Reusable fire starter and method of use
A method of using a fire starter to light one or more ignitable elements of a fire includes providing a fire starter made of a calcium silicate hydrate adsorbed with an inflammable liquid; positioning the fire starter adjacent one or more ignitable elements; lighting the fire starter so that the inflammable liquid adsorbed in the fire starter burns without significantly affecting the integrity of the fire starter; lighting the one or more ignitable elements with the fire starter to start the fire; and repeating the above steps with the same fire starter to light one or more new, different ignitable elements for a new fire.
The present invention is in the field of fire starting devices and methods.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONNumerous devices and chemicals exist to assist one in starting a fire (e.g., fireplace fire, charcoal fire, campfire). Historically, kindling and/or newspaper was used to start a fire. A company called Duraflame® sells a fire starter called firestart® that is used to assist one in starting a composite fire log or wood fire. Lighter fluid or fuel is doused on charcoal briquettes and then lit to facilitate ignition of the charcoal briquettes of a charcoal fire. A problem with all of the devices and chemicals used in starting a fire is that none of them are re-usable. Consequently, these firestarting devices or chemicals are consumed with the fire and no longer effective after a single use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, an aspect of the invention involves a reusable fire starter and method that may be used multiple times to start a fire. After each use, the fire starter is simply placed in a container for storage until the next time it is needed to start a fire.
An additional aspect of the invention involves method of using a fire starter to light one or more ignitable elements of a fire. The method includes providing a fire starter made of a low-density xonotlite calcium silicate hydrate; adding an inflammable liquid to the fire starter; positioning the fire starter under one or more ignitable elements; lighting the fire starter so that the inflammable liquid in the fire starter burns without significant combustion of the fire starter; lighting the one or more ignitable elements with the fire starter; removing the fire starter after the fire is consumed; and reusing the fire starter to light one or more new, different ignitable elements for a new fire.
Another aspect of the invention involves a method of using a fire starter to light one or more ignitable elements of a fire including providing a fire starter made of a calcium silicate hydrate adsorbed with an inflammable liquid; positioning the fire starter adjacent one or more ignitable elements; lighting the fire starter so that the inflammable liquid adsorbed in the fire starter burns without significantly affecting the integrity of the fire starter; lighting the one or more ignitable elements with the fire starter to start the fire; and repeating the above steps with the same fire starter to light one or more new, different ignitable elements for a new fire.
A further aspect of the invention involves a method of using a fire starter to light one or more ignitable elements of a fire including the steps of providing a fire starter made of a material that maintains its integrity and does not break down at elevated temperatures of a fire, has low thermal conductivity at elevated temperatures of a fire, is non-combustible, is highly absorbent, is environmentally friendly, drying restores its original properties, thermal efficiencies do not deteriorate over time, has low thermal shrinkage, and has no binders that can break down at elevated temperatures of a fire; causing the fire starter to be adsorbed with an inflammable liquid; positioning the fire starter adjacent one or more ignitable elements; lighting the fire starter so that the inflammable liquid adsorbed in the fire starter burns without significantly affecting the integrity of the fire starter; lighting the one or more ignitable elements with the fire starter to start the fire; and repeating the above steps with the same fire starter to light one or more new, different ignitable elements for a new fire.
Further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a review of the drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments set forth below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
With reference to
In the embodiment shown, the fire starter 10 has a generally rectangular block configuration. The fire starter 10 is preferable made of calcium silicate, and preferably low-density xonotlite calcium silicate hydrate. In alternative embodiments, other types of calcium silicates may be used for the fire starter 10, or other types of materials having the properties and features similar to those described below may be used for the fire starter 10.
The preferred type of low-density xonotlite calcium silicate hydrate used for the fire starter 10 is sold under the tradename INSULITE 1050 by Insulite (Pty) Ltd of South Africa. The low-density xonotlite calcium silicate hydrate is formed of intermeshed, evenly distributed needle-like crystals. The formation of the crystals is achieved under controlled conditions by hydrothermal synthesis (autoclaving). The raw materials for the calcium silicate are blended, then the mixture is poured into large molds, and then autoclaved in computer-controlled autoclaves. The density of the low-density xonotlite calcium silicate hydrate may range from 240 to 400 kg/m3, and is preferably about 265 kg/m3. After de-molding, blocks of the low-density xonotlite calcium silicate hydrate material are dried before being precision cut into the generally rectangular blocks of the fire starter 10.
The chemical analysis for the preferred low-density xonotlite calcium silicate hydrate material used for the fire starter 10 is as follows:
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- SiO2 44% CaO 42%
- TiO2 0.1% Na2O 0.1%
- Al2O3 0.5% K2O 0.1%
- Fe2O3 0.2% LOI (1050° C.) 10.5%
- MgO 1.5%
The technical properties for the preferred low-density xonotlite calcium silicate hydrate material used for the fire starter 10 are as follows:
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- Max Service Temperature 1050 (° C.)
- Specific Heat 0.84 kJ (kg·K)
- Bulk Density 265 dry kg/m3
- Coefficient of reversible thermal expansion 4.0·10-6 (K-1) 20° C.-750° C.
- Linear Heat Shrinkage (max 1.8%) 1.1 12 hrs @ 1000° C.
- Pyrometric cone equivalent 1400° C.
- Compressive Strength 1.8 MPa
- Modulus of Rupture 0.8 MPa
- Total Porosity 90%
- Thermal Conductivity (ASTM C-201 Supplemented by ASTM C-182)
- 0.07 W/(m·k) at 200° C.
- 0.09 W/(m·k) at 400° C.
- 0.11 W/(m·k) at 600° C.
Some of the features and benefits of the preferred low-density xonotlite calcium silicate hydrate material used for the fire starter 10 include low thermal conductivity at elevated temperatures, maintains integrity up to 1050 deg C., non-combustible (will not contribute smoke or flame during fire), excellent creep resistance (dimensionally stable in all conditions), environmentally friendly (safe and non-irritating to skin or mucous membranes, contains no asbestos), insoluble in water (not damaged when soaked and will not rot, drying restores original properties), can be waterproofed (prevents loss of thermal efficiencies due to water absorption), thermal efficiencies do not deteriorate over time (original design parameters are maintained), free of organic binding resins (no smoke emission or gradual breakdown of thermal efficiencies), low heat storage (conserves energy when heating up equipment), low thermal shrinkage (dimensionally stable at high temperatures), gas resistant (CO1, NH3, H2, N2 and CH4), unaffected by UV light (will not deteriorate in direct sunlight), low thermal conductivity, excellent heat resistance (withstands continuous heat up to 1050° C.), retains full integrity over time and at high temperatures, contains no binders that can break down at high temperatures or over time ensuring optimal thermal performance throughout the lifespan of fire starter 10, inert, non-degradable, non-combustible, non-toxic when exposed to fire, does not cause skin irritation, sulphur free and low iron content, and extremely low chloride content.
With reference to
With reference to
Because the fire starter 10 maintains its integrity and does not break down at elevated temperatures, has low thermal conductivity at elevated temperatures, is non-combustible, is highly absorbent, is environmentally friendly, drying restores original properties, thermal efficiencies do not deteriorate over time, has low thermal shrinkage, and has no binders that can break down at high temperatures or over time ensuring optimal thermal performance throughout the lifespan of fire starter 10, the fire starter 10 and method of use is ideal for starting almost any type of fire, and is especially ideal for starting charcoal fires, fireplace fires, and campfires.
It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that still further changes and modifications in the actual concepts described herein can readily be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
Claims
1. A method of using a fire starter to light one or more ignitable elements of a fire, comprising:
- providing a fire starter made of a low-density xonotlite calcium silicate hydrate;
- adding an inflammable liquid to the fire starter;
- positioning the fire starter under one or more ignitable elements;
- lighting the fire starter so that the inflammable liquid in the fire starter burns without significant combustion of the fire starter;
- lighting the one or more ignitable elements with the fire starter;
- removing the fire starter after the fire is consumed;
- reusing the fire starter to light one or more new, different ignitable elements for a new fire.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more ignitable elements include at least one of briquette, charcoal briquette, composite fire log, and wood.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the inflammable liquid is at least one of lighting fluid, camp file, citronella, and kerosene.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the fire is at least one of a charcoal fire, a fireplace fire, and a campfire.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the fire starter has a generally rectangular block configuration.
6. A method of using a fire starter to light one or more ignitable elements of a fire, comprising:
- providing a fire starter made of a calcium silicate hydrate adsorbed with an inflammable liquid;
- positioning the fire starter adjacent one or more ignitable elements;
- lighting the fire starter so that the inflammable liquid adsorbed in the fire starter burns without significantly affecting the integrity of the fire starter;
- lighting the one or more ignitable elements with the fire starter to start the fire;
- repeating the above steps with the same fire starter to light one or more new, different ignitable elements for a new fire.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more ignitable elements include at least one of briquette, charcoal briquette, composite fire log, and wood.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the inflammable liquid is at least one of lighting fluid, camp fuel, citronella, and kerosene.
9. The method of claim 6, wherein the fire is at least one of a charcoal fire, a fireplace fire, and a campfire.
10. The method of claim 6, wherein the fire starter has a generally rectangular block configuration.
11. A method of using a fire starter to light one or more ignitable elements of a fire, comprising:
- providing a fire starter made of a material that maintains its integrity and does not break down at elevated temperatures of a fire, has low thermal conductivity at elevated temperatures of a fire, is non-combustible at elevated temperatures of a fire, and is highly absorbent;
- causing the fire starter to be adsorbed with an inflammable liquid;
- positioning the fire starter adjacent one or more ignitable elements;
- lighting the fire starter so that the inflammable liquid adsorbed in the fire starter burns without significantly affecting the integrity of the fire starter;
- lighting the one or more ignitable elements with the fire starter to start the fire;
- repeating the above steps with the same fire starter to light one or more new, different ignitable elements for a new fire.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more ignitable elements include at least one of briquette, charcoal briquette, composite fire log, and wood.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the inflammable liquid is at least one of lighting fluid, camp fuel, citronella, and kerosene.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the fire is at least one of a charcoal fire, a fireplace fire, and a campfire.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the fire starter has a generally rectangular block configuration.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein causing the fire starter to be adsorbed with an inflammable liquid includes adding the inflammable liquid to a container with the fire starter outside of the container, inserting the fire starter into the container with the inflammable liquid, and absorbing the inflammable liquid with the fire starter while in the container.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein after adding the inflammable liquid to the container, the method includes closing the container with the fire starter and inflammable liquid therein, and allowing the fire starter to absorb the inflammable liquid in the closed container for a period of time.
18. The method of claim 11, wherein causing the fire starter to be adsorbed with an inflammable liquid includes adding an inflammable liquid to a container with the fire starter inside of the container and absorbing the inflammable liquid with the fire starter while in the container.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein after adding the inflammable liquid to the container, the method includes closing the container with the fire starter and inflammable liquid therein, and allowing the fire starter to absorb the inflammable liquid in the closed container for a period of time.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 13, 2003
Publication Date: Feb 17, 2005
Inventor: Johannes Snyman (Durbin North)
Application Number: 10/640,113