Improvements in Miners' Electric Lamps.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th June, 1889—Accepted, 27th July, 1889
COMPLETE DI FUIFICATION.
Improvements in Miners' Electric Lamps.
1, HENRY INKSON HARRIS, of 61, Ossory Road, Old Kent Road, in the County of
Surrey, 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:-
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in the construction of Miners'
electric lamps.
In the accompanying two sheets of drawings, Fig. 1, is a perspective elevation of
a miners electric lamp, constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a
sectional elevation through the line W, W, in Fig. 4; Fig. 3 is a part sectional
elevation through the line X X in Fig. 5; Fig. 4 is a plan of the complete apparatus;
Fig. 5 is a similar view, with the cover of the battery removed; Fig. 6 is a plan of
the underside of the battery, shewing the connections between the elements; Fig. 7.
is a plan of the lantern through the line Y Y in Fig. 2; and Fig. 8 is an elevation,
partly in section, of the incandescent lamp and its connections.
Similar letters of reference denote similar parts throughout the drawings.
The battery is formed of a tube A, of vulcanite, or other suitable material, divided
into three cells by radial partitions A' A2 A3 but it may be divided into four or more
cells if desired. A is a disc cemented into the lower end of the tube A, and forming
the bottom of the cells. It is formed with grooves on its upper side to receive the
edges of the partitions A' A² A³. If preferred the disc A may be moulded in one
piece with the tube and the partitions. The porous cells, B B B are cemented into
recesses formed in the disc A. The carbon elements consist of carbon rods C C1 C2,
passing through the bottom of the porous cells and the disc A', and cemented
securely therein. The ziuc elements consist of amalgamated ziue plates Z Z Z²,
standing upon copper studs D and provided at their upper ends with a ring E, of
rubber or other insulating material, to prevent contact with the cell walls. The
studs 1 pass through and are cemented into the disc A+. The ends of the carbon
rods CCC, which project through the disc A+, are coated with copper by electro-
deposit and tinned and the ends of the studs D, which project through the disc A',
are also tinned. The connections between the carbon rods and the studs are formed
by wires F, twisted around their ends and soldered. The space occupied by the
connections is then filled in solid with .cement H, and covered by a disc J.
By this
means the connections are effectually insulated and protected from the possibility of
injury by corrosion, or accident of any kind. The arrangement of these connections
and their insulation, as above described, is substantially the same as described in the
application for Letters Patent of Henry Iukson Harris and John Garford No. 17694
of 4th Decr. 1888. Two studs D are provided in each cell and connected underneath
by a wire, so that the zinc plate can be placed in either corner of the cell or two zines
may be used if desired. The terminals consist of two metal plates K K', affixed to
the underside of the disc J and connected respectively with a carbon rod C and stud D
by wires FF. The cover of the battery consists of two discs L L', affixed together
and provided with a rubber washer M, seating on the edge of the tube A, and a
rubber disc M seating on the edges of the partitions A1 A2 A3 and the porous
cells B B B². A plate N is affixed to the discs L L' by screws, which also serve to
hold the said dises together. The plate N carries a stud N and handle N². A plate P,
formed with three arms, is free to rotate upon the stud N₁, and the ends of the
arms are bent downwards and inwards to engage with three inclined lugs or
projections P P P on the edge of the battery, and hold the cover firmly in place,
causing the rubber washer M and disc M¹ to make a tight joint. Siuall projections
are provided on the arms of the plate P to enable it to be more readily rotated;
and to ensure the cover being placed in the right position, and prevent it moving

page_text: when the said plate is rotated, a stud N³ is provided on the edge of the battery to
enter a hole in an arm N' on the plate N. The vents for the escape of gas are
arranged as follows:-Two concentric grooves Q Q are formed on the top of the
disc L communicating by holes respectively with the outer cells and the porous
cells. The groove Q has an outlet at Q2, and the groove an outlet at , and
these outlets are covered by a valve R. held down by a light spring R', so that the
valve will lift, should any pressure of gas accumulate in the celts. By this arrange-
ment of the vents and the tight joint formed by the cover it is impossible for the
two fluids in the cells to escape, or become intermixed should the battery be
overturned.
The arrangement for carrying the incandescent lamp is constructed as follows:-
Two flat rings S S', are united by pillars T. A flat ring is seated flush with and
capable of rotation in the ring S, by means of a rabbetted joint U, and is secured
in place by the plates U². The thick glass cup or globe V is secured to the ring U.
A vulcanite disc a fits in the ring U over the cup V, its position being defined by
the pins entering notches in the ring. Two contact springs e c are affixed to the
dise and connected to wires d d', terminating in hooks, upon which the lamp e is
hung, proper contact being insured and the lamp held in position by a spring in the
usual way. Three lugs g g g2 are provided on the bottom of the battery to enter
corresponding apertures h h h in the ring S. The lugs are formed with a notch, as
shewn in Fig. 3, so that on slightly rotating the lantern they hold it in place, a più i
on a spring entering a hole in one of the said lugs to lock the apparatus in position.
When the lantern is thus attached to the battery, the springs c, & are not in contact
with the terminals K, K', and no current passes through the lamp, but on partially
rotating the ring U (and with it the disc) by means of the projecting arm k, the
springs come in contact with the terminals and the lamp is lit. The entire appa-
ratus is locked together in this position by means of the rod and padlock m.
lower end of the said rod is formed into a hook, which is passed through holes in the
arm, a projection n on the battery and a third projection o on the ring S. The
upper end of the rod, which is bent at right angles, is passed through holes in a
projection on one of the arms on the plate P, and a projection on the battery,
and then the padlock m is passed through a hole in the end of the rod.
The
The incandescent lamp is protected from injury, not only by the thick glass cup V,
but the said cup and lamp are also protected by the pillars T and lower ring St The
said ring forms a safe and secure stand, while the form and dimensions of the appa-
ratus are very similar to those of the ordinary miners' safety lamp.
By means of my invention, I am enabled to construct a miner's electric lamp of
much less weight and worked at much less cost that the electric lamps heretofore
constructed for the same purpose. The lamp being under the bottom of the battery,
a light is thrown downwards as well as sideways, which is a
feature of great
importance. The switch being locked up with the lamp, cannot be operated by the
miner, so that no sparking can take place.
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 I
claim is;
1. In a miners electric lamp consisting of a battery and incandescent lamp, the
arrangement of the lamp under the bottom of the battery, so that the light is thrown
downwards as well as sideways.
2. In a miners electric lamp, a battery cover formed of two discs L, L', provided
with a rubber washer M and rubber disc M, a plate N, handle N and rotating plate P,
with arms to engage with projections P¹ P² P³, for securing the said cover, substan-
tially as herein set forth.
3. In a miners' electric lamp, a battery cover constructed as set forth in the
preceding claim, and provided with concentric grooves Q Q¹, communicating by
apertures with the cells and having openings Q2 Q3, closed by a valve R, substantially
as and for the purposes herein set forth.

page_text: 4. In a miners' electric lamp, a lantern consisting of rings S, S', pillars T, a glass
cup V, incandescent lamp e, and switch. formed by a ring and disc a, and springs c
and el, operated by the arm k, substantially as herein set forth.
5. In a miners' electric lamp the arrangement for fixing the lantern to the battery
consisting of projections g gl g² on the battery entering apertures h h h in the lantern
ring, and the spring catch j. substantially as herein set forth.
6. In a miners' electric lamp, the rod and padlock m for locking the various parts
of the apparatus together, substantially as herein set forth.
7. A miners electric lamp, constructed substantially as herein described and shewn
in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 5th day of June 1889.
AMBROSE MYALL,
21, Cockspur Street, S.W., Agent for the Applicant.