Combustion unit for activating a fuel and manufacturing device for manufacturing a combustion unit

Abstract

Combustion unit (100) for activating a combustion material, comprising - a layer of wood (102) extending from a first end (104) to a second end (106), - wherein the wood layer (102) adjacent to the first end (104) has a full-surface section (108), and - wherein the wood layer (102) adjacent to the second end (106) has a wood thread section (110) which is arranged and designed such that a plurality of wood threads (112, 114, 116, 132-140) extend from the second end (106) to the full-surface section (108), - wherein the wood layer (102) is wound spirally from the first end (104) so ​​that the full-surface section (108) is arranged in an interior of the burning unit (100) and the wood thread section (110) forms an exterior of the burning unit (100).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a firing unit for activating a firing material and a manufacturing device for producing a firing unit.

[0002] Combustion units for activating fuel are generally well known. Combustion units are used, for example, to ignite, ignite, and / or glow fuel. Fuel can be wood or coal, for example. Combustion units are used in fireplaces, ovens, grills, or solid-fuel stoves.

[0003] Firing units can be waste products from other manufacturing processes. Such firing units can be, for example, compressed shavings or wood fibers. Firing units can also be custom-manufactured. Such custom-manufactured firing units are generally more expensive and yet have no or limited functionality for activating firing materials.

[0004] DE 596 869 A discloses a firelighter consisting of a prismatic housing made of wooden sticks with grid-like walls, which encloses an auxiliary ignition element made of wooden threads. The auxiliary ignition element has a slotted wooden chip that fills the interior of the grid housing as a coiled or folded block. A disadvantage of this firelighter is that it is complex to manufacture and its ignition performance is limited.

[0005] DE 20 2011 100 021 U1 discloses a device for producing firelighters for a fireplace or barbecue fire or for lighting solid fuel stoves, comprising a first cutting device, in particular a planing, cutting or paring knife, for cutting at least one sheet of wood from or out of a wooden blank, a second cutting device, in particular a comb knife, a needle board or a plurality of knife wheels, for cutting at least one sheet of wood into wood threads of substantially equal length, a gathering and twisting device for gathering and twisting a number of wood threads into a twisted strand of wood threads, a device for at least partially filling spaces between wood threads of the wood thread strand with a wax or paraffin material, in particular a wax or paraffin material bath or wax or paraffin material bath.Paraffin spraying device, a cutting device for cutting the wood thread strands into equal-length, essentially cylindrical firelighters. A disadvantage of this device is its complex design, the manufacturing process of which is prone to errors.

[0006] DE 10 2005 040 820 B3 discloses a firelighter bundle comprising several logs that are bundled together as such, lying side by side, by means of a loop. The bundle is fanned out on one side, so that the gaps between the logs on one long side of the bundle are larger than on the other long side of the bundle. The fanning is achieved, in particular, by inserting spacers. A disadvantage of this firelighter bundle is that the one-sided fanning must be done manually, and automated production of the fanning is complex.

[0007] EP 2687579 B1 discloses a device for producing firelighters for a fireplace or barbecue or a solid fuel stove, comprising a first cutting device, in particular a comb knife or several circular knife wheels for introducing several groove-shaped depressions into a wood material blank, a second cutting device, in particular a planing, cutting or paring knife, for cutting off at least one wood material layer from a wood material blank, at least one displacement device which moves the wood material blank relative to the first and / or second cutting device or the first and / or second cutting device relative to the wood material blank, a control unit which is designed to control the first cutting device such that, during a displacement movement of the displacement device, it can move between a cutting position in which it introduces groove-shaped depressions into the wood material blank,and a lifting position, in which it is located at a distance from the wood material blank, and wherein the second cutting device is designed and arranged such that, during the movement of the movement of the device, the wood material layer is wound spirally around a transverse axis lying substantially parallel to the width direction of the wood material layer when cut from the wood material blank. The firelighter produced with this device has several transverse web regions. These transverse web regions are intended to increase the stability of the firelighter. A disadvantage of such a firelighter is that the production of several transverse web regions can be complex and prone to errors. Furthermore, multiple transverse web regions reduce the ignition performance.

[0008] It is a requirement from the industry to provide ignition units which, on the one hand, have a high ignition performance, but at the same time are easy and inexpensive to manufacture, whereby this production must in particular be automated.

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to reduce or eliminate at least one disadvantage of a previously known solution or to propose an alternative solution. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a combustion unit for activating a fuel and a manufacturing device that offer improved ignition performance and / or enable improved production of a combustion unit.

[0010] This object is achieved with a firing unit and a production device according to the features of the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments of these aspects are specified in the respective dependent claims. The features disclosed in the claims, the description, and the drawings can be combined individually in any technologically expedient manner, with further embodiments of the invention being shown.

[0011] According to a first aspect, the object mentioned at the outset is achieved by a firing unit for activating a firing material, comprising a wood layer which extends from a first end to a second end, wherein the wood layer has a full-surface section adjacent to the first end, and wherein the wood layer has a wood thread section adjacent to the second end, which is arranged and designed such that, starting from the second end, a plurality of wood threads extend to the full-surface section, wherein the wood layer is rolled up in a spiral shape starting from the first end, so that the full-surface section is arranged in an interior of the firing unit and the wood thread section forms an exterior of the firing unit.

[0012] The invention is based on the finding that a firing unit with an internal, full-surface section and an adjoining wood fiber section can be manufactured particularly easily and reliably, while still ensuring high ignition performance. Thus, the firing unit has only a single, full-surface section and no further full-surface sections or crosspieces along the wood fiber section. Although this results in a partially lower stability of the firing unit compared to firing units with multiple crosspieces or full-surface sections, it nevertheless offers the advantages of higher ignition performance and better manufacturability.

[0013] The firing unit is designed to activate a firing material. The firing unit comprises the wood layer, which extends from a first end to a second end. The wood layer can, for example, be planed from a block of wood. In particular, the wood layer has a structure such that it can be rolled up spirally.

[0014] The wood layer has a full-surface section adjacent to the first end. A full-surface section is understood to mean, in particular, a section that essentially and / or predominantly has a closed surface. Such a surface essentially has no slotted openings or the like. Nevertheless, the full-surface section may also have individual non-closed sections that are either included during production or intentionally incorporated.

[0015] The wood layer has the wood thread section adjacent to the second end. The wood thread section is arranged and formed such that, starting from the second end, the plurality of wood threads extend to the full-surface section. The wood thread section thus preferably extends from the second end to the full-surface section. The wood threads can be formed, for example, by slitting, cutting, or separating the wood layer. For example, the wood layer can have a plurality of separating cuts that extend from the second end to the full-surface section, thereby forming the wood threads. The wood thread section is preferably free of full-surface sections. This results in better manufacturability and better ignition performance.

[0016] The wood layer is spirally wound from the first end, so that the full-surface portion is arranged in the interior of the firing unit, and the wood thread portion forms an exterior of the firing unit. The wood thread portion is, in particular, wound around the full-surface portion. As explained in more detail below, the full-surface portion can form part of a spiral winding or several spiral windings. The wood layer is, in particular, spirally wound such that the firing unit has a hollow space within.

[0017] Alternatively, the wood layer can be rolled up so tightly that it has, in particular, the full-surface section inside and essentially no hollow space.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the burning unit, it is provided that the wood layer is rolled up spirally starting from the first end in such a way that the burning unit has a circular cross-section with an inner through-opening.

[0019] In particular, the wood layer is rolled with a radius that essentially corresponds to the inner through-hole. The inner through-hole improves the oxygen supply to the combustion unit, thus further improving the ignition performance. Furthermore, the manufacturability of the combustion unit can be improved.

[0020] In the further embodiment of the combustion unit, it is provided that the inner passage opening has a diameter between 0.3 cm and 3 cm, preferably between 0.5 cm and 2 cm.

[0021] A through opening with such a diameter has a particularly high ignition performance, since on the one hand sufficient oxygen is provided, but at the same time too rapid burning of the combustion unit is avoided.

[0022] In a further preferred embodiment of the burning unit, it is provided that the wood layer is rolled up spirally starting from the first end in such a way that the burning unit has two or more, in particular more than five, preferably between 4 and 12, further preferably between 5 and 10, further preferably between 6 and 8, spiral turns.

[0023] For good ignition performance, the combustion unit has two or more spiral windings. A spiral winding is defined as a curve of 360 degrees. For example, a combustion unit with four spiral windings has a curve of 1440 degrees, meaning it is wound four times. It has been found that a combustion unit with four to 12 spiral windings, in particular, offers good ignition performance while also being easy to manufacture.

[0024] In a further preferred embodiment of the burning unit, it is provided that the wood layer is rolled up spirally starting from the first end in such a way that the full-surface section has between 0.1 and 4, preferably between 0.25 and 3, further preferably between 0.5 and 2, spiral turns.

[0025] It is preferred that the full-surface section form fewer spiral turns of the combustion unit than the wood thread section, since the wood thread section is intended, in particular, to provide the combustion power. Therefore, 0.1 to 4, and in particular 0.25 to 3, and furthermore, in particular 0.5 to 2, spiral turns are preferred.

[0026] In a further preferred embodiment of the burning unit, it is provided that the wood layer is wound spirally starting from the first end in such a way that the wood thread section has between 2 and 15, preferably between 3 and 10, further preferably between 4 and 8, spiral turns.

[0027] A further preferred development of the burning unit is characterized in that a length ratio of the length of the full-surface section and the wood thread section is between 0.01 and 1, preferably between 0.1 and 0.8, further preferably between 0.2 and 0.5.

[0028] The length of the full-surface section and the wood thread section refers in particular to the extent that runs parallel to the main extent of the wood threads. It is preferred that the wood thread section has a greater extent than the full-surface section. Since the wood threads, in particular, lead to a high burning performance of the burning unit, a greater extent of the wood thread section also leads to better burning performance. At the same time, the full-surface section must be selected to be long enough to provide sufficient stability for the burning unit and also ensure good manufacturability. For example, an aspect ratio of 0.1 means that the wood thread section is ten times as long as the full-surface section.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment of the burning unit, it is provided that the wood thread section has two or more wood threads, in particular more than five wood threads, preferably between 6 and 16, further preferably between 8 and 14, wood threads.

[0030] In the initial state of the wood layer, the wood threads preferably extend parallel. When the wood layer is coiled spirally, the wood threads can be arranged next to each other and / or partially or completely superimposed. A particularly preferred embodiment is characterized by the wood threads being coiled next to each other.

[0031] In a preferred development of the firing unit, it is provided that the wood layer has a rectangular geometry in the rolled-out state and preferably has a length-width ratio between 0.05 and 0.5, further preferably between 0.1 and 0.3.

[0032] It is particularly preferred that the combustion unit has a cylindrical geometry. Alternatively, or in some sections, the combustion unit may also have a conical geometry.

[0033] In a further preferred embodiment of the burning unit, it is provided that the wood threads each have a thread longitudinal direction and a thread cross-section orthogonal to the thread longitudinal direction, wherein the thread cross-section is rectangular.

[0034] The rectangular thread cross-section is to be understood as essentially rectangular. For example, the corners of the cross-section can also be rounded or chamfered. In the longitudinal direction of the thread, the wood threads extend, in particular, from the second end toward the first end.

[0035] In a further preferred embodiment of the firing unit, the thickness of the wood layer is between 0.05 and 2 mm, preferably between 0.1 and 1 mm.

[0036] The thickness of the wood layer is selected in particular in such a way that it can be separated from a block of wood in an automated process and, in particular, can also be rolled up automatically.

[0037] A further preferred embodiment of the burning unit is characterized in that the wood layer is arranged and designed such that the burning unit has an outer diameter between 10 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 15 mm and 30 mm.

[0038] Furthermore, it is provided that the combustion unit comprises a spiral axis around which the spiral windings extend, wherein the width of the combustion unit in the direction of the spiral axis is between 20 mm and 100 mm, preferably between 30 mm and 80 mm.

[0039] In a further preferred development of the firing unit, it is provided that the firing unit comprises a binding agent, in particular wax, which connects the wood threads to one another at least in some areas.

[0040] According to a further aspect, the object mentioned at the outset is achieved by a manufacturing device for producing a firing unit, in particular a firing unit according to one of the preceding claims, comprising: a wood layer separation unit which is arranged and designed to separate a planar wood layer which extends from a first end to a second end from a wood block, a wood cutting unit which is arranged and designed to form a wood thread section on the wood layer so that, starting from the second end, a plurality of wood threads extend to a full-surface section, a wood rolling unit which is arranged and designed to roll up the wood layer in a spiral shape starting from the first end so that the full-surface section forms an interior of the firing unit and the wood thread section forms an exterior of the firing unit.

[0041] According to a further aspect, the object mentioned at the outset is achieved by a manufacturing method for producing a firing unit, in particular a firing unit according to one of the embodiments described above, comprising the steps of: separating a planar wood layer from a wood block, wherein the wood layer extends from a first end to a second end, forming a wood thread section on the wood layer such that, starting from the second end, a plurality of wood threads extend to a full-surface section, spirally rolling up the wood layer starting from the first end such that the full-surface section forms an interior of the firing unit and the wood thread section forms an exterior of the firing unit.

[0042] For further advantages, variants and details of the individual aspects and their possible further training, please refer to the description of the other aspects, the corresponding features and further training.

[0043] Preferred embodiments are explained by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures. Fig. 1: a schematic, three-dimensional view of an exemplary embodiment of a combustion unit; Fig. 2: a schematic, two-dimensional view of an exemplary embodiment of a wood layer; Fig. 3: a schematic, two-dimensional side view of an exemplary embodiment of a combustion unit; Fig. 4: a schematic, two-dimensional sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a combustion unit; Fig. 5: a schematic, two-dimensional side view of an exemplary embodiment of a combustion unit; Fig. 6: a schematic two-dimensional view of an exemplary embodiment of a manufacturing apparatus.

[0044] In the figures, identical or essentially functionally identical or similar elements are designated by the same reference numerals. The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention that can be considered independently of one another. These features also further develop the invention independently of one another and are also to be considered as components of the invention, either individually or in a combination other than that shown. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

[0045] Fig. 1 shows a firing unit 100 for activating a firing material. The firing unit 100 comprises a wood layer 102, which has an inner, not-shown, full-surface section and a wood thread section 110 that forms an exterior of the firing unit 100. The wood thread section 110 has a plurality of wood threads 112. The firing unit 100 extends in the width direction B and in a radial direction R that is oriented orthogonally to the width direction B.

[0046] In Fig. 2 shows a wood layer 102 before it has been spirally rolled. The wood layer 102 extends from a first end 104 to a second end 106 in the longitudinal direction L. The wood layer 102 has a full-surface section 108 adjacent to the first end 104.

[0047] Adjacent to the second end 106, the wood layer 102 has the wood thread section 110. Starting from the second end 106, a plurality of wood threads 114, 116 extend to the full-surface section 108. In the Fig. 2 shows nine wood threads 114, 116 arranged side by side as an example. Only the top two wood threads are provided with a reference symbol. The wood threads 114, 116, as well as the other wood threads, are separated from each other by a cutting line 118. The cutting line 118 can, for example, be a section of the wood layer 102.

[0048] In Fig. Figure 3 shows a view of a firing unit 100 in which, by way of example, seven wood threads 114, 116, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140 are arranged next to one another. As already described above, the firing unit could also have more or fewer than seven wood threads. Fig. Figure 4 shows the internal structure of this firing unit 100. It can be seen that the spiral windings 120 to 130 extend around the through-opening 142. The spiral windings 128, 130 can, for example, represent a full-surface section 108 of the wood layer 102. The spiral windings 120 to 126 can, for example, represent a wood thread section 110.

[0049] In Fig. Figure 5 shows a side view of the firing unit 100, in which the width direction is perpendicular to the image plane. The firing unit 100 is shown schematically, among other things, in that the transitions from one spiral winding to the next are not shown. Naturally, however, the wood layer 102 extends continuously outward with a plurality of spiral windings 120 to 130. Furthermore, Fig. 5 does not show the outer ends of the wood threads 112 to 116, 132 to 140.

[0050] In Fig.6 shows a manufacturing device 200 for producing a firing unit 100. The manufacturing device 200 comprises a wood layer separation unit 202, which is arranged and configured to separate the planar wood layer 102 from a wood block. Furthermore, the manufacturing device 200 comprises a wood cutting unit 204, which is arranged and configured to form the wood thread section 110 on the wood layer 102, such that, starting from a second end 106, a plurality of wood threads 112 to 116, 132 to 140 extend to a full-surface section 108.

[0051] Furthermore, the manufacturing device comprises a wood rolling unit 206, which is arranged and configured to spirally roll the wood layer 102 starting from the first end 104, so that the full-surface section 108 forms an interior of the firing unit 100 and the wood thread section 110 forms an exterior of the firing unit 100. To enable automated production of the firing unit 100, the manufacturing device 200 further comprises a conveyor belt 208, with which the manufactured firing units 100 can be transported out of the manufacturing device 200.

[0052] The firing unit 100 described above and the corresponding manufacturing device 200 enable the automated production of an optimized firing unit for activating a firing material. The firing unit 100 is particularly advantageous in that it has only a single, full-surface section 108 and is thus particularly easy to manufacture. Furthermore, it offers improved firing performance compared to firing units known in the prior art. REFERENCE SYMBOL 100 burning units 102 wood layers 104 first end 106 second end 108 full-surface section 110 wood thread section 112 wood thread 114 wood thread 116 wood thread 118 Cutting line 120 spiral turns 122 spiral winding 124 spiral turns 126 spiral turns 128 spiral turns 130 spiral turns 132 wood thread 134 wood thread 136 wood thread 138 wood thread 140 wood threads 142 passage opening 200 manufacturing device 202 Wood layer separation unit 204 Woodcut Unit 206 Wooden rolling unit 208 Conveyor belt B Width direction R, R' radial direction L Thread longitudinal direction QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 596 869 A

[0004] DE 20 2011 100 021 U1

[0005] DE 10 2005 040 820 B3

[0006] EP 2687579 B1

[0007]

Claims

[1] Firing unit (100) for activating a firing material, comprising - a wood layer (102) extending from a first end (104) to a second end (106), - wherein the wood layer (102) has a full-surface section (108) adjacent to the first end (104), and - wherein the wood layer (102) has a wood thread section (110) adjacent to the second end (106), which is arranged and designed such that a plurality of wood threads (112, 114, 116, 132-140) extend from the second end (106) to the full-surface section (108), - wherein the wood layer (102) is spirally rolled up starting from the first end (104), so that the full-surface section (108) is arranged in an interior of the burning unit (100) and the wood thread section (110) forms an exterior of the burning unit (100). [2] Burning unit (100) according to claim 1, wherein the wood layer (102) is spirally rolled starting from the first end (104) such that the burning unit (100) has a circular cross-section with an inner through-opening (142). [3] Combustion unit (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the inner through-opening (142) has a diameter between 0.3 cm and 3 cm, preferably between 0.5 cm and 2 cm. [4] Burning unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the wood layer (102) is spirally rolled up starting from the first end (104) such that the burning unit (100) has two or more, in particular more than five, preferably between 4 and 12, further preferably between 5 and 10, further preferably between 6 and 8, spiral turns (120-130). [5] Burning unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the wood layer (102) is spirally rolled starting from the first end (104) such that the full-surface section (108) has between 0.1 and 4, preferably between 0.25 and 3, further preferably between 0.5 and 2, spiral turns (120-130). [6] Burning unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the wood layer (102) is spirally wound starting from the first end (104) such that the wood thread section (110) has between 2 and 15, preferably between 3 and 10, further preferably between 4 and 8, spiral turns (120-130). [7] Burning unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a length ratio of the length of the full-surface section (108) and the wood thread section (110) is between 0.01 and 1, preferably between 0.1 and 0.8, further preferably between 0.2 and 0.

5. [8] Burning unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the wood thread section (110) has two or more wood threads (112, 114, 116, 132-140), in particular more than five wood threads (112, 114, 116, 132-140), preferably between 6 and 16, further preferably between 8 and 14, wood threads (112, 114, 116, 132-140). [9] Burning unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the wood layer (102) in the rolled-out state has a rectangular geometry and preferably a length-width ratio between 0.05 and 0.5, further preferably between 0.1 and 0.

3. [10] Burning unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the wood threads (112, 114, 116, 132-140) each have a thread longitudinal direction (L) and have a thread cross-section orthogonal to the thread longitudinal direction (L), wherein the thread cross-section is rectangular. [11] Burning unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the thickness of the wood layer (102) is between 0.05 and 2 mm, preferably between 0.1 and 1 mm. [12] Burning unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the wood layer (102) is arranged and formed such that the burning unit (100) has an outer diameter between 10 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 15 mm and 30 mm. [13] Combustion unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a spiral axis around which the spiral turns (120-130) extend, wherein the width of the combustion unit (100) in the direction of the spiral axis is between 20 mm and 100 mm, preferably between 30 mm and 80 mm. [14] Burning unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a binding agent, in particular wax, which connects the wood threads (112, 114, 116, 132-140) to one another at least in regions. [15] Manufacturing device (200) for producing a firing unit (100), in particular a firing unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising: - a wood layer separation unit (202) arranged and designed to separate a planar wood layer (102) extending from a first end (104) to a second end (106) from a wood block, - a wood cutting unit (204) arranged and designed to form a wood thread section (110) on the wood layer (102) such that a plurality of wood threads (112, 114, 116, 132-140) extend from the second end (106) to a full-surface section (108), - a wood rolling unit (206) which is arranged and designed to roll up the wood layer (102) spirally starting from the first end (104) so ​​that the full-surface section (108) forms an interior of the firing unit (100) and the wood thread section (110) forms an exterior of the firing unit (100).

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