Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd May, 1887
Specification Accepted, 3rd June, 1887.
We, RICHARD LOTHIAN SHORT, JOHN SHORT and JOHN BOWLT SHORT, all of
16, Brown Street, West Hartlepool, Millwrights and Blacksmiths, 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 and accom-
panying sheet of drawings in which :-
'
Figure 1. is a vertical sectional elevation of a safety lamp according to our
Invention.
Figure 2. is a horizontal section taken on line AB fig. 1 and
Figure 3. is a vertical elevational view of a miners safety lamp according to our
Invention. In this view the lamp is shown as provided with rods R, to allow of the
lamp being suspended as would be the case when employed as a suspended lamp for
the carriage ways in mines.
The same letters of reference are employed to denote like or corresponding parts in
the several figures.
The body of the lamp proper is represented at A encircled by a thick glass cylinder,
the base of which is received in a recess k formed in the double diaphragm or divisional
plate K.
.
At the base of the lamp is a water tank or receptacle B which is devised for the
purpose of keeping the oil reservoir C, which is placed in the centre and surrounded
by the water in the said water tank B, perfectly cool.
The upper portion of the water tank or receptacle B is provided with a series of
small apertures M to allow of the admission of air to support combustion, said apertures
being protected by the surrounding belt or shield plate J.
Fitted in the lower part of the double diaphragm or divisional plate K, which is
shown in detached view figure 4 is a sheet of fine wire gauze N. through which the
oxygen passes in its passage to the flame, thence through the apertures O. formed in
the upper part of the divisional plate K, and ascends through the interior of the
lamp.
The oil reservoir C. is provided at D. with a device for holding the latter in position
and for raising or lowering the wick, thereby regulating the amount of light: when

page_text: it is desired to replenish the oil reservoir C, the knob D¹ is drawn outwards, when the
oil reservoir C may be easily removed upon the lamp being unlocked.
At E. E. is a warm water tank or receptacle devised with a view to absorb a large
portion of the ascending heated currents which rise in the body of the lamp and come
in contact with the comparatively colder surfaces of said tank or receptacle E. E; any
steam which may be generated by this process being permitted to easily escape
through the open top of said receptacle and thence through the fine wire gauze G,
as indicated by the arrows. It will also be found in practice that the steam thus
generated will tend to cause an induced upward current for the air, which enters as
aforesaid through the openings M formed in the vessel B in the base of the lamp and
ascending through the body of the lamp pass up through the funnel Q. and through
the perforated cap H, and around the sides H₁ thereof and thence to the fine wire
gauze G. which encircles the upper portion of the lamp and through which no foul air
can pass.
At the top of the lamp is a cold water cap or receptacle F. provided for
the purpose of taking up the residual heat from the lamp flame; the summit of said
water cap or receptacle F. is fitted with a perforated plate or preferably sheet of fine
wire gauze P. to allow of any steam which may be generated in the vessel F. to
readily escape.
We wish it to be understood that the special function of the cold
water in each of the tanks or receptacles aforesaid is to absorb the heat which is
generated by the flame of the lamp and which heat (being a well known source of
danger) is thus, by our Invention, destroyed, neutralized and utilised in the manner
herein before described, and the whole lamp is thus kept perfectly cool.
To prevent miners and others from being able to get access to the flame, as would
occur in lighting smoking pipes, a suitable locking device is provided at I.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
The improved safety lamp for the use of miners and others, substantially as herein
set forth.