Improvements in Miners' Safety Lamps.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 29th June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 29th Mar., 1900-Accepted, 12th May, 1900
Improvements in Miners' Safety Lamps.
1, ANDREW HOWAT, of 8, Clothorn Road, Didsbury, near Manchester, Engi-
neer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
In miners safety lamps as at present made it is difficult to burn parafin or
like volatile oil owing to the tendency of the oil, by reason of the heat of the
lamp, to rapidly vaporise and pass up into the flame chamber in excessive quan-
tities, which causes the light to smoke, or to be extinguished, or to give periodic
flashes.
The purpose of this invention is to overcome the aforesaid objections, and to
render the use of parafin or like oil a practical possibility, which, apart from
its economic advantages, gives, under favourable conditions, an exceedingly
good light.
In accordance with my invention I isolate the flame chamber, or that part
immediately below the wick burner, from the oil reservoir, either by raising the
said chamber or part clear of the reservoir, or lowering the reservoir from the
flame chamber, or by otherwise varying the lamp to produce a cavity or air space
of say an inch or so between the said chamber or part and reservoir. To main-
tain such air space and support the upper parts of the lamp I introduce studs,
stays or other devices which give the required rigidity with a minimum of heat
conducting area.
The lower supporting ring of the lamp glass is closed in, or is made as a com-
plete plate to enclose the flame chamber, and the opening in the oil reservoir
is covered by another plate. The studs aforesaid for supporting the flame cham-
ber are connected to the said plates and produce what may be termed a lantern-
wheel structure.
Through such plates the wick tube passes from the oil reservoir into the flame
chamber, and the upper end of the wick tube acts as a burner around which I
place a sleeve, capable of sliding up and down and of regulating the light. The
adjustment of such sleeve from the exterior of the lamp is effected by a fine wire
rod, passing through a close fitting gas tight tube in or on the ring plate afore-
said and above such tube is fitted with a small screw which under the moving of
the rod rotates, but does not travel endwise, and by engaging with a screwed
eye on the sleeve travels the sleeve up and down. A small button or milled
edged disc below the plate facilitates the turning of the rod and screw.
To the plate which closes the oil reservoir I attach a small tube which opens
into the interior of the oil reservoir and extends, by preference into close prox-
imity with the said upper ring plate and being open to the atmosphere con-
stitutes a vent for any vaporised oil.
This last named feature and the isolation of the flame chamber from the oil
reservoir whereby an air space is formed between them and air allowed to
circulate in such space, together with a much longer wick tube with the sides
of such tube exposed to the cooling effect of the air circulating through the said

page_text: space, permit of the use of parafin or like oil with perfect freedom from any of
the drawbacks aforesaid, and render its use a practical success.
Various means for holding the flame chamber away from the oil reservoir
may be employed. The wick tube itself for example may be sufficient, or the
lamp frame may be utilised. To provide for the further isolation of the flame
chamber from the oil reservoir I may introduce heat non-conducting material
between the reservoir closing plate and the reservoir and make the asbestos ring
upon which the glass usually rests cover the entire plate.
I, ANDREW HOWAT, of S, Clothorn Road, Didsbury, near Manchester, Engi-
neer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner ine
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
In miners' safety lamps as at present made it is difficult to burn paraffin or
like volatile oils owing to the tendency of the oil by reason of the heat of the
lamp to rapidly vaporise and pass up into the flame chamber in excessive quan-
tities which causes the light to smoke or to be extinguished or to give periodic
flashes.
The purpose of this invention is to overcome the aforesaid objections and to
render the use of paraffin or like oil a practical possibility which, apart from
its economic advantages gives under favourable conditions an exceedingly
good light.
In accordance with my invention I isolate the flame chamber or that part
immed.ately below the wick burner from the oil reservoir either raising the
said chamber or part clear of the reservoir or lowering the reservoir from the
flame chamber or by otherwise varying the lamp to produce a cavity or air space
of say an inch or so between the said chamber part and the reservoir. To main-
tain such air space and support the upper parts of the lamp I introduce studs,
stays or other devices which give the required rigidity with a minimum of heat
conducting area.
The lower supporting ring of the lamp glass is closed in or is made as a com-
plete plate to enclose the flame chamber and the opening in the oil reservoir is
covered by another plate. Through such plates the wick tube passes from the
oil reservoir into the flame chamber and upper end of the wick tube acts as a
burner.
To the plate which closes the oil reservoir I attach a small tube which opens
into the interior of the oil reservoir and extends by preference into close prox-
imity with the said upper ring plate and being open to the atmosphere con-
stitutes a vent for any vaporised oil.
Various means for holding the flame chamber away from the oil reservoir
may be employed. The wick tube itself for example may be sufficient or the
lamp frame may be utilised. To provide for the further isolation of the flame
chamber from the oil reservoir I may introduce heat' non-conducting material

page_text: between the reservoir closing plate and the reservoir and make the asbestos ring
upon which the glass usually rests cover the entire plate.
To permit of my invention being clearly understood I have hereunto appended
a sheet of drawings and will now proceed to describe the same with the aid of the
various figures and letters of reference marked thereon.
Fig. 1 illustrates an exterior elevation, and Fig 2 a sectional elevation of my
improved miners safety lamp.
Fig. illustrates a sectional plan taken on the line ab, Fig. 2.
(A) is the oil reservoir, (B) the lamp glass (C) the bonnet and (D) the frame
of the lamp. (E) is the usual upper ring and (F) the lower ring for holding
the lamp glass, but the latter instead of being directly on top of the reservoir (A)
is raised clear of the reservoir as illustrated and instead of having an opening
through it as heretofore such opening is closed or the ring is made in the form
of a disc or plate with upturned edge as illustrated. This ring plate is sup-
ported and held clear of the oil reservoir by a series of studs (G) secured to its
underside and to the upper face of the ring (H) forming part of the lamp
frame (1).
To allow for the increased distance between the upper ring (E) and the ring (H)
the rods (D) are lengthened accordingly.
Through the said ring plate (F) a wick tube (1) passes which also passes
through the plate or cap (J) of the oil reservoir and extends by preference to a
point in close proximity to the floor of the oil space as illustrated.
The upper end of the wick tube forms the burner of the lamp and where such
tube passes through the plate (F) and cap (J) it is soldered or made a close fit,
so as to assist in stiffening the connection between the plate and cap, and to
The wick is
prevent air getting into the flame chamber in that direction.
adjusted by the aid of a small pinion (K) spindle (L) and milled nut or wheel (M)
the former being enclosed and working within a small casing (N).
In the foregoing manner I provide for the isolation of the oil reservoir from
the flame chamber and without interfering with, or increasing the ordinary
manipulations that are required for taking the lamp to pieces for cleaning pur-
poses, or putting them together again, and by the creation of an air space
between the oil reservoir and flame chamber which ensures of the oil or spirit
in the oil reservoir being kept cool, I permit of the successful burning of paraffin
which besides being cheaper than the ordinary oils gives a much better light.
To further ensure of the successful burning of paraffin I provide a small vent
tube (S) which at one end opens into the oil chamber (A) and at the other end
opens into the air space immediately below the plate (F). This small tube
allows for the escape of any vapour given off by the spirit with an increase of tem-
perature or by natural evaporation. The lamp frame is secured to the base by
a hinged yoke (P) taking over a snug (Q) and by a rivet through the hole (R).
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 miners' safety lamp, the construction and combination of parts, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and illustrated on the accom-
panying drawings.
2: In a miners' safety lamp, a ring plate forming the support of the lamp
glass and for closing in the lower part of the flame chamber, an oil reservoir
closed by another plate or cap, a wick tube passing through both plates, and said
ring plate for the lamp glass held away from the reservoir by studs, distance
pieces or other suitable means, substantially as and for the purposes herein set
forth.
3: In a miners' safety lamp, an oil reservoir, a plate or cap for closing the
same, a ring plate for supporting the lamp glass, means for holding the said

page_text: plate clear of the oil reservoir, and producing an air space between, and a small
vent tube opening into the oil chamber and terminating directly below the ring
plate, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
1000
Dated THIS OVE
a
ANDREW HOWATT.
By John G. Wilson & Co., Fels. I.P.A.,
55, Market Street, Manchester, Agents.
ANDREW HOWATT.
By John G. Wilson & Co., Fels. I.P.A.,
55, Market Street, Manchester, Agents.