Improvements in Locks, specially applicable to Miners' Safety Lamps.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Locks, specially applicable to Miners' Safety Lamps.
I, GEORGE BUCKLOW STONES, of Dale View, Conisbro', near Rotherham, in the
County of York, Mining Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said
invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to construct a keyless lock which shall be self
acting or automatic in its locking action, but which cannot be unlocked by means
of a key or other mechanical appliance.
Although such a lock is applicable to a variety of purposes, a description of it
as applied to a miners' safety lamp will suffice.
An ordinary miners' safety lamp is constructed so that the upper portion com-
prising the bonnet and glass case, hereinafter called the upper frame, is detachable
from the lower portion or oil vessel. This is effected by means of a screwed joint
which is formed between the two parts and by means of this joint the lamp is
opened for lighting and cleaning. After the lamp has been lighted the two parts
are screwed together and then secured by a locking device or seal, most of such
locking devices however, are capable of being tampered with, thereby making it
possible for the lamp to be opened and the naked light exposed, resulting in the
liability of an explosion and loss of life.
It is intended to remedy this defect by the application of my improved lock,
which I make in the form of a cylinder placed vertically at the side of the oil
vessel. This cylinder I provide with a piston, piston rod, and spring. The
piston being made a good fit in the cylinder, and in some cases may be packed
with a metallic or other suitable packing ring. The piston rod I make to project
through one or both ends of the cylinder, the upper projecting end forming the
bolt of the lock and in some cases I form one end of the rod with a collar to
prevent it being forced, by the action of the spring, too far through the end or
cover of the cylinder. In or on the side of the cylinder I form a passage or port,
the opening inside the cylinder, being placed above the piston, the outer opening
of the port being so arranged that the passage is tortuous so as to render it
impossible to insert a piece of wire or other appliance to press the piston down.
The lock is secured by screwing the top part of the lamp down on the oil vessel,
the bolt, by reason of the spring acting on the piston is shot into a suitable
orifice formed in the flange of the upper frame and can only be opened by means
of air being forced into the cylinder. This is effected by means of an air pump,
portable or otherwise, and the spring in the cylinder is made strong enough to
resist any pressure which could be exerted by the lungs of a man in blowing.
Sometimes when I construct the piston to project through both ends of the
cylinder, I so adjust the length that when the piston is at the top of the stroke
with the bolt locked, the opposite end of the piston rod shall be flush with the
corresponding cover of the cylinder, and sometimes instead of having the collar
on the rod inside the cylinder at the bolt end, I place a collar or head on the end
which projects through the opposite end of the cylinder, such collar or head lying

page_text: flush with the cover, when the bolt is locked, but projecting so far, when the bolt
is opened by the piston being forced down, that the collar or head can be used for
securing the bolt at its maximum depression when open.
By making the collar or head with a projecting nib and forming a correspond-
ing s.ot in the cover of the cylinder, so that when the bolt is forced down and the
opposite end of the rod projects through the end of the cylinder, the rod can be
kept down by means of the nib being turned away from its slot. When it is
necessary to lock the lamp the nib is turned until it slips into its slot, when the
action of the spring will shoot the bolt, the lamp thereby being locked, at the
same time the end of the rod or the collar or head and nib are lying in their
respective recesses flush or below the level of the cylinder end so that they cannot
be tampered with. To prevent the bolt catching in the recess every time the top
flange is turned round in screwing up the joint I cut away the side of the bolt
which faces the edge of the advancing recess so that it acts like an inclined plane
and depresses the bolt until the recess is past. After the bolt has in this manner
once passed the recess it would be impossible to unscrew the top frame from the
oil vessel without depressing the bolt by air pressure.
As a further safeguard to prevent the bolt being depressed by the insertion of
a knife or other thin implement, I form the underside of the flange of the top
frame with a slight projection, which fits into a corresponding recess on the flange
of the oil vessel, such recess being of a depth corresponding to the pitch of the
screw or thereabouts so that when it is screwed up tight it would be impossible
to pass a knife or other thin implement towards the bolt as it would be stopped
by the projection or difference in level on the face of the flanges.
As a modification of the arrangement hereinbefore described instead of the
bolt of the lock being arranged to shut into a recess in the flange of the upper
frame, I employ a loose wedge or fillet which I insert into a radial recess formed
in the said flange. This recess being so placed, that, when the top frame is
screwed tightly down on to the oil vessel, it comes opposite the lock bolt. The
wedge or fillet I form with a rounded or inclined nose and also with a notch so
that on its being inserted into the recess, the bolt is depressed until the wedge
or fillet has been forced in far enough for the bolt to shoot into the notch, when
the lamp becomes securely locked. In order to open the lamp the bolt is depressed
by air pressure as previously described, the wedge or fillet can then be withdrawn
and the two parts of the lamp unscrewed and separated.
As a further provision to prevent the lock bolt being tampered with I provide
a small projecting flange on the front of the wedge or fillet so as to prevent the
insertion of any instrument to actuate the bolt.
As a further modification, in some cases I so arrange and proportion an auto-
matic lock as herein described, that it can be actuated by atmospheric pressure.
To effect this I place an air port below as well as above the piston in the cylinder
and by exhausting the air from the under side of the piston, it will be depressed,
the unlocking thus being effected by suction.
D11
11 1
R. HEBER RADFORD,
Agent for the Applicant.
improvements in LOCKS, spеcially applicable to Miners' Safety Lamps.
I, GEORGE BUCKLOW STONES, of Dale View, Conisborough, near Rotherham, in
the County of York, Mining Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said

page_text: invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement; -
-
The object of my invention is to construct a keyless, lock which shall be self
acting or automatic in its locking action but which cannot be unlocked by means
of a key or other mechanical appliance.
Although such a lock is applicable to a variety of purposes, a description of it
as applied to a miners' safety lamp will suffice.
An ordinary miners' safety lamp is constructed so that the upper portion com-
prising the bonnet and glass case, hereinafter called the upper frame, is detachable
from the lower portion or oil vessel. This is effected by means of a screwed joint
which is formed between the two parts and by means of this joint the lamp is
opened for lighting and cleaning. After the lamp has been lighted the two parts
are screwed together and then secured by a locking device or seal, most of such
locking devices however, are capable of being tampered with, thereby making it
possible for the lamp to be opened and the naked light exposed, resulting in the
liability of an explosion and loss of life.
It is intended to remedy this defect by the application of my improved lock,
and the nature of my invention will be better understood on reference to the
accompanying sheet of drawings, in which,
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of the lower portion of a miners' safety lamp, shewing
the oil vessel and a portion of the frame, which carries the bonnet and glass, my
improved lock being shewn in section as it would appear when locked.
Fig. 2, is a similar view, the lock being shewn in section as it would appear
when unlocked.
Fig. 3, is a front elevation of the same shewing the lock in section as it appears
when unlocked with the catch turned so as to secure it in the unlocked condition.
Figs. 4, 5, 6 & 7, illustrate a modified arrangement of my improved lock.
The same letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
My improved lock I make in the form of a cylinder, A, placed vertically at the
side of the oil vessel, B. This cylinder I provide with a piston, C, piston rod, D,
and spring, E. The piston being made a good fit in the cylinder, and in some
cases may be packed with a metallic or other suitable packing ring. The piston
rod I make to project through one or both ends of the cylinder, the upper pro-
jecting end, F, forming the bolt of the lock and in some cases I form one end
of the rod with a collar to prevent it being forced, by the action of the spring, too
far through the end or cover, G, of the cylinder. In or on the side of the cylinder
I form a passage or port, H, the opening inside the cylinder, being placed above
the piston, the outer opening of the port being so arranged that the passage is
so small or tortuous as to render it impossible to insert a piece of wire or other
appliance to press the piston down. The lock is secured by screwing the top
part, B, of the lamp down on the oil vessel, B, the bolt, F, by reason of the
spring, E, acting on the piston, C, is shot into a suitable orifice, F formed in the
flange of the upper frame, 131, of the lamp, and can only be opened by means of
air or other equivalent fluid being forced into the cylinder, through the opening H.
This is effected by means of an air pump, portable or otherwise, and the spring in
the cylinder is made strong enough to resist any pressure which could be exerted
by the lungs of a man in blowing. Sometimes when I construct the piston rod
to project through both ends of the cylinder, I so adjust the length that when
the piston is at the top of the stroke with the bolt locked, the opposite end of the
piston rod shall be flush with the corresponding cover of the cylinder, and some-
times instead of having the collar on the rod inside the cylinder at the bolt end, I
place a collar or head on the end which projects through the opposite end of the
cylinder, such collar or head lying flush with the cover, when the bolt is locked,
but projecting so far when the bolt is opened by the piston being forced down,
that the collar or head can be used for securing the bolt at its maximum
depression when open.

page_text: By making a collar or head with a projecting nib, I, and forming a corre-
sponding slot 1 in the cover or end of the cylinder, so that when the bolt is
forced down and the opposite end of the rod projects through the end of the
cylinder, the rod can be kept down by means of the nib being turned away from
its slot, as shewn in Fig. 3. When it is necessary to lock the lamp, the nib is
turned until it slips into its slot, when the action of the spring will shoot the bolt,
the lamp thereby being locked, at the same time the end of the rod or the collar
or head and nib are lying in their respective recesses flush or below the level of
the cylinder end so that they cannot be tampered with. In cases where I do not
employ the projecting nib, 1, to prevent the bolt catching in the recess F every
time the top flange is turned round in screwing up the joint, 1 cut away the side
of the bolt (as shewn by the dotted line at F in Fig. 3), which faces the edge of
the advancing recess F so that it acts like an inclined, plane and depresses the
bolt until the recess is past. After the bolt has in this manner once passed the
recess it would be impossible to unscrew the top frame from the oil vessel without
depressing the bolt by air pressure.
As a further safeguard to prevent the bolt being depressed by the insertion of
a knife or other thin implement, I form the underside of the flange of the top
frame, B', with a slight projection, J, (such projection J being of a depth corre-
sponding to the pitch of the screw or thereabouts) so that when it is screwed up
tight it would be impossible to pass a knife or other thin implement towards the
bolt as it would be stopped by the projection or difference in level on the face
of the flanges.
As a modification of the arrangement herein before described, instead of the
bolt of the lock being arranged to shut into a recess in the flange of the upper
frame, B, I employ a loose wedge or fillet, L, Fig. 5, which 1 insert into a radial
recess, M, formed in the said flange. This recess being so placed, that, when the
top frame is screwed tightly down on to the oil vessel, it comes opposite the lock
bolt. The wedge or fillet, L, I form with a rouned or inclined nose and also
with a notch, N, so that on its being inserted into the recess the bolt is depressed
until the wedge or fillet has been forced in far enough for the bolt to shoot into
the notch, when the lamp becomes securely locked. In order to open the lamp
the bolt is depressed by air or other equivalent fluid pressure as previously
described, the wedge or fillet can then be withdrawn and the two parts of the
lamp unscrewed and separated.
As a further provision to prevent the lock bolt being tampered with, I provide
a small projecting flange, 0, on the front of the wedge or fillet L so as to prevent
the insertion of any instrument to actuate the bolt.
As a further modification, in some cases I so arrange and proportion an auto-
matic lock as herein described, that it can be actuated by atmospheric pressure.
To effect this I place an air port below as well as above the piston in the cylinder
and by exhausting the air from the underside of the piston, it will be depressed.
the unlocking thus being effected by suction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim, is:-
1. In a lock specially applicable to a miners safety lamp the arrangement and
combination of parts and appliances, comprising a cylinder, A, with a piston, C,
piston rod, D, bolt, F, and spring, E, by means of which the said lock is made
self acting in its closing or locking action and which can only be opened or
unlocked by means of air or other equivalent fluid being forced into the cylinder
of the lock through a port or passage, H, in the manner and for the purposes
substantially as herein described and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, of the
accompanying sheet of drawings.
2. The modified arrangement whereby the bolt of the lock is actuated in the
closing or locking action by means of a loose wedge or fillet, L, being inserted

page_text: into a radial recess M, formed in the flange of the upper frame, B', of the lamp,
in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein described and illus-
trated in Figs. 4, 5, 6 & 7, of the accompanying sheet of drawings.
R. HEBER RADFORD,
Agent for the Applicant.