Self-Contained Fire Starter Igniting Without Oxygen
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional fire starting methods are time-consuming, unreliable, and often require skill, oxygen, and fine motor control, making them challenging in windy or moist outdoor environments.
Innovation Solution
A self-contained fire starter with a sealed chamber containing two burnable mixtures and an igniter that generates thermal events to ignite without external oxygen, allowing for one-finger activation and maintaining a flame for several minutes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fire starting methods (matches, lighters) are used, then fire can be ignited, but they require fine motor control and are affected by wind and moisture
Solution Approach 1:
The fire starter device is self-activating through a simple pull action that triggers an internal chemical reaction. The user only needs to pull the cord, and the device automatically generates the ignition source without requiring the user to perform精细 motor skills or be affected by external conditions like wind and moisture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical ignition systems (matches requiring friction, lighters requiring finger dexterity) with a chemically-driven ignition system. The pull-cord mechanism activates a chemical reaction that generates heat and ignition, substituting complex mechanical control with a simpler chemical process that is more reliable in adverse conditions.
2Productivity
If liquid-fuel fire starters are used, then fire can be started quickly, but they are highly flammable and dangerous to store and use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the fuel from liquid to solid form. This phase change from liquid to solid reduces the flammability and safety risks while maintaining the ability to start fires quickly. The solid fuel composition is contained within a sealed chamber, further controlling its reactivity and safety profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire starter uses a composite solid fuel composition containing multiple components (fuel source, oxidizer, binders) that work together to provide rapid ignition while maintaining safety. The composite nature of the material allows it to burn quickly and reliably without the hazards associated with liquid fuels.
3Ease of operation
If solid-fuel fire starters wrapped in flammable bags are used, then fire can be started without skill, but they still require the user to hold a match or lighter in proximity long enough to ignite
Solution Approach 1:
The device eliminates the need for the user to manually hold a ignition source near the fuel. Instead, the user simply pulls the cord, and the device automatically generates and applies the ignition source to the fuel, removing the time-critical manual positioning step that is vulnerable to wind and moisture.
Solution Approach 2:
The ignition mechanism is pre-positioned and pre-configured within the sealed chamber, adjacent to the fuel source. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when the chemical reaction is activated, the ignition source is already in the correct position and proximity to the fuel, eliminating the need for manual positioning during the ignition process.
4Ease of operation
If gas fire starters (turbo lighters) are used, then fire can be ignited with one hand, but they require fine finger movement and are affected by wind
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the gas-powered ignition system with a chemically-driven solid fuel ignition system. This substitution eliminates the sensitivity to wind that affects gas-based systems, as the solid fuel and contained chemical reaction are not affected by external air flow, while still maintaining ease of operation through the simple pull-cord activation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables reliable and efficient fire starting in extreme conditions without the need for external oxygen or fine motor skills, producing a sustained flame for igniting wood or charcoal.
Implementation Method 1
The first burnable mixture combusts during the first thermal event and triggers a second thermal event to ignite the second burnable mixture
Implementation Method 2
An igniter is disposed in the sealed chamber adjacent to the first burnable mixture and configured to generate a first thermal event to ignite the first burnable mixture without oxygen from the air in the external environment
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a fire starter that does not require oxygen from the air to ignite or maintain a flame and makes it easy to ignite using one or no fingers, such as teeth. A fire starter includes a burnable casing forming a sealed chamber. A first burnable mixture and a second burnable mixture are separately disposed in the sealed chamber. The first burnable mixture can form a flame without oxygen from the air. An igniter is disposed in the sealed chamber adjacent to the first burnable mixture and configured to generate a first thermal event to ignite the first burnable mixture without oxygen from the air. The first burnable mixture combusts during the first thermal event and triggers a second thermal event to ignite the second burnable mixture. An actuator is configured to activate the igniter to generate the first thermal event without using more than one finger.