IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY LAMPS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Rayner, M.A., of Wakefield, in the County of
York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY LAMPS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Rayner at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th April 1878.
JOSEPH RAYNER, M.A., of Wakefield, in the County of York.
IN SAFETY LAMPS."
"IMPROVEMENTS
The object of my Invention is to construct a safety lamp in such a manner that
the flame therein can be adjusted, also entirely isolated from the outer air, this being
effected by the miner or other person using the lamp.
My improvements are applicable to safety lamps generally, such as those known
as the Stephenson, Davy, Clanny, Muesler, and others, and is as hereafter
described.
"
The body of the lamp may be of ordinary construction, and the arrangement of
gauze " also of the ordinary type.
In order to isolate the blaze or flame within the lamp from the external atmo-
sphere I provide a cover for the " gauze," which may be made either to close
over it in a telescopical manner, or to slide horizontally round the "gauze," and
cover it.
The parts forming the horizontal cover, when open, may be passed behind the
reflector, such reflector also forming part of the cover.
When preferred I provide a ventilator at the upper portion or part of the lamp,
such ventilator being arranged so that it can be opened or closed at pleasure.
In cases where the lamps are perforated at the botton or lower end (as in the
Stephenson) for ventilation, I provide a sliding cover, which also may be opened or
closed over the apertures at pleasure.
In order to test the presence of "gas" in a place it is necessary to lower the light,
which I effect by partially closing the "gauze" cover or top and bottom ventilators;
the remainder of the test is performed in the ordinary manner.

page_text: When "gas" is present, and a danger of explosion, I close the ventilators, and
also the "gauze "cover, by which means the light may be readily extinguished,
and the "firing" of the lamp and consequent explosion prevented.
६
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Joseph Rayner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th October 1878.
JOSEPH RAYNER, M.A., of Wakefield, in the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN SAFETY LAMPS."
The object of my Invention is to construct a safety lamp in such a manner that
the flame therein can be adjusted, also entirely isolated from the outer air, this being
effected by the miner or other person using the lamp.
My improvements are applicable to safety lamps generally, such as those
known as the Stephenson, Davy, Clanny, Muesler, and others, and is as hereafter
described.
The body of the lamp may be of ordinary construction, and the arrangement of
. gauze "also of the ordinary type.
In order to isolate the blaze or flame within the lamp from the external
atmosphere, I provide a cover for the "gauze," which may be made either to close
over it in a telescopical manner, or to slide horizontally round the "gauze," and
cover it.
The parts forming the horizontal cover, when open, may be passed behind the
reflector, such reflector also forming part of the cover.
When preferred I provide a ventilator at the upper portion or part of the lamp,
such ventilator being arranged so that it can be opened or closed at pleasure.
In cases where the lamps are perforated at the bottom or lower end (as in the
Stephenson) for ventilation, I provide a sliding cover, which also may be opened or
closed over the apertures at pleasure.
In order to test the presence of "gas" in a place it is necessary to lower the
light, which I effect by partially closing the "gauze" cover or top and bottom
ventilators; the remainder of the test is performed in the ordinary manner..
When " gas" is present, and a danger of explosion, I close the ventilators, and
also the " gauze" cover, by which means the light may be readily extinguished,
and the "firing" of the lamp and consequent explosion prevented.
And in order that my Invention may be more completely understood reference
is given to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings and to the letters and marks
thereon.
Figure 1 represents an elevation, and Figure 2 a transverse section of a safety
lamp with my improvements applied.
The lamp represented in the annexed. Drawings is what is known as the
"Clanny" safety lamp, in which a represents the oil well; b, the ordinary glass

page_text: surrounding the lower part of lamp; and c, the gauze; all these parts are of
ordinary construction.
In order to isolate the blaze or flame within the lamp (which is caused by igniting
of the explosive gases in lamp) from the external atmosphere, I provide the teles-
copical cover, the parts of which are represented by d and d'; this cover d', for
purpose of isolation, may be closed over the gauze c, as shewn at Figure 2, or drawn
off telescopically, and over the upper cover d, as shewn at Figure 1.
When the cover is arranged to slide horizontally I by preference so divide it into
parts that they may be slided behind each other; in this case the inner portion may
be used instead of the ordinary reflector.
In addition to the telescopical covers for the gauze I provide a ventilator e at the
upper portion of the lamp, and fit on to it a sliding part f, both of which have holes
g and g¹ corresponding with each other, and so arranged that the cover of can be
drawn over the holes g, thereby shutting off the ventilation.
In some cases, where the lamps are perforated at the lower end for ventilation, as
shewn at h, I provide the sliding cover i, which also at pleasure may be closed over
the apertures at h.
In order to make these lamps safe when hung up or placed in dangerous parts of
the mine, I provide a fusible plug, which is passed through one of the openings g
and g¹ in cover f of lamp top. I also provide a spring attachment at ; or other
convenient place, that when the plug is withdrawn or melted the cover f shuts off
the ventilator automatically. By coupling the upper sliding cover f and the lower
sliding cover i together the closing action of both will be simultaneous. Sufficient
opening at the top e and bottom h is allowed, in order that in some cases the
cover d' may be closed over the " gauze" c. In some cases I cover the holes h with
gauze.
The air may be supplied to the flame of the lamp from the upper part thereof by
means of a tube passing down the side of the lamp. In this case the perforations h
are entirely dispensed with, and the cover f closes the mouth of the tube simul-
taneously with the closing of the ventilation holes g.
Other parts of the lamp not described are of ordinary construction.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and shewn by Drawings
how the same may be carried into practice, I would have it understood that I do
not limit myself to the precise limits, details, or configuration of the parts I have
expressed and shewn, as the same may of course be varied or modified without in
any way departing from the nature or principle of my Invention; but what I claim
and desire to be secured to me by Letters Patent is, the arrangement and applica-
tion of the means employed for isolating the blaze or flame, and for extinguishing
the same in safety lamps, substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Rayner, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
JOSEPH RAYNER. (L.S.)