in miners' safety lamps
Year: 1887

page_text: We, EDWARD PATTERSON, of 125 Northumberland Terrace, Everton, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Machinist, and WILLIAM HENRY STRYPE, of 41, Norwood
Grove, Liverpool, aforesaid, Accountant, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in miners' safety lamps. In the specification
of our application for Letters Patent No. 14385 of 1886, we described or referred to
a construction of such lamps in which two concentric glass tubes were employed.
According to our present invention we modify the construction using only one thick
glass tube and causing air for supporting combustion to pass downward through
suitable tube stays that carry a flanged ring formed to screw on to an oil cistern,
and a perforated ring carrying one or more shields.
These air tube stays project upward inside the outer shield to within a short
distance of another ring so arranged that the top or cap of the lamp may be screwed
to it. This top or cap may be removed for taking out and cleaning a perforated disc,
but when the lamp and cap are screwed in place the latter may be automatically
locked by a suitable bolt actuated by screwing the body of the lamp on to the oil
cistern. The air to support combustion passes upward within the outer shield and an
inner concentric shield thence downward through the air pipe stays into a space
between the oil well and a perforated plate and afterwards upward through a dome
to the flame.
The perforated plate may conveniently be screwed into the ring flange and is so
arranged that on removing it therefrom the lamp glass and chimney may be taken
out for cleaning or repair.
The chimney for carrying off the carbonic acid gas and products of combustion is
or may be formed of a number of small tubes, their lower and upper ends taking into
tube plates. Above the upper tube plate is a perforated plate placed at some distance
above the ends of the tubes. If required a tube encircling the whole of the chimney
tubes may be fixed to the two tube plates.
To automatically extinguish the flame if the miner attempts to unscrew the upper
portion of the lamp from the oil cistern a somewhat similar extinguisher may be

page_text: employed to the one described in our former specification above referred to, it varying
in its action by having not only a tube encircling the lighted wick but also a plate
so arranged that it shall at once automatically stop the supply of air to the flame."
It may consist of a circular plate or disc (not perforated) attached to a tube which
encircles the wick tube and passes through the before mentioned perforated bottom and
disc shield. It may have one or more projections around its edge for taking into
catches formed on the oil cistern, with which also engage one or more suitably formed
pins secured to either the said perforated plate or the flanged ring.
They are capable of passing over the projections on the extinguisher plate whilst
the lamp body is being screwed to the oil cistern but as soon as it is partially unscrewed
for removing same and exposing the naked light the said pins release the extinguisher
plate and tube from the catches, thus they are free to be raised by a compressed
spiral spring and immediately extinguish the flame by stopping the supply of air and
encircling the flame. Thus it will be understood that should the miner wish to
extinguish bis light for any purpose he may immediately do so by partially
unscrewing the oil cistern from the lamp.
The apparatus for locking the top or covor of the lamp may be varied to suit the
different makes of miners safety lamps without departure from the essential features
of our invention.
The upper part of the lamp is or may be of conoidal form.

page_text: We, EDWARD PATTERSON, late of 125 Northumberland Terrace, Everton, but now
of 69 Dorset Road, Tue Brook, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Machinist,
and WILLIAM HENRY STRYPE, of 41 Norwood Grove, Liverpool, aforesaid, Accountant,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in miners' safety lamps.
In our specification No. 14,385 of 1886, we described or referred to a construction
of such lamps in which two concentric glass tubes were employed.
According to our present invention we modify the construction using only one
thick glass tube and causing the air for supporting combustion to pass downwards
through suitable tube stays that carry a flanged ring forward to screw on to an oil
cistern, and a perforated ring carrying one or more shields.
These air tube stays project upward inside the outer shield to within a short distance
of another ring, so arranged that the top or cap of the lamp may be secured to it.
This top or cap may be removed for taking out and cleaning a perforated disc,
but when the lamp and cap are screwed in place, the latter may be automatically
locked by a suitable bolt actuated by screwing the body of the lamp on to the oil
cistern.
The air to support combustion passes upwards within the outer shield and an inner
centre shield thence downward through the air pipe stays into a space between the
oil well, and a perforated plate and afterwards upward through a dome to the flame.
The perforated plate may conveniently be screwed into the ring flange, and is so
arranged that on removing therefrom the lamp glass and chimney may be taken out
for cleaning or repair.
The chimney for carrying off the carbonic acid gas and products of combustion is
or may be formed of a number of small tubes, their lower and upper ends taking into
tube plates.
Above the upper tube plate is a perforated plate placed at some distance above the
ends of the tubes. If required a tube encircling the whole of the chimney tubes may
be fixed to the two tube plates.
To automatically extinguish the flame if the miner attempts to unscrew the upper
portion of the lamp from the oil cistern a somewhat similar extinguisher may be
employed to the one described in our former specification above referred to, but
having in addition to a tube encircling the lighted wick a plate so arranged that it can
at once automatically stop the supply of air to the flame.
It may consist of a circular plate or disc (not perforated) attached to a tube which
encircles the wick tube and passes through the perforated bottom and dished shield
above referred to.
It may have one or more projections at its edge for taking into catches formed on
the oil cistern, with which also engage one or more suitably formed pins secured to
either the said perforated plate or the flanged ring.
They are capable of passing over the projections on the extinguisher plate whilst
the lamp body is being screwed to the oil cistern, but as soon as it is partially unscrewed
for removing same and exposing the naked light the said pins release the extinguisher
plate and tube from the catches, thus they are free to be raised by a compressed spiral

page_text: spring and immediately extinguish the flame by stopping the supply of air and
encircling the flame.
It will be understood that should the miner wish to extinguish his light for any
purpose he may immediately do so by partially unscrewing the oil cistern from the
lamp.
The apparatus for locking the top or cover of the lamp may be varied to suit the
different makes of miners safety lamps without departure from the essential features
of our invention.
The upper part of the lamp is or may be of conoidal form.
Referring to the accompanying illustrated drawings Fig. 1. represents an improved
miners lamp according to this invention in vertical section, the various parts being in
their normal positions that is in the position they occupy when the lamp is or may be
lighted. Fig. 2. is also a vertical section which however shews the oil cistern
unscrewed from the body of the lamp to such an extent that the extinguishing tube
and plate have been forced up by the released spiral spring and have extinguished the
flame, and the screwed cap or cover has been unlocked so as to permit of its removal
if required.
Fig. 3. is a plan or top view of the oil cistern shewing the extinguishing tube and
plate released, that is, the arms or projections not caught beneath the latches. Fig. 4,
is a sectional plan on line 6 & 7. of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5. is a similar view to Fig. 4. on line 8. 9. of Fig. 1.
A circular oil cistern A. is employed similar to that described in our former
specification No. 14,385, of 1886.
According to our present invention however we employ only one glass tube B, and
we cause the air to support combustion to pass downwards through hollow stays or
air tubes C. C. whoso lower ends are secured to a flanged ring D.
This ring is internally screw threaded to take onto the oil cistern, and is also screw
threaded to receive a perforated plate E.
The air tube stays C. C. project upwards through a ring F. and pass between the
outer shield G. and the chimney tube H. to within a short distance of another ring J.
secured within the upper part of the shield G.
The top or cover K. which comprises two dished perforated plates secured to a
screw threaded flanged ring L. is screwed into the ring J. in such manner that the
complete top or cap may be removed to enable the perforated disc M to be taken
apart and cleaned.
When the lamp and cap are screwed in placed the latter may be automatically
locked by a spring bolt N. one end of which passes through the ring J. and takes
into a recess in the flange ring L, whilst its other end rests upon the oil cistern A.
which forces it upwards when the oil cistern is screwed into the body of the lamp.
The air to support combustion enters holes F'in the ring F. Figs. 2 and 5. passes
upwards between the outer shield G. and inner central shield or chimney tube H.
thence downwards through the air pipe stays C. C. into the space between the oil
cistern A. and perforated plate E and afterwards rises through a dome O. to the flame
as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1.
The perforated plate E. is screw threaded and takes into the flanged ring D. the
arrangement being such that when the plate E. is unscrewed the tube B. dome shaped
plates O. & P. encircling chimney tube H and perforated plate M. may all be removed
for cleaning or repairs.
The chimney may be formed as shewn, of a number of small vertical tubes Q. Q. Q.
see Figs. 1. 2. and 5, their ends taking into tube plates Q1 and Q' respectively.
The tube plate Q is placed sufficiently below the plate M. to allow of a free
circulation of carbonic acid gas given off from the flame.
The perforated plate P. may conveniently be so shaped as to carry the chimney
tube H, and also to support the upper end of the glass tube B. as shewn in Figs. 1
and 2. Attached to the under side of the flanged ring D. is or are one or by
preference two projecting pieces D¹ D¹. Their lower edges are inclined, and they are
of such a length that when the body of the lamp is screwed to within say about one

page_text: turn from being home, they will come into contact with and ride over the arms or
projections E E¹ whose upper edges are likewise inclined thereby depressing the
extinguishing plate E. When the projecting pieces D¹ have passed the arms E¹ of
the plate E that plate and the tube E³ will be raised by the spiral spring R. to the
height allowed by the catches A¹ A¹ Figs. 1 and 3. When however the lamp is
partially unscrewed the pins D' will come into contact with the higher edges of the
projections EE which will not allow the pins to mount these projections thus the
extinguishing plate E' will be caused to rotate with the body of the lamp until the
projections E E' disengage themselves from the latches A¹ A¹ on the oil cistern, and
immediately this takes place the spiral spring R. will force up the released plate E*
and the tube E³ to which it is attached, thereby not only putting out the flame but
also stopping the supply of air (see Fig. 2.) The releasing arrangement is somewhat
similar to that described in our former specification above mentioned but according to
our present invention the plate E' is not perforated.
The tube Es surrounding the wick tube A is of such a length that when it is
depressed and held in the possition indicated by Fig. 1. its upper end is a little below
the top of the wick tube A'.
The dome O. has at its centre a hole a little larger in diameter than the outer
diameter of the tube E thus allowing air to support combustion to pass.
A few small holes 0' 0¹ around and close to the glass tube B are provided to
allow a portion of the air to impinge against and serve to keep the glass tube clean.
As will be evident miners safety lamps according to our invention will not require
any external locking arrangements, and by unscrewing the oil cistern from the body
of the lamp, the various parts may be readily got at for cleaning or repairs.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim in a miners safety lamp is
1. Tubular stays acting as air inlets in combination with an extinguishing plate
brought into operation by the action of opening the lamp whilst burning substantially
as described.
2. The combination of a tubular chimney, tubular air stays acting as air inlet and
an extinguishing plate brought into operation by the action of opening the lamp
whilst burning substantially as described.
3. Locking the cap by a bolt brought into engagement by the act of attaching the
oil cistern and wick tube to the upper part of the lamp substantially as described.
4. The combination of a tubular chimney having perforated plates above and below
it with removeable cap substantially as described.
5. The combination with a fixed perforated plate around the wick tube, of a solid
extinguishing plate and an extinguishing tube, the latter serving to envelope the
flame while the former cuts off the air supply substantially as described.
6. The improved automatic extinguishing apparatus arranged and operating sub-
stantially as described with reference to Figs. 1. to . of the drawings.
7. We also claim the improved miners safety lamp constructed, arranged, and
operating substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 18th day of November 1887