IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY OR MINER'S LAMPS
Year: 1886

page_text: JAMES LAIDLER 82 New Elvet in the City of Durham in the County of Durham,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
SAFETY OR MINER'S LAMPS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
My invention has for its object improvements in safety or miner's lamps and
refers more particularly to lainps of the Clanny type.
A safety or miners lamp constructed according to this invention has an external
immovable metallic case which. protects the gauze or grating of the lamp against
injury or dirt, this case terininates at its upper part in à domed top to which a
ring and handle are attached, by which the lamp is carried.
Holes are provided near the top of the case for the exit of the products of
combustion.
The interior of the case near the top is provided with a shield which is placed
before the holes for the exit of the products of combustion, so as to prevent the
inlet of strong currents of air from outside the lamp.
Air for the support of combustion is let in under the base of the case through
apertures in the brass ring to which the case is rivetted-and between a cylindrical
metallic shield which is rivetted to base of case.
The oil vessel of the lamp is provided with an extinguisher which prevents it
being removed from the lamp without extinguishing the flame.
The oil vessel is locked to the lamp case by means of one, lock only, either lead
rivet, screw, or other kind of lock.
For purposes of identification I designate this lamp my N° 8, or Combination
Lamp.
Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing illustrate in elevation and vertical
section an arrangement of safety or miners lamp according to this invention.
The base. I. of the lamp forms the reservoir for oil or spirit and carries a burner. II.
which is surrounded by the extinguisher. III.
This extinguisher. Fig. 3. has a stop A which catches stop B on the reservoir of
lamp. Fig. 5, and is by this means screwed up with it; the stops being just of
sufficient thickness to clear each other when the reservoir is removed thus leaving
the extinguisher screwed up into its place-and by this means the use of springs
or bolts is avoided.

page_text: The bottom ring IV, the glass ring V, the glass cylinder VI and poles VII are
the same as now used in lamps of the Clanny type.
Fig. 4 shews the plan of ring VIII to which the metallic case is rivetted at
ears C and the poles at D, having apertures for the inlet of air at E.
The upper part of the lamp consists of a metallic case IX having air holes F
near the top for the exit of the products of combustion.
These holes F are protected on the inside by a metallic shield XI to prevent the
inlet of strong currents of air.
At the base of case IX is rivetted a shield XII to prevent the air for the support.
of combustion entering the lamp too low down.
Inside of the outer case IX are two gauze cylinders XIV and XV closed at their
upper end and kept into their place by glass cylinder VI.
A lamp constructed according to this invention possesses several advantages over
the Clanny and other lamps of that type.
Amongst these advantages may be mentioned the following:-(1.) The lamp
does not become extinguished if placed in an inclined attitude, even if it be in an
ascending current of air; (2) It will not communicate explosion to the external
atmosphere if placed in a gaseous current of great velocity (3) The case IX being
a fixture it cannot be removed by a miner to tamper with gauzes which can easily
be examined by a competent person before placing the lamp in the hands of a
miner as they draw out from the bottom of the lamp after the glass has been
removed. (4) The oil reservoir I cannot be removed from the lamp if it be
unlocked without extinguishing the light.
In place of inner wire gauze cylinder XV a metallic cylinder of the same shape
may be used, perforated near the bottom by a row of large openings and closed in
at the top by a gauze or perforated cap. This cylinder may be also used in addition
to, and in combination with gauzes XIV and XV.
Having now particularly described the nature of my said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed I declare what I claim is providing a safety
or miners lamp with the following novelties and improvements:—
(1.) The simplicity of the extinguisher having no springs or bolts to get out of
order, and its certainty of action whether the bottom of lamp is screwed up to its
place or not.
(2.) In having a metallic cylinder surrounded by one or more gauzes, which
cylinder is perforated with large holes near the bottom and covered with gauze or
perforated cap.
(3.) In arrangement of ring and shield for the inlet of air to support combustion.
In witness whereof I the said James Laidler have hereunto set my hand and
seal this twenty fourth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand