Improvements in and Connected with Portable Electric Incandescent Lamps and Batteries.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 17th July, 1889-Accepted, 17th Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with Portable Electric Incandescent
Lamps and Batteries.
I, SAMUEL WILLIAM MAQUAY of 1 Whittingstall Road, Fulham, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declaro the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention relates to that class of electric lamps which though generally applic-
able is more particularly adapted for use as a miner's lamp in which it is desirable to
have a cheap and effective primary battery capable of for operating many hours
without attention, one that can be readily recharged and is of light weight and
combined with such a battery and. incandescent light and means of detecting fire
damp.
To obtain these desirable qualities I propose to form the battery of a vulcanite or
other non-conducting casing provided with two or more internal compartments for
receiving the exciting liquid. Into each of said compartments extends an iron rod
and a carbon plate or tube, these for convenience being attached to a head or top
piece through which the electric connections are made, the carbon of one cell being
attached to the iron in that next in order, an incandescent lamp being inserted in the
circuit at one point.
The exciting solution which I prefer to use is composed of chromic acid, sulphuric
At a convenient point I propose
acid, copperas and salt, suitably diluted with water.
to arrange means of attachment for an apparatus for testing the presence of "fire damp,"
such apparatus forming the separate subject matter of an invention for which I propose
to apply for Letters Patent.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with Portable Electric Incandescent
Lamps and Batteries.
I SAMUEL WILLIAM MAQUAY of 1 Whittingstall Road, Fulham, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to that class of electric lamps which though generally
applicable is more particularly adapted for use as a miner's lamp in which it is desirable
to have a cheap and effective primary battery capable of operating for many hours
without attention, one that can be readily recharged and is of light weight and
combined with such a battery an incandescent light and means of detecting fire damp.
made to the accom-
To clearly explain the nature of my invention reference
panying drawing in which
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved lamp.
Figure 2 is a plan view of same.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the plate carrying the carbons and rods, the cover and
handle being removed.
Figure 4 is a section of the lamp on the line x-x of Figure 1.
The casing AI form of vulcanite, wood, or other non-conducting material and
preferably in three compartments or cells B C D for receiving the exciting liquid
which are separated by the partition walls a. These cells are closed by the plate E in

page_text: which are inserted the three carbon plates 6 61 62 and through which pass the iron or
zinc rods d d d². The underside of the plate E has preferably a rubber facing E' to
secure a tight closure and prevent leakage from the cells.
The rods d d d have their ends enlarged into heads which fit into a recess or
groove in the plate E as shown in Figures 1 and 3 and upon these heads
press arms e e¹ e² which both serve to make contact with them and to keep them in
place. These arms are pivoted to metal plates secured in the groove g and are adapted
to he turned aside when it is desired to insert or withdraw the rods. The plate f2
has formed on same a finger projecting over the edge of the plate E as. shown in
Figures 1 and 3 and by its side but separated and insulated from same is a second
finger .
These fingers are adapted to press upon and make contact with springs i ' (Figures 1
and 4) contained in insulated recesses in a projection on the body A, the ends of said
springs passing through the casing and to the front of a reflector H and forming a con-
venient means for attaching an incandescent lamp as shown in Figure 1. To preserve
the contact with the wires of the lamp and maintain it in place springs kk attached
near the sides of the reflector and having their ends looped round the neck of the
lamp may be employed.
The reflector H is preferably carried on a boss A¹ of the body A and said boss is
adapted to receive a metal ring L carrying a "bull's eye" glass as shown.
To protect the connections on the plate E a cover M is employed to which a handle may
be attached. This cover is secured to the plate E by the nuts on screws which pass
through keyhole shaped slots in same and are then screwed down. When it is desired
to remove the cover M to examine the connections or to replace the metal rods, the
screws are loosened and the cover partly turned so that the heads of the screws will
pass through the enlarged part of the openings when the nut N is removed. This nut
serves to secure the cover M to the body A and is screwed onto a rod n passing into
the body for this purpose.
When this nut is removed the cover M may be lifted off
to expose the connections or if the nuts on the screws are in the position shown in
Figure 2 both the cover M and plate E may be lifted off, together with the carbons
and zincs for refilling the cells with liquid.
For the connections a wire or strip p embedded in the plate E joins the finger h¹
to the carbon in the cell B while the rod d in said cell is connected through the
arm e plate and a similar wire or strip p¹ with the carbon of the cell C, the rod d'
of said cell being similarly joined through arm e¹ plate and connection with the.
carbon b² in cell D, the rod d² of which is connected through arm e² with the plate f
and finger h the current between the two fingers passing through the lamp by the
connections i i¹.
When
There are many exciting liquids which I may employ to charge the cells. I have
found a solution of about 1 lb. chromic acid, 1 lb. bichromate of soda, 2 lbs. sulphuric
acid, and 1 oz. salt with 9 pints of water to answer well when using. zinc rods.
iron rods are employed the exciting solution may be composed of the following pro-
portions of materials:-1 lb. chromic acid, oz. copperas, 1 lb. sulphuric acid,
lb. hydrochloric acid, 1 oz. salt, and 8 pints of water.
At a convenient point on the apparatus I propose to arrange means of attachment
for an apparatus for testing the presence of "fire damp" in mines, such apparatus
forming the subject matter of a separate invention for which I propose to apply for
Letters Patent.
It will be evident that my invention is not confined to lamps for miners' use as ]
may arrange same for table, night, and other purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is
1st. The improved means of connecting the iron or zinc elements to the head or
closing plate of primary batteries substantially as described and as illustrated in the
¨accompanying drawings.

page_text: 2nd. The improved means for connecting the elements to each other and for
including the electric lamp in the circuit substantially as described and as illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
3rd. The general arrangement and combination of parts forming the improved
combined primary electric battery and electric lamp the said parts being arranged
substantially as described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 17th day of July 1880
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.