Improvements in connection with the Lamp Bottoms of Miners' Safety Lamps.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Dec., 1889-Accepted, 15th Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in connection with the Lamp Bottoms of Miners'
Safety Lamps.
I EDWARD KAYE of Robinson's Buildings, Altofts, Normanton in the County of
York Colliery Lampman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My Invention refers more particularly to such miners safety lamps, in which
paraffin, benzoline, or other volatile oils or spirits are employed for producing the
light; and my said Invention has for its object, to render gas or vapour proof or
tight, the vessel or joints of the same containing the supply of liquid fuel.
For this purpose I prefer to retain the ordinary construction of lamp bottoms,
such as is used for oil fed safety lamps, and which has only one opening, that is the
one left for the wick-tube and wick; this same opening being used for filling or
emptying the lamp bottom. In order to prevent the escape of gas or vapour or of the
oil or spirit from the vessel, it is thus only necessary that this opening should be closed
practically vapour proof. This is the immediate object of my Invention. The wick-
tube is of the ordinary pattern, with a support flange nearer the lower than the upper
end of the tube. The tube is held down by a cap piece, provided with a screw, or
rather screwed on the outside; and which screws into the tapped hole in the central
boss, through which passes the wick and tube. The flange of the wick tube rests on
a ledge at the bottom of this tapped hole, down on to which it is tightened by the
just mentioned screwed cap. In order to prevent the liquid or vapour escaping up
and between the threads of the cap and the tapped opening into which it fits, I provide
a ring or washer of leather or other elastic material, which is not affected by the
action of the oil or spirit, and which when squeezed more or less tightly, is non-porous
to the oil or spirit or vapour. This ring is squeezed down tight on to the upper end
of the central boss, by a tapped ring, which passes over the outside of the screwed cap
like a check nut. The upper end of the cap is covered in, except at the central
opening provided for the wick tube, which projects but slightly above the top of this
cap. The opening in the cap must not fit too tightly round the tube, nor on the other
hand be too large; as in either case I find that the escape of vapour or liquid is
facilitated, in the former case probably owing to capilliary attraction.
The upper end of the pricker for raising the wick, is enclosed within the screwed
cap piece, even in its highest position; and the upper surface of the cap piece is made
concave or saucer shaped, so that any liquid which may have escaped on to the upper
surface, is drained towards the opening in the cap.
L
aci
Wah1080
J. CLARK JEFFERSON, Assoc. R.S.M., Wh. Sc.,
2, East Parade, Leeds, Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in connection with the Lamp Bottoms of Miners'
Safety Lamps.
I EDWARD KAYE of Robinson's Buildings, Altofts, Normanton in the County of
York Colliery Lampman do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :—
My invention refers more particularly to miners safety lamps, but it is also
applicable to other lamps in which paraffin, benzeline, or other volatile oils or spirits

page_text: are employed for producing the light. My invention has for its object to render gas
or vapour proof or tight the upper part of the lamp bottom which contains the light
producing fluid, so as to avoid any risk of such lamps exploding or taking fire, when
they become heated.
My invention is herein described with reference to the ordinary miners safety
lamp, and more particularly with reference to the ordinary construction of oil
fed miners lamps, but it will be evident that this my invention is also applicable
to other descriptions of lamps in which volatile oils or spirits are used for producing
the light.
In the ordinary construction of a miners oil safety lamp, the bottom has only one
opening that is the one left for the wick tube and wick, this same opening being left
for the filling and emptying the lamp bottom. In order to prevent the escape of
vapour or of the oil or spirit from the vessel, or more strictly the escape of such in
such a manner as to render it liable to take fire from the flame, it is necessary that
this opening should be closed practically vapour proof. The wick tube is of the
ordinary pattern, with a support flange nearer the lower than the upper end of the
tube. Just above this flange the pricker slot is formed in one side of the tube for
the purpose of enabling the wick to be raised and lowered by means of the pricker.
The wick tube is held down by a cap piece, provided with a thread on the outside,
and which screws into a tapped hole in the central boss. This hole forms the above
mentioned opening for the wick tube and wick.
The flange of the wick tube rests on a ledge at the bottom of this opening, upon
which ledge the flange is pressed by tightening down the above mentioned cap piece.
In order to prevent the vapour or liquid escaping up between the threads of the cap
piece and those of the tapped opening in which it fits, I provide a ring or washer of
leather or other elastic material, which is not affected by the vapour or liquid, and
which when squeezed more or less tightly, is non-porous to the vapour or liquid.
This ring is squeezed down more or less tightly on the upper end of the central boss,
by a tapped metal ring, which passes over and fits on the outside of the screwed cap
piece like a check nut.
In order to prevent the escape of vapour or liquid through the slot provided in the
wick tube flange for the pricker tube, and also between the pricker tube and the above
mentioned ledge (for supporting the wick tube flange) where the pricker tube passes
through such ledge, I provide a similar washer of leather or other suitable material
between the wick tube flange and the ledge supporting it, the connection being made
vapour and liquid proof by the pressure of the cap piece on the wick tube flange when
the former is screwed down on to the latter.
The upper end of the cap piece is covered in except at the central opening provided
for the wick tube, which projects slightly above the top of this cap. The opening in
the cap must not fit too tightly round the tube, nor on the other hand be too large;
as in either case I find that the escape of vapour or liquid appears to be facilitated; in
the former case probably due to capillary attraction, or the pressure of the vapour
within the cap piece. It will be seen that the only opening for the escape of liquid or
vapour from the lamp bottom beside the upper end of the wick tube, is the pricker
slot in the wick tube. Any vapour which escapes through this slot passes away down
the pricker tube for the most part, the quantity passing off between the wick tube and
the opening in the flat horizontal part of the top of the cap piece appears to be but
slight, so that it passes away without collecting on the top of the cap piece and there
taking fire. The narrowness of the opening between the wick tube and the top of
the cap piece, lessens or obviates any risk of flame passing through it.
It will be evident from the above description, that the upper end of the pricker is
completely enclosed within the cap piece, even in its highest position; and the upper
surface of the cap piece may be made concave or saucer shaped, so that any liquid
or condensed vapour which may have escaped on to the upper surface, is drained
towards the opening in the same.
And in order that my invention and the manner in which the same may be per-
formed may be more clearly understood, I have annexed hereto the accompanying

page_text: drawing, which is a cross section of the above described application of my invention
to an ordinary miners oil safety lamp, and in which :—
a is the lamp bottom.
6 the central boss provided on the inside with a female thread.
c the cap piece provided on the outside with a male thread.
d the tapped metal ring, which fits outside the cap piece c and screws down tight
on to the leather or washer e, or ring of other suitable material.
fis the wick tube and h the flange of the same both shewn full black in section.
is the ledge at the bottom of the central boss or opening.
i is the elastic washer between g and h.
jis the pricker and k the pricker tube.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :
1. The combination of the covered cap piece c enclosing the pricker and the upper
part of the wick tube--with the nut or tapped metal ring d and washer e substantially
as herein set forth and for the purpose specified.
2. The combination of the covered cap piece c enclosing the pricker and wick tube
with the washer i, between the wick tube flange h and the ledge or seating 9, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. The combination of the covered cap piece c enclosing the pricker and wick tube with
both the washers e and i and the tapped ring d, all substantially as and for the purposes
herein specified.
1000mpor
J. CLARK JEFFERSON,
2, East Parade, Leeds, Agent for Applicant.