The Davy lamp was invented in 1815 as a safe light source in coal mines. It also acted as a gas detector, but ironically led to more explosions. The Geordie lamp was introduced in 1816, causing debate over which was safer. Both had flaws, but the Davy lamp is still used today in modern coal mines.
The Davy lamp was invented in 1815 by Sir Humphry Davy as a safe source of light in coal mines subject to explosions due to the presence of flammable gases. His lamp also doubled as a gas detector, ironically leading to more coal mine explosions. Another safety light, the Geordie lamp, was introduced in 1816, igniting a debate over which lamp was safer and more effective. A modern version of the Davy lamp is still used in modern coal mines.
Davy discovered that the gases found in coal mines, called firedamp or minedamp, would not be ignited by a lamp whose flame was contained within a thin metal mesh. The mesh screen surrounding the Davy lamp flame allowed air to pass through to support combustion, while preventing the lamp from igniting the firedamp. The miners also used the Davy lamp as a gas detector; in the presence of flammable gases, the flame of the lamp grew in height and became bluer. The Davy lamp was also used to signal lack of oxygen, as its flame would have been extinguished before the lack of oxygen posed a threat to the miners.
An increase in explosions in coal mines has occurred following the introduction of the Davy lamp. This was partly due to the owners’ mining areas previously being abandoned due to safety concerns. The wire mesh used in the lamps was prone to rusting and breaking, allowing for an explosion, so the lamps tended to create a false sense of security. They have also served to delay the introduction of more costly ventilation measures.
A similar safety lamp developed by George Stephenson and introduced in 1816 caused some debate among miners as to which design was more effective. Critics of the Geordie lamp, as it was called, argued that if the glass tube surrounding the mesh and flame ruptured, it would cause an explosion. Proponents of the Geordie lamp have pointed to the fact that a single broken or missing wire in the Davy lamp would ignite the firedamp. The reality was that both designs had significant flaws that weren’t fully resolved until the introduction of electric lamps.
A descendant of the Davy lamp, called the Protector Garforth GR6s safety lamp, is still in demand in coal mines across the UK. Although it is only used as an adjunct to the most sophisticated electronic gas-sensing devices in modern coal mines, the lamp’s stripped-down design has been put to new uses. The Olympic Games flame is also broadcast using a modified version of the Davy design.
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