IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS AND IN ARRANGEMENTS CON- NECTED THEREWITH FOR DIVIDING AND Distributing tHE ELECTRIC LIGHT
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Paul Jablochkoff, of Paris (France), Engineer, for the In-
vention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LAMPS AND IN ARRANGEMENTS CON-
NECTED THEREWITH FOR DIVIDING AND Distributing tHE ELECTRIC LIGHT."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Paul Jablochkoff at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th February 1877.
PAUL JABLOCHKOFF, of Paris (France), Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC
LAMPS AND IN ARRANGEMENTS CONNECTED THEREWITH FOR DIVIDING AND DISTRI-
BUTING THE ELECTRIC LIGHT."
In electric lamps as usually constructed the carbon points are placed end to end,
and mechanism is provided for the purpose of maintaining them always at suitable
distance from each other as they are wasted.
According to my Invention I place the pieces of carbon side by side, separating
them by an insulating substance, which is consumed along with the carbon. I am
thus enabled to dispense with all regulating mechanism, and also to colour, subdivide,
and vary the light produced, as I will now explain.
The insulating substance for separating the carbons may be kaolin, glass of various
kinds, earths, alkaline earths, silicates, and the like, which I generally prefer to
apply in the form of powder rammed into an asbestos cartridge case containing the
carbons. A powder which I find serviceable consists of one part lime, four parts
sand, and two parts tale. These materials, reduced to a fine powder and intimately
mixed, are rainmed into the cartridge case surrounding and separating two parallel
sticks of suitable carbon placed in the case at a little distance apart, one of which is
made thicker than the other to allow for its more rapid waste. When the case is
thus filled it may be sealed with silicate of potass. The lower ends of the carbons
are inserted into pieces of tube of copper or other good conductor separated from one
another by asbestos, and the ends of these tubes are pinched between two limbs of
a screw vice connected respectively to the conducting wires. The whole may be
placed on a wooden or other non-conducting base, so as to constitute a candlestick or
lamp, which may be provided with a gallery and an opal or other globe.
The heat produced by the electricity fuses the material between the carbons and
dissipates it, but the resulting light may be coloured by introducing into the insu-

page_text: lating material some of the substances usually employed in producing coloured
lights; for example, salts of soda, giving out a yellow light, will neutralise more or
less the excess of blue produced by the electric light.
Instead of placing the pieces of carbon in a cartridge case charged with insulating
powder, they may be imbedded in solid insulating material, such as kaolin; also,
the carbons may be made tubular; or, instead of carbon, other conducting material
may be employed, metals for example, and such tubular conductors may be filled
inside with material like that which surrounds them outside; this material by its
fusion forms a liquid bath surrounding the electric points somewhat like that which
surrounds the wick of a candle, and this fluid gives passage to the incandescent par-
ticles from the one point to the other more freely than when they have to pass in
the usual way through an air space; this freedom of passage affords means for
subdividing the light by placing several lamps in the course of one electric circuit,
each of these lamps producing a portion of the light which is usually concentrated
in one.
For lighting an electric lamp such as I have described a piece of carbon held by
an insulator is placed on the two points, and the circuit being thus completed the
light is developed and the piece of carbon is withdrawn.
When there are a number of lights in one clectric circuit each may be provided.
with a pulverulent match, so that when a circuit is passed into the conductor each
light is kindled.
In order to provide against the interruption of the circuit in case of one of the
lights being extinguished, each may be worked by relay from the main circuit, or
preferably by an induced current from a coil actuated from the prime source of elec-
tricity, commutators being employed when required for alternating currents.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Paul Jablochkoff in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th July
1877.
PAUL JABLOCHKOFF, of Paris (France), Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC
LAMPS AND IN ARRANGEMENTS CONNECTED THEREWITH FOR DIVIDING AND DISTRI-
BUTING THE ELECTRIC LIGHT."
In electric lamps as usually constructed the carbon points are placed end to end,
and mechanism is provided for the purpose of maintaining them always at suitable
distance from each other as they are wasted.
According to my Invention I place the pieces of carbon side by side, separating
them by an insulating substance, which is consuined along with the carbon. I am
thus enabled to dispense with all regulating mechanisin, and also to colour, sub-
divide, and vary the light produced, as I will now explain.
The insulating substance for separating the carbons may be kaolin, glass of various
kinds, ingredients of glass and porcelain, earths, alkaline earths, silicates, and the
like, which I generally prefer to apply in the form of powder rammed into an
asbestos cartridge case containing the carbons. A powder which I find serviceable
consists of 1 part lime, 4 parts sand, and 2 parts tale. These materials, reduced to
a fine powder and intimately mixed, are rammed into the cartridge case surrounding
and separating two parallel sticks of suitable carbon placed in the case at a little
distance apart, one of which is made thicker than the other to allow for its moro
rapid waste. When the case is thus filled it may be sealed with silicate of potass.
The lower ends of the carbons are inserted into pieces of tube of copper or other good
conductor separated from one another by asbestos, and the ends of these tubes are
linched between two limbs of a screw vice, connected respectively to the conducting
wires. The whole may be placed on a wooden or other non-conducting base, so as

page_text: to constitute a candlestick or lamp, which may be provided with a gallery and an
opal or other globe.
The heat produced by the electricity fuses the materials between the carbons and
dissipates it, but the resulting light may be coloured by introducing into the insu-
lating material some of the substances usually employed in producing coloured
lights; for example, salts of soda, giving out a yellow light, will neutralise more or
less the excess of blue produced by the electric light. Great lustre is obtained by
mixing graphite with the insulating substance.
Instead of placing the pieces of carbon in a cartridge case charged with insulating
powder, they may be imbedded in solid insulating material, such as kaolin; also,
the carbons may be made tubular; or, instead of carbon, other conducting material
may be employed, metals for example, and such tubular conductors may be filled
inside with material like that which surrounds them outside; for example, a paste
composed of siliceous or earthy matter, also powdered carbon; this material by its
fusion forms a liquid bath surrounding the electric points somewhat like that which
surrounds the wick of a candle, and this fluid gives passage to the incandescent par-
ticles from the one point to the other more freely than when they have to pass in
the usual way through an air space, producing a fine uniform light, to which great
brilliancy is given by the use of carbon powder. The flame may be fed by dropping
on the seat of the combustion a regular shower of siliceous matters. The freedom
of passage afforded by the fused material to the electric current permits the sub-
dividing of the light by placing several lamps in the course of one electric circuit,
each of these lamps producing a portion of the light which is usually concentrated
in onc.
For lighting an electric lamp such as I have described, a piece of carbon held by
an insulator is placed on the two points, and the circuit being thus completed tho
light is developed and the piece of carbon is withdrawn.
When there are a number of lights in one electric circuit each may be provided
with a pulverulent match, so that when a circuit is passed into the conductor cach
light is kindled.
In order to provide against the interruption of the circuit in case of one of the
Fig. 1 represents a vertical section, and Figs. 2 and 3 represent sectional plans at
X and Y respectively of one form of electric candle according to my Invention.
a and b are the two rods of carbon, which are pointed at the upper end, and of
which the one 6 which is to receive the positive current of electricity is made larger
than the other a to allow for its more rapid consumption; these rods are placed
parallel to each other in a case or cartridge c, made of asbestos card or paper. The
space within the cartridge surrounding the rods a and b is filled with one of the
powders mentioned above, the constituents of which are thoroughly mingled, so as
to get a uniform mixture. When the cartridge is filled the mouth is stopped by a
paste of silicate of potass. To conduct the electricity to the carbon rods their lower
ends are inserted in tubes d and fƒ of copper or other good conducting metal, which
are insulated from each other by a strip g of asbestos card.
Fig. 4 represents a vertical section, and Fig. 5 a side view of one form of candle-
stick suitable for the electric candle above described. The tubes d, f, of the candle
are gripped between two insulated vice jaws h, j, worked by screws k, l, and having
pinching screws n, p, for the + and wires electrically connected to f and d respec-
tively. m is a base or stand of wood or other non-conducting material, from which
extends supports q, q, of a gallery to hold an opal or coloured glass globe 8.
-
The construction of the candle may be varied, as, for example, in the manner
shewn by the vertical section Fig. 1bis and the sectional plans Figs. 2bis and 3bis, taken
at X and Y respectively. In this case the carbon rods a and b and tubes d, f, are

page_text: round, the former, instead of being contained in a cartridge, being merely separated
by a partition of kaolin or other similar insulating material.
Other forms of candles are shewn by the plans, Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9. The arrange-
ment in Fig. 6 is similar to that in Figs. 1bis, 2bis, and 3bis, with rods of rectangular
section; in Fig. 7 the rods are enclosed in a rectangular case instead of the oval case
shewn in Fig. 2; in Fig. 8 one of the rods is inside a case and the other outside; and
in Fig. 9 one of the rods is of annular section, forming a case containing the other
rod, which is central and surrounded by the insulating material.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I claim,-
First. The method, substantially as herein described, of producing electric light by
the use of two parallel conducting rods separated by an insulating substance, which
is consumed along with them, thus dispensing with mechanism for adjusting the
distance of the carbon points.
Second. The use for separating the parallel rods above referred to of compact sub-
stances difficult of fusion, such as kaolin, ingredients of glass or porcelain, or pow-
dered mixtures of earthy or siliceous substances, substantially as herein described.
Third. The construction of an electric candle consisting of two parallel con-
ducting rods of carbon or metal insulated from each other, substantially as herein
described.
Fourth. Constructing an electric candlestick with two insulated vice jaws arranged
to hold and establish electric communication with the clectric candle referred to in
the preceding claim, substantially as herein described.
Fifth. Subdividing electric light by several electric candles in one circuit, substan-
tially as herein described.
Sixth. The method, substantially as herein described, of lighting an electric
candle or several such candles arranged in one electric circuit.
Seventh. The method, substantially as herein described, of varying the colour and
lustre of the electric light by introducing metallic and other powders in the insu-
lating material.
In witness whereof, I, the said Paul Jablochkoff, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventeenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
'
Witness,
JULES ARMENGAUD,
of Paris,
Boulevard de Strasbourg, 23,
Civil Engineer.
PAUL JABLOCHKOFF. (L.S.)