GB2197448A

GB2197448A - Miner's cap lamp

Info

Publication number: GB2197448A
Application number: GB08627121A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey William Purdy
Original assignee: Oldham Crompton Batteries Ltd
Current assignee: Oldham Crompton Batteries Ltd
Priority date: 1986-11-13
Filing date: 1986-11-13
Publication date: 1988-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 2006-11-13
Also published as: GB8627121D0; GB2197448B

Abstract

A miner's cap lamp comprises a helmet 12 having two lamps 18 and 19 connected by an electrical connector 17 to a battery unit 13. A pilot lamp 23 is mounted on the cover 15 of the battery unit and a switch 25 may selectively connect the pilot light to the batteries by a connection independent of the connector 17. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Miner's cap lamp The invention relates to miners' cap lamps.

Miners' cap lamps commonly comprise a head unit for mounting on a safety helmet in which the head unit incorporates a lamp for providing working illumination for a miner. Electrical supply for the lamp may be provided from a battery pack located in a casing mounted around the miner's waist and connected to the head unit by a flexible electrical cable extending from the battery unit to the head unit.

It is known to provide a pilot bulb in addition to a main bulb which provides the normal working illumination from the cap lamp. The pilot bulb may be switched into operation in place of the main bulb in the event of some emergency where the miner requires illumination which may be of a lower level but may be needed for a much longer duration. Such a pilot bulb may have an electrical power consumption which is only one half or a small fraction of that normally used by the main bulb. Such pilot bulbs have been incorporated in the head unit as well as the main bulb.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved miners' cap lamp in which a pilot bulb is provided at a location remote from the head unit so that the pilot bulb may remain operative even if the head unit or electrical supply to the head unit is damaged.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved miners' cap lamp in which the head unit incorporates two alternative light bulbs each arranged to provide a working level of illumination.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a miner's cap lamp comprising (1) a head unit for mounting on a safety helmet, said head unit having two alternative light bulbs each arranged to provide working illumination for use by a miner, (2) a battery unit for holding one or more batteries for providing electrical power to operate the cap lamp, said battery unit comprising a casing, a casing cover, and means for mounting the battery unit around the waist of the wearer, (3) electicai connecting means interconnecting said battery unit to said head unit for supplying electricity to the head unit, and (4) a pilot light connected to the battery unit so as to provide a low level of illumination of longer duration than said alternative light bulbs in the event of an emergency.

In another aspect, the invention provides a miner's cap lamp comprising (1) a head unit for mounting on a safety helmet, said head unit having a lamp arranged to provide working illumination for use by a miner, (2) a battery unit for holding one or more batteries for providing electrical power to operate the cap lamp, said battery unit comprising a casing, a casing cover, and means for mounting the battery unit around the waist of a wearer, (3) electrical connecting means interconnecting said battery unit to said head unit for supplying electricity to the head unit, and (4) a pilot light formed in the said casing cover and including a pilot bulb connectable to the battery unit independently of said connecting means whereby a low level of illumination may be provided in the event of an emergency.

Preferably said pilot light is mounted on said battery casing and preferably comprises a bulb mounted in a lamp unit formed with a transparent window in the casing cover of the battery unit.

Preferably said pilot light is electrically connected to said battery unit independently of said connecting means so that power may be supplied to the pilot light in the event of damage to the head unit or said connecting means.

Preferably switch means is provided to permit selection of either of said alternative light bulbs in said head unit.

Preferably said alternative light bulbs are arranged to produce different types of selectable working beams both with substantial illumination level.

Preferably a pilot light switch is provided on said battery unit and said pilot light switch is arranged to disconnect electrical supply to the head unit when electrical supply is connected to the pilot light.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates schematically a miner's cap lamp comprising a head unit mounted on a miner's cap and connected to a battery unit, and Figure 2 illustrates the electrical circuit of the cap lamp shown in Fig. 1.

In this example a miner's cap lamp com- prises a head unit 11 attached to a protective safety helmet 12 for use by a miner. A battery unit 13 comprises one or more batteries 31 mounted in an enclosed battery casing 14 having a casing cover 15. The casing 14 is secured to a belt 16 arranged to be worn around a miner's waist so that the battery unit 13 is thereby mounted at the waist. The cover 15 has an electrical terminal unit 10 connected to a flexible electrical connector 1 7 extending to the head unit 11. The head unit comprises two lamps 18 and 19 having respective light bulbs 20 and 21. A switch 22 is provided on the head unit and allows selection by the miner between operation of the bulbs 20 or 21.Both bulbs in the head unit of this example are arranged to provide a substantial level of illumination sufficient for working operation of the miner. In this example both bulbs comprise main bulbs one providing a spot lamp and the other providing a flood lamp. The casing cover 15 of the battery unit is formed with a transparent window 23 which forms part of a pilot lamp having a pilot bulb 24. The pilot lamp is controlled by a pilot selection switch 25 also mounted on the casing cover 15 of the battery unit.

In this example the pilot bulb 24 has an electrical power rating which is only one half of that of either of the main bulbs 20 or 21 so that in the event of any emergency the miner may operate the switch 25 so as to switch on the pilot lamp 23 and switch off the lamp in the head unit so that a low level of illumination is obtained but one which may have a much longer duration than either of the main bulbs 20 or 21. The switch 22 may be operated to select between two alternative beams obtainable by the different lamps 18 or 19 or alternatively the two lamps in the head unit may be arranged to provide similar illumination one bulb being usable as a spare bulb in the event of failure of the other main beam bulb.

It will be appreciated that as the pilot lamp is mounted in the cover of the battery unit worn at the waist this is less liable to damage in the event of an accident. Should an accident damage either the head unit or the connecting cable 17 this will not render the pilot lamp 23 inoperable. The pilot lamp is connected to the batteries in the battery casing by connections quite independent of the cable 17. The electrical connections are shown in Fig. 2 where it can be seen that the pilot switch 25 Is a changeover switch which when moved to make contact with terminal 30 electrical supply Is connected from the battery 3 1 to the central terminal 32 of switch 22.

Switch 32 may be moved to one of two alternative positions so as to connect the electrical supply through either the bulb 18 or the bulb 19. It may not connect electrical supply through both bulvs simultaneously. When switch 24 Is moved to engage terminal 33 electrical power is connected through the pilot bulb 24 and is disconnected from the switch 22.

The invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing example.

Claims

1. A miner's cap lamp comprising a head unit for mounting on a safety helmet, said head unit having a lamp arranged to provide working illumination for use by a miner, a battery unit for holding one or more batteries for providing electrical power to operate the cap lamp, said battery unit comprising a casing, and means for mounting the battery unit around the waist of a wearer, electrical connecting means interconnecting said battery unit to said head unit for supplying electricity to the head unit, and a pilot light mounted on said casing and including a pilot bulb connectable to the battery unit independently of said connecting means whereby a low level of illumination may be provided in the event of an emergency.

2. A cap lamp according to claim 1 wherein said casing is provided with a casing cover and said pilot light is formed in said casing cover.

3. A miner's cap lamp comprising a head unit for mounting on a safety helmet, said head unit having two alternative light bulbs each arranged to provide working illumination for use by a miner, a battery unit for holding one or more batteries for providing electrical power to operate the cap lamp, said battery unit comprising a casing, a casing cover, and means for mounting the battery unit around the waist of the wearer, electrical connecting means interconnecting said battery unit to said head unit for supplying electricity to the head unit, and a pilot light mounted on the battery unit so as to provide a low level of illumination of longer duration than said alternative light bulbs in the event of an emergency.

4. A cap lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said pilot lamp is mounted on said battery casing and comprises a bulb mounted in a lamp unit formed with a transparent window in the casing cover of the battery unit.

5. A cap lamp according to claim 3 wherein said pilot light is electrically connected to said battery unit independently of said connecting means so that power may be supplied to the pilot light in the event of damage to the head unit or said connecting means.

6. A cap lamp according to any one of the preceding claims wherein switch means is provided to permit selection of either of alternative light bulbs in said head unit.

7. A cap lamp according to claim 6 wherein said alternative light bulbs are arranged to produce different types of selectable working beams both with substantial illumination level.

8. A cap lamp according to any of the preceding claims wherein a pilot light switch is provided on said battery unit and said pilot light switch is arranged to disconnect electrical supply to the head unit when electrical supply is connected to the pilot light.

9. A cap lamp substantially as hereinbefore described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.