LAMP HANDLING AND SAFETY

hi kevin,
is this connected with the torch relay?
i ask because the results would vary with the type of lamp.
if its a torch relay based on the GR6S; videos of fueling are on you tube and still photos are on our website;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHP9437uaIE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScRi-s4SvR8
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/UGDDI8wD37gCgH3ZxhKWfw

fuel;kerosene or paraffin, this helps safety as it can only be lit with a naked flame. (the unmodified GR6S uses relighter spirit which has a very low flashpoint to cope with the lamps spark ignition.)
the lamp base or fuel vessel is packed with felts to absorb the fuel for transfer to the wick. so we recommend filling with fuel to the brim of the filler neck then after is has been soaking for a few minutes turn it upside down so the excess fuel can drain off.
the lamps are very robust as they are designed for use in a coal mine. the glasses are double fired pyrex or similar so are very strong.
it is important that the bung is secured tightly in the glass hole used for flame transfer. the fire resistant rubber seal should be clean,soft and undamaged.
the easiest way to put out a lamp is by dropping it vertically or banging it down on a hard surface . this causes the flame to jump off the wick.
the lamps are designed to burn for between 8 and 24 hours on a small flame. the wick should be turned down as far as possible until the flame nearly goes out and then back up slightly to establish a small but stable flame. the aim is for the fuel to burn just above the wick so it is not burning the wick. so a clean uncoked wick is important so there is a steady fuel flow.
the flame is enclosed within a flame trap so will burn gases within the double gauze enclosure in the top of the lamp but not ignite gases outside of the flame trap.
in other words if you take a lit lamp into an enclosed space with an explosive percentage of methane the lamp will burn the methane and indicate its presence but not cause igntion of the gas.
the normal place for a lit lamp to be carried is on a miners belt, so you can see that they are used to being banged about.
we supply a cradle for fixing the torch relay lamps on board aircraft.
re the boat deck scenario, i don't know as we have not tried it, i suspect the flame would go out as a result of the shock of the fall. thats what usually happens when a lamp is dropped in a coal mine.
if the fuelling has been done as above the fuel would stay in the felts.if it stayed lit it should just keep burning until the fuel runs out.

i hope this is helpful, but please ask if you need more.

regards david mather

Kevin Corson wrote:
David,
If a lit lantern, full of fuel, was placed on it’s side and allowed to roll at will, (think boat deck on a rolling ocean), what happens to the flame and the fuel, please?
Kevin Corson
Astar Air Cargo

Manager, Dangerous Goods Group