A METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR INDICATING THE PRESENCE IN MINES OF FIRE DAMP IN UNDUE OR DANGEROUS VOLUME
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isidor Kitsee, of Cincinnati, in the County of Hamilton
and State of Ohio, United States of America, for an invention of "A METHOD
OF AND MEANS FOR INDICATING THE PRESENCE IN MINES OF FIRE DAMP IN
UNDUE OR DANGEROUS VOLUME."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Isidor Kitsee at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st August 1882.
ISIDOR KITSEE of the city of Cincinnati in the county of Hamilton and State
of Ohio, United States of America. A METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR INDICATING
THE PRESENCE IN MINES OF FIRE DAMP IN UNDUE OR IN DANGEROUS VOLUME.
My invention relates to devices for automatically indicating the presence of
fire damp in mines, and of giving notice thereof at any required place. By use
of the ordinary portable safety lamp the presence of fire damp is indicated by the
flame which arises within the surrounding wire gauze. When the volume of fire
damp equals one-sixth to one fifth the volume of the atmosphere, combustion
ensues, and a flame arises, within the space enclosed by the wire gauze, which
flame increases in volume and intensity as the fire damp increases, thus giving to
the miner carrying the lamp, or other person seeing the flame notification of the
But this
existence of undue and dangerous quantities of fire damp in the mine.
condition may exist in a part of the mine not being worked and where no one is
present, and it may moreover be desirable not to depend solely upon the workman
who carries a portable lamp to notify the superintendent or other officer of the
presence of fire damp in a dangerous volume.
The object of my invention is to give automatic notification at any desired place
of the existence of fire damp wherever existing in the mine in dangerous volume.
As the principle involved in this invention lies in the utilization of fire damp
itself to make its presence in dangerous proportions in any part of a mine known
at any one point, or at different points inside or outside of the mine by the
ignition of the fire damp within a receptacle from which the flame can not be
communicated to the surrounding atmosphere and whereby a normally closed

page_text: electric-circuit is interrupted or normally interrupted electric circuit is closed to
give the proper signal I would have it understood.
Firstly. That I do not confine myself to any particular or specific construction
of receptacle as the diffusion of light is not necessary to the good operation of my
invention, which may therefore be applied to a light diffusing medium or simply
to a receptacle to which the fire-damp may have access, and within which it may
be ignited whenever the combination of the fire damp with the atmospheric air is
such as to admit of ignition, or combustion of the two gases.
Whatever means may be employed it is however necessary that the combustion
of the fire damp should be confined to the receptacle. Of course it will be more
convenient as well as more economical to apply the invention to a light diffusing
medium and in view of this I have generally restricted the description of the
application of the invention to that class of lamps generally known as miners'
safety lamps embodying the protective principles of the Davy lamp.
•
Secondly, That I do not limit myself, to any specific means, devices, appliances
or mechanisms or to the arrangement and construction of such whereby an electric
circuit may be closed or broken by the action of the heat or ignition or combustion
of fire damp within the lamp or other apparatus, nor to any specific devices,
appliances or mechanism through the medium of which a signal whether visible
or audible and of whatsoever nature may be given by such closing or breaking of
the circuit.
Thirdly, That I do not confine myself to the application of the invention to
single lamps or other apparatus as a series of such may be placed in the same
electric circuit and the precise part of the mine where fire damp is present in
dangerous proportions may be indicated at a station or point inside or outside of
the mine and at any distance from the point affected. Fourthly, That I do not
confine myself to any specific signal or code of signals whether visible or audible
as these may be varied at the discretion of those adopting the invention for the
protection of their operatives as well as their mines.
In carrying out my invention various means may be employed to attain the
desired end, and that my invention may be fully understood I will now describe
in detail several constructions and arrangements of mechanisms and appliances
especially designed by me and which in practice will be found to answer all the
purposes, confining myself, Firstly, To the application of the invention to single
lamps embodying the Davy principles, and afterwards I will describe the application
of the invention to a group or series of lamps constituting a route or electric field
or circuit.
The invention therefore consists broadly, Firstly, in automatically signalling the
presence of an undue and dangerous volume of fire-damp in any part of a mine, to
a station or stations, or point or points either within or without the mine, by the
ignition of the fire damp as hereinafter set forth; Secondly, to set the signalling
mechanism into operation either by the closing of a normally broken or interrupted
electric circuit or by the breaking of a normally closed circuit either one or the
other being effected by the ignition of the fire damp.
I will first describe the invention as applied to the operation of signalling
mechanism by the closing of a normally broken electric circuit referring more
particularly to Figures 1 to 7 inclusive in which I have illustrated several methods
of effecting the automatic closing of said electric circuit.
In Figs. 1 to 3, within the wire gauze surrounding the lamp, is adjusted a piece
of metal readily expansible by heat; this metal may be semi-circular or a complete
circle or of any desirable form or shape. The two wires from the electric apparatus
extend through the wire gauze or perforated inclosure, having necessary insulators
in such a manner that one wire is nearly in contact with one part of the expansible
metal and the other wire is adjusted to or placed in juxtaposition to another part
of the expansible metal. It is preferable that to each wire should should also be
attached points or tips t¹, readily expansible by heat. When the flame arising
from the combustion of fire damp is formed within the perforated surroundings,

page_text: the metal expands, as does also the tip on the wires, thus forming metallic contact
and an electric circuit is complete which operates any form of signalling mechanism
connected to the electric apparatus such as a gong and clapper, a percussion device.
by which detonating buttons may be exploded, a bell, or any other suitable
annunciator or recorder, It is manifest also that near to or connected with each
lamp may be mechanism, that by making and breaking an electric circuit, will
indicate at a terminal point or station the exact location of the special lamp
brought into action, so that not only at such station will notice be given of the
existence of fire damp in dangerous volume, but the precise location thereof will
be indicated. The special means I employ for this purpose are hereinafter
described. Though in the invention as illustrated in figures 1 and 2 of the
drawings a semi circular plate is shewn as adapted by expansion to be brought
into contact with the circuit wires yet it is not necessary that this contact should
by made by means of expansible metal on the ends of branch wires as any contact
between any part of the metal and any part of the wires would answer the purpose
and be within the scope of my invention by closing the electric circuit.
In the drawings L represents a safety lamp in which a wire gauze cylinder C is
used. R is an expansible metallic plate lying loosely upon an interior flange.
W, W₁ are the line wires from an electric apparatus, t, t¹, are metallic tips readily
expansible by heat shown at the ends of the wires W W. When the flame from
the combustion of the fire damp arises within the wire gauze or perforated
surroundings the metal R is expanded as are also the tips t't, thus effecting the
required metallic contact and forming a complete electric circuit by which the
alarm is given by the electric apparatus through its attached mechanism.
Fig. 3 illustrates a form of my invention wherein a bent tube is supplied with
mercury which when rising within the arms of said tube and coming in contact
with the depending portion of the current wires complete the circuit.
Such a tube or other shaped mercury vessel it is intended to be placed within
the perforated surroundings of a safety lamp and when the heat generated by the
combustion of the fire damp reaches a given degree the rising mercury will come
in contact with those portions of the circuit wires depending within said mercury
containing vessel and close the circuit as before described. In fig. 4 the normally
broken circuit is closed by the ignition of the fire damp destroying the cord, c
suspended from and with in the wire gauze cylinder to which cord c is attached
one of the line wires W, or W' said wire having a bent portion w. The disruption
of the cord c, causes the bent portion w, of the one line wire to drop into a loop w¹
formed in the other line wire thus effecting the metallic contact between the two
wires W W¹. to close the circuit. Although I prefer to arrange the wires within
the wire gauze cylinder this is not necessary as the wires may be arranged in juxta
position outside of the lamp as shown in fig. 5, and the same result obtained. As
shown in figure 6 the two wires have each a contact plate p and p'. the plate p,
dropping into contact with the plate p', when the cord c is destroyed by the
ignition of the fire damp and these plates may also be arranged within the wire
gauze cylinder if desired. And as shown in figs. Ga. and Gb. the line wires W W.
or the plates, p, p', may be held in position by a non conducting fusible substance
within the lamps or apparatus, which substance when melted by the ignition of
the fire damp will cause the wires or the plates, p, p', to come in contact with each
other, and close the circuit. When metallic plates are employed I prefer to provide
their contacting faces with serrations 22, as shown in figure 6a which adapts them
for holding the non conducting fusible substance and produce a better contact
when the latter substance is melted, the relative arrangement of said plate being
such as to bring the apex of the teeth on one plate in contact with the apex of the
teeth on the other plate and if desired these plates may be arranged so that the
apex of the teeth of one plate will lie between two teeth on the other plate, when
they come in contact with each other. As shown in fig. 7 the two wires W W¹.
are conducted through the wire gauze cylinder C, within which they are coiled or
twisted into a strand the wires being insulated by any desired combustible

page_text: substance which substance when destroyed by combustion upon the ignition of the
fire damp within the cylinder C will bring the two wires in metallic contact and
close the heretofore broken circuit. It is manifest in either of the above appli-
cations of the invention that when the circuit is closed a signal either visible or
audible will or may be given at any desired point or points inside or outside of
the mine. As above set forth the presence of a dangerous volume of fire damp
may also be automatically made known at a distant point by the breaking of a
normally closed circuit and in various ways. As shown in fig. 8 the line
wires W W. may be connected with a fusible conductor of electricity F or in case
of a single lamp hy any fusible substance whatever held within the perforated or
imperforate cylinder of the lamp or apparatus in any desired manner. This fusible
conductor or substance may have any desired form or shape, it may be a ring as
shown or it may be a plate or a block or a button to which said wires W W¹ are
connected and when by the ignition of the fire damp the heat within the cylinder
is sufficiently raised said fusible substance will be melted and the connection
between the two circuit wires W W¹. destroyed thereby breaking the electric
circuit and giving the necessary signal. The line wires may also be connected
directly with the wire gauze cylinder C by means of fusible plugs inserted therein
in which case the fusibly plugged perforations complete the circuit until said plugs
are melted. The fusible connections as shown in figure 8ª acted upon by the Hame
may be so composed as to melt at a given degree of temperature reached only when
that intensity of flame exists in the lamp which is produced by a certain proportion
of fire damp in the volume of the atmosphere. As shown in figure 9 instead of a fusible
conductor one of the line wires may be held in contact with the other by a cord c
suspended from the wire gauze cylinder C and one of the said wires being provided
with a bent portion wor metallic plate p and the other wire with a loop w' or a
metallic plate p¹. When by the ignition of the fire damp the cord c is destroyed, the
wire suspended therefrom will drop out of contact with the other wire and break the
circuit. As hereinbefore stated it is not essential to the good operation of my invention
that it should be applied to a light diffusing medium but may be applied to any
construction of apparatus within which the fire damp is ignited and when ignited
confined therein and prevented from igniting the fire damp surrounding the said
apparatus. As shown in fig. 10 an imperforate cylinder C', may surround a
burner of any kind and the fire damp may be admitted to the burner either
through the top of the cylinder or through an annular space left around the oil
fount, or the base of the burner. In either case the opening will be protected by
a wire gauze guard or a perforated plate for obvious purposes. I have hereinbefore
stated that I do not limit myself to any specific construction or arrangement of
mechanism whereby the precise point where fire damp is present in undue or
dangerous volume is made known at a point or points distant from that where it
exists, nor to any specific signal or code of signals; the following arrangements
and construction of mechanism may however be found to answer all the purposes,
said mechanism being simple and durable. In figures 11, 12, and 13 I have shown
a miner's safety lamp provided with the fusible substance B¹. heretofore described.
To any convenient part of the lamp L either upon the periphery of the base as
shown fig. 11, or upon the under side of said base as shown in figs. 12 and 13 or to
any point near the lamp, is arranged a stud or shaft S with which one of the line
wires is connected. Upon this shaft is mounted a disc D provided with periphreal
teeth or contact points d, a contact point d¹ and a detent tooth d². An arm A
carries a pawl P that is normally engaged with the disc D and a stud or arm a
carries a contact springs that is normally engaged with the contact point d¹ of
disc D the other line wire being connected with this arm or stud a. Around the
shaft S is wound a cord c¹. from which is suspended a weight w². The pawl P is
held in engagement with the disc D by a cord c the opposite end of which is
connected with the fusible substance. As will be seen the electric circuit is a
normally closed one through the stud or arm a spring s dise D and shaft S. When
however the fusible substance B' is melted by the heat due to the ignition of fire

page_text: damp the cord c will be released from said substance and the pawl P will be
disengaged from the disc D allowing the weight w³ to exert its power upon the
shaft S through the cord c¹ and revolve said shaft The contact spring s will now
come in contact with the points or teeth d successively and alternately break and
close the circuit thus giving a signal of a definite character. Instead of employing
a rotatable shaft a stationary shaft may be used and the cord c¹ wound around a
sleeve formed on the rotatable disc. And instead of the pivot pawl P and the cord
shown in fig. 11. a pawl lever P and a tension spring 81. may be used as shown in
figs. 12 and 13. It will be seen that when the cord is released the weighted or
heavier end of the pawl-lever will cause the pawl to rotate on its pivot and be
disengaged from the ratchet, the tension-spring s¹ being now free to act will rotate
the shaft S as described. Of course it will be understood that the cord c need not
necessarily be attached to a fusible substance as it may be attached within and to
the wire-gauze cylinder C and cause the release of the pawl P when burnt by the
ignition of the fire damp. It will further be understood that the contact teeth
upon the disc D may be arranged in any desired manner to give a specific signal
for a specific lamp and that specific point of the mine where the lamp is located.
As an example I have illustrated two groups each having three contact points d
whereby and the normal contact point d¹ for the spring 8 and the detent d² the
electric circuit is alternately interrupted and closed seven times at each revolution,
and whereby a corresponding audible or visible signal may be given at a distant
point or points from the lamp. These contact points or groups of contact points
may be arranged in many different ways, so that each lamp may be provided with
a specific arrangement of contact points breaking and closing the electric circuit a
specific number of times at each revolution of the disc D and the devices that
rotate the disc may be arranged to impart to the latter a specific number of
rotations. Other well known means employed for signalling by means of an
electric current may be employed instead of those described. I am aware that
some of the devices or substantially equivalent devices have long been known and
used for making or breaking an electric circuit and I do not desire to claim them
broadly for that particular purpose. I am not aware however that any such
devices have ever been used in conjunction with an apparatus whereby the
existence of fire-damp in dangerous volume in a mine or at any particular point in
a mine may be automatically signalled to a point or points distant from that
where such fire damp is present by the breaking of a normally closed electric
circuit or the closing of a normally interrupted electric circuit such circuit being
so broken or closed by the ignition of the fire damp within the lamp or other
apparatus. I have so far described my invention as applied to a single lamp for
the purpose of enabling persons skilled in the art to which it belongs to perfectly
understand its principle and to construct and to use my device, but it is manifest
in practice it will often be requisite to establish a perfect system of annunciators
so that notification of existence of fire damp in dangerous volume shall be given
wherever it occurs and to the accomplishment of this end I arrange any number of
lamps with my invention attached thereto in groups or routes so as to complete a
perfect and unbroken system of automatic fire damp indicators. In such a system
each of the current wires must be continuous and unbroken its whole length in
other words a positive and negative wire will have to be let over a whole field or
route and must be so arranged with respect to each lamp as to enable each lamp in
the group or route to act independently. In order to accomplish this result when
the circuit is closed by an expansible metal the latter must in each lamp be placed
in proximity to both the positive and negative wires as clearly shown in Fig: 14,
and of course two interposed line wires are employed in the case where such line
wires are held in contact by a combustible cord or when they are held in proximity
to each other to make contact by the destruction of said combustible cord as herein.
before described. In fig. 16 I have shown a series of lamps placed in a circuit
which circuit is interrupted by the melting of a fusible substance. Having now
described my invention what I claim is: 1st The method and means (or equivalent

page_text: means) herein before described for indicating the presence of fire damp in a mine
in dangerous volume at a point or station or station distant from the point where
such fire damp exists by the ignition or combustion of fire damp closing a normally
broken electric circuit to actuate suitable signalling devices. 2nd The method and
means (or equivalent means) hereinbefore described for indicating the presence of
fire damp in a mine in dangerous volume at a point or station distant from the
point where such fire damp exists by the ignition or combustion of fire damp
breaking a normally closed electric circuit to actuate suitable signalling devices.
3rd The method and means (or equivalent means) hereinbefore described for
indicating the presence of fire damp at a specific point or place in a mine at a point
or station distant from such place where the fire damp exists by the ignition or
combustion of fire damp breaking a normally closed electric circuit or closing a
normally broken electric circuit to actuate signalling devices giving a specific
signal indicative of the said specific place or spot, of the mine where such fire damp
exists. 4th The method and means (or quivalent means) hereinbefore described
for indicating the presence of fire damp at any specific point or portion of a mine,
at a station or point distant from that where the fire damp exists by the ignition
or combustion of the fire damp within a lamp or other receptacle closing a normally
broken electric circuit or breaking a normally closed electric circuit a series of or
all such lamps or receptacles being within the same electric circuit and arranged to
operate independently of each other and actuate the signalling devices so as to
give a specific signal to indicate the precise point of the mine where such fire damp
exists. 5th The construction of safety lamp or other apparatus whereby a normally
broken electric circuit may be automatically closed by the ignition or combustion
of fire damp within such lamp or other apparatus whenever such is present in
sufficient volume either through the medium of an expansible metal or by
establishing a contact between the wires of a circuit as described and shown in
figures 1 to 7 inclusive. 6th The construction of safety lamp or other apparatus
whereby a normally closed electric circuit may be automatically broken by the
ignition or combustion of fire damp within such lamp or other apparatus wherever
such is present in sufficient volume as described and shown in figures 8, 8. 9
and 10. 7th The construction of circuit breakers as described and shown in
figures 11, 12 and 13, in combination with a lamp or analogous apparatus for the
purpose specified.
In witness whereof I the said Isidor Kitsee have hereunto set my hand and
seal this 18th day of July in the year of Our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty two.
ISIDOR KITSEE (L.S.)