Improvements in Miners' Safety Lamps.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 27th Jan., 1894
Improvements in Miners' Safety Lamps.
I, KARL BROUCEK, of Moravská Ostrava Moravia in the Empire of Austria
Lampmaker, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to construct an improved form of miners' lamp,
adapted for burning either benzine or petroleum.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the centre of the lamp.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line X X of Fig. 1.
Fig. 2 is a sectional detail of a portion of Fig. 2.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line Y Y of Fig. i.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line Z Z of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a plan and Fig. 6 a section of the locking plate.
Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the frame of the lamp.
Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the internal mechanism, showing also the appliances
for filling the lamp.
Fig. 9 is a horizontal section of the filling tube.
Fig. 10 is another vertical section of the filling appliance.
Fig. 11 is a side view and Fig. 12 an end view of the arrangements for lighting
the lamp, and Fig. 12 is a horizontal section on the line 1, 2, of Fig. 11.
Fig. 13 is another detail section of the lighting arrangements.
Figs. 14 and 14^ are detail sectional views of the wick regulator.
The frame of the lamp consists of the cylindrical base f, pillars c and e, annular
plate d, cover a, ring b, and safety spring g, as shown in Fig. 7.
I
h
In Fig. I the safety spring 7 is shown compressed between the annular ring a!
and the plate d. 1, 2, are concentric conoidal wire gauze cylinders, and 3 and 4 are
wire gauze covers fitted thereto. The gauze cylinders are firmly held in position
by their lower flanges being fixed between the ring al and the glass cylinder G.
W is a cone and reflector, the lower flange of which is enclosed between two rubber
rings, the glass cylinder G resting upon the upper ring. n is a conical base ring,
turned to fit the lower end of the cylinder f. Above this cone is a groove 4, in
which the locking plate, attached to the plate n, works, (Fig. 4). A number of
equidistant catches ii, pivoted at u are fitted (preferably 5). The longer arms of
the catches ii are capable of engaging in the groove by means of the springs v,
thereby locking the ring n in position. The springs are preferably adjusted with
one end fastened to the catch. The shorter arm of each catch, on the inner side of
the pivot u, serves a different purpose and projects against the wall of the ring n, as
shown in Fig. 4. Between the catches i equidistant slots o are formed in the ring n.
When the lamp is complete these holes o are covered by spring stoppers P, P', 1, 3,.
as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. These spring stoppers are contained in suitable cases
or recesses provided in the body of the lamp, as shown in Fig. 1. On unlocking the
lamp by means of the separate locking plate shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the projections b'b'
are pressed into the openings o, thereby lifting the plates p'; the projections c
acting as guides to the locking plate. On the plate being pressed upwards and,
then slightly turned, the locking levers are withdrawn from the groove h, as will
be understood on reference to Figs. 4, 5, and 6. In order to secure the lamp
against improper opening and as an addition to the locking apparatus last above

page_text: described, a screw m (Fig. 1) is fitted in the socket 1, entering a groove y in the
plate, the head of the screw being formed so as to require a special key for turning
When unlocked the spring g pushes down the body of the lamp.
the same.
In order to prevent the working part of the lamp turning on its centre, on being
opened, catches and pins k k¹ (Figs. 2 and 24) are affixed to the top plate f', the
plate & acting as a spring to the pin ', which enters a suitable hole in the top of
the lamp body. In this top al is fitted the piston valve F: the wick regulating
mechanism and a rectangular box N', in which the lighting mechanism is fitted.
The case is an oil container, formed of sheet metal, and fitting the lower part of
the lamp.
The lamp may be arranged for round or flat wicks, and the wick may be lighted
and regulated by means of the spindles fitted with buttons S and Z. For lamps
burning benzine, the lighting appliances shown separately in Figs. 11 to 13 are
used. The upper end of the spindle S is fitted with a hook (Fig. 13). On
moving the spindle S once up and down, the wheel M is rotated to the extent of
one tooth, the motion being limited by the projection y working in a slot in the
spindle S. The projection also prevents the spindle turning. The wheel M
and barrel M (Fig. 11) are fixed to one spindle, so as to turn together. E is an
clastic hammer, forming a striking spring, fixed to the case N'. When the wheel M
is turned to the extent of one tooth, a tooth of the same wheel presses against a
small plate E' attached to the hammer E, whereby the hammer E is raised.
Between the hammer E and the saddle or anvil plate A, an elastic strip covered
with a detonating or analogous lighting material is carried by means of the roller M'
which unwinds it from a coil J of the same material (Figs. 11, 12 and 13). The
roller M is formed with serrations parallel to its axis. When the haminer E falls,
after being raised by the spindle S, it strikes the fulminating or other material
upon the anvil A, and thereby lights the wick.
The wick tube t is attached to a wick regulating tube t', which acts as a guide
to the wick tube. The spindle % passes through a fixed tube 7, and is provided
with a collar and a screw thread Z. The nut Z is formed in one with the
wick tube, as shown in Fig. 14. The wick tube and wick can therefore be raised
and lowered by turning the external button 7.
The filling apparatus consists of a slotted cylinder R', screwed to the body of
the lamp, as shown. T is a piston valve fitting the cylinder. R is a spring which
presses
ses the piston upwards so as to close the opening in the cover automatically.
T is a short piston rod attached to the piston T. The filling of the lamp is
effected by the application of the apparatus shown in Figs. 8 and 10. The key t
fits over the rod or spindle T'. The handle m' is held in position while the
button m² is pressed down. The piston T is thereby pressed down, as shown in
Fig. 8, below the slots in the cylinder. The cock in the supply pipes is then
opened and the benzine flows into the body of the lamp without coming in contact
with the atmosphere. The pipe s' may be connected with any suitable supply.
When the lamp is full the pressure upon the handle m¹ is relaxed, whereby the
opening rises above that of the pipe s', by the expansion of the spring. On
the removal of the feeder, the piston T closes the cylinder R'. The cock s³ should
then be turned so as to prevent accidents from leakage.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In miners' safety lamps, the combination of a lamp body a, a, conical base
ring n fitting the internal cone of f, and locking levers attached to the base n,
gearing into the groove, substantially as and for the purposes herein before
described and illustrated by the drawings.
2. In miners' safety lamps, the combination with a lamp body a ', of spring
stoppers pp', fitted in recesses in the lamp body and base ring n, substantially as
and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.

page_text: 3. In combination with miners' safety lamps as aforesaid, the application and
use of the locking ring (Figs. 5 and 6) provided with projecting arms c', hooks b',
of catch k k', and safety spring 9, severally operating substantially as herein before
described and illustrated by the drawings.
4. In miners' safety lamps, the combination of a detonating lighting apparatus,
actuated by a spindle S and button S' projecting below the bottom of the lamp,
and consisting of a ratchet wheel M, hammer E, projection E', anvil A, detonating
material and roller M', with ineans for operating the same, substantially as and
for the purposes herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
5. In combination with miners' safety lamps as aforesaid, the application and use
of a filling apparatus consisting of a piston valve T, piston rod or spindle T¹,
slotted cylinder R', helical spring R, key t fitting T₁, pressure handle m¹,
pressure button m², filling tubes with opening ', and means for operating the
same, all substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated
by the drawings.
6. The general construction, arrangement, and combination of the several and
respective parts, together forming my invention of improvements in miners' safety
lamps, substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
GEO. DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.