IMPROVEMENTS IN MINERS' SAFETY LAMPS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Robathan, of Risca, in the County of Monmouth,
Physician and Surgeon, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MINERS'
SAFETY LAMPS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Robathan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th December 1880.
EDWARD ROBATHAN, of Risca, in the County of Monmouth, Physician and
Surgeon. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MINERS' SAFETY LAMPS, AND IN APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH,"
This Invention relates to safety lamps as used by miners, and has for its object
the improvement in the light obtained or transmitted therefrom when used in the
mine without the danger arising from the present use thereof. Some lamps now in
use cannot be tilted to one side without danger of breaking the lamp glass or
extinguishing the light, and as from their form a good light cannot be obtained
from them without tilting, my Invention is intended to obviate the necessity of
tilting, and to ensure a perfect transmission of the light from the lamp to the
place where it is required.
The novelty of my Invention consists in so constructing the lamp as to receive
one or more reflectors, or so constructing reflectors as that they can be applied to
existing lamps with little or no alteration of the said existing lamps. The reflector
can have a frame with one or more projections to fit into one or more recesses in
the lamp, or vice versa, and the said reflector or reflectors can be fixed in the said
frame or be made to swing therein so as to be capable of adjustment and fixing
securely at any desired angle. The reflector or reflectors can be of any desired
form, for instance, in the form of a concave disc, or in the form of a ladies fan, to
open and close, and will be constructed of copper with a silvered face or silvered
faces; or they may be of any other material or construction which will reflect and.
transmit the light without loss.

page_text: The reflectors for application to existing lamps (without alteration of the lamps)
can be fitted with a spring which will clasp the lamp flame or any part thereof,
and be securely held thereby, and the reflectors can have hinged frames, so as to be
laid flat within the spring when not in use, for convenience of carriage in the
pocket; or existing lamps may be fitted with a circular looped wire (or wires), and
the frame of the reflector or a projection on the reflector be inserted in the loop (or
loops) of the wire (or wires), or the said circular wire may be formed with a
projection or projections, and corresponding recess or recesses be made in the
reflector or in the frame thereof.
Lamps fitted with permanent reflectors can have the frame of the reflector hinged
so that the reflector will lay close to the lamp when not in use, and be moved
therefrom for adjustment to any desired angle when required for use.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Robathan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th June
1881.
EDWARD ROBATHAN, of Risca, in the County of Monmouth, Physician and
Surgeon. IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY LAMPS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH."
86
"
This Invention relates to safety lamps as used by miners, and has for its object
the improvement in the light obtained or transmitted therefrom when used in the
mine without the danger arising from the present use thereof. Some lamps now in
use cannot be tilted to one side without danger of breaking the lamp glass or
extinguishing the light, and as from their form a good light cannot be obtained
from them without tilting, my Invention is intended to obviate the necessity of
tilting, and to ensure a perfect transmission of the light from the lamp to the place
where it is required.
The novelty of my Invention consists in so constructing the lamp as to receive
one or more reflectors, or so constructing reflectors as that they can be applied to
existing lamps with little or no alteration of the said existing lamps. The reflector
can have a frame with one or more projections to fit into one or more recesses in
the lamp, or vice versa, and the said reflector or reflectors can be fixed in the said
frame or be made to swing therein so as to be capable of adjustment and fixing
securely at any desired angle. The reflector or reflectors can be of any desired
form, for instance, in the form of a concave disc, or in the form of a ladies fan to
open and close, and will be constructed of copper with a silvered face or silvered
faces; or they may be of any other material or construction which will reflect and
transmit the light without loss.
The reflectors for application to existing lamps (without alteration of the lamps)
can be fitted with a spring which will clasp the lamp frame or any part thereof
and be securely held thereby, and the reflectors can have hinged frames, so as to be
laid flat within the spring when not in use for convenience of carriage in the
pocket; or existing lamps may be fitted with a circular looped wire (or wires), and
the frame of the reflector, or a projection on the reflector be inserted in the loop
(or loops) of the wire (or wires), or the said circular wire may be formed with a
projection or projections, and corresponding recess or recesses be made in the
reflector or in the frame thereof.
Lamps fitted with permanent reflectors can have the frame of the reflector
hinged, so that the reflector will lay close to the lamp when not in use, and be
moved therefrom for adjustment to any desired angle when required for use.
+
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a miners' safety'
lamp showing a back view of the reflector or mirror B which throws the light
downwards, and showing a side view of the reflector or mirror A which throws the
light upwards. Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the lamp showing a back view of
the reflector A, and a side view of the reflector B.
The reflectors A and B are of the form known as parabolic, but they may be of
other suitable form, and may be fitted to and secured to any part or parts of the
lamp other than those shown in the Drawings.
The stem H of the reflector A is fitted into a recess in a projection F cast on the
frame G of the lamp, and the stem E of the reflector B is fitted into a recess in the
frame D, or fitted into a recess in a projection on the frame D. Fig. 3 is a side
view of the reflector A; Fig. 4 is a vertical section thereof as taken through the
dotted line Y, Z, (Fig. 5); and Fig. 5 is a front view thereof in elevation. H is
the stem or shank by which the reflector is secured to the lamp. Fig. 6 is a side

page_text: view in elevation of the reflector B; Fig. 7 is a vertical section thereof as taken
through the dotted line W, X, (Fig. 8); and Fig. 8 is a front view in elevation
thereof. E is the stem or shank of the reflector by which it is secured to the
lamp.
A strip or band of brass or other material formed with a set off can be secured
to the frame of existing lamps, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, in and through which
the shank of the reflector will be inserted or passed for the purpose of securing it
to the lamp.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is, improvements in miners' safety lamps by the combination
therewith of reflectors such as are illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, or
any mere modifications thereof, or the combination therewith of a single reflector
which will act in a similar manner; or the combination therewith of a reflector or
reflectors as herein-before described for the purpose of transmitting the light of the
lamp without deterioration thereof, and the construction of the lamp to receive and
retain the said reflectors.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Robathan have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Second day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
ED. ROBATHAN. (L.S.)