Year: 1886

page_text: I GREGORY IGNATIEV Captain of Engineers, residing at Kiev Russia do hereby
declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
Electric candles made according to my Invention can be used with constant
currents in place of the alternating currents heretofore required for supplying
candles of the Joblechkoff type. These improved candles are composed of a hollow
cylinder or tube of carbon connected with the positive pole of the generator and
surrounding a solid cylinder or rod of the same material connected with the
negative pole of the generator. The said tube and rod are preferably composed of
carbon of equal density and their sectional areas bear a definite extremity of
proportion to each other as hereinafter explained. One extremity of the central
carbon or rod is firmly fixed in one end of the tubular or external carbon by means
of an intermediate layer of suitable material such as paper or asbestos and soluble
glass and projects slightly beyond the end of the tube.
The remaining annular space between the central carbon and the tubular carbon
is filled with pulverised Koolin or a porcelain tube or a mixture of pulverised
Koolin and marble or the like or the annular space may be left empty, sufficient
insulation being provided by the air. When alight the two carbons consume
uniformly and their upper extremities tend to assume a conical form.
In con-
sideration of this fact the upper or burning extremity of the tube is made taper in
order to equalise the action. A priming composed of a mixture of grophite or
plumbagene and gum made into a paste with water or other suitable materials is
applied to this end of the candle. One or both carbons may be strengthened by
electro plating them with copper for example.
It is an essential condition to the uniform consumption of the candle to maintain.
a definite proportion between the dimensions of the two carbons. The carbons
composing the candle are equally or uniformly consumed when the two carbons
are of the same density and the annular surface or sectional area of the hollow
external or positive carbon is 4.9 times greater than that of the central or negative
carbon consequently if the diameter of the said central carbon be say about 2.5 milli-
metres and the width of the annular space between the carbons about 2.5 millimetres
the outer carbon is about 1.9 millimetres thick and the external diameter of the candle
about 13 millimetres. Under these conditions a candle 32 centemetres long burns

page_text: regularly for upwards of 6 hours giving a very pleasant light resembling that of
It is evident that the improved candle may be made of various sizes
provided that the aforesaid proportions are maintained.
the sun.
These improved candles will burn in any position. When the candle burns
downwards or from the upper extremity for example it is preferably supported in
a holder arranged as hereinafter described. This holder or support is composed of
a base plate of marble upon which are placed two marble blocks supporting a
second plate of the same material. These parts are firmly connected to the base
by means of two screwed bolts and all the parts of the holder may be disconnected
by simply unscrewing these bolts. At the centre of the upper plate a circular
opening is provided and on the upper surface of this plate there is attached by
means of the aforesaid bolts a copper sleeve or socket metallically connected with
a suitable terminal or binding screw. A ferule fitted into the aforesaid socket is
slit longitudinally and provided with a flange which rests upon the upper edge of
the socket.
This ferule is sprung over lower extremity of the external carbon of
the candle. Upon the base plate and immediately beneath the central opening
in the upper plate there is fixed a socket split longitudinally and provided with a
clamping screw. This socket is also connected with a suitable terminal and
establishes the necessary contact for the internal carbon which is secured by means
of the aforesaid clamping screw. When a suitable constant current is supplied to
the candle the priming at the extremities of the carbons is consumed and a voltaic
arc is formed across the annular space separating the two carbons which are equally
or uniformly burned together with the insulating layer when such is employed.
When the position of the candle is reversed that is to say the priming is at the
lower end another form of holder may be employed. This consists of a plate of
marble wood or other insulating material having a central orifice provided with
A ferule is fitted into
metal socket in communication with a suitable terminal.
this socket the said ferule being provided with an external flange and fixed to the
base of the hollow or external carbon. The internal carbon is retained by a fork
provided with a clamping screw and electrically connected with a terminal or
binding screw. Wood or other insulating material may be substituted for the marble
herein before described with reference to the construction of. The details of the
arrangement of the holder may be modified in various ways for example in place
of the holders herein before described two insulated clamps may be employed one
clamp (that one which holds the external carbon) being connected with the
positive pole and the other (the one holding the internal carbon) with the negative
pole of the battery or machine.

page_text: I, GREGORY IGNATIEV of Kiev in the Empire of Russia Captain of Engineers
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
My Invention relating to Electric Candles consists in certain improvements
hereinafter described whereby the said candles are enabled to be used with
constant currents. The improved candles made according to my Invention consist
of a hollow cylinder or tube of carbon connected with the positive pole of the
battery or generator and surrounding a solid cylinder or rod of the same material
connected with the negative pole of the generator. The said tube and rod are
preferably composed of carbon of equal density and their sectional areas bear a
definite proportion to each other as hereinafter explained.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several figures
on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference indicating corre-
sponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a longitudinal and a trans-
verse section of the improved candle detached from its support or holder. Figures 2
and 3 represent the holder in section the section in Figure 3 being taken along a
line at right angles to the section in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a plan of the holder.
The holder illustrated in Figures 2. 3 and 4 is designed for a candle that is
supported at its lower end and burns downwards the light being produced at its
upper extremity and Figure 5 represents in vertical section a holder for a candle
that is suspended from its upper extremity and burns upwards the light being
produced at its lower end.
Referring to figure 1 of the drawing the outer or hollow carbon is marked a
and the inner carbon is marked b. The lower extremity of the central carbon
rod b is inserted into a metal socket d in order to facilitate adjustment and ensure
perfect contact with the support and is firmly fixed in the end of the tubular or
external hollow carbon a by means of an intermediate layer o of suitable material
such as paper or asbestos moistened with soluble glass and the lower end of the
rod b projects slightly beyond the end of the tube a. The remaining annular
space between the central carbon b and the tubular carbon a may be filled with
insulating material such as Kaolin in the form of powder this insulating layer
being consumed at the same time as the carbons. In place of the Kaolin powder
a porcelain tube may be employed or a mixture of pulverised Kaolin and marble
or the like or the annular space between the carbons may be left empty sufficient
insulation being provided by the air.
When the current is passing the two carbons consume or waste away with equal
rapidity their sectional area being proportioned as hereinafter explained and their
upper extremities assume a conical form. In consideration of this fact the upper
or free extremity of the carbon is made taper or in the form of a truncated cone

page_text: as indicated in the drawing in order to equalise the action. A priming f composed
of suitable materials such as a mixture of graphite or plumbagene and gum made
into a paste with water is applied to this end of the candle in order to start the
arc and one or both of the carbons may be strengthened by electro-plating them
with copper for example.
It is an essential condition to the uniform consumption of the candle to maintain
a definite proportion between the dimensions of the two carbons a and b. I have
discovered that the carbons a and b burn or are consumed at an equal rate when
the two carbons are of the same density and the annular surface or sectional area
of the hollow external or positive carbon a is 4.9 times greater than the sectional
area of the central or negative carbon b. For example if the diameter of the said
central carbon b be 4-2 millimetres and the width of the annular space between
the carbons 2.5 millimetres the outer carbon must be 1.9 millimetres thick and
the external diameter of the candle be 13 millimetres. Under these conditions a
candle 32 centimetres long burns regularly for upwards of six hours giving a very
pleasant light resembling that of the sum.
It is evident that the improved candle may be made of various sizes provided
that the aforesaid proportions are maintained between the two carbons.
The carbons are evenly consumed even without the intermediate layer of Kaolin
or the like provided that the rod b is properly fixed in the interior of the tube a.
In this case the air forms an insulating layer between the carbons maintaining the
voltaic arc at their extremities and not allowing it to descend in the interior of
the annular space between the carbons. Candles provided with an intermediate
layer of Kaolin are stronger and not liable to injury in travelling and they may be
further strengthened by plating both carbons with copper.
These improved candles may be placed in any position when in use.
Candles
which burn downwards or from the upper extremity are preferably supported in a
holder arranged as hereinafter described with reference to figures 2.3 and 4. This
holder or support is composed of a base plate or support A of insulating material
such as marble upon which are placed two marble blocks B B supporting a second
plate C of the same material. These parts are firmly connected to the base A
by means of two screwed bolts D D and all the parts of the holder may be
disconnected by simply unscrewing these bolts. At the centre of the upper
plate a circular opening is provided and on the upper surface of this plate
there is attached by means of the aforesaid bolts D a copper sleeve or socket E
metallically connected with a terminal or binding post F figures 2 and 4.
A ferule G fitted into the sleeve or socket E is slit longitudinally and provided
with a flange which rests upon the upper edge of the sleeve or socket E. The
ferule G is sprung over the lower extremity of the external carbon of the candle
which is thereby firmly supported. Upon the base A and immediately beneath
the central opening in the upper plate C there is fixed by bolts a second spring
socket H split longitudinally and provided with a clamping screw 1. The
supporting plate or flange of the socket H is also electrically connected with a
terminal K. The sleeve H acts as a contact piece for the internal carbon b. In
order to fix a candle in the support described the clamping ring or nut I is
unscrewed and the extremity of the candle provided with the ferule G is inserted
into the upper socket E care being taken to place the extremity of the internal
carbon in the lower socket or sleeve H. The nut I is then screwed home and the
electrical connections are made by connecting the terminal F with the positive
pole and the terminal K with the negative pole of the generator or dynamo.
When a suitable constant current is supplied to the candle the priming at the
extremities of the carbons is first consumed and a voltaic arc is then formed across
the annular space separating the two carbons which are equally or uniformly
burned together with the insulating layer when such is employed.
When the position of the candle is reversed that is to say the priming is at the
lower end another form of holder is employed as illustrated in figure 5. This
consists of a plate L of insulating material such as marble having a central orifice>

page_text: and provided internally with metal socket in communication (through a metal
plate p) with a terminal r. A ferule M is fitted into this socket the said ferule
being provided with an external flange and fixed to the base of the hollow or
external carbon. The internal carbon is retained by a fork N provided with a
clamping screw and electrically connected with a terminal or binding screw 8.
The terminal r is connected with a positive pole and the terminal 8 with the
negative pole of the battery or machine. When employing this holder indoors a
block of wood may be substituted for the marble plate A. In exposed situations
or out of doors the holder must be protected by a covering in the form of an
inverted cup of porcelain.
The advantage of this form of holder is that the greater part of the light is
directed downwards. The details of the arrangement of the holder may be
modified in various ways. For example in place of the holders hereinbefore
described two insulated clamps may be employed one clamp (that one which holds
the external carbon) being connected with the positive pole and the other (the one
holding the internal carbon) with the negative pole of the battery or machine.
The candle may be protected by a globe of ground or polished glass.
This improved candle is at least as simple as the Jablochkoff candle and presents
the additional advantage of being capable of being used with continuous current
machines which are much more advantageous than alternate current machines.
This candle moreover presents none of the defects of electric lamps or regulators
it is very simple and portable it burns in any position and is not effected by either
dust or vapours or gases smoke etc: which would interfere with the working of
regulators. Moreover it cannot be disturbed by shocks and gives a uniform and
soft light. These improved candles can be employed for lighting streets factories
barracks yards railway stations and the like and can be applied to locomotives for
the purpose of lighting the track. They are also well adapted for military and
naval purposes or for lighting bridges and engineering works of all descriptions or
for any purpose where a powerful light is required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that
what I claim is :-
An electric candle for use with constant currents and consisting of an inner
carbon communicating with the negative pole of the dynamo or generator and
surrounded by a tubular or outer carbon of the same density as the inner carbon
and communicating with the positive pole of the said dynamo or generator the
relative sectional areas of the said inner and outer carbons being adjusted in such
a manner as to cause them to be equally or uniformly consumed substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.