GB2481641A - Methods of producing wood-based firelighter chips - Google Patents

Methods of producing wood-based firelighter chips Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2481641A
GB2481641A GB1011147.4A GB201011147A GB2481641A GB 2481641 A GB2481641 A GB 2481641A GB 201011147 A GB201011147 A GB 201011147A GB 2481641 A GB2481641 A GB 2481641A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
wood
chip
wax
firelighter
chips
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB1011147.4A
Other versions
GB201011147D0 (en
Inventor
Stephen Filsell
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB1011147.4A priority Critical patent/GB2481641A/en
Publication of GB201011147D0 publication Critical patent/GB201011147D0/en
Priority to PCT/GB2011/051257 priority patent/WO2012001430A1/en
Priority to EP11743129.6A priority patent/EP2588581A1/en
Publication of GB2481641A publication Critical patent/GB2481641A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10LFUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
    • C10L11/00Manufacture of firelighters
    • C10L11/04Manufacture of firelighters consisting of combustible material
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10LFUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
    • C10L5/00Solid fuels
    • C10L5/40Solid fuels essentially based on materials of non-mineral origin
    • C10L5/44Solid fuels essentially based on materials of non-mineral origin on vegetable substances
    • C10L5/442Wood or forestry waste
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E50/00Technologies for the production of fuel of non-fossil origin
    • Y02E50/10Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E50/00Technologies for the production of fuel of non-fossil origin
    • Y02E50/30Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
  • Ecology (AREA)
  • Forests & Forestry (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Dry Formation Of Fiberboard And The Like (AREA)
  • Chemical And Physical Treatments For Wood And The Like (AREA)

Abstract

A wood based firelighter chip is imbued in a wax based substance. The method of producing wood based firelighter chips comprises the steps of chipping pieces of wood into wood chips; drying said wood chips; providing molten wax; treating said wood chips with molten wax; and drying said treated wood chips.

Description

METHODS OF PRODUCING WOOD-BASED FIRELIGHTER CHIPS AND/OR WOOD-BASED
FIRELIGHTER CHIPS
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to methods of producing wood-based firelighter chips and/or firelighter chips.
Background to the Invention
Paraffin based cubes are a common form of firelighters. These are often placed among the coals of a barbeque and since they are readily flammable, they provide a sufficiently long-lasting flame to ignite the coals. In this context, kindling and paraffin cubes are also often used; whereby the kindling acts as a primer and paraffin as the source of ignition. Igniting a fire based on paraffin cubes therefore primarily requires the combustion of a hydrocarbon with combustion products which are particularly detrimental to the environment and may actually be particularly unpleasant to the using public. There is therefore a real need to propose an alternative to these paraffin based cubes which does not suffer from these drawbacks whilst retaining efficient ignition properties when lighting a fire as ithe using public has now come to expect. The invention seeks to address these problems and any other problems which can be readily derived from the description which now follows.
Summary of the Invention
In a first broad independent aspect, the invention provides a method of producing wood-based fire lighting chips comprising the steps of: * Chipping pieces of wood into wood chips; * Drying said wood chips; * Providing molten wax; * Treating said wood chips with molten wax; and * Drying said treated wood chips.
The combination of chipping wood chips and treating the wood chips with molten wax is particularly advantageous because it produces wood chips which have both natural relief and indentations which result from the chipping which are particularly suited for the deposition and absorption of molten wax. It is therefore not simply a coating of wax but at specific regions of the chip, molten wax can be found to have been retained within the wood external envelope. This produces a treated wood chip which has both natural wood burning properties and the requisite rapid ignition properties expected from the modern fire lighter. The steps of drying the wood chips also contribute to advantageous ignition properties. Furthermore, the step of drying the treated wood chips is particularly advantageous since it allows a plurality of wood chips to be sold in contact with one another in a bag and/or a box of any suitable shape and configuration. There is therefore an additional advantage in terms of reducing the packaging required which often usually
surrounds prior art cubes.
In a subsidiary aspect, said step of treating said wood chips comprises a step of dipping said wood chips into molten wax. This step is particularly advantageous since it lends itself to advantageous absorption and retention of molten wax on the chip.
In a further subsidiary aspect, said step of treating said wood chips comprises a step of spraying said wood chips with said molten wax. This configuration is also particularly advantageous because it allows the process to be scaled up for high volume production as individual wood chips may be placed on a conveyor belt or the like and displaced under a spraying nozzle.
In a further subsidiary aspect, said step of drying said wood chips comprises an air drying step. This provides an advantageous approach which doesn't consume any fossil fuels if in a preferred embodiment there is no pumped air.
In a further subsidiary aspect, the method comprises the step of providing a mixture of molten wax and scented oil.
In a second broad independent aspect, the invention provides a wood based firelighter chip imbued in a wax based substance. This configuration is particularly advantageous because it provides a particularly flammable yet natural looking product by contrast to prior art paraffin cubes. It also avoids having to produce separate kindling and sources of ignition as in the prior art. The inventive chip is also particularly straightforward to handle. In particular, each chip in certain embodiments may be particularly thin and wide in order to offer greater ignition properties due to their inherent aspect ratios.
In a further subsidiary aspect, said substance incorporates a beeswax. This configuration is particularly advantageous in terms of retention of the wax on the surface of the chip. It also offers natural properties. The products of the combustion of such a chip may be more environmentally friendly than the prior art options.
In a further subsidiary aspect, said substance incorporates a soy wax. This is also particularly advantageous in terms of the natural compatibility between this kind of wax and wood, whilst at the same time offering a particularly environmentally friendly solution.
In a further subsidiary aspect, said wax based substance is of more than 90% wax and less than 10% fragrance.
In a further subsidiary aspect, said chip has a moisture content of less than 20%. This provides long lasting adhesion of the wax onto the chip compared to any higher moisture content.
In a further subsidiary aspect, said chip has a moisture content of less than 10%. This configuration is particularly advantageous in terms of adhesion of the wax as well as particularly enhancing the combustion properties of the chip.
In a further subsidiary aspect, said chip incorporates indentations in addition to any natural relief; whereby both said additional indentations and said natural indentations are filled with said wax based substance. This configuration particularly enhances the combustion properties of the chip, allowing it to be ideally suited to lighting fires.
Brief Description of the Figures
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a wood based firelighter chip which is covered by a wax based substance.
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a wood based firelighter chip with both natural relief and additional indentations.
Detailed Description of the Figures
Figure 1 shows a wood based firelighter chip imbued in a wax based substance. The wax based substance acts as a film which at least partially covers, if not entirely covers, the chip. The natural wood based chip incorporates a number of peaks and troughs. For example, peak 2 is shown in Figure 1. The wood may be of a low grade timber which may incorporate a number of splits along grain boundaries such as grain boundary 3. A recessed portion is in effect provided in order to receive wax. In this manner, the wax penetrates within the external envelope 4 of the chip. The wood based firelighter chip may be covered on its upper face only or if necessary covered on every face of the chip. As shown in Figure 1, the wood based firelighter chip is relatively thin compared to its width and depth. In a potential embodiment, the width of the chip is at least three times the thickness of the chip in order to provide a greater potential wax covered surface.
Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment of a wood based firelighter chip which is of similar configuration as the chip of Figure 1. However, in addition to the natural relief of the chip a number of machine-formed lines 6 and 7 are provided. These lines form a trough which may be ideally filled by wax in order to allow the chip to hold a greater quantity of wax than would otherwise be possible, relying solely on the natural configuration of the chip. The invention also envisages indentations in the form of hemispherical recesses which may be formed in the chip during the chipping process.
The process of manufacture may follow the following steps: 1) Selecting a form of low grade timber; 2) Chipping said low grade timber pieces in order to obtain chips; 3) Air drying the chips; 4) Dipping the chips in a bath of molten wax; 5) Drying the imbued chips; 6) Placing the dried chips in a form of collective packaging, which may take the form of a cardboard box.
A basket may be used in combination with the bath to assist in the dipping process. The basket may incorporate a closed lid in order to retain the chips within the basket.
Advantageously, the chips are dried in order to reduce the moisture content to below 20%.
In a further preferred embodiment, the drying process is pursued until a moisture content of less than 10% is achieved.
Instead of dipping the chips into wax, molten wax may be sprayed onto the chips whilst placed on a displaceable conveyor.
Another advantageous option would be to employ a conveyor belt which is configured to allow draining through the belt. This arrangement may be provided by an upper and a lower conveyor which may take the form of a grid with passages to allow the flow of molten wax. Thereby, the conveyor may be used to convey the wood chips through the molten wax.
Another advantageous option would be to employ a first succession of fingers or guides to convey the chips into a bath of wax and a second succession of fingers or guides to collect the chips from the bath of wax. The first succession of fingers may be provided at a relatively low point of the bath whilst the second succession of fingers may be provided at a relatively high point of the bath.
The wax based substance is preferably selected from the group comprising: beeswax, a natural oil wax, a natural resin, and a natural soy wax.
The wax based substance may comprise less than 10% fragrance in a preferred embodiment. The fragrance may be lower than 6%. Particular kinds of fragrances are envisaged for particular uses of the firelighter chips. For example, a so-called festive fragrance may be incorporated which may have a pine based smell. Other fragrances may be meat-based or herb-based. Any of these fragrances is covered within the scope of the claims that follow.

Claims (14)

  1. CLAIMS1. A method of producing wood based firelighter chips comprising the steps of: * chipping pieces of wood into wood chips; * drying said wood chips; * providing molten wax; * treating said wood chips with molten wax; and * drying said treated wood chips.
  2. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of treating said wood chips comprises a step of dipping said wood chips into molten wax.
  3. 3. A method according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said step of treating said wood chips comprises a step of spraying said wood chips with molten wax.
  4. 4. A method according to any of preceding claims, wherein said step of drying said wood chips comprises an air drying step.
  5. 5. A method according to any of the preceding claims, comprising the step of providing a mixture of molten wax and scented oil.
  6. 6. A method of producing a wood based firelighter substantially as hereinbefore described and/or illustrated in any appropriate combination of the accompanying text and/or figures.
  7. 7. A wood based firelighter chip imbued in a wax based substance.
  8. 8. A wood based firelighter chip according to claim 7, wherein said substance incorporates beeswax.
  9. 9. A wood based firelighter chip according to either claim 7 or claim 8, wherein said substance incorporates a soy wax.
  10. 10. A wood based firelighter chip according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein said wax based substance is of more than 90% wax and less than 10% fragrance.
  11. 11. A wood based firelighter chip according to any of claims 7 to 10, wherein said chip has a moisture content of less than 20%.
  12. 12. A wood based firelighter chip according to any of claims 7 to 11, wherein said chip has a moisture content of less than 10%.
  13. 13. A wood based firelighter chip according to any of claims 7 to 12, wherein said chip incorporates indentations in addition to any natural relief; whereby both said additional indentations and said natural indentations are filled with said wax based substance.
  14. 14. A wood based firelighter chip substantially as hereinbefore described and/or illustrated in any appropriate combination of the accompanying text and/or figures.*.:r: INTELLECTUAL . ... PROPERTY OFFICE 9 Application No: GB 1011147.4 Examiner: Mr Martin Price Claims searched: 1-14 Date of search: 1 November 2010 Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17 Documents considered to be relevant: Category Relevant Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance to claims X 1-14 US6093224A Jones -the whole document X 1-14 EP2226378A1 Standards Brands -the whole document X 1-14 GB2351295A Swedish Match -the whole document X 1-14 GB2206604A Timmons -the whole document X 1-14 US 2002/0189159 Al Sprules -the whole document X 1-14 FR2718458A1 De Souter -see WPI abstract number 1995-353 190 X 1-14 EP0337872A1 Soc Nat Exploitation -see WPI abstract number 1989-302587 X 1-14 US4725286A Brame -the whole document X 1-14 DE202005004140U1 Stahlberg -see WPI abstract number 2005-446485 X 1-14 DE202004008226U1 Kaarsenfabriek De Toren -see WPI abstract number 2004-572757 Categories: X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive A Document indicating technological background and/or state step of the art.Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if P Document published on or after the declared priority date but combined with one or more other documents of before the filing date of this invention.Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk t::r: INTELLECTUAL . ...* PROPERTY OFFICE 10 same category.& Member of the same patent family E Patent document pubhshed on or after. hut with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.Field of Search:Search of GB, EP, WO & US patent documents classified in the following areas of the UKCX: Worldwide search of patent docuiments classified in the following areas of the IPC JC10L The following online and other databases have been rised in the preparation of this search report EPODOC, WPI International Classification: Subclass Subgroup Valid From C10L 0011/04 01/01/2006 Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk
GB1011147.4A 2010-07-02 2010-07-02 Methods of producing wood-based firelighter chips Withdrawn GB2481641A (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1011147.4A GB2481641A (en) 2010-07-02 2010-07-02 Methods of producing wood-based firelighter chips
PCT/GB2011/051257 WO2012001430A1 (en) 2010-07-02 2011-07-04 Methods of producing wood-based firelighter chips and/or wood-based firelighter chips
EP11743129.6A EP2588581A1 (en) 2010-07-02 2011-07-04 Methods of producing wood-based firelighter chips and/or wood-based firelighter chips

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1011147.4A GB2481641A (en) 2010-07-02 2010-07-02 Methods of producing wood-based firelighter chips

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201011147D0 GB201011147D0 (en) 2010-08-18
GB2481641A true GB2481641A (en) 2012-01-04

Family

ID=42669085

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1011147.4A Withdrawn GB2481641A (en) 2010-07-02 2010-07-02 Methods of producing wood-based firelighter chips

Country Status (3)

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EP (1) EP2588581A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2481641A (en)
WO (1) WO2012001430A1 (en)

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4725286A (en) * 1986-11-20 1988-02-16 Brame Dorothy H Firestarter
GB2206604A (en) * 1987-07-07 1989-01-11 Alban Timmons Firelighters
EP0337872A1 (en) * 1988-04-12 1989-10-18 Societe Nationale D'exploitation Industrielle Des Tabacs Et Allumettes Fire kindler
FR2718458A1 (en) * 1994-04-06 1995-10-13 De Souter Claudi Safe, odourless and rapid fire-lighting briquette
US6093224A (en) * 1999-04-26 2000-07-25 Jones; Gary T. Long burning fire starter
GB2351295A (en) * 1999-06-24 2000-12-27 Swedish Match Uk Ltd Synthetic fire logs
US20020189159A1 (en) * 2001-03-22 2002-12-19 Sprules Rodney K. Coffee-sawdust-based solid fuel composition
DE202004008226U1 (en) * 2004-05-18 2004-07-15 Kaarsenfabriek "De Toren" B.V. Solid fuel product comprising a wax, paraffin wax and/or stearin fuel and a porous carrier, useful for lighting barbecues or as a fireplace or barbecue fuel, includes citronella oil
DE202005004140U1 (en) * 2005-03-12 2005-05-19 Stahlberg, Peter Fire- or oven-lighting briquette or garden torch, made from wood shavings and small quantity of wood dust, is loosely compressed and includes wax binder and casing
EP2226378A1 (en) * 2009-02-23 2010-09-08 Standards Brands (UK) Limited Firelighter

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4147518A (en) * 1977-03-02 1979-04-03 Pine Rest Christian Rehabilitation Services Extrusion apparatus for making fire kindling device
CA1154594A (en) * 1981-05-26 1983-10-04 Yvan Robichaud Manufacture of fire starters
US5226405A (en) * 1992-03-05 1993-07-13 Snow George H Ignition platform and fuel component for kindling a fire
US20060230673A1 (en) * 2005-04-15 2006-10-19 Barford Eric D Whole timber firelog impregnated with combustible material

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4725286A (en) * 1986-11-20 1988-02-16 Brame Dorothy H Firestarter
GB2206604A (en) * 1987-07-07 1989-01-11 Alban Timmons Firelighters
EP0337872A1 (en) * 1988-04-12 1989-10-18 Societe Nationale D'exploitation Industrielle Des Tabacs Et Allumettes Fire kindler
FR2718458A1 (en) * 1994-04-06 1995-10-13 De Souter Claudi Safe, odourless and rapid fire-lighting briquette
US6093224A (en) * 1999-04-26 2000-07-25 Jones; Gary T. Long burning fire starter
GB2351295A (en) * 1999-06-24 2000-12-27 Swedish Match Uk Ltd Synthetic fire logs
US20020189159A1 (en) * 2001-03-22 2002-12-19 Sprules Rodney K. Coffee-sawdust-based solid fuel composition
DE202004008226U1 (en) * 2004-05-18 2004-07-15 Kaarsenfabriek "De Toren" B.V. Solid fuel product comprising a wax, paraffin wax and/or stearin fuel and a porous carrier, useful for lighting barbecues or as a fireplace or barbecue fuel, includes citronella oil
DE202005004140U1 (en) * 2005-03-12 2005-05-19 Stahlberg, Peter Fire- or oven-lighting briquette or garden torch, made from wood shavings and small quantity of wood dust, is loosely compressed and includes wax binder and casing
EP2226378A1 (en) * 2009-02-23 2010-09-08 Standards Brands (UK) Limited Firelighter

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2012001430A1 (en) 2012-01-05
GB201011147D0 (en) 2010-08-18
EP2588581A1 (en) 2013-05-08

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