US1757888A - Miner's lamp - Google Patents

Description

G: WHEAT MINER S LAMP May 6, 1930.

Filed NOV. 22. 1926 Patented' ,Muy 1936 Uruf'rEn STATES PATENT OFFICE einem: WHEAT, or nutrono, MASSACHUSETTS, assIeNon To nomen. Maneras- 'rume commer; or. mannose, MAssacnUsErTs, a -conrona'rron or masa- IINEBS Iam Application med November 82, 1986. Serial No. 149,890.

This invention relates to lamps ofthe generaltype used by miners, and artisans and known as miners lamps.

Such lamps `usually include a `head piece which is mounted on the 'miners cap, this head piece containing one lor more electric lamps which vare supplied with current from a` battery that usually is slung tothe miners belt. Lamps lof this type as heretofore constructed 'have been of very limited candle power, and it is an important ob'ect of this invention -to vdevise va lamp whic will Give the miner much rgreater `illumination 1t an prior lamps .without unduly increasing ythe size or weight' ofthe apparatus. The inven- Vpiece constructed yin accordance ywith thepresent invention, vthis head piece being shown mounted on a rniners cap Fig. 2 `is ya `front elevation.oftheheadpiece shown in Fig. f1.;

\ Fig. 3 yis across-sectional view 1`throughthe headpiece shownin Fig. l.;

'Figs .4 and .5 are front and :perspective views, respectively, ofthe insulating casing and parts contained therein fand Fi 6 is a detail view of the main lamp bulb ase, showing the rsocket andthe contacts for the bulb.

The lamp shown includes many of :the features of my kprior .Patent No. 1,361,557, granted December -7, 1920, and,in addition, contains certain improvements. As shown, the lamp comprises `a head piece which `includes a lamp casing 2 preferably made-.of

some insulating material, -such fas'hard rubber, this casing having la .metal Ibracket 3 secured thereto by means of which -it is remov- -outer f art yof `the base of the lam centra terminal at the tip ofthe amp base normally is held against a metal strip lplate 15 which is embedded :in the material ci fthe vcasing 2 rvand is tension 15', ;Fi 4, whlch fis secured rigidly totheinside o the `casing by screws. This lplate .may be electrically connected to the yother wire 16 of the supply conductor 13 through an `electric switch which, vas shown, `consists of a rotary metal plate 17, Figs. 4 and 5,1ying in contact witha stationa l late `screw 19.

ably fastened `to a .front plate 4 on :a miners vca v5.

' i lounted within the lam casing25is a. main lamp iti-and yan auxiliary am 7. The main `lamp Ais of much larger candle power than has been used heretofore in miners lamps, so far as I `am aware. A lamp of fifteen candle power may conveniently Vhe used here, while theauxiliary lamp usually isof sixcandie power, which is :the common size heretoltore used in apparatus of this character. In yorder to mount these lamps within `a small .pace and vwithin a lamp casing of suitable sign, it is preferable to support the main lamp 16 vertically and the `'auxiliary lamp .7

y.horizontally and immediately 'below the main lamp. For this purpose `a socket 8 is provided in the rupper part o the casing 2 to `receive the base of the flamp 6, this lsocket comprising a vvou -shaped `metal `member :mounted -on Vthe ree end of -a spring arm I 9 ywhich secured to a plate 10 that is anchored in the casing. One wire or lead 12, Fig. 4, ofthe current supplying conductor 1'3 is secured to the plate 10 b a screw 114 so that current is conducted y the lamp socketS to the :metal shell which forms 'Itle 6. e

rovided with an rex- '18 'to `which the wire 16 is connecte ya The plate 17 is Vmounted on the inner end-of la short shaft to which a yhandle y2O, Fig.-1,of'nsulating material is secured. This handle consists of ya disk ofhard rubber "or other insulating material'having a rough- .,ened edge so that it ma vturnedto rotate the mova le lswitch member conveniently be `17intoor 4out of contact with the stationary plate 15. v

The elements for supporting the auxiliary lamp are much like those shown in my prior patent above designated, and include a lcupshaped metalsocket 21 supported on the end of a spring arm which is connected to the plate 10 by a metal strip 22, Fig. 4. The cup 21 engages the metal shell on the base of the lamp 7 while the terminal at the tip of this lamp is engaged by a stationary contact 23 forming part of a plate 24 which is secured to the inside of the casing where it will cooperate with the movable member 17 of the switch above described. In order to hold the auxiliary lamp 7 in its socket with its end terminal in engagement with the contact 23, a relatively stiff spring finger 25 is arranged to bear against the end of the lamp opposite to the base, this linger having a slotted end to receive the sealing tip 26, Fig. 2, on the lamp.

It will he observed that the main lamp 6 is supported with its axis extending transversely to the axis of the reflector 35 and that the auxiliary lamp 7 is substantially in vertical alinement with it but that its axis extends at approximately right angles to that of the main lamp 6 as well as extending in a direction transversely to the general direction of the axis of the reflector. This relationshipof the lamps and the reflector, and particularly that between the main lamp and the reflector, is of advantage in reducing the size, and consequently the weight, of the casing or head piece required to support and house the lamps.

Normally when the apparatus is in use the switch is in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5 so that the main lamp 6 is lighted, and the auxiliary lamp 7 is out or unlighted. The latter lamp is used only in case of emergency. If the main lamp fails for any reason or is broken, the miner then lights the auxiliary lamp by turning the switch handle 20 until the movable switch member 17 engages the plate 24.

Due to the fact that the cup member 8 of the socket for the main lamp is supported on a spring which is biased or tensioned outwardly away from the stationary contact 15, this socket member tends to hold the lamp downwardly away from the part 15 and thus to prevent the flow of current through the, lamp. The lamp, however, is supported against this action of the spring by the free forked end of a spring arm 33 which is secured rigidly in the back of the casing. This arm will yield to permit the introduction or removal of the lamp 6 but it is sufficiently stiff to hold the lamp securely in its socket avainst the tension of the spring 9. It is obvious from an inspection of Fig. 3 that the arm 33 holds the lamp bulb 6 normally back against the reflector or in contact with the screw 37, in case the head ot' this screw projects beyond the reflector, the reflector and screw being equivalents so far as their function of aiding in the sup ort of the bulb is concerned. In other wor s, the reflector and arm cooperate to hold the bulb in a very definite and substantially centered position with reference to the reector.

The front end of the chamber in the casing 2 is closed by a glass or lens 27 which protects both lamps 6 and 7. While this glass front 27 does not, strictly speaking, )erfornx the functions of a lens. it is ordinarily so 1'e ferred to. It is held in its` operative position by a bezel 28 having prongs or projections cooperating with several bayonet slots. one of which is shown at 29, Fig. An oxtension 30 at the lower side of the bezel is provided with holes to receive a screw connecting the bezel with an extension 31 from the bracket 3, this` screw serving to lock the bezel and bracket together. Additional holes are provided in the parts 30 and 31 so that they may be sealed together to prevent the opening` of the casing without leaving behind evidence of such fact. A rubber gasket 32 is interposed between the glass 27 and the cud of the casing 2.

lf the lamp 6 should be' broken, the cup member 8 of the socket would immediately move the lamp base downwardl thus mechanically breaking the contact etween the end terminal of the lamp and the stationary plate 15. This cuts off at once any How of current through the lamp and consequently minimizes the danger of igniting mine dam or any other combustible gas surroun( ing the apparatus.

If the bulb of thc lamp 7 should break, the spring arm 9 would immediately force the socket 8 away from the contact 23, thus mechanically breaking the circuit through this lamp.

A concave reflector 35 is located in the casing 2 immediately behind the lamp 6, the lamp preferably being approximately centered with reference to this reflector so that the maximum illumination afforded by the lamp is utilized. The auxiliary lamp 7 is at one side of this reflector, and the relector, consequently, is not efliciently positioned with regard to it, but this is not objectionablel for the reason that the lamp 7 is used only in emergencies. The` reflector is held in its operative position by a screw 37 projecting through the center of the reflector and threaded into a small bracket 38, Figs. 4 and 5. Four holes are formed through the reflector in the construction shown, two to receive, respectively, the bases ofthe two lamps, and the other two to permit the passage therethrough of. the spring arms and 33. respectively.

A piece of sheet insulating material 40, such as oiled linen` bre, or the like, is placed immediately behind the reflector to reduce the danger of short circuits.

If the bulb of either lamp should break, its

base would drop into the lower part of the chamber, and in order to prevent any danger of its short circuiting the terminals of the lamp 7 or its socket the reflector 35 is provided with a bulged portion 37, Fig. 2, which overlies and forms a shield or guard for the socket of the latter lamp. Such a guard obviously is not necessary 'for the lamp 6 because the base of the broken lamp would fall into the bottom of the lamp chamber.

It Will now be understood that this invention provides a miners lamp which affords for greater illumination than has been obtainable heretofore in commercial forms of lamps designed to be worn on the cap or other parts of the clothing. At the same time the size and weight of the apparatus has not that of prior constructions.

been materially increased, and the expense of manufacture compares favorably with Provision has also been made for guarding against the various emergencies and accidents which are likely to arise. y

While I have herein shwn and described the best embodiment of my invention that I have so far devised, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

1. In a miners lamp, the combination of a head piece including a lamp casing, means for fastening said head piece to a cap or the like, an electric lamp mounted in said casing, a socket for said lamp arranged to release the lamp upon the breaking of the lamp bulb and a guard for preventing the base of a broken lamp from short circuiting the socket.

2. In a miners lamp, the combination of a head piece including a lamp casing, means for fastening said head piece to a cap or the like, an electric lamp in said casing, a socket for said lamp arranged to release the lamp upon the breaking of the lamp bulb, and a reector for said lamp, said reflector being pro vided with a guard associated with said socket in such a manner as to prevent the base of a broken lamp from short circuiting the socket.

3. In a miners lamp, the combination of a head piece including a lamp casing, means for fastening said head piece to a cap or the like, an electric lamp mounted in said casing, a socket for said lamp arranged to release the lamp upon the breaking of the lamp bulb, a reflector for said lamp, said reflector having a guard overlying the socket of said lamp and serving to prevent the base of a broken lamp from short cir cuiting the socket.

4. In a miners lamp, the combination of a head piece including a lamp casing, means for fastening said head piece to a cap -or the like, a reflector in said casing, an incandescent lamp mounted in said casing in front of said reflector, said lam extending transversely to the axis of the re ector, a socket mounted in one side of said casing for receiving the base.

of the lamp and arranged to release the base automatically upon the breaking of the lamp bulb, and an arm mounted in said head piece and arranged to engage the end of said bulb, said arm serving to press said bulb backward- 1y against said reflector and cooperating with the reflector to hold said lamp in a substantially centered relationship to said reflector.

5. In a miners lamp, the combination of a head piece including a lamp casing, means for fastening said head piece to a cap or the like., a concave reflector in said casing, a main elec tric lamp mounted in said casing in front of said reflector, a lamp socket in one side of said casing for supporting said lamp in a position with 'its axis extending transversely to thev axis of said reflector, means cooperating with said socket to hold said lamp substantially centered with reference to said reflector, a

second electric lamp of much smaller candle power than said main lamp, and means for supporting said second lamp in front of said reflector with its axis extending transversely to that of the main lamp.

6. In a miners lamp, the combination of a head piece including a lamp casing, means for fastening said head piece to a cap or the like, a reflector in said casing. a main incandescent lamp mounted in an inverted position in said casing in front of said reflector, a socket mounted in the upper part of the casing for receiving the base of the lamp and arranged to release the base automatically upon breaking of the lamp bulb, means for engaging' sai-'d lamp bulb to hold it in its operative position and in a substantially centered relationship to said reflector, a second incandescent lamp of smaller candle power than said main lamp mounted in said casing below said main lamp and substantially in vertical alinement therewith, and a socket for supporting said second lamp. GRANT WHEAT.

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