Improvements in Miners' Safety Lamps.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 15th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 17th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Miners' Safety Lamps.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD TEALE, of Swinton, near Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Lamp Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements applicable to the well known types of
safety lamps now in use in which the light is distributed through a glass, and is
designed with the object of doing away with or avoiding the use of screws for
connecting the several parts of the lamp together and the consequent wear and tear
of the lamps and the breakage of glasses.
It consists essentially in forming the lamps with the several loose parts fitted
together on the principle of a telescope with tight piston like joints and held or
locked in position by a suitable clamp or locking bar at the base without the use of
screw joints.
In carrying out the invention the gauze, shields, and glass are constructed in the
usual way.
The oil or spirit reservoir is formed with smooth or flat sides preferably
cylindrical or conical which fit closely up into the casing of the lamp, the joint
being sufficiently long and tight to secure an air tight joint. The sides of the
reservoir may either be straight, stepped, or conical as may be desired, and the
outer casing or frame of corresponding shape but in either case the one made to fit
closely into the other. The burner may be of ordinary construction.
The casing where it receives the end of the glass is made longer than ordinarily
and the glass is fitted at each end with a metal ring preferably cemented to it the
periphery of the ring corresponding with the diameter of the casing into which
it fits.
The wire gauze and shield above the glass are formed with a flanged bottom to
fit between the top of the glass and a flange upon the casing or framing.
In the form of lamps known as Marsaut or Mueseler I place the shield inside
the outer gauze and between the two gauze covers in order that the condition of
the outer gauze may be more readily detected and at the base of the shield I place
one, two or more check rings on guiding rings or plates to guide the air current to
the holes through which it passes.
The joints between the brass rings on the glass and the casing are made sufficiently
long to be gas proof whilst allowing a little longitudinal play to the glass to prevent
fracture when it expands by the heat. The rings cemented to the edges of the
glass prevent the glass becoming chipped round the edges.
The several parts are held in position and locked by a locking bar or bracket
affixed to the base of the casing or framing below the reservoir. This locking bar
is preferably curved and open towards the centre to allow for the wick pricker and
fits into a hole or slot at one side of the casing or framing and at the other has a
hasp or its equivalent which engages with a projecting lug or the like and is sealed
in the ordinary way with a lead plug or other sealing device.
To the bottom of the casing or framing of the lamp or to the under side of the
locking bar I attach a pad of rubber or other soft or elastic material to prevent
injury to the lamp from the jar or concussion of knocking against lumps of coal,
metal
props or corves.
By this arrangement of lamp I consider I secure less wear and tear to the lamps

page_text: in the opening and reclosing of them for filling; less liability to fracture of the
glass, and more expedition in opening and closing them.
Dated this 2nd day of May 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
Fig. 3. Sectional plan on line a―x.
Fig. 4. Sectional plan on line y-y.
The lamp is constructed with a base A into which the reservoir for oil or spirit
fits preferably made externally very similar to the ordinary form of lamp bottom
but with a flange a near its lower edge to strengthen it and the upper flange a¹ five
or six sided to obstruct as little as possible the rays of light passing downwards
from the flame.
The base A internally is made cylindrical throughout its length without any
screw thread to form a connection or joint.
The oil or spirit reservoir B is formed with smooth cylindrical sides throughout
its length to correspond with and fit closely into the interior of the base or casing A.
The reservoir B is thus also formed without a screw thread, or screw joint.
The joint formed between the internal surface of the base or casing A and the
external surface of the reservoir B is sufficiently long and tight to prevent the
passage of air or gas therethrough.
I at present prefer to make the internal surface of the base A and the external
surface of the reservoir B straight and cylindrical as shown in the drawings but it
is obvious that if desired they may be made with straight sides say five or six sides
on each the one made to fit closely into the other, or instead of being of the same
diameter throughout the whole length they may be formed with one or more
steps.
The wick tube C is of ordinary construction depending down through the top of
the reservoir B. It is held in position by a forked sliding cap D which is slid over
it between the two slides d.
The upper part of the base A and the upper casing or ring E into which the ends
of the glass F are preferably made to extend a little longer than has hitherto been
customary in any lamp and are made cylindrical to receive a cylindrical ring fon
the ends of the glass. The external diameter of the ring may be the same as of
the reservoir B as shown or may be less than that if desired. The internal

page_text: diameter of the upper part of the base A and of the upper casing or ring E
corresponding therewith.
The lamp above the glass may be formed in any ordinary way to carry off the
products of combustion and prevent the contact of the flame with the outer
atmosphere the gauze and shield being formed with a flanged bottom to fit between
the ring on the glass and the top flange e of the upper casing or ring E.
In the form of lamp known as the Marsaut or Mueseler I place the shield G
inside the outer gauze cover H and between it and an inner gauze in order that the
condition of the outer gauze cover may be more easily inspected and any damage
or flaw at once detected. At the base of the shield I place an inclined ring or
plate of metal J to direct the current of air entering through the holes g in the
shield G to the flame and to prevent any of the products of combustion after
escaping through falling down again into the flame. Instead of an inner gauze
cover I prefer to use a sheet metal cylinder or cone K with a gauze top k. A
gauze ring L covers the space between the lower edges of the shield G and the
inclined ring J. The several parts of the lamp which fit or slide into one another
are held and locked in position by a locking bar or bracket M which can be secured
to the base A below the reservoir B. The locking bar M is preferably of the
shape shown with a central opening through which the shank of the pricker & for
raising the wick projects. The projecting end m fits into a hole in the base A and
the end m' is locked or sealed to the flange a in the ordinary way by a lead plug or
other sealing device.
If desired a screw lock might be used for securing the lamp the screw passing
through the base A into a hole or slot in the side of the reservoir B. .
To the underside of the locking bar M or to the base of the lamp I attach a
cushion or pad N of a soft elastic material to prevent injury to the lamp from the
jar or concussion of knocking against lumps of coal, metal props, corves or the like.
And between the locking bar M and the bottom of the reservoir B I insert a small
spring n to maintain all the parts closely together.
In putting the lamp together for use the gauze covers and shield are first placed
in position then the glass F is passed through the base A until one end is enclosed
by the upper ring E and the other by the upper edge of the base A the reservoir B
is next slid into the interior of the base A. and all are secured in position by the
locking bar M.
By this invention I consider I secure less wear and tear to the lamps in the
opening and reclosing of them for filling, less liability to fracture of the glass and
more expedition in the opening and closing of them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A miners safety lamp having the several loose parts fitted together by sliding
one into another and secured or held together without screw joints by a locking bar
or other device substantially as described.
2. A miners safety lamp with the several parts constructed and arranged
substantially as described and shown.
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