Improvements in and about Miners' Safety Lamps.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in and about Miners' Safety Lamps.
I, ANTHONY JONES, of 38, Side, Newcastle upon Tyne, Safety Lamp Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The objects of my invention are.
First. In miners' safety lamps of the Marsaut, Museler, or bonnetted Clanny
type, wherein the illumination from the wick flame passes through the glass
surrounding the wick flame-the impossibility of putting such types of lamps
together, unless all parts are there, in their proper position.
Second. That the isolation or flame-proof joints of the safety lamp do not
depend on the good fit of a male and female screw or screws, which screws are
the parts of a lamp which wear first, and become unsafe.
Third. To reduce the number of working parts.
Fourth. That the lamp will give a better light than those now in use on
account of the oil not having to travel so far to the burning point of the wick.
Fifth. That in the manner of locking, it is not necessary to have any outward
projection on the lamp.
Sixth. That the lamp will be lighter in weight and thus more convenient in
low places in the mine.
The oil vessel or bottom is made of cast brass or steel pressed into the requisite
shape, or other suitable metal, and has on it, or in it, a recess to receive a glass
cylinder, which cylinder surrounds the wick-flame. The said oil vessel or bottom
is connected to a ring about the middle of the body of the lamp, by suitable
This ring has a screw
pillars or rods, rivetted and screwed at ends, or vice versa.
or thread on it, hereinafter called the top ring, into, or on to, this said top ring
screws another ring, which has holes or slots for the admission of air to support
combustion and also a suitable hole in it to fit the gauze or gauzes of the lamp.
Fastened to this ring, hereinafter called the bonnet ring is the shield or
bonnet surrounding and protecting the gauze or gauzes.
At or near the top of said shield or bonnet are suitable outlets for the products
of combustion. Upon the gauze or gauzes I place rings which are made of
brass, copper, steel, vulcanized fibre, or other suitable hard substance, and which
rings have ledges on them, or are so built up, that each ring on the gauze or
gauzes, is deeper or thicker than the depth, or thickness of the said screw, or
thread upon bonnet ring or top ring. The aforesaid rods or pillars which attach
the top ring to oil vessel or bottom are made the proper length for the number of
gauzes required. Thus when the glass cylinder is placed in the lamp, with
asbestos or other washers at top and bottom, should that lamp be made for one
gauze, and that gauze not be in its place or missing, the bonnet ring will screw
through the top ring, because the gauze with aforesaid ring on it is not in its
place to fill up the distance between top of glass cylinder and bonnet ring.
If the lamp is made for two or more gauzes, which gauzes are one inside the
cther, and either or both of these not in proper position, or missing, then the
bonnet ring will screw through the top ring and thus the lamp will not fit
together.

page_text: In lamps of the Museler type on the tube or gauze diaphagram, I place a ring
or rings to act in the same way as on a gauze, and thus not allow the lamp to be
put together if said tube is not in proper position or missing. When the lamp is
made in aforesaid manner the joints at top and bottom of glass cylinder and
gauze or gauzes; are made by bonnet ring screwing in to top ring and bonnet
ring pressing or screwing against rings on gauze or gauzes to glass cylinder, and
glass cylinder to oil vessel or bottom. Thus the joints are independent of screw
on top ring and bonnet ring being flametight in an explosive or inflamable
mixture. The hole in bonnet ring is made to fit the gauze, but in no case will
the gauze or gauzes with my new rings on, or glass cylinder pass through it.
In using a screw or bolt for locking the bonnet ring to top ring, I cast or fit a
solid piece in bonnet ring at one side and this is drilled, recessed and tapped for
locking bolt to screw in, and when the key is inserted and turned round, locking
bolt screws against a ledge on top ring and thus prevents bonnet ring being
moved. When using a lead rivet for locking the lamp I have a hasp or hanging
piece attached to bonnet ring and when bonnet ring is screwed up tight said hasp
passes over one of the pillars or rods and lead rivoi is passed through the holes
in the hasp and rivetted or sealed and thus prevents bonnet ring being screwed out.
In miners' safety lamps of the ordinary kind, where the gauze or gauzes are
placed in the lamp from the bottom of the lamp, and then glass cylinder is
placed in to support the gauze or gauzes, and said glass cylinder is supported or
screwed up with a ring or glass-holder, or with the lamp bottom or oil vessel,
when said gauze or gauzes have these new rings placed or fixed on them, should
one or both gauzes be not in their proper position or missing, the ring glass-
holder oil vessel or bottom controlling or supporting such gauze, gauzes and
glass cylinder, will not screw up into their proper position and tighten the parts
together.
Doted this Wuntaanth 1
C
1 1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and about Miners' Safety Lamps.
I, ANTHONY JONES, of 38, Side, in the City and County of Newcastle-on-Tyne,
Safety Lamp Manufacturer, 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 relates to miners' safety lamps of the Marsaut, Museler and
bonneted Clanny type, and though it is directed as a whole to the entire construc-
tion of these lamps with the primary object of preventing them being considered
as ready for use unless the gauze or gauzes is or are in proper position, yet it is
also in part applicable for attaining the same end in existing lamps of ordinary
construction without necessitating their material alteration.
In order that my invention may be fully understood and carried into practice.
I will describe it with the aid of the accompanying drawings to which I will
refer as occasion arises; all the figures are in central vertical section excepting
Fig. 2, which is a plan of a detail.
Fig. 1 illustrates a Marsaut lamp embodying all my improvements with the
components in their normal working position, and in it A is the oil vessel or
bottom recessed at a to receive the usual glass cylinder B and provided for filling
and the reception and retention of the wick tube C and pricker D in the ordinary
way. E, E are pillars or rods uniting, by screwing, riveting or otherwise, the
vessel A to the superposed ring F (hereinafter called the top-ring) screwed

page_text: internally to permit the attachment and detachment of the correspondingly
threaded ring G whereto is secured the bonnet or shield H surrounding and
protecting the gauzes I, J. In the ring G (designated subsequently as the bonnet-
ng) slots or holes g, g are made for the purpose of admitting air to support
combustion, the products arising therefrom finding egress at the outlets h, h in
the bonnet H. To the mouths or open ends of the gauzes I, J there are connected,
in any suitable fashion, the respective rings i, j shaped or built up as shown
in the said figure and Fig. 3, or in Figs. 4 and 5, or in Figs. 6 and 7. For the
sake of clearness, Figs. 3, 4 and 6 illustrate the rings apart, whereas the others
show them in contact, the working condition. Each ring, as in Figs. 1 and 3, or
the lower portion of it, as in Figs. 4 and 5 and Figs. 6 and 7, is made of a greater
depth or thickness than the corresponding dimension of the screw upon the top-
ring For bonnet-ring G and of an external diameter throughout, Figs. 1, 3, or
at the largest part Figs. 4, 5 and Figs. 6, 7 exceeding the internal diameter
of the bonnet-ring G or the hole therein establishing communication between
the bonnet H and the cylinder B whose external diameter too is made greater
than such opening, though slightly less than that of the ring i, or j in which
it fits for use. Further, the ring i, Figs. 1, 3 and Figs. 6, 7 and also the ring j
is built up or formed in such manner that the distance apart of its supporting,
resting or bearing surfaces exceeds the depth of the said screw. By this
arrangement, the distance between the upper extremity of the cylinder B and the
opening into the bonnet H is much greater than is the practice in existing lamps,
while the cylinder B cannot enter or pass into the bonnet nor either of the
rings i, j wholly.
According to Figs. 1 and 3, the ring i is made quite plain but of a sufficient
thickness to enable its upper and lower edges serving as ledges i¹, respectively.
The ring is shaped or built up as shown so that the ledge results at its upper
end and the ledge about its middle, which ledge, with the adjacent vertical
portion, constitutes the seat for the cylinder B. When the gauzes are placed
in proper position, the ledge abuts or rests on the ledge of the ring j in
turn supported by its ledge ja upon the top of the cylinder B, as represented in
Fig. 1.
In the form of rings illustrated by Figs. 4 and 5, the ring i is constructed with
a medial ledge only whose external face and internal face 2 effect the same
purpose as the ledges, 2 in the preceding arrangement. The ring j is furnished
with ledges j, j as before, though differently situated, the ledge j being medial
and the ledge at the bottom of the ring; the ledge is the only part of this
ring having a diameter greater than the opening into the bonnet. The ring i is
made slightly larger in diameter than the ring j so that when the gauzes I, J are
assembled it fits thereover and rests with its face or ledge on the ledge ³,
whilst the ledge bears upon the cylinder B for which a seat is obtained by the
said ledge and the portion of the ring i below it as shown clearly in Fig. 5.
By the modified construction represented in Figs. 6 and 7, with the exception
that the ring is of a larger diameter than the ring j, both rings are alike, each
having a medial exterior and interior ledge-, in the one and j¹, 2 in the
other the ledges, being conveniently produced as shown by a packing of
asbestos, though, of course, they may be obtained in other ways. The ledge
assists in forming the seat for the cylinder B as in the first design. When the
gauze is fitted inside the gauze I, the ring i passes over the ring ; until the
ledge rests upon the ledge j¹ of the ring supported upon the top of the
cylinder B with its ledge in contact therewith as shown in Fig. 7, which will
be more particularly referred to hereafter.
In all these forms of rings, the bottom face of the bonnet-ring G co-acts with
the ledge as will be presently explained, and at the seat for the top of the
cylinder B, as well as for the bottom, an asbestos or other packing ring is disposed
as customary, excepting in the design shown in Figs. 6 and 7 when the ledge
obtained by such packing.
is

page_text: Assuming the bonnet H is disconnected from the top-ring F, the gauzes I, J
displaced from the cylinder B and from each other, and the said cylinder
removed from the recess a, then to put them together for use, having of course
first charged the vessel A. and trimmed and lit the wick, through the top-ring F,
I insert the cylinder B into its seat at a. Next I place the gauze I over the
gauze J which is then dropped upon the upper extremity of the cylinder B, the
rings, co-acting as already explained. Finally I screw the bonnet-ring G
into the top-ring F whereby the face of the former comes into contact with the
ledge and presses the vessel A, cylinder B and the rings i, j tightly together,
in which position the lamp is locked by preventing the rotation of the bonnet-
ring G and so made ready for service. For effecting the locking, I may adopt the
device illustrated in Fig. 1. This comprises a hasp or link K having eyes at one
end and pivoted at the other to a headed stem located in, and suspended from
the margins of, any one of the holes g, g which may be appropriate to ensure
that, when the parts of the lamp are properly assembled, the hasp K can be
brought opposite, and turned to embrace, a pillar E whereto it is connected by
a lead rivet passed through the eyes and riveted or sealed, thus hindering the
operation of the bonnet-ring G. Another suitable locking contrivance consists,
as shown in Fig. 2, of a short solid piece L cast or fitted at the inside of the
bonnet-ring G through both of which a hole is drilled and tapped to receive a
key-operated screw bolt which, when in the operative position, engages the
inside of the top-ring F thereby neutralizing any attempt to unscrew the bonnet-
ring G. These two types of lock form no part of my present invention; I have
only described them. io show how the necessary requirement can be simply met.
Other kinds may be adopted.
From the foregoing it will be obvious that in a lamp constructed and arranged
as set forth, it is absolutely impossible to give it out for use in an unsafe or
incomplete condition, since, if one gauze is, or both are, missing, the bonnet-
ring G will screw through the top-ring F beyond its normal position because the
intervening space is not filled up perfectly, thereby drawing attention to the
deficiency. In addition to this important advantage, another great benefit accrues
from this construction inasmuch as the isolation or flame-proof joints at the top
and bottom of the cylinder B do not depend upon the good fit of a screw liable
to wear and become unsafe, as in existing lamps, where the oil vessel is screwed
into the superstructure of the lamp to assist in retaining, or retain, the parts in
proper position, for, according to my invention, the oil vessel A plays no part in
this at all, the cylinder B being securely held between same and the gauze
the bonnet-ring G, as previously explained, and even should the screw on the
bonnet-ring G or top-ring F become very defective, yet so long as there is a fair
grip thereat, the lamp will be safe. Further, the number of working parts is
reduced and weight is minimised with the accompanying benefit when working
in low places, while the lamp will give a better light than lamps now in use as the
oil has not to travel so far to the burning point of the wick due to the small depth
of the oil vessel A rendered possible by abolishing the necessity to have it
removable. Again, a mode of locking may be employed that does away with the
comparatively large heavy projection of the ordinary lamp.
by
In the preceding, I have described a lamp comprising a particular construction
of body or frame in combination with a special arangement of gauze rings,
which is what I recommend to ensure the maximum of safety, but, as will be evident,
the improved body is applicable for use in conjunction with ordinary gauze
rings, the advantages specified also accruing thereto, excepting that which it
is my chief object to attain, though in some mines this advantage is not very
essential.
I will now describe Fig. 7, wherein the application of my improved gauze
rings i, j to a Marsaut lamp of a usual construction is exemplified, all the parts
being in the working position. A¹ designates the oil vessel, B¹ the glass cylinder,
b its ring or holder, CT the wick tube, D¹ the pricker, E, E¹ the pillars connecting

page_text: the understructure and superstructure of the lamp, F, G a ring occupying the
same position as the rings F, G in Fig. 1 though differently disposed, H₁ the
bonnet, g', g the air inlets and h¹, h' the outlets for the products of combustion.
All these parts are arranged in the well known manner. The explanation, already
given, of the parts marked I, J, i, j, i¹, j¹, 22, applies here as well, excepting
that the ledge i does not co-operate with a movable face, but with a fixed one f
on (or in a recess in) the ring F, G, while the depth or thickness of the rings i, j
or the lower parts thereof, as well as the distance apart of the bearing surfaces
of the ring j, and the ring i aforesaid, is made greater than the depth or thickness
of the glass holder b, which, as will be readily understood, is the equivalent of
the bonnet-ring G aforementioned.
In fitting the lamp for use, the gauze J is inserted in the gauze I, which is
dropped from the bottom of the lamp and supported by the ring ledge upon the
face f. Next the cylinder B' is dropped to rest in its seat at the ring j where it
is firmly held on screwing up the holder b, the lamp being ready for use on
fitting the vessel A¹ and locking in the customary manner. Thus it will be seen
that unless both gauzes I, J and cylinder 13 are properly assembled, the holder
or ring will screw beyond the ordinary position, consequently directing attention
to the defect at once and obtaining a benefit very simply, since the only alteration
that is required in the body of framework is to replace the original pillars by,
longer pillars E¹, E', which may be done very cheaply.
In applying the rings i, j to lamps of the same kind as shown in Fig. 7, but
where the glass and gauzes are tightened up by screwing the oil vessel into
position (that is without a ring or holder b) I replace the pillars by longer pillars
so as to obtain a space between the top of the glass cylinder and the opening into
the bonnet the same as shown in the aforementioned figure and greater than at
present, whereby, if one gauze is, or both are, omitted, the error will be apparent,
since the said space will not be properly filled by the rings and the parts will not
be screwed up tight.
According to my invention, in lamps of the Museler type, I fix on the gauze
diaphragm surrounding the tube or chimney the ring and on the gauze encircling
same the ringi, both acting as before described, either with a body constructed
as in Fig. 1, or in an ordinary one altered to suit as mentioned. In a bonneted
Clanny lamp, the ring j, shown in Figs. 1 and 3, or Figs. 6 and 7, or the ring j,
Figs. 4 and 5, modified by being formed with a vertical portion depending
from its ledge as in the other figures, is fixed to the gauze, the ledge ¹ co-acting
with the face of the bonnet-ring G, Fig. 1, or with the face f Fig. 7. In lamps
having more than two gauzes, each outer ring will be similar to the ring i. Further
description of these applications is unnecessary as they, as well as the others
referred to, will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the examples
given herein and shown in the accompanying drawings.
The length of the pillars E, E, E, E, is determined by the number of gauzes
used, that is to say, in a lamp having three gauzes they will be longer than in a
lamp having two, or shorter than the latter in a bonneted Clanny lamp or a lamp
having only one; this length is also dependent on the type of rings adopted,
being longest when the rings are constituted as in Figs. 1 and 3 and Figs. 6 and 7.
The rings i, j are manufactured in the known ways of brass, copper, steel,
vulcanized fibre or other suitable hard substance, such as asbestos compressed
into the requisite shape. The other parts are made as usual.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood
that I am aware rings have been fixed on the gauze or gauzes of miners' safety
lamps for the purpose herein before stated, and therefore I do not claim such
broadly, but what I do claim is :-
1-In miners' safety lamps of the kind referred to, the combination of the oil
vessel A, top-ring F and bonnet-ring G with the gauze or gauzes fitted with a

page_text: ring such as or rings such as i, j, all arranged substantially as and for the
purposes herein described.
2 In miners safety lamps of the kind referred to, the combination with the
gauze or grauzes of the oil vessel A, top-ring F and bonnet-ring G substantially as
set forth.
3-In miners' safety lamps of the kind referred to, the use, in combination with
a ring G and oil vessel A, or a face f and ring b, or a face f and an oil vessel such
as A', of a ring on the gauze or rings on the gauzes each being or having a part
of a depth or thickness and of a diameter substantially as set forth.
4-In miners safety lamps of the kind referred to, the rings i and j each
constructed and adapted for use substantially as herein described and shown in
Figs. 1 and 3, Figs. 4 and 5 and Figs. 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 14th day of February 1899.
For the Applicant,
PRYOR & HARVEY,
Agents, 3, St. Nicholas' Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne.