Self-Contained Portable Electric Mine Lamps

The considerable number of mine explosions caused by defects of the Davy safety lamps has encouraged the development of electric lamps. Satisfactory results, however, have been obtained only since the invention of the tungsten lamp, permitting the use of smaller storage batteries. The general requirements for electric lamps are: absolute safety, uninterrupted production of light for at least one shift, and a foolproof design. Prizes offered by the British Government in 1912 for the best electric lamp, resulted in 197 different constructions being submitted. The first prize was awarded to a German lamp, which since that time has been used with great success all over Europe and which is also being introduced in this country. The construction of this lamp, consisting of several types for different requirements, and the methods of handling it in actual service, are fully described. Some figures covering repairs and renewals are given. In concluding, the author mentions the only objection that can be raised against electric portable mine lamps, that they cannot be used as detectors of mine gases, as Davy lamps can, and says that for this purpose devices distinctly separate from the lamp will have to be adopted.