IMPROVEMENTS IN MINERS' LAMPS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Eley, of Gresley Freehold, Burton-on-
Trent, in the County of Derby, Mining Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MINERS' LAMPS."
Sealed the 18th May 1872, and dated the 24th November 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Eley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th November 1871.
I, ALFRED ELEY, of Gresley Freehold, Burton-on-Trent, in the County
of Derby, Mining Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MINERS' LAMPS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has mainly for its object the more regular consumption
of the oil and the saving of height in the lamp. A reflector for the flame
is formed, and a guard or damper for the protection of the gauze at its
upper part is provided.
In carrying out my Invention I construct an oil vessel consisting of a
small circular base sufficiently large to hold the wick and a small

page_text: quantity of oil. This is placed inside of the lower part of the ordinary
framework of a lamp (say for instance a Clanny safety lamp), and con-
nected therewith; that is to say, with the small circular oil vessel is a
semi-annular vessel on the outside of the lamp or framework, fitted on
so as to leave about one-eighth of an inch of space between the oil vessel
and glass which extends a little higher than the flame. The portion of
this vessel nearest the glass and next the light is left bright to reflect it.
The vessel also prevents the draught in the Davy lamp as the case may
be. The passage of the oil and the level of it in the wick reservoir are
regulated by the height of the connection between the two vessels.
The guard or damper is a round, domed, or flat piece of metal, placed
or supported about to inch from the upper part of the gauze and
about of an inch more or less from the annular or tubular part of
the gauze.
This gauze or damper may be supported on or by two or
more wires connected with the gauze ring, or in any other convenient.
manner. This damper is for safety lamps, but the oil vessel is for any
kind of miners' lamps for suspension, and causes the last portion of oil
to burn as brightly as the first.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Eley in the Great Seal Patent Office on 2
the 24th May 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
ELEY, of Gresley Freehold, Burton-on-Trent, in the County of Derby,
Mining Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 2
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Alfred Eley, Her special
licence that I, the said Alfred Eley, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred Eley, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term

page_text: therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MINERS' LAMPS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Alfred Eley, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Eley, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
My Invention has for its object the more regular consumption of the
oil, the saving of height in the lamp, and at the same time forming a
reflector for the flame; also a guard or damper for the protection of the
gauze at its upper part.
In carrying out my Invention I construct an oil vessel consisting of a
small circular base sufficiently large to hold the wick and a small
quantity of oil; this is placed inside the lower part of the ordinary frame-
work of a lamp (say a Clanny safety lamp), and connected thereto, that
is to the small circular oil vessel is a semi-annular vessel on the outside
of the lamp or framework fitted on to leave about one-eighth of inch
of space between the oil vessel and glass, which extends a little higher
than the flame; and the portion of this vessel nearest the glass (and
next to the light) is left bright to reflect it. The vessel also prevents
the draught in the Davy lamp as the case may be. The passage of the
oil and the level of it in the wick reservoir is regulated by the height of
the connection between the two vessels.
The guard or damper is a round, domed, or flat piece of metal placed
or supported about three-eighths or ½ inch from the upper part of the
gauze and about one-eighth of an inch from the annular or tubular part
5 of the gauze. This guard or damper may be supported on or by two or
more wires connected with the gauze ring, or in any other convenient

page_text: manner.
This damper is for safety lamps, but the oil vessel is for any
kind of miners' lamps (for suspension), and causes the last portion of oil
to burn as bright as the first.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, I next proceed to
explain it by reference to the Drawings annexed, Figure 1 being a 5
sectional drawing of a Clanny lamp shewn full size; the position of the
gauze is shewn by the waved lines and dots. a is the oil vessel as a
sectional elevation. Figure 2 represents a plan of the same.
The damper or guard is shewn in sectional elevation at b, and at
Figure 3 in plan. c, c, Figure 1, are the wires which support the 1
guard or damper; they are connected to the gauze ring d in any
convenient manner, the method shewn being preferred.
This guard
or damper prevents the gauze being so soon destroyed, as its position
arrests the direct action of the flame.
The oil vessel is removed for filling by first unscrewing the lock screw e 1
which frees the bottom screw f, which on being removed the said oil
vessel falls by gravitation and is filled by an oil can with a suitable
spout or with an oil pump.
Having thus particularly described the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner of performing the same, I declare that what I claim as 2
my Invention to be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is, the manufacture of safety lamps with the oil vessel so con-
structed as to form a fountain and reflector or guard to the light.
Also the application of a disc or plate to arrest the destructive action
of the flame on the gauze.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Eley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.