Fire log made of recycled materials and a method and an apparatus for manufacturing the same

Abstract

The fire log comprises an organic fibre base that is over-saturated with vegetable cooking oil. The vegetable oil is contained and sealed therein by a casing made of the vegetable wax. More specifically, the fire log is over saturated with 65%-75% by weight of vegetable oil. The vegetable oil is used vegetable cooking oil. The organic fibre base represents about between 20%-30% by weight and consists of compressed paper-based products such as cardboard, newsprint and recyclable paper. The vegetable wax casing represents about between 1-5% of its weight. In another aspect of the present invention, the organic fibre base is made of broken fibres and interstices, and the vegetable oil is infused therein while these fibres are dilated from their natural states. In yet another aspect, the organic fibre base is formed in a perforated cylinder whereby a bark-like appearance is imprinted on its surface.

1 . A fire log comprising; 
 an organic fibrous substratum;    vegetable oil absorbed in said organic fibrous substratum; and    a wax casing enclosing said organic fibrous substratum;    wherein a content of said vegetable oil therein is between 65% and 75% by weight thereof.    
     
     
         2 . The fire log as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said organic fibrous substratum is made of recyclable paper materials.  
     
     
         3 . The fire log as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said organic fibrous substratum constitutes about 20% to 30% by weight thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The fire log as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said organic fibrous substratum comprises weather-decomposed recyclable paper materials.  
     
     
         5 . The fire log as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said organic fibrous substratum is made of: 
 about 70% box board, corrugated board, cardboard and brown paper;    about 20% newsprint, and    about 10% bond paper and the like materials.    
     
     
         6 . The fire log as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said wax casing is made of vegetable wax.  
     
     
         7 . The fire log as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said content of vegetable oil is larger than a saturation point of said organic fibrous substratum.  
     
     
         8 . The fire log as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said organic fibrous substratum has a moisture content of 1% or less.  
     
     
         9 . The fire log as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a cylindrical surface and dimples and streaks on said surface simulating natural bark.  
     
     
         10 . A method for manufacturing a fire log made of organic fibrous substratum, vegetable oil and vegetable wax, comprising the steps of; 
 providing recyclable paper materials and causing said recyclable paper materials to decompose by exposing said recyclable paper materials to sunlight, rain and wind;    mixing said recyclable paper materials with water;    breaking said recyclable paper material in a re-pulper and making a homogenous slurry therewith;    removing excess water from said slurry such that a water content of said slurry is a saturation point of said slurry;    selecting a measure of said slurry, having a initial volume;    compressing said measure of said slurry in a perforated cylinder and forming a solid fuel block therewith wherein a volume of said solid fuel block is about one third of said initial volume of said measure of said slurry;    drying said solid fuel block by heat;    while said solid fuel block is still warm, immersing said solid fuel block in warm vegetable oil, and causing a portion of said vegetable oil to be absorbed therein, and    encasing said solid fuel block with said portion of said vegetable oil therein in a wax cover.    
     
     
         11 . The method for manufacturing a fire log as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said step of providing recyclable paper materials comprises the step of providing recyclable paper materials in proportions of: 
 about 70% box board, corrugated board, cardboard and brown paper;    about 20% newsprint, and    about 10% bond paper and the like material.    
     
     
         12 . The method for manufacturing a fire log as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said step of causing said recyclable paper materials to decompose by exposing said recyclable paper materials to sunlight, rain and wind comprises the steps of wetting said recyclable paper material and laying said recyclable paper materials in the outdoors for a period of 4 to 5 days.  
     
     
         13 . The method for manufacturing a fire log as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising the step of removing water from said vegetable oil.  
     
     
         14 . The method for manufacturing a fire log as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising the step of causing a water content of said slurry to be at a saturation point of said slurry prior to said step of compressing.  
     
     
         15 . The method for manufacturing a fire log as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said step of immersing is effected when a temperature of said solid fuel block is at about 100° F.  
     
     
         16 . The method for manufacturing a fire log as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said step of mixing said recyclable paper materials with water is effected until a water-fibre ratio of 4:1 is obtained.  
     
     
         17 . The method for manufacturing a fire log as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said step of compressing further comprises the step of causing a moisture content of said solid fuel block to be about 15%.  
     
     
         18 . The method for manufacturing a fire log as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising the step of making dimples and streaks on a surface of said solid fuel block.  
     
     
         19 . The method for manufacturing a fire log as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said step of encasing further comprises the step of rotating said solid fuel block until said wax cover solidifies.  
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for manufacturing a fire log having dimples and streaks on its surface, comprising; 
 a perforated cylinder mounted vertically and having means to received a fibrous slurry therein, a length, an upper end and a bottom end;    a top piston mounted above said upper end and having means to cause a downward movement thereof inside said perforated cylinder through said upper end, and    a bottom piston mounted inside said bottom end and having means to cause a first upward movement thereof inside said perforated cylinder;    wherein said downward movement and said first upward movement are respectively about one third of said length of said perforated cylinder, and    means to cause a second upward movement of said bottom cylinder inside said perforated cylinder wherein said second upward movement extends to said upper end.