Improvements in Miners' Safety Lamps.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Miners' Safety Lamps.
RII MA
I, ANDREW HOWAT, of 39, Bamford Road, Didsbury, near Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:
-
My, invention relates to improvements, in miners' safety lamps and the chief
object of my improvements is to dispense, with the screws and screwed parts
usually employed to make up and hold the parts of the lamp together.
2.
In constructing a safety lamp according to my improvements I solder or other-
wise secure the burner tube or wick holder in a collar as usual but instead of
screwing this collar, into the top of the oil reservoir I form the collar with a
flange which fits snugly in an annular recess formed round the central opening
into the oil reservoir. I place round the collar and over the joint between its
flange and the reservoir, a washer of rubber or other suitable material and on
this washer, and fitting closely round the collar is placed the ordinary lower
metal glass holder and asbestos, or other similar ring. The glass is then placed
in the bottom holder, the upper metal holder with asbestos ring is put on, the
gauze cylinders (or cylinder) are placed in position, and finally the upper frame
with its metal shield or bonnet is placed over the several parts named' and
secured to the oil reservoir, say for example, by means of projections or bolts
on the frame engaging recesses in ears on opposite sides of the oil reservoir
and by a lead rivet or any other suitable locking device.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1898.
H. B. BARLOW, & GILLETT,
Agents for Applicant.
oned t
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
THO
Improvements in Miners' Safety Lamps.
LANDREW HOWAT, of 39, Bamford Road, Didsbury, near Manchester, in the
County of Lançaster, Engineer, 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:-
-
My invention relates to improvements in miners' safety lamps and the chief
object of my improvements is to dispense with the screws and screwed parts
usually employed to make up and hold the parts of the lamp together.
CD Q77

page_text: •
In constructing a safety lamp according to my improvements I solder or other-
wise secure the burner tube or wick holder in a collar as usual, but instead of
screwing this collar into the top of the oil reservoir I form the collar with a
flange which fits snugly in an annular recess formed round the central opening
in the oil reservoir. I place around the collar and over the joint between its
flange and the reservoir a washer of rubber or other suitable material and on
this washer and fitting closely around the collar is placed the lower metal glass
holder and asbestos or other similar ring. The glass is then placed in the
bottom holder, the upper metal holder' with asbestos ring is put on, the gauze
cylinders (or cylinder) placed in position, and finally the frame with its metal
shield or bonnet placed over the several parts named and secured to the oil
reservoir, say for example, by means of projections or bolts on the frame engag-
ing recesses in ears on opposite sides of the oil reservoir and by a lead rivet
or any other suitable locking device.
To make my invention clear I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings in
which,
Fig. 1 represents a miners' safety lamp (partly in elevation and partly in
section) of the type of lamp in which the "bonnet" is a fixture, and with my
improvements applied thereto.
Fig. 2 represents a miners' safety lamp (completely in section) of the type of
lamp in which the "bonnet" is removable for inspection of the gauze cones or
cylinders, and with my improvements applied thereto.
Figs. 3 to 6 represent the several detached or dissembled parts of the lamps
and (by preference) in the order of their manipulation.
Figs. 7 and 8 represent plan views of the lamps.
(A) designates the oil reservoir or base of the lamp, and (B) the burner tube
or lamp wick holder. This latter is carried by collar (C) which instead of being
provided with a screw thread as heretofore, and screwing into the mouth of the
oil reservoir is formed with a flange (D) designed to fit snugly in an annular
recess (E) around the opening (A¹) of the oil reservoir, as illustrated. Around
the collar (C), and over the joint between its flange (D) and the reservoir, I
place a washer (F) of india-rubber or other suitable material for making a joint,
and upon such washer I place the metal glass holder (G) fitted with asbestos
or other packing ring (G¹). The glass (H) is then placed in the holder (G), the
upper metal glass holder (H¹) with asbestos or other packing ring (H2) put on
the top end, the gauze cylinders (or cylinder) (I) placed in position, and finally
the frame (J) with its shield or bonnet (K) placed over the several parts named,
and by means of projections or tongues (L) on the frame (J) engaging with
recesses (M) in ears (N) on the opposite sides of the oil reservoir, and by a lead
rivet or other suitable locking device passed through lugs (0), secured to the
oil reservoir (A).
Fig. 7 shews the position of the tongues, recesses and lugs previous to engage.
ment, and Fig. 8 shew them engaged and fastened by a rivet. There may be
more than two tongues and recesses, and two or more lugs and rivets.
It will be observed that the binding of the frame down on to the reservoir,
the clamping of the glass, and securing of the collar (C), are simultaneously
effected, and the elasticity of the washers (F), (G¹) and (H2) affords the necessary
nip" between the several parts, whilst the washer (F) also serves to seal the
oil reservoir, and prevent the outside air getting to the flame through any other
way than the gauze cones.
"
The holder (G) and the neck (A2) of the oil reservoir (A) are made without
the usual screw threads for screwing into the lower part of the frame (J) which
is also made plain, and the manner or system of putting the parts together and
separating them is, by preference, as follows:-
:―
The oil reservoir is placed on the table or other support with the burner collar

page_text: in position. The glass (H), with holders (G), and (H¹) placed alongside, the two
cones (I) placed next, and beyond them the frame (J).
If the reservoir requires to be filled with oil the collar (C) only requires to be
lifted, instead of unscrewed as heretofore, out of the opening in the reservoir.
In replacing it is simply dropped,-instead of being screwed, into the neck of
the reservoir. The washer (F) is then, or previously, placed over it. The
glass (H) (with holders (G) (H¹)), is then placed on the washer (F) and over the
glass (H) the cones (I) are quickly placed in vertical column, and last of all
the frame (J) is dropped over the several parts until its shoulder at (J¹) comes
to rest upon the flanges of the cones (I) resting upon the top of the glass (H),
and with the tongues (L) and recesses (M) set in proper position, a slight twist
engages them, and brings the lugs (0) together, through which a rivet is then
rapidly placed in the ordinary manner.
The operation of taking the lamp to pieces is just as expeditious, the frame
being lifted off and placed by itself, the cones lifted off the glass and placed
by themselves, the glass & holders lifted off the reservoir and placed immedi-
ately in front of the cones and next to, or behind the reservoir, somewhat after
the manner in which they are shewn in Figs. 3 to 6.
The advantages of the improved construction of lamp are, that the absence of
screwing and unscrewing the frame (J) onto, & off the reservoir (A),-the
holder (G) into and out of frame (J), and burner collar (C) into, or out of the oil
reservoir, to replenish the reservoir, renew the wick, or clean the gauze cones,
-effects a saving of at least 2/3rds of the time previously required in putting
the parts of the lamp together, and separating them,-which in large mines
where there are thousands of lamps to attend to every morning is a very con-
siderable item,--and enables one man to attend to considerably more lamps in a
given time than heretofore, or allows the replenishing, cleaning and examination
of the lamps to be effected in much shorter time. Moreover, the lamp is less in
cost, and more easily produced.
"
The part which carries the "bonnet" in the lamp shewn in Fig. 1 is of
the cross-section shewn, with apron (P) opposite openings (Q), and the lower
edge of the "bonnet" is carried downwards, as shewn, below said openings in order
to baffle or deflect the incoming air.
The part which carries the bonnet of the lamp with the removable "bonnet'
is of the cross-section shewn in Fig. 2. with apron (R) and baffle (S) formed in
one piece, and secured to the parts (T) by distance pieces (U) and rods (V)
which latter for securing the parts are notched by a chisel, and flared over.
The bonnet in Fig. 2 is secured by the head of rivet (W) against which it
abuts.
I may combine the improved lamp shewn in Fig. 2 with the deflector covered
by Letters Patent No. 1709 year 1886 as shewn in dotted lines at (✗) with, or
without the flange or baffle (S).
Having thus 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: A miners' safety lamp constructed and arranged substantially as set
forth and illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
2: In a miners' safety lamp, a burner tube secured to collar with flange,
an oil reservoir with recess for reception of said flange, and a washer fitting
over the joint between said flange and oil reservoir substantially as set forth.
3: In a miners' safety lamp, the combination of a burner collar with flange,
an oil reservoir with recess (and without screw thread), a washer fitting over
the joint between the flange and reservoir, and a holder (without screw thread)
for the lamp glass resting upon said washer, substantially as set forth.
4: In a miners' safety lamp a frame or cover with projections (or recesses)

page_text: on its opposite sides (and without screw thread in lower part), in combination
with an oil reservoir (without screw threads) with recesses. (or projections) on
its opposite sides, and a lug engaging, with lug on frame, and a rivet or other
locking device,securing such, lugs together, as set forth.
Con day of October 1898.
T
T
i
ANDREW HOWAT,
By John G. Wilson & Co.; BE at
55, Market Street, Manchester, Agents.
1