Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Lighting Miners Safety Lamps.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 14th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 18th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Lighting Miners
Safety Lamps.
We, JESSE GRAHAM, of Springfield, Morley, in the County of York, Engineer,
and HARRY CHAPMAN, of Green Mount, Morley, aforesaid, Electrician, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to construct miners safety lamps in such a manner
that, they can be lighted after the lamp has been locked and sealed and thus
obviate the necessity of having to light the lamps and keep them burning for some
time ready for the miner entering the pit and thereby to effect a considerable
saving in oil.
We accomplish our object in the following manner. The lamp is supplied with
oil and wick as hitherto, and in the nozzle or burner of the lamp is secured a
carbon in contact with the said burner, and is so arranged that the top projects
slightly above the wick. Near to the said nozzle or burner is another carbon
attached to an insulated spring which is in contact with a metallic sliding bar
extending to the outside of the lamp.
The lighting of the wick after the lamp is locked and sealed is effected by
placing the lamp upon a metal plate connected to one pole of an accumulator or
dynamo and pressing the before mentioned sliding bar against a plate connected to
the other pole of the accumulator or dynamo, by which the sliding bar and spring
are operated causing the carbons to make contact, thereby completing the circuit
and heating the carbons to such an extent that the wick of the lamp is lighted.
Dated this 8th day of April 1893.
JOHN WAUGH,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Lighting Miners
Safety Lamps.
We, JESSE GRAHAM, of Springfield, Morley, in the County of York, Engineer,
and HARRY CHAPMAN, of Green Mount, Morley, aforesaid Electrician, 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 improvements in lighting miners safety lamps, and has
for its object the construction of certain portions of the lamps in such a manner
that, they can be lighted when required after the lamps have been locked and
sealed and thus obviate the necessity of having to light the lamps before locking
and keep them burning some time in readiness for the miners entering the pit,
thereby to effect a saving in oil and make it unnecessary to send a lamp out of the
mine for lighting should it be extinguished.
In order that our invention may be fully understood, we will describe the same
in detail by making reference to the accompanying drawing of a miners safety lamp,
shown partly in section, for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the novel parts
of our invention.
The lamp casing A is of the ordinary construction, the oil vessel B. being
secured and supplied with oil and wick in the ordinary manner.
In a recess formed in the burner tube B' we secure a carbon C in a manner

page_text: that, a good electrical contact is made with the burner or wick tube B'. The top
of the said carbon projects a short distance above the top of the burner tube B¹
and wick W therein, and near to the said burner is another carbon D. held by a
vertical metallic spring E mounted on the oil reservoir or vessel B. and insulated
therefrom at the bottom, so that there is no metallic connection between the spring
and other portions of the lamp, except with the sliding bar or bars G supported
by insulating material at F. F. and extending to the outside of the lamp casing.
Upon a table of non-conducting material, we secure a hollow bracket J. provided
with an india rubber or other flexible washer K. in the position shown. In the
interior of the said hollow bracket are mounted in a horizontal position, two
metallic spindles L & L' insulated from the bracket at M. and connected together
by insulating material at N. so that no flash can be got by making a metallic
connection between the spindle L' and bracket J.
In the vertical portion of said hollow bracket is placed a vertical metallic
spindle O. insulated from the bracket at O¹ and kept in metallic contact with the
horizontal spindle L by spring P. connected by a wire Q to one pole of an
accumulator or dynamo.
The hollow bracket J is connected to the other pole of the accumulator or
dynamo by wire Q' and on placing the lamp in the position shown in contact with
the flexible washer K. the latter is compressed to an extent that, a metallic portion
of the lamp is brought in contact with the hollow bracket at R and an air tight
chamber formed where the outside connection of the other pole is made for
completing the circuit.
This is accomplished by pressing the horizontal spindles L and L' in the
direction of the arrow, and forcing the sliding bar or bars G in contact with the
metallic spring E bending the latter in the direction, that the current is allowed to
pass from carbon D to carbon C.
By the said carbons being brought near together and the current allowed to
pass, they become hot, the carbon C converting the oil absorbed from the wick
into gas, which is ignited by an arc light or sparks passing from carbon D. to
carbon C. on the release or withdrawal of the horizontal spindles L and L' thus
lighting, the wick of the lamp after the latter is locked and sealed.
The circuit through the lamp is accomplished by arranging the current to pass
from spring P. up vertical spindle O. to the spindle L. then through sliding bar or
bars G to the vertical metallic spring E and carbon D returning through carbon C
down tube B' and metallic portion of lamp to the point at R. where it is in
metallic contact with the hollow bracket J. to which the negative wire Q¹ is
connected.
As will be readily understood by persons skilled in the art of electricity, our
object may be accomplished by dispensing with the carbons C and D. and other
electrical conductors utilized, the lighting of the wick W of the lamp, being
effected on the operation of the spindles L' and L. by an arc or series of sparks
passing between the electrical conductors mounted substantially in the same
manner as the carbons C and D.
By forming an air tight compartment S. by a flexible washer K or the like
where the current is completed, lamps may be lighted in the mine in the manner
as before described, and all danger of an explosion obviated, by the confinement of
any flashing between L and G within the air tight space S..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. The method of lighting miners safety lamps by an electric current applied to
carbons C. and D. and the like mounted within the lamp substantially in the
manner as shown and described.
2. The method of lighting miners safety lamps by making the electrical circuit
connection in an air tight compartment S formed by a flexible washer. K in the

page_text: manner described for the purpose of preventing danger of explosion by electric
flashing between L and G. when lighting the lamps in mines.
3. The combination with a miners lamp fitted with carbons or the like C and D
of a hollow bracket J provided with spindles L. L' and O. and a flexible
washer K arranged substantially in the manner as shown and for the purpose
described.
Dated this 30th day of September 1893.
JOHN WAUGH,
Agent: