IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO MINERS' LAMPS AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Hodgson Smith, of the Town and County of the
Town of Nottingham, and William Blount Stubbs, of Hawksworth, in the
County of Nottingham, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LOCKS AND APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO MINERS' LAMPS AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 8th September 1877, and dated the 28th June 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Hodgson Smith and
William Blount Stubbs at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
28th June 1877.
ALFRED HODGSON SMITH, of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham,
and WILLIAM BLOUNT STUBBS, of Hawksworth, in the County of Nottingham,
Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO MINERS
LAMPS AND OTHER PURPOSES."
In carrying out our improvements we employ several modifications of apparatus.
In the first modification we secure the glass of a miner's lamp in position by
means of a flat ring composed of two or more parts, in which are formed one or
more recesses to receive a spring or springs which project towards the centre, each
spring allows of the free passage of an extinguisher upwards, but prevents it being
lowered until withdrawn with the reservoir containing the oil or other liquid.
extinguisher also acts a regulator to the flame of the lamp, being moved by a
stud or button at the bottom.
The
In a second modification we drill a number of holes through the side of the ring
of a miner's lamp to which the reservoir of the lamp is screwed, the holes are
larger on the exterior than the interior, and admit the air requisite for com-
bustion.
In a third modification we form a recess in a boss or projection on one side of the
ring to which the reservoir is screwed; this recess contains a strong spring, which,
pressing upon a stud or bolt, causes it to project below the ring in such a way that
when the reservoir is screwed in place the stud is forced in a hole in the top of the
reservoir and effectually locks the lamp; and as the spring is of such a form that it
cannot be operated upon by the most powerful magnet, the lamp remains locked

page_text: until acted upon by the apparatus which forms a fourth modification consisting of a
projection cast on and with the inside of the reservoir; this projection has two holes
drilled in it vertically; one of them has a metal ram ground in it to fit air-tight;
the ram is formed in two or more parts, between which a leather washer is placed;
the lower part of the ram passes through the upper, and also fills up the hole in the
top of the reservoir when the lamp is unlocked; the second hole forms a chamber
for water; there is a passage between the two holes, and also a passage leading from
the second hole to the outside of the reservoir.
The unlocking of the lamp is effected by the apparatus forming a fifth modifi-
cation, which consists of a platform, upon one end of which is secured a small
hydraulic pump capable of being worked by a hand lever; the other end of the
platform carries a slide in which is a recess, the size of the reservoir of the lamp.
The locked lamp being placed therein with the exterior passage of the second hole
facing the delivery flange of the pump, is forcibly pressed to the flange by a
screw worked by a hand wheel or lever; portion of a downward stroke of the pump
piston being then made, forces water through the water chamber and raises the ram,
the upper end of which, reaching to a level with the top of the reservoir, presses up
the locking stud to allow the reservoir to be unscrewed for replenishing or
relighting.
°
Other modifications will consist of a combination of two or more of the above,
which will vary according to the requirements for obtaining a perfect combustion of
the oil or other liquid used.
A further modification or modifications consist in employing the third, fourth,
and fifth modifications to lock and unlock safes, strong rooms, and other chambers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Hodgson Smith and William Blount Stubbs in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 28th December 1877.
ALFRED HODGSON SMITH, of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham,
and WILLIAM BLOUNT STUBBS, of Hawksworth, in the County of Nottingham,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS AND APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO MINERS'
LAMPS AND OTHER PURPOSES."
In carrying out our improvements we employ several modifications of apparatus.
In the first modification we secure the glass of a miner's lamp in position by
means of a flat ring composed of two or more parts, in which are formed one or
more recesses to receive a spring or springs which project towards the centre; each
spring allows of the free passage of an extinguisher upwards, but prevents it being
lowered until withdrawn with the reservoir containing the oil or other liquid. The
extinguisher also acts as a regulator to the flame of the lamp, being moved by a
stud or button at the bottom.
In a second modification we drill a number of holes through the side of the ring
of a miner's lamp to which the reservoir of the lamp is screwed, these holes are
larger on the exterior than on the interior, and admit the air -requisite for
combustion.

page_text: In a third modification we form a recess in a boss or projection on one side of the
ring to which the reservoir is screwed; this recess contains a strong spring, which,
pressing upon a stud or bolt, causes it to project below the ring in such a way that
when the reservoir is screwed in place the stud is forced into a hole in the top of
reservoir and effectually locks the lamp, and as the spring is of such a form
that it cannot be operated upon by the most powerful maguet, the lamp remains
locked until acted upon by the apparatus which forms a fourth modification,
consisting of a projection cast on and with the inside of the reservoir; this projection
has two holes drilled in it vertically; one of them has a metal ram ground in it to
fit air-tight; the ram is formed in two or more parts, between which a leather
washer is placed; the lower part of the ram passes through the upper, and also fills
up the hole in the top of the reservoir when the lamp is unlocked; the second hole
forms a chamber for water; there is a passage between the two holes, and also a
passage leading from the second hole to the outside of the reservoir.
The unlocking of the lamp is effected by the apparatus forming a fifth modifi-
cation, which consists of a platform, upon one end of which is secured a small
hydraulic pump capable of being worked by a hand lever; the other end of the
platform carries a slide, in which is a recess, the size of the reservoir of the lamp.
The locked lamp being placed therein, with the exterior passage of the second hole
facing the delivery flange of the pump, is forcibly pressed to the flange by a screw
worked by a hand wheel or lever, portion of a downward stroke of the pump
piston being then made, forces water through the water chamber and raises the ram,
the upper end of which reaching to a level with the top of the reservoir presses
up the locking stud to allow the reservoir to be unscrewed for replenishing or
relighting.
Other modifications will consist of a combination of two or more of the above,
which will vary according to the requirements for obtaining a perfect combustion of
the oil or other liquid used.
A further modification or modifications consist in employing the third, fourth,
and fifth modifications to lock and unlock safes, strong rooms, and other chambers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side view of our improved lamp, lock, and apparatus described in
the third, fourth, and fifth modifications combined; Figure 2 is a plan of the same
with the swivel, cap, and gauze of the lamp removed.
Figure 3 is a side view of the lower part of the lamp.
Figure 4 is an underside view of the reservoir of the lamp, shewing the projection
on the inside.
The several corresponding parts in each Figure are lettered alike.
At Figure 1, the gauze A of a miner's lamp is shown only in outline, the lamp
being in position to be unlocked by an hydraulic pump hereafter described.
We form a recess in a projection B, seen at Figures 1, 2, and 3, on one side of
the ring, to which the reservoir C of the lamp is screwed; this recess contains a
strong spring, shewn by dotted lines at Figure 3, which presses upon a bolt D, and
causes it to project below the ring in such a way that when the reservoir is screwed
in place, the bolt is forced into a hole in the top of the reservoir and effectually
locks the lamp, and as the spring is of such a form that it cannot be operated upon
by a powerful magnet, the lamp remains locked until the bolt D is raised level with
the top of the reservoir by the following means;-There is a projection E cast on
and with the inside of the reservoir, shewn at Figure 4; this projection has two
holes G and H drilled in it vertically; one of them, G, has a metal ram F ground in
it to fit air-tight; this ram is formed in two or more parts, between which a leather
washer is placed, the upper part of the ram when raised fills up the hole in the top
of the reservoir when the lamp is unlocked, after the ram is inserted in the hole
the lower part of the hole has a plug brazed or otherwise secured therein to prevent
access to the ram; there is a passage drilled or otherwise formed between the two

page_text: holes G and H, and also a passage leading from the hole H to the outside of the
reservoir, as shewn by dotted lines at Figure 1; the hole H which forms a
chamber for water is plugged at the bottom and secured by brazing or otherwise.
The unlocking of the lamp is effected by the apparatus shewn respectively in side
view and plan at Figures 1 and 2, which consists of a platform I, upon one end of
which is secured an hydraulic pump K capable of being worked by a hand lever,
the ram valve chambers and water chambers L of which are shewn by dotted lines
in Figure 1; to the bottom of the platform a reservoir M is secured, which is supplied
with water through a gauze covered hole M in the flange of the pump; the water
passes from the reservoir up a curved pipe to the ram of the pump. The opposite
end of the platform carries a slide N capable of being traversed to or from the
pump by a screw operated by a hand wheel, but we do not confine ourselves to
traversing the slide by a screw, as the traverse may be as readily effected by a cam
and hand lever. Upon the top of the slide is a recess the size of the reservoir of
the lamp. The locked lamp being placed in the recess with the exterior passage
from the hole H facing the delivery flange of the pump, is forcibly pressed to the
flange by the hand wheel or lever, and the pump being operated will force the
water from the pump through the chamber H and raise the ram F, the upper end
of which reaching to a level with the top of the reservoir, presses up the locking
stud D so as to allow the reservoir to be unscrewed for replenishing or relighting
the lamp above the locking stud there is a button headed pin D, which stands
up the height indicated by a dotted line in Figure 1, when the lamp is unlocked:
this pin can only be pressed down when the reservoir is in a position to be
locked, and not being connected to the locking stud, if it is raised, will not withdraw
the stud.
The pressure required to overcome the locking spring varies from 4 to 5 hundred
pounds to the square inch, a greater pressure being required, according to the
strength of the locking spring employed.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention and in what manner the
same may be performed, we declare that we claim the construction of a lock
applied to a miner's lamp, and an unlocking apparatus, substantially as herein-before
described, and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Hodgson Smith, for myself and on
behalf of the said William Blount Stubbs, have hereunto set my hand
and scal, this Seventeenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
H. W. GOUGH, C.E.,
Nottingham.
ALFRED HODGSON SMITH. (L.S.)