IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SAFETY LAMPS FOR MINERS, AND OF APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Richard Spencer at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 24th September 1879.
RICHARD SPENCER, of Gainsborough, in the County of Lincoln, Turner.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SAFETY LAMPS FOR MINERS, AND OF
APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.'
"
This Invention consists in certain improvements in the construction of safety
lamps for miners, and of apparatus to be used in connection therewith for the
purpose of regulating and extinguishing the flame.
The lamp is constructed partly of metal and wire gauze and partly of glass, and
has an exterior metallic casing which surrounds and contains the principal portions
of the apparatus. At the lower portion of the lamp is placed the reservoir for
containing the oil and wick, a tube of glass of the requisite strength and form and
supported by suitable means being placed above the same for the purpose of
transmitting the light emitted by the flame of the lamp. Above the said glass is
a double metallic tube of a cylindrical form, the space between the two concentric
cylinders being filled with a suitable non-conducting material for the purpose of
preventing the radiation of the heat generated by the combustion of the light
giving material. The top of the cylinder is closed by a diaphragm or diaphragms
of wire gauze through the meshes of which the beated air can pass from the
interior of the lamp to the surrounding atmosphere. The requisite supply of
atmospheric air for the purposes of combustion is admitted to the interior of the
lamp by means of tubes placed between the oil reservoir and the glass light
transmitter. The internal ends of the said tnbes are closed but have small apertures
drilled or formed therein for the passage of the air.
The apparatus for regulating the light and extinguishing the flame of the lamp
is constructed as follows: — A bar or spindle is placed parallel to the wick and on
one portion of the said bar or spindle are mounted two small toothed wheels, the
teeth of which are capable of acting upon the surface of the wick and of raising
and lowering the same as may be desired when the bar or spindle is rotated. One
end of the said bar or spindle is made square or is otherwise suitably shaped, and
is passed into a corresponding recess formed in one end of a small block, which is
provided with a collar and has a second bar or spindle attached to the opposite
end thereof. The last mentioned bar or spindle projects beyond the exterior of the
lamp and is provided with a milled head for the purpose of actuating the same.
A metallic plate or cover is pivoted to the wick holder and when the wick is

page_text: burning is retained in an oblique position by a small pin or bar actuated by a
a spiral spring; the outer end of the said pin or bar is provided with a catch or
detent which passes over the collar on the before mentioned block. When it is desired
to extinguish the flame the spindle attached to the block is actuated andthe latter
is caused to slide a short distance on the square end of the other spindle, thereby
causing the collar on the block to draw the small pin or bar from the extinguishing
plate or cover, which latter immediately turns upon its pivot, and by assuming a
position immediately over the burning wick extinguishes the flame, such action
being facilitated by means of a spring arranged at one end of the plate or cover.
The spindle for actuating the extinguishing mechanism also tends to prevent the
exposure of the naked flame by the surreptitious opening of the lamp, the said
spindle being so arranged that the lamp cannot be opened without breaking the
said spindle unles the latter be withdrawn, in which case the flame would be
instantly extinguished.