Safety lamp is the name of a variety of lamps for safety in coal-mines against coal dust, methane, or firedamp, a highly explosive mixture of natural gas apt to accumulate in them. A lamp in general is any device that produces light. ... Wyoming coal mine Coal mining is the mining of coal. ... The coal is transported to thermal power plants, where it is ground into dust. ... R-phrases S-phrases , , , Flash point −188 °C Autoignition temperature 537 °C Explosive limits 5–15% Supplementary data page Structure and properties Thermodynamic data Spectral data UV, IR, NMR, MS Related compounds Related alkanes Ethane Propane Related compounds Methanol Chloromethane Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in... Firedamp is a flammable gas found in coal mines. ... Many stoves use natural gas. ...

The best known safety lamps are the Davy lamp, invented by Sir Humphry Davy and the Geordie lamp, invented by George Stephenson. Both of those were invented in 1815 and have been superseded by the Gray, Muesler, Marsant, and other lamps; most later lamps are constructed on the principle discovered by Davy, that a flame enveloped in wire gauze of a certain fineness does not ignite firedamp. Davy lamp The Davy lamp is a candle containing safety lamp devised in 1815 by Humphry Davy. ... Sir Humphry Davy. ... The Geordie lamp was invented by George Stephenson in 1815 as a solution to explosions due to firedamp in coal mines. ... George Stephenson Statue of George Stephenson at the National Railway Museum, York George Stephenson (9 June 1781 – 12 August 1848) was an English mechanical engineer who designed a famous and historically important steam-powered locomotive named Rocket, and is known as the Father of British Steam Railways. ... The Battle of New Orleans 1815 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... For the Japanese Hardcore Punk Band, see Gauze. ...

Prior to the invention of these safety lamps, miners used canaries to alert them to the presence of gas, and barometers to tell them if atmospheric pressure was low (in which case more methane seeped out of the mine into the air). Alternative methods involved igniting the gas deliberately to cause explosions, thus evacuating the mines of the majority of explosive or easily flammable material present. Schematic drawing of a simple mercury barometer with vertical mercury column and reservoir at base Table of Pneumaticks, 1728 Cyclopaedia A barometer is an instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure. ... diurnal (daily) rhythm of air pressure in northern Germany (black curve is air pressure) Atmospheric pressure is the pressure above any area in the Earths atmosphere caused by the weight of air. ...

Nowadays, safety lamps are mainly electric, and traditionally mounted on miners' helmets, sealed to prevent gas penetrating the casing and being ignited by electrical sparks.

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1907 edition of The Nuttall Encyclopaedia. The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ... The Nuttall Encyclopaedia is an early 20th century encyclopedia, edited by Rev. ...