Fire-starting method and apparatus

Abstract

An incendiary method and apparatus includes a method of making an incendiary apparatus for remotely igniting fires which includes forming the incendiary apparatus with a composition of potassium nitrate, sulfur, and a polymer and then extruding the incendiary composition into a continuous extrusion and cutting the extrusion into sections to form individual incendiary devices. The method includes extruding the incendiary composition with a wire or bore formed therethrough into a generally cylindrical shape. The method also includes selecting an incendiary apparatus having a predetermined shape for producing a predetermined flame pattern when ignited and having an ignition wire extending therethrough, heating the ignition wire, and dispensing the selected incendiary apparatus having the heated ignition wire from a remote location into an area for starting a fire. The incendiary apparatus for remotely igniting a fire includes a generally cylindrical fire starting apparatus having an igniter therein and having a composition which includes potassium nitrate, sulfur and a polymer.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to incendiary devices used to initiate fires. More particularly it relates to fire-starting devices that permit fires to be started from remote locations including aircraft.

[0002] Prior art systems used in remotely igniting fires employ toxic and/or highly flammable materials that are expensive to produce and apply. The methods necessary to prime, ignite and/or dispense these materials are complex, expensive and can be dangerous when a malfunction occurs.

[0003] The prior U.S. patents to Jacobson U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,997,667 and 5,783,768 and 6,128,845 are all for a fire starting flare. A fire starting flare for hand-held launchers has a fuse and igniter assembly within a flare core material such that as the flare is launched, the fire ignites and, as the flare lands, the fuse reaches the igniter assembly to set off the flare. In the U.S. Pat. No. 5,629,493 to Andersson, et al., a low energy fuse includes a plastic tube including a channel therein. The channel contains a reactive material able upon ignition to sustain a shock wave within the channel. The tube comprises at least two layers of plastic materials including a polymer. The tube can be manufactured by extrusion techniques. In the U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,498 to MacIsaac, an artificial fire log is formed of a elongated flammable body through extrusion.

[0004] In contrast to these prior art devices, the present invention is for a method of making an incendiary device for remotely igniting a fire which includes forming the incendiary composition utilizing potassium nitrate sulfur and a polymer and extruding the composition around a piece of wire and cutting the extrusion into sections to form the individual incendiary devices and includes the incendiary methods for igniting a fire which includes selecting the incendiary apparatus, heating the ignition wire, and dispensing the incendiary apparatus from a remote location into an area for starting a fire or the like.

[0005] Consequently, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a safer and less expensive fire-starting device that can utilize a safer, less complex and less expensive ignition and dispensing system thereby reducing the hazards and costs of remotely initiating fires.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] An incendiary method and apparatus includes a method of making an incendiary apparatus for remotely igniting fires which includes forming the incendiary apparatus with a composition of potassium nitrate, sulfur, and a polymer and then extruding the incendiary composition into a continuous extrusion and cutting the extrusion into sections to form individual incendiary devices. The method includes extruding the incendiary composition with a wire or bore formed therethrough into a generally cylindrical shape. The method also includes selecting an incendiary apparatus having a predetermined shape for producing a predetermined flame pattern when ignited and having an ignition wire extending therethrough, heating the ignition wire, and dispensing the selected incendiary apparatus having the heated ignition wire from a remote location into an area for starting a fire. The incendiary apparatus for remotely igniting a fire includes a generally cylindrical fire starting apparatus having an igniter therein and having a composition which includes potassium nitrate, sulfur and a polymer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the written description and the drawings in which:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a fire-starter in accordance with the present invention; and

[0009] FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the fire-starter in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0010] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a fire-starting device 10 shows side and end views of a cylinder 11 containing a metal or metal alloy wire 12 extending longitudinally from end to end at its center. The wire, when sufficiently heated, ignites the device and creates a channel immediately adjacent to and along the length of said wire that causes the device to burn in a manner so as to project a flame or flames from the device 10 in a plane parallel to the wire. In the preferred embodiment, the wire is heated by means of radio frequency induction, but could also be heated by any other means. In another embodiment, the wire is heated by applying electrical energy to the wire through contact at each end of the wire. In the preferred embodiment, a metal or metal alloy wire 12 extends longitudinally from end to end at the center of the device 10, but any electrically conductive material could be used in place of the wire. In another embodiment, a bore or other lengthwise void is manufactured in the device 10 in place of the wire 12. The surface of the bore or void can be ignited by any of various means including, but not limited to a flame, plasma, gas, fuse, priming device or other material acting as a first ignition means that will cause the device to ignite and burn in a manner so as to project a flame or flames in a plane parallel to the bore or void. FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the device as cylindrical in shape with a length twice its diameter, but the device could be any geometric size, shape or design without deviating from the scope or essential attributes of the present invention.

[0011] The chemical ingredients of the present invention by weight are 40-70% potassium nitrate, 5-30% sulfur and 12-30% polymer, preferably a polyethylene, polypropylene or a copolymer of these. Silicon particles can be added, 3-20% by weight, to increase heat output and to assist in ignition. Metal or metal alloy particles can be included, 3-30% by weight, in place of or in addition to the silicon which will produce a very hot and fast burning device. A “blowing” agent can also be added causing the polymer to foam during manufacture.

EXAMPLE

[0012] In the preferred embodiment, the composition of the invention by weight is 60% potassium nitrate, 22% polyethylene copolymer, 15% sulfur and 3% silicon. Other percentages of these ingredients as well as other oxidizers, other fuels and other suitable polymers, stabilizers, catalysts and chemicals used to facilitate performance can also be included without deviating from the scope or essential attributes of the present invention. However, insensitivity and high auto-ignition temperature similar to that of the preferred embodiment composition are essential to the preferred method of manufacture as well as the increased safety of the end user.

[0013] Other known fire-starting devices are manufactured either in part or completely by hand and most rely on a time consuming drying or curing cycle. The novel chemical composition and physical design of the present invention allow it to be manufactured completely by conventional polymer molding equipment and, in the preferred embodiment, in a continuous extrusion process thereby eliminating tedious and costly hand construction and/or lengthy processing times. Extrusion is a well-known and cost effective method for processing material into a profile. Simply cutting the extruded profile at predetermined intervals results in individual parts of specific length. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a cylinder ¾ inches in diameter and 1½ inches in length containing a metal or metal alloy wire extending longitudinally from end to end at its center. In manufacturing the preferred embodiment, a ¾ inch round profile is continuously extruded with a metal or metal alloy wire embedded at its center. As the extrudate leaves the extruder die, it is quenched and becomes a solid rod allowing it to be cut into 1½ inch lengths and thus is immediately a finished product. In another embodiment, the device is manufactured with a bore or other lengthwise void in place of said wire, otherwise using the same processes as in the preferred embodiment. In another embodiment, the device is manufactured with an electrically conductive material in place of said wire, otherwise using the same processes as in the preferred embodiment. Any polymer molding equipment can also be used to manufacture the device in any geometric size, shape or design without deviating from the scope or essential attributes of the present invention.

[0014] The flame pattern of known fire-starting devices is perpendicular to the horizon thus radiating most of the heat vertically above the device in an area where there is a low concentration of ignitable fuels. The preferred mode of deploying the preferred embodiment of the present invention is with its longitudinal aspect parallel to and lying on the surface of the ground or water. When ignited, the flames emitted from the present invention are thus projected parallel to and along the surface of said ground or water thereby advantageously applying most of the generated heat horizontally to areas near the surface of said ground or water where ignitable fuels are typically more concentrated.

Claims

1. A method of making an incendiary apparatus for remotely igniting a fire comprising the steps of:

forming an incendiary composition having between 40 and 70 percent by weight of potassium nitrate; between 5 and 30 percent by weight of sulfur; and between 12 and 30 percent by weight of a polymer;

extruding said incendiary composition into a continuous extrusion; and

cutting said extrusion into sections to form individual incendiary devices.

2. A method of making an incendiary apparatus for remotely igniting a fire in accordance with claim 1 including the step of extruding said incendiary composition with a wire formed thereinside.

3. A method of making an incendiary apparatus for remotely igniting a fire in accordance with claim 1 including the step of extruding said incendiary composition into a generally cylindrical shaped extrusion.

4. A method of making an incendiary apparatus for remotely igniting a fire in accordance with claim 1 including the step of extruding said incendiary composition into a generally cylindrical shaped extrusion having a diameter of about three quarters of an inch.

5. An incendiary method for initiating a fire comprising the steps of:

selecting an incendiary apparatus having a predetermined elongated shape having two ends for producing a predetermined flame pattern projecting from both ends thereof when ignited and having an igniter therein;

igniting said selected incendiary apparatus; and

dispensing said selected ignited incendiary apparatus from a remote location into an area for starting a fire whereby a fire can be safely ignited from a distance.

6. An incendiary apparatus for remotely igniting a fire comprising:

a generally cylindrical fire starting apparatus having an igniter therein and having a composition including:

between 40 and 70 percent by weight of potassium nitrate;

between 5 and 30 percent by weight of sulfur; and

between 12 and 30 percent by weight of a polymer.

7. An incendiary apparatus for remotely igniting a fire in accordance with claim 6 in which said fire starting apparatus composition includes:

about 60 percent by weight of potassium nitrate;

about 15 percent by weight of sulfur;

about 22 percent by weight of a polyethylene copolymer; and

about 3 percent by weight of silicon.