Combustible fuel source

Abstract

The combustible fuel source of the invention includes a body comprising a porous carrier and a solid fuel. When combustion is established the fuel is vaporized and combusted on one or more surfaces of the body, In the internal part of the body the solid fuel vaporized and the vaporized fuel moves through the porous carrier to one or more surfaces of the body wherein it is combusted. A portion of the heat resulting from this combustion maintains the vaporization of the solid fuel for continued combustion. A variety of materials can be used as the porous carrier, including combustible materials such as paper fibres, cloth, pulp fibres, powdered coal or charcoal and non-combustible materials such as ground pumice, sand or ceramic materials. A variety of solid fuels can be used, including paraffin wax, beeswax and other waxes or wax-like materials derived from animal and/or vegetable processing. The body can be shaped into preselected shapes according to an intended use and/or can be placed into stoves or other heating devices as a fuel source.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A combustible fuel source comprising: 
 a porous carrier including at least one surface for a combustion site; and    a solid fuel impregnated into said porous carrier such that, when ignited at said at least one surface by an ignition means, said solid fuel is combusted and heat from said combustion vaporizes additional solid fuel in said porous carrier which travels through said porous carrier to said at least one surface wherein it is combusted.    
     
     
         2 . A fuel source according to  claim 1 , wherein said porous carrier is not combustible.  
     
     
         3 . A fuel source according to  claim 2 , wherein said granular material is selected from the groups comprising crushed pumice, sand and powdered coal.  
     
     
         4 . A fuel source according to  claim 1 , wherein said porous carrier is combustible.  
     
     
         5 . A fuel source according to  claim 4 , wherein said porous carrier comprises cloth fibres.  
     
     
         6 . A fuel source according to  claim 4 , wherein said porous carrier comprises cellulose fibres.  
     
     
         7 . A fuel source according to  claim 6 , wherein said cellulose fibres are dried paper pulp.  
     
     
         8 . A fuel source according to  claim 6 , wherein said cellulose fibres are short strand wood fibres.  
     
     
         9 . A fuel source according to  claim 6 , wherein said cellulose fibres are long strand wood fibres.  
     
     
         10 . A fuel source according to  claim 6 , wherein said cellulose fibres are wood fibres from the processing of wood fibre fluff.  
     
     
         11 . A fuel source according to  claim 1 , wherein said porous carrier is formed into a preselected shape.  
     
     
         12 . A fuel source according to  claim 11 , wherein said preselected shape is substantially conical.  
     
     
         13 . A fuel source according to  claim 11 , wherein said preselected shape is a pellet and said porous carrier is short stranded wood fibres.  
     
     
         14 . A fuel source according to  claim 1 , wherein said fuel source further comprises a combustion initiating means adjacent said at least one surface.  
     
     
         15 . A fuel source according to  claim 14 , wherein said combustion initiating means comprises a wick which is ignited to initiate combustion of said solid fuel.  
     
     
         16 . A fuel source according to  claim 14 , wherein said fuel source further comprises an ignition means adjacent said combustion initiating means such that ignition of said ignition means ignites said combustion initiating means which, in turn, initiates combustion of said solid fuel.  
     
     
         17 . A fuel source according to  claim 1 , wherein said solid fuel is selected from the group comprising paraffin wax, beeswax, wax derived from animal products and wax derived from vegetable products.  
     
     
         18 . A fuel source according to  claim 1 , wherein said solid fuel is selected from the group comprising petroleum wax, motor oil and grease  
     
     
         19 . A fuel source according to  claim 1 , wherein said fuel source is formed into a preselected shape in the form of a cylinder and said fuel source further comprises an outer sheath which is denser relative to said porous carrier and said outer sheath is impregnated with a solid fuel.  
     
     
         20 . A fuel source according to  claim 1 , wherein said porous carrier further comprises powdered material selected from one or more of the following waste material: railway ties, telephone poles, creosote, powdered coal, calcium oxalate-solids, krofta fines, or bark.  
     
     
         21 . A fuel sources according to  claim 1 , wherein said fuel source is an insect repellent.  
     
     
         22 . A fuel source according to  claim 1 , wherein said fuel source may be spread over an oil spill in the water and combusted together with said oil spill.  
     
     
         23 . A stove comprising: 
 a shell having a substantially open surface and ventilation means to introduce air to a combustion site within said stove;    a fuel source within said shell and including a porous carrier whose upper surface acts as a combustion surface and a solid fuel impregnated into said porous carrier such that, when ignited at said at combustion surface said solid fuel is combusted and heat from this combustion vaporizes additional solid fuel within said porous carrier which travels through said porous carrier to said combustion surface wherein it is combusted.    
     
     
         24 . A stove according to  claim 21 , wherein said porous carrier comprises cellulose fibres.  
     
     
         25 . A stove according to  claim 21 , wherein said cellulose fibres comprise dried paper pulp.  
     
     
         26 . A stove according to  claim 21 , wherein said solid fuel is selected from the group comprising paraffin wax, beeswax, wax derived from animal products and wax derived from vegetable products.