IMPROVEMENTS. IN. LAMPS FOR DIVING OPERATIONS, AND A NEW METHOD OF DRAWING OFF FOUL AIR FROM AND SUPPLYING FRESH AIR TO DIVERS, AND LAMPS USED IN DIVING OPERATIONS, THE FIRST-NAMED IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO LAMPS USED IN MINES OR OTHER PLACES WHERE POISONOUS, EXPLOSIVE, AND DANGEROUS GASES ARE GENERATED
Year: 1868

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Claude François Constant
Cretin and James Watson at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 7th December 1868.
We, CLAUDE FRANÇOIS CONSTANT CRETIN and JAMES WATSON, both
of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS. IN. LAMPS FOR DIVING
OPERATIONS, AND A NEW METHOD OF DRAWING OFF FOUL AIR FROM AND SUPPLYING
FRESH AIR TO DIVERS, AND LAMPS USED IN DIVING OPERATIONS, THE FIRST-NAMED
IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO LAMPS USED IN MINES OR OTHER PLACES
WHERE POISONOUS, EXPLOSIVE, AND DANGEROUS GASES ARE GENERATED," to be
as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to an improved mode of and apparatus for
supplying air to divers and lamps used in diving operations, and consists
in drawing off or exhausting the foul air and gases, thereby allowing
fresh air to flow down the supply pipes by gravitation instead of forcing
down the fresh air as heretofore practised. This is effected by means
of a fan or exhauster which may be driven by a system of wheelwork
actuated by springs or by any other convenient method. The fan box
or casing is connected to the tube or tubes which communicate with

page_text: the diver's helmet and lamp through which the foul air and products
of combustion are drawn off and discharged into the atmosphere, thus
producing a partial vacuum within the helmet and lamp, which may
be supplied with fresh air by means of one main air tube provided with
two branches at one end, one of which is attached to the diver's helmet
and the other branch to the lamp. The foul air and gases may be
drawn off through a similar arrangement of tubes or separate tubes
may be employed for exhausting the foul, and also for supplying fresh
air.
Another part of this Invention relates to an improved arrangement
and construction of lamps such as may be used under water in diving
operations or in mines or other places where dangerous or explosive
gases collect. The improved lamp consists essentially of two parts,
which are hercin-after described as the top and bottom parts. These
-are-connected together by a series. of tubes which surround the glass
of the lamp, and convey the air necessary to support combustion-from-
a tubular ring which is attached to the under side of the top part of the
lamp to an annular hollow space formed in the bottom part and which
communicates with the interior of the lamp. All the joints in the
lamp are formed perfectly air and water tight so that there may be
no communication with the external atmosphere except by means of
the air tubes attached thereto. The illuminating agents used may be
gases or oils, and in using gas it is supplied by a tube connected to a
reservoir, and communicating with the bottom part of the lamp in which
a burner is fitted. In cases where a person has to enter mines and
other places where a dangerous or poisonous atmosphere is contained,
the helmet for supplying fresh air is to be worn, and in which case the
lamp may be employed or not according as the place entered is otherwise
illumined or dark.