IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY LAMPS
Year: 1885

page_text: I WILLIAM CLIFFORD of number 12 Kenwood road Sheffield in the County of
York, mining engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY LAMPS to be as follows:-
They relate in part to safety lamps generally, and in part also to the miner's safety
lamp for which application for letters patent was made by me on January 22nd
1885, N° 857.
My improvements particularly refer to the following matters or parts in a safety
lamp.
First to the admission of air.
Second to the fuel used, and to the vessel or receptacle to hold it; and to the
regulation of the supply of it to the wick flame,
Third to the wick.
By the first part of my invention I so admit the supply of air to the inlet of a
safety lamp as to give a constant supply to the wick flame but regulate such supply
in quantity to the requirements of the wick flaine only.
By the second part of my improvements I obtain a bright light without danger
from the generation of inflammable gases from the fuel within its receptacle or
vessel; and I also avoid that attendant upon the overturning of a sufety lamp in
an inflammable atmosphere; and I keep the supply of fuel at a short and constant
distance from the wick flame, and render the action of the wick certain and
regular.
By the third part of my invention I make the use of a pricker or cleaning wire
actuated from the outside of lamp unnecessary.
"
To attain the first part of my invention. I make in the roof or cover of the
annular inlet chamber:-of a lamp of my pattern-or in horizontal discs or
diaphragms placed within and dividing the gauze or gauze and shield or "bonnet
in a lamp of the Mueseler or similar type: apertures or perforations communicating
directly with the outlet of lamp. These apertures are of such construction and size
as will offer a resistance to the air passing through them in proportion as it may
be required to increase or diminish the supply of air to the wick.
In the second part of my invention I make use of blocks or cylinders of any
oily or fatty compound containing hydrogen and carbon which is solid at the
ordinary temperature of the atmosphere in Great Britain, being of the classes of

page_text: organic substances known as hydrocarbons and fatty acids-with or without
wicks :-together with a circular plate or piston placed within the receptacle or feed
vessel below the flame chamber. This plate or piston can move up and down
between guides or within a tube, the block or cylinder of fuel is placed upon the
circular plate and its upper part is pressed against another circular plate having in
its centre a hole or tube for the wick, and as the block or cylinder burns away,
the metal spring or other elastic force used to raise the piston or plate which
carries it, keeps it in contact with the upper plate or cover notwithstanding its
diminished length.
To attain the third part of my invention I make use of wicks in cylinders or
blocks of fuel that will turn out of the flame during burning, or of wicks of
asbestos or any other such material that will not burn away-suspended in tube
or hole in circular plate on top of fuel :-the lower ends of such wicks being
continuously in contact with that portion of the fuel that is liquified by heat of
flame.

page_text: I WILLIAM CLIFFORD of Bath Street Sheffield in the County of York Mining
engineer (formly of Norton Woodseats in the County of Derby) do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY LAMPS and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:―
They relate in part to the safety lamp for the construction of which I. have
received letters patent No 857 for the year 1885; and in part also, to safety lamps
in general. They refer particularly to the following matters connected with or
forming parts of a safety lamp:-
First To the admission of air to and the escape of the same from a safety
lamp and to the construction of the lamp in relation thereto.
Second-To the nature of the fuel used to its form; to the vessel or receptacle
to contain the fuel and regulate its supply to the wick flame, and to the connection
of this vessel with the wick and wick tube.
The air is admitted by ports or holes in an oblique direction into the annular
chambers as set forth in patent granted to me as referred to; and to affect the first
part of my improvements communication is made between the chamber at the in
and the chamber at the outlet of a lamp through an annular space enclosed by
solid walls of metal.
.
In applying this first part of my improvements to an unshielded lamp, I place
over the gauze of such lamp the double skin of metal with the attached inlet and
outlet chambers, with ports communicating with outside and inside of lamp from
such chambers, and also other ports or holes,—not in the sides or walls of chambers-
but in the inlet one and in the floor of the outlet one,-opening into the space
between the two skins of metal. The holes may be of any suitable size and shape
and the distance by which the solid skins of metal are separated from each other
is determined by the size of lamp, the volume of flame and other conditions. By
means of this communication within the outer wall, bonnet, or covering, between
inlet and outlet the air pressures within the two chambers are equalized and a
steady flame in gusts of wind is obtained.
To attain the second part of my invention I make use of blocks or cylinders of
fuel of any oily or fatty compound of hydrogen and carbon which is solid at the
ordinary temperature of the atmosphere in Great Britain-being of the classes of
substances known as hydrocarbons and fatty acids. I use such blocks and cylinders
with a thin part projecting from the upper side; this circular projecting part fits
into the wick tube, and itself contains a single wick (through a portion of its
length) which will turn out of the flame during buring. This sing wick is
continued to base of the main body of the fuel, but in the main body and in a
portion of that projecting it is supplemented by or joined to a thicker wick. I also
use the cylinders of solid fuel without wicks, but with a round hole in the centre
to fit outside the wick tube.
The vessel or receptacle to contain the fuel, the fuel case, the overflow chamber,
the piston or platform which carries the fuel and the spring is screwed to the
cradle of the lamp to which it is applied, in the ordinary way and the covering of
the overflow chamber when the lamp is screwed down forms the bottom of flame

page_text: chamber, like the top of the oil vessel does in an ordinary safety lamp. In using
a cylinder of fuel without a wick the sheath or case in which it fits and slides, has
a flange at its bottom edge against which a corresponding flange on the piston
carrying the fuel presses after a portion of the fuel has been burnt away or melted
into overflow chamber. These flanges are faced with india rubber or other material
that will form a tight joint; and are held together by a strong spring pressing on
the piston or platform from below. The construction may be so modified that the
piston may travel up the inside of fuel case or sheath, until all the fuel is burnt
away or melted into the overflow chamber. Under the modified arrangement a
shorter wick tube is used and the block or cylinder of fuel has a projection on its
upper side as hereinbefore referred to.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I have annexed hereto
drawings explanatory of the details above set forth, and in which the same letters
of reference indicate the same or similar parts in any figure.
Figs. 1. 4. and 5 are vertical sections of lamps. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on
line P-Q in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section of a portion of vessel showing the
modified form of wick tube.
Fig. 1 represents a lamp with both parts of my improvements.
Fig. 4 shows the application of the first part of my invention to a lamp having
my patent cap cowl or ventilator at the outlet, but which has oblique or tangental
ports at inlet only.
Fig. 5 shows the application of my invention, (first part) to a lamp of the
Mueseler or Clanny type-Dotted lines show the position of the Mueseler chimney
before remodeled.
In all of the figures A shows inlet chambers, B outlet chambers, D and E the
solid skins of metal O the annular space between them, F communication holes
between chambers through space C. G indicates the wick. In Fig. 1 the wick is
in the tube and cylinder of fuel K is wickless-while that shown also by K-
Fig. 3 has wick and a projection on its upper side as described. H shows the wick
tube with perforations, I the overflow chamber which in Fig. 1 is partly filled,
lamp being supposed to have burnt some time. L shows the fuel case, M the piston
or platform, and N the spring. R (Fig. 4) is the cowl of modified lamp. x (Fig. 1)
is a bulb of fixed air to keep the handle of lamp cool-Y represents perforations
in smoke cap.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First Direct communication between inlet and outlet chambers of a safety
lamp through solid skins of metal.
Second-The use of a double skin, covering, or bonnet to a safety lamp-the
same having no opening into or communication with the outer air or with the
interior of such safety lamp except through the outlet and inlet chambers.
Third-The use in a safety lamp of solid fuel of the nature and in the manner
herein before described.
Fourth-The use of an overflow chamber attached to and in connection with
a wick tube with perforations in it.
Fifth The use of a disc or circular platform carrying the fuel, raised by a
spring, but jamming against the bottom of fuel case so as to form a tight joint.