fibers. A typical combination of this present invention contains 1-16% organic fibers. These organic fibers are less dense than traditional firelog components and will enable the firestarter to be manufactured more cheaply and to be extruded with less wear and tear on the machinery. Organic fibers will also reduce the need for costly wax by substituting petroleum based wax for organic fiber that contains a similar energy content without a dramatic drop in overall energy content. These natural fibers will also replace some of the non absorbent cell materials and volatile organic compounds common in firelogs / firestarters of the past that will create a cleaner burn with less char, less debris, and one that is more environmentally friendly. Natural fibers added by this present invention will also create a lighter firestarter, or one where less of the compound is needed. The objective adding these natural fibers is to provide a firestarter that is inexpensive to manufacture, environmentally friendly and a firestarter that weighs less, with the idea that you are giving the consumer more as a better product.

[0019]Under another embodiment of this present invention, diatomaceous earth may also be added to the above described firestarter combination. A typical combination contains 1%-8% diatomaceous earth. Diatomaceous earth allows for a better air flow since diatoms have air pockets within a Silica based exoskeleton. Diatomaceous earth also increases the surface area of a firestarter, resulting in a firestarter that is easier to light, maintain a flame and more receptive to the use of notches and wrappers as a method of initial fire ignition. Under this present invention, diatomaceous earth is not added for its crackling sound properties. The objective of adding diatomaceous earth is to create a resulting product that is more porous with a greater air flow which results in a stronger burning flame that does not flicker.

Problems solved by technology

The combustible wax component of a firelog often contains various highly flammable expensive petroleum additives designed to increase flammability.

The main disadvantage of the using dense non absorbent materials in firelogs is the added manufacturing cost.

As a result of this high pressure, machinery is often worn out of added labor costs are incurred.

Manufacturing cost are further increased because machines are required to process these raw materials.

Some firelogs also contain processed shards of dense non aborbant cellulosic material that has the potential to injure a user.

Further, use of firelogs made from dense non absorbent materials result in added environmental costs.

Finally, the resulting extruded and compacted firelog is often heavy and not very porous which reduces the speed of oxidation.

Although these methods are generally effective, the main disadvantage is that current firelogs are too restricting and do not provide proper airflow to take full advantage of these features.

Even with these methods to aid preliminary ignition, common firelogs typically are too densely compacted to take advantage of them and often burn uncontinously and flicker.

Images