Improvements in Miners' Lamps.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 7th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 12th Aug., 1887
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Miners' Lamps.
We, JAMES GILCHRIST, and DOUGALD BALLARDIE both of 70 York Street in the
City of Glasgow Merchants, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in miners lamps wherein solid or viscous
hydro-carbons such as cera or paraffin wax are burned the hydro-carbon being liquified
while the lamp is in use by heat conducted from the flame.
In the "spout" or wick tube of the lamp which may be of the ordinary form we
fit a tubular holder for the wick, said holder being of copper, brass or other conductor
of heat and being perforated to permit of the passage there through of the hydro
carbon which is drawn by capillary action of the wick to the flame. Between the
wick holder and the usual wick tube a ring of cork or other non conductor is fitted
to prevent conduction of the heat of the Hame to the lamp case the said ring also
serving to secure the holder in place. At or near the upper end of the holder is
fitted a loose ring of copper or other conductor provided with an upwardly extending
finger the ring being retained by a collar on the holder but being free to turn so that
the finger may be moved from a position in which the lamp flame impinges on it to a
position more or less under the flame. The heat imparted by the flame to the finger
when it is in the position first above mentioned is conducted by the ring and wick
holder with which it is in contact and serves to liquify the hydro-carbon around the
wick immediately after the lamp is lit, but after the hydro-carbon has been so liquified
the finger is turned more or less out of contact with the flame. On the spout or outer
case of the wick holder a tubular piece of wire gauze is fitted the gauze tube being
formed with a flaring mouth to clear the adjustable finger and being adapted to slide
upon the wick casing so that its position may be adjusted to protect the flame more
or less from air currents, a spring bearing on the tube serving to retain the gauze
in place.
On the back of the lamp case slides are formed to receive a block of cork which is
there fitted to serve as a nonconducting pad or cushion between the head of the
miner and the lamp case.
Dated this Eighth day of October 1886.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Agents.

page_text: We, JAMES GILCHRIST and DOUGALD BALLARDIE both of 70 York Street, in the
City of Glasgow, Merchants, 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 :-
Our invention relates to improvements in miners' lamps wherein solid or viscous
hydro-carbons such as cera or paraffin wax are burned the hydro-carbon being liquified
while the lamp is in use by heat conducted from the flame.
In the "spout" or wick tube A of the lamp which may be of the ordinary form as
represented in elevation and section at figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings
we fit a tubular holder B, for the wick C, said holder being of copper, brass or other
conductor of heat and being perforated as shown at figure 2, to permit of the passage
therethrough of the hydro-carbon which is drawn by capillary action of the wick to
the flame. Between the wick holder B, and the usual wick tube A, a ring D of cork
or other non-conductor is fitted to prevent conduction of the heat of the flame to the
lamp case E, the said ring also serving to secure the holder in place. At or near the
upper end of the holder is fitted a loose ring F of copper or other conductor provided
with an upwardly extending finger f the ring being retained by a collar or drip cup b
on the holder B, but being free to turn so that the fingerf may be moved from the
position shown in full lines in which the lamp flame impinges on it to a position more
or less under the flame, as indicated by the dotted lines. The heat imparted by the
flame to the finger f when it is in the position first above mentioned is conducted by
the ring F and wick holder B, with which it is in contact and serves to liquify the
hydro-carbon around the wick immediately after the lamp is lit, but after the hydro-
carbon has been so liquified the finger f, is turned more or less out of contact with the
flame. On the spout A, or outer case of the wick holder a tubular piece of wire
gauze may be fitted the gauze tube being formed with a flaring month to clear the
adjustable finger and being adapted to slide upon the wick casing so that its position
may be adjusted to protect the flame more or less from air currents, a spring bearing
on the tube serving to retain the gauze in place.
On the back of the lamp case slides G are formed to receive a block H, of cork
which is there fitted to serve as a non-conducting pad or cushion between the head of
the miner and the lamp case.

page_text: The invention is also applicable to other forms of lamps having inclined spouts or
wick tubes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is :-
In a miners' or similar lamp the combination with the heat conducting wick holder B,
of the finger fso fitted as to be capable of being brought partially over or under
the lamp flame as and for the purpose set forth.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Agents.