Increasing with Atmospheric Electricity Cur- rents proceeding from a Single Source of Electricity for Supplying several Lighting Centres.
Year: 1877

page_text: Distributing and .Increasing with Atmospheric Electricity Cur-
rents proceeding from a Single Source of Electricity for
Supplying several Lighting Centres.
LETTERS PATENT to Paul Jablochkoff, of Paris, France, Engineer, for the
Invention of "A NEW SYSTEM OF DISTRIBUTING AND INCREASING WITH
ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY CURRENTS PROCEEDING FROM A SINGLE SOURCE OF
ELECTRICITY FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUPPLYING SEVERAL LIGHTING CENTRES."
Sealed the 14th December 1877, and dated the 17th October 1877.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Paul Jablochkoff, at the
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th October 1877.
Office
PAUL JABLOCHKOFF, of Paris, France, Engineer. "A NEW SYSTEM OF DIS-
TRIBUTING AND INCREASING WITH ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY CURRENTS PRO-
CEEDING FROM A SINGLE SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUPPLYING
SEVERAL LIGHTING CENTRES."
My Invention has for its object to effect the distribution of electric currents
proceeding from a single source of electricity for the purpose of supplying at the
same time a number of illuminating apparatus, and at the same time to strengthen
such currents by means of atmospheric electricity.
In order to obtain useful results from a current proceeding from a source of
dynamic electricity instead of operating directly with the said currents as here-
tofore, I, according to my present Invention, cause the same to undergo a double
transformation by firstly converting the dynamic electricity into statical electricity,
and then reconverting this into dynamic electricity, and it is by means of the latter
current that I obtain useful results. For the above purpose, instead of closing the
circuit of a source of electricity by means of a continuous conductor as heretofore,
I unite the conductor coming from one of the poles of the electrical source with one
of the armatures of a coudenser, composed of one or more Leyden jars of large
surface, or constructed as will be presently described.
The other conductor is connected in various ways, of which the principal ones
are shewn on the accompanying Drawings.
At Fig. 1, the one conductor a, proceeding from a magneto-electric machine A
(giving alternating currents) is connected with the interior surfaces of several
Leyden jars B, B, or of the condenser C, which is of a particular construction. The

page_text: outer armatures of these condensers are connected to one of the charcoal points D
of my electric candle, or with one of the ends of the slab of kaolin E (operating as
described in the Specification to my former Patent, No. 1996 of 1877). The other
charcoal point, or the other end of the kaolin slab is connected to the second con-
ductor a¹ of the electric machine.
At Fig. 2, the two conductors, a, a, proceeding from a magneto-electric machine,
with alternating currents, are connected to the inner surfaces of the condensers
B, B, C, C. The outer armatures of these conductors are connected with the
apparatus for producing light, of which the second charcoal point D, or the other
end of the kaolin slab E, is connected with earth.
At Fig. 3 the two conductors proceeding from the said machine are connected
with the interior armatures of the condensers. The outer armatures at the left
hand of the machine A are connected with earth, while at the right hand they are
connected to pointed prongs p, p, which allow more readily the escape of the
electricity into the air. In this case the illuminating apparatus is placed between
the inner and outer armatures.
The interposition of the condensers not only allows the current to be dig-
tributed in several directions as I have described, it also has the object of developing
atmospheric electricity and of accumulating it in the condensers from which it is
directed in the form of currents to the illuminating apparatus. The total quantity
of electricity supplied to these apparatus is therefore greater than that supplied by
the primitive current, and consequently produces a stronger light than that which
the latter would give if led directly to the illuminating apparatus.
It will be evident that this electricity can, according as may be required, be sup-
plied either in quantity or in tension.
Instead of Leyden jars it is more convenient to use as condensers those of the
particular construction shewn at Figs. 4 and 5. That shewn at Fig. 4 consists of
plates or layers of metal f, f, separated by insulating slabs 1, 1, the metal plates,
Nos. 1, 3, 5, &c., and Nos. 2, 4, 6, &c., being respectively connected with each other.
Each set of plates acts as one of the armatures of the Leyden jars.
For obtaining greater tension the insulating layers are constructed of a number
of alternate insulating and conducting leaves or plates which are not in contact with
one another, as shewn at Fig. 5.
The form of the condensers may be varied, and several may be connected in
quantity or in tension.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I claim,-
First. The above-described method of distributing electric currents proceeding
from a single source of electricity for supplying illuminating apparatus by first
converting a current of dynamic electricity into statical electricity, and then
reconverting it into dynamic electricity which is conveyed to the illuminating
apparatus.
Second. The method of strengthening electric currents such as are referred to
in the preceding claim by means of currents of atmospheric electricity, substantially
as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Paul Jablochkoff, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
JULES ARMENGAUD, Jeune,
.
PAUL JABLOCHKOFF. (L.S.)
Of Paris, Boulevard de Strasbourg, 23,
3.
Civil Engineer.