| |
|
Carbide Lamps
In 1892, while working with lime, coal tar and a carbon mixture,
Major James T. Morehead and Thomas L. Willson developed a brownish-grey
substance that gave off a pungent smelling gas when mixed with
water. This gas burned with a bright yellow-white flame and
they called it acetylene. Within eight years the first carbide
lamp was offered to the public. |
|
| |
|
Carbide Cap Lamps
The first carbide cap lamps weighed approximately four ounces
and were four inches high and 1 ½ inches in diameter.
The lamp consisted of two compartments that screwed together.
The upper part contained water whose flow into the lower chamber
containing the carbide, was controlled by a drip valve. A three-inch
reflector directed a light of ten-foot candle power and was
a great improvement over the tallow candle. |
|
 |
| |
|
Electric Lamps
Miners are now equipped with battery powered or electric lamps.
At first the electric light was too heavy and required a liquid
electrolyte, which proved undesirable for several reasons.
A portable lamp is composed of two parts, the battery which
furnishes the current, and the bulb. The bulb was perfected
quickly but the battery was troublesome. In fact, none of the
early experimental lamps proved successful, as the bulb required
too heavy a battery. Also, leakage of acid was a serious problem.
Today, the cap lamp uses a non-spillable battery and a parabolic
reflector equipped with safety features that hooks onto the
miner's cap. Electric lamps came on market around the year1902
and have a lifespan of approximately five years.
The dawn of the electric lamp allowed the miner to work in any
position without restraint, as it did not interfere with the
free motion of the body. Lamphouses at the various collieries
had facilities for charging, cleaning, and filling both electric
lamps and oil safety lamps.
|
|
|
| |
|
Methanometers
The methanometer is an instrument to measure the percentage
of methane in the air in underground coal mines and has been
designed to alert miners to the presence of potentially dangerous
concentrations of this gas.
The
first electrical methanometer for use in coal mines was developed
in 1949. It was known as the W8 methanometer and was powered
by an Edison cap lamp battery. Several types of hand held electronic
methanometers were developed around the world during the 1950's
but the first independently powered instrument, the GP (general
purpose) methanometer, was not introduced until 1961. The C4
methanometer was introduced in 1966 and was later replaced by
the D6 which is still the main hand held electronic methane
detector.
This instrument has been a useful tool enabling mining personnel
to prevent thousands of explosions or fires and has undoubtedly
saved many lives and helped to avoid countless injuries. The
methanometer is arguably the most beneficial safety device ever
developed for use in underground coal mining. It has helped
improve the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of people
involved in or dependant upon the coal mining industry.
|
|
|
