Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd June, 1887
Complete Left, 23rd Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 11th May, 1888
1 ELI JOHN PALMER of Toronto Canada, at present residing at 24 Bedford
Place W.C. Russell Square in the County of Middlesex, Inventor, do hereby declare
the naturo of this invention to be as follows:-
:―
I claim imposibility of explosion of gas generated in the lamp, by inserting a small
short tube through the top of oil chamber and near the side, for the purpose of
conveying air into it; the said tube having its bore enlarged at the lower end for a
ball, or shot to play in, which is confined between a wire across the bottom and the
smaller bore above it; while the lamp remains upright, the air has free passage
around the ball, but when overturned, the ball instantly closes the passage by the
pressure of oil behind it, and effectually prevents the oil from escaping.
I also insert another similar, but longer tube through to oil chamber, and next the
wick tube, for the purpose of heating the air within it to produce circulation, and also
to convey the gas into flame of lamp as fast as generated, by whatever temperature to
which the oil of lamp may be subjected; The free circulation thus established,
absolutely prevents the accumulation of gas, and therefore explosion is simply
impossible another advantage gained is increased illumination in proportion to
increase of temperature, and also, any quantity of air may be admitted to ensure
perfect combustion, so that the cheapest oil may be used, which will give brilliant
light without any unpleasant odour.
To prevent the sweating of oil, I attach a funnel shape top to the air tubes:
I provide for an automatic extinguisher, by attaching two wires to the side of wick
tube, and running in a perpendicular line, and curved at the top, upon which slides
an extinguishing cap, connected with a flat weight under it, which also slides on the
wires when lamp overturns, but rests ordinarily on a spring, when lamp is upright,
but when the lamp turns to nearly a horizontal position, the spring becomes liberated
and pushes the cap to curved end of wires which turn it upon the wick. I provide
for an automatic oil stop, or stop to oil flow, by cutting a thin slot across the lower
end of wick tube, in which I fix a gate to press against the wick, then fix a perpen-
dicular post within the lamp, to which I attach a lever, fulcrum'd near the top, for
pressing down the said gate; The lever is actuated by a sliding weight upon the

page_text: perpendicular post, and which rests on a spring at the bottom, the weight and lower
end of lever are connected by a shaft, so that when the lamp turns partly over, the
spring becomes liberated from the sliding weight, which it pushes and actuates the
lever with great force. I also provide the novelty of a new wick, which I make by
cutting strips of cotton cloth having thick furry nap on one side (called swan's down)
I then place the nap'd sides together forming the wick: capillary attraction being
the principle by which oil is conducted to the wick burner, it will readily be seen
that this wick has great advantages over all other kinds, as it will rapidly conduct the
oil from deepest lamps, besides, the illumination is considerably increased.
In connection with the wick, I provid a new wick propeler, by which all pressure
upon the wick is avoided, so that the oil may have free course; this I accomplish
by supporting the wick with sharp needle points which penetrate through the wick
without pressure, or tendency to curve, or move unevenly; the needle arm is actuated
by screw force, either direct, or with cog wheels.
I further provide for safety against igniting outside gas by constructing an air inlet
below the flame of mining lamps in order to obtain an upward draft instead of the
usual downward draft of air which has proved so fearfully disastrous, by causing the
flame to flare and break the surrounding glass: another important advantage gained
is, that the flame is short and brilliant, while the downward draft of air, weakens the
light, and elongates the flame, just in proportion to the height of air inlet: I also
provide a standard gauze partition of large area to secure perfect combustion, and to
prevent the posibility of igniting gas under it, this partition is kept in place by
flexible bearings, which renders it easy to remove; The wick tube passes through it
into the cone, which is fastened upon it; In order to converge all the air, or gas
which passes through the partition into perfect combustion I surround the cone with
a converging ring, having an aperture arround the cone just sufficient to ballance the
amount of air passing through it, while the base of ring surrounds the area of
partition.
The air inlet, I make by perforating all round the sides of lamp, which I protect
with a flat ring shield, which can be screwed up or down for adjustment of draft, to
any required extent, even to extinction of flame, besides, I provide a flexible fringe
arround its lower edge which excessive currents will press against the inlet in
proportion to fores, and thus automatically help to regulate the supply of air. I also
provide a revolving jack, pivoted at top of lamp, for protecting the chimney.
No stamp or lock required; as I provide for extinguishing the light of lamp, should
any attempt be made to open it, by passing a knuckle jointed lever through the side
of cone, in order to actuate the extinguishing cap, when closing the lamp the lever
bends, but on opening it comes in contact with latch, when out goes the light.
Dated this 23rd day of June 1887

page_text: I ELI JOHN PALMER of Toronto, Canada, at present residing at 24 Bedford Place
Russell Square W.C. in the County of Middlesex, Inventor, 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 :—
To prevent explosion of gas generated in a lamp I insert a tube through the top
of Oil chamber for the purpose of conveying air into the same; the said tube having
its bore enlarged at the lower end for a ball or shot to play in which is kept in
position by a piece of wire across the bottom; while the Lamp remains upright the
air has free passage around the ball, but should the Lamp be upset the ball
instantly closes the passage by the pressure of the oil behind it and effectually
prevents its escape.
I also insert another similar tube (but longer) through to the oil chamber near the
wick tube for the purpose of heating the air within it, in order to promote circulation
and also to convey any gas that may be generated into the flame of the lamp; the
free circulation thus established prevents any accumulation of explosive gas in the
chamber. Another advantage gained by this construction is increased illumination in
proportion to the increase of temperature.
In order to prevent the tubes from "oil sweating" I form at their upper ends an
inverted cone which stops the climbing oil and causes it to descend to the point of
inverted cone where it collects and drops back again into the reservoir.
The wick is made by cutting strips of cotton cloth having thick furry nap on one
side (called swan's down, but specially woven to avoid the heavy cross threads I then
place the nap'd sides together forming the wick. Capillary attraction being the
principle by which oil is conducted to the wick burner it will readily be seen that
this wick has great advantages over all other kinds as it will rapidly conduct the oil
from the deepest lamps, besides considerably increasing the illumination.
In connection with the wick I provide a propeller by which all pressure upon the
wick is avoided so that the oil may have free course; this I accomplish by supporting
the wick with sharp needle points which penetrate through the wick without pressure
or tendency to curve or move unevenly. The needle arm is actuated by a screw
or lever.
I further provide for safety against igniting outside gas in mining lamps by
constructing an air inlet below the flame in order to obtain an upward draught
instead of the usual downward draught of air which has proved so disastrous by
causing the flame to flare and break the surrounding glass. Another important
advantage gained is that the flame is short and brilliant, whilst the downward draught
of air in the ordinary mining lamps weakens the light, and elongates the flame just in
proportion to the height of air inlet.
I also provide a standard gauze partition of large area to secure perfect combustion,

page_text: and to prevent the possibility of igniting gas under it. This partition is kept in place
by flexible bearings which ensures perfect contact with the outer cone.
The wick tube passes through it into the cone which is fastened upon it. In order
to converge all the air or gas which passes through the partition into perfect
combustion I surround the cone with an outer cone leaving a space around the
inner cone just sufficient to balance the amount of air passing through it.
The air inlet I make by perforating all round the sides of lamp which are covered
on the interior by a gauze screen which I protect with a flat ring which can be
screwed up or down for adjusting the supply of air to any required extent, even to the
extinction of flame.
In case of excessive currents I still further protect the air inlet with a circular
shield.
The automatic extinguisher is constructed by attaching the cap to a sliding block
running in a curved groove at the side of wick tube, and is actuated by a spring and
kept in its normal position by a weight resting on a concave disc or curved metal
strip or wire, which is attached to a lever actuated by the spring. When the lamp
is upset the weight looses its gravitation upon the concave disc or curved metal strip
or wire which liberates spring and causes the light to be extinguished.
To obviate the use of a lock or stamp in mining lamps I provide for the automatic
extinction of the light, should any attempt be made to open the lamp. This 1
accomplish by attaching to the extinguisher a hook which engages with an incline
formed on the inner side of outer cone. The act of opening the lamp causes the hook
to be lifted and actuates the extinguisher and perforates a specially marked substance
which renders it an absolute detective.
In order that my invention may be well understood I have hereunto annexed to this
Specification drawings of the same in which Fig. 1. is an elevation of a Miners
lamp and Fig. 2 a plan thereof. Fig. 3 an elevation of the lower portion of lamp
shewing construction and arrangement of burner and wick propeller. Fig. 4 is a
plan of same. Fig. 5 is a detached view of ventilation tube in section. Fig. 6 shows
a portion of lamp in section showing arrangement of air supply and extinguisher.
Fig. 7. shews a modified means of extinguishing. Fig. 8. an outline of the curved
groove and sliding piece of the extinguisher.
Through the top of oil chamber A I insert a ventilating tube B of the form shewn
in section in Fig. 5. At the bottom of tube B a chamber is formed for the reception
of a ball which is kept in position by the cross bar b'. There is sufficient space
around the ball to permit of air entering the chamber. To prevent the sweating of
oil I form the top of oil tube with an inverted cone 63 which causes the oil climbing
the sides of tube to be returned to oil chamber.
Attached to the wick tube C is a second ventilating tube D for the purpose of
heating the air within it to produce circulation and to convey gas into flame. The
lower end of this tube D is provided with a similar chamber and ball as that described
in connection with tube B. This acts as a valve so, that should the lamp be upset the
pressure of oil forces the ball into its seat and thereby prevents the escape of oil from
the chamber.
The wick propeller is constructed as follows:-A vertical spindle E runs through
the chamber having a screw thread e¹ at its upper end and a milled head e³ for turning
same, at its lower end. Above the oil chamber I place a frame e engaging with
screw thread on spindle E, in which are mounted two needles which pass through
slots in the wick tube, and engage with the wick; by turning the milled head e² the
frame e³ is raised or lowered and so adjusts the wick in the position required. The
needles are moved backwards and forwards by means of projection et.
The air inlet is formed at the lower part of lamp casing above the oil chamber and
consists of a series of holes f drilled in the casing F and screened by gauze covering
inside. The admission of air is regulated by raising or lowering the outer shield G
which is provided at its lower end with an extension G' for the purpose of preventing
too sudden an influx of air at any one point. The air upon entering the lamp passes
through the gauze partition which is supported on the flexible frame I, which

page_text: causes it to be pressed closely into contact with the underside of the outer cone J.
The wick tube C passes through the gauze partition into the inner cone K which is
fastened upon the gauze partition H.
The air is caused to impinge upon the flame by means of the cones J. K.
The automatic extinguisher is constructed as follows:- -A casing L surrounds the
wick tube C and has a curved groove formed in each side, in which a block / slides
the said blocks are attached to the extinguishing cap M. At the lower end of cap M
a pin or stud m. is attached which engages with one end of a lever N pivotted at N'.
To the opposite end of the lever is attached a hook O which passes through the cone K
and comes into contact with an inclined plane J¹ attached to the inner side of outer
cone J. The act of opening the Lamp causes the hook O to be lifted by the inclined
plane J¹ and thus causes the extinguisher M to descend upon the wick.
In a modification of the above arrangement I attach to the pin or stud ma spring P
and to the opposite end of lever N a connecting wire to which is attached a concave
disc Q. Resting upon this disc is a sliding weight R which is kept in a central
position by the guide S. When the lamp is upset the sliding weight looses its
gravitation and releases the disc Q, the spring is then free and pulls extinguisher M
down upon the flame.
The automatic detector is constructed in the following manner. Attached to the
outer cone J are two uprights T T¹ carrying
a crank shaft U which has an arm u
hanging down at an angle of about 45° with the crank, this arm u engages with a
pin secured to the inner cone K. The crank carries a needle W the lower end of
which works in a guide upon the spring X. At the lower portion of upright T is
attached a plate Y one end resting upon the cone K. The substance to be perforated
is placed upon this plate Y and is held in position by the spring X. The action is
as follows: Upon inserting the lamp, the pin u'engages with the hanging arm u and
lifts the needle away from the surface of the substance to be perforated but as soon as
the action is reversed by unscrewing the lamp the pin u¹ comes into contact with the
opposite side of the hanging arm u and in so doing causes the needle W to descend
and perforate the substance placed for detection.
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine the improvements which I have
invented to use solely in a Miners lamp, as portions of the same are adapted for use in
all kinds of lamps both for illuminating and heating purposes. And also I do not
confine myself to the precise details of construction as shown or described, as the
same may be modified without departing from the principle of my invention.
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 :-
The improvements in lamps for illuminating and heating purposes substantially as
set forth and described in the foregoing Specification.
1 1000