Combustion initiator

Abstract

The combustion initiator of this invention preferably includes at least two separate combustible chemical constituents including a fuel cell and an ignition pellet. An igniter has a third combustible material thereon which can be manually caused to move and bring the combustible material into contact with the ignition pellet. The combustible material and ignition pellet are highly reactive with one another so that such contact therebetween causes the ignition pellet to commence combustion. The ignition pellet is adjacent the fuel cell and combusts with sufficient temperature to cause the fuel cell to commence combustion. The fuel cell and ignition pellet are preferably contained within an enclosure which protects the igniter from being manipulated unless the enclosure is first opened. The fuel cell material burns hot enough and long enough to cause combustion of surrounding fuels, such as wood.

1 . A device for initiating combustion, comprising in combination:
 an at least partial enclosure;   a fuel cell located within said enclosure;   said fuel cell formed of a combustible material;   an ignition pellet located within said enclosure;   said ignition pellet adjacent said fuel cell;   said ignition pellet formed of a combustible material;   an igniter adapted to be moved from a first position spaced from said ignition pellet to a second position in contact with said ignition pellet; and   said igniter adapted to commence combustion of said ignition pellet upon such contact between said igniter and said ignition pellet.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said ignition pellet is surrounded on a majority of a surface of said ignition pellet by said fuel cell, said ignition pellet formed of a material which combusts at a temperature greater than a temperature of ignition of said combustible material forming said fuel cell, such that said fuel cell begins a combustion reaction only after said ignition pellet commences combustion. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said fuel cell includes a recess in a top surface thereof, said ignition pellet located within said recess, said ignition pellet sized and shaped to fill a majority of said recess. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein said ignition pellet has a bore passing therethrough, wherein said igniter is larger than said bore, said igniter coupled to a flexible line passing through said bore with said igniter located below said bore, such that pulling on said flexible line draws said igniter into said bore and into position contacting portions of said ignition pellet adjacent said bore; and
 wherein said fuel cell includes a central chamber extending down from said recess and aligned with said bore in said ignition pellet, said central chamber having said flexible line passing therethrough, said flexible line coupled to a pull ring at an end of said flexible line above said ignition pellet, said igniter residing within a sleeve separating said igniter from said fuel cell when said igniter is located below said bore of said ignition pellet.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said enclosure includes a lid, said lid adapted to seal said enclosure and said lid adapted to be removed from said enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said igniter includes a striker patch formed of a material adapted to initiate combustion of said ignition pellet when brought into contact with said ignition pellet, said striker patch attached to said lid. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein said enclosure is formed of a material taken from the group of materials including metallic materials and fibrous materials and includes a substantially planar floor with side walls extending substantially perpendicularly up from said floor. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6  wherein insulation is provided adjacent at least a portion of interior surfaces forming said enclosure, said insulation material resistant to heat transfer. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said fuel cell includes a recess in a top surface thereof and with a central chamber extending down from said recess, said central chamber having a diameter less than a diameter of said recess. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9  wherein said ignition pellet is located within said recess, said ignition pellet including a central bore aligned with said central chamber of said fuel cell, said igniter oriented below at least a portion of said central chamber and below said ignition pellet, said igniter including a flexible line extending up through at least portions of said central chamber and said bore, said flexible line adapted to be grasped by a user from above said fuel cell and said ignition pellet. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said flexible line includes a pull ring coupled thereto, said pull ring adapted to be oriented substantially horizontally adjacent a top surface of said fuel cell which is substantially horizontal, said pull ring biased toward a non-horizontal orientation and flexed down to a horizontal orientation by a lid coupled to said enclosure, such that when said lid is removed, said pull ring is at least partially elevated above said fuel cell for ease in grasping said pull ring. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said igniter is oriented within a sleeve, said sleeve separating said igniter from said fuel cell, said sleeve having a fixed position within said enclosure such that said igniter is pulled out of said sleeve when said flexible line is pulled, said igniter formed of a material which commences combustion along with said combustible material forming said ignition pellet when said igniter contacts said ignition pellet. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  wherein said ignition pellet central bore has a step at a lower end end thereof, said step having a greater width than a width of said igniter, said bore in said ignition pellet above said step having a lesser diameter than said igniter, such that said igniter contacts said ignition pellet adjacent said step of said central bore of said ignition pellet. 
     
     
         14 . A combustion initiator, comprising in combination:
 a fuel cell formed of combustible material, said fuel cell including a chamber passing at least partially therethrough;   an ignition pellet, said ignition pellet abutting said fuel cell, said ignition pellet adjacent said chamber of said fuel cell; and   an igniter having a first position spaced from said ignition pellet and a second position in contact with said ignition pellet, said igniter adapted to commence combustion of said ignition pellet when contacting said ignition pellet.   
     
     
         15 . The combustion initiator of  claim 14  wherein said igniter is further coupled to a flexible line passing through said chamber in said fuel cell and at least partially through said bore in said ignition pellet, such that pulling of said flexible line causes said igniter to pass at least partially through said chamber in said fuel cell and at least partially through said bore in said ignition pellet;
 said bore in said ignition pellet having a cross-sectional size smaller than a cross-sectional size of said igniter, such that said igniter impacts portions of said ignition pellet when said flexible line is pulled and said igniter is drawn into said bore of said ignition pellet; and   wherein said chamber in said fuel cell is centrally oriented within said fuel cell, said fuel cell including a recess in a top surface thereof, said ignition pellet sized and shaped to reside within said recess, said bore in said ignition pellet aligned with said central chamber of said fuel cell.   
     
     
         16 . The combustion initiator of  claim 15  wherein said igniter is attached to said lid in the form of a striker patch, said striker patch adapted to cause said ignition pellet to combust when said striker patch is struck against said ignition pellet. 
     
     
         17 . The combustion initiator of  claim 16  wherein said fuel cell, said ignition pellet and said igniter are each contained within an enclosure having a floor and a side wall, said enclosure including a removable isolation sheet between said striker patch and said ignition pellet. 
     
     
         18 . A method for initiating combustion of a fuel, the method including the steps of:
 providing a fuel to be combusted;   providing a combustion initiator, the combustion initiator including a fuel cell formed of combustible material, an ignition pellet, the ignition pellet abutting the fuel cell, the ignition pellet adjacent the chamber of the fuel cell; an igniter having a first position spaced from the ignition pellet and a second position in contact with the ignition pellet, the igniter adapted to commence combustion of the ignition pellet when contacting the ignition pellet;   impacting the ignition pellet with the igniter to cause the ignition pellet to commence combustion;   allowing heat from combustion of the ignition pellet to commence combustion of the fuel cell; and   allowing heat from combustion of the fuel cell to commence combustion of the fuel.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  including the further steps of providing the combustion initiator within an enclosure having a floor, side walls and a lid sealing said enclosure closed; and
 removing the lid.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said igniter is located upon the lid in the form of a striker patch;
 bringing the striker patch into contact with the ignition pellet; and   rubbing the striker patch against the ignition pellet to cause the ignition pellet to begin combusting.