IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPLIANCES FOR THE PRODUCTION AND MAINTAINING OF LIGHT BY ELECTRICITY
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stanislas Wikentjevitsch Konn, of the Firm of
S. A. Kosloff and Company, of Great Winchester Street Buildings,
in the City of London, and of St. Petersburgh, in the Empire of
Russia, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND
APPLIANCES FOR THE PRODUCTION AND MAINTAINING OF LIGHT BY ELECTRICITY."
-A communication from abroad by Alexandre Nicolaevitsch
Ladiguine, of St. Petersburgh.
caled the 4th February 1873, and dated the 16th December 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stanislas Wikentjevitsch
Konn at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 16th December 1872.
I, STANISLAS WIKENTJEVITSCH KONN, of the Firm of S. A. Kosloff
and Company, of Great Winchester Street Buildings, in the City of
London, and of St. Petersburgh, in the Empire of Russia, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS
AND APPLIANCES FOR THE PRODUCTION AND MAINTAINING OF LIGHT BY ELECTRICITY,"
to be as follows :-

page_text: with each other, when the intense heat produced by the chemical
reaction caused by the contact of the electricity with the oxygen of the
atmosphere brought about the ignition of the carbon and the production
of an intense light.
This Invention consists in a novel method of producing the electric
light by taking advantage of the property possessed by the electric
current of pumping so to speak the conductors, whereby many of the
disadvantages of the former method are avoided. The current, instead
of by a chemical reaction causing the ignition of the conductor points
merely carries a portion of the conductor to a red heat by the simple
action of caloric.
One or more of the conductors, which are preferably of graphite, are
enclosed in a. species of lantern hermetically closed and filled with
nitrogen or other gas that does not support combustion, and are main-
tained therein by any convenient method of support. To produce the
electric current an ordinary magneto-electric machine, such as those of
Wild, Noble, and others is employed, and the current is led. into the
lantern by means of a wire to one of the graphite conductors (when the
lantern contains more than one), and in passing through the conductor
the electricity heats it to redness, and causes it to give out a brilliant
light. The current is then led to the second graphite conductor, and
passing through that, producing a similar effect, is led to a third, and so
on until all the conductors in the particular lamp have been illuminated,
when the current is led to those in the next lamp, and so on to the
end of the series, which may consist of hundreds of conductors or
lamps.
If it should be desired not to illuminate some of the lanterns of the
series an arrangement is provided to each of them whereby this can be
effected.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Stanislas Wikentjevitsch Konn in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 16th June 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, STANISLAS
WIKENTJEVITSOH KONN, of the Firm of S. A. Kosloff and Company, of
Great Winchester Street Buildings, in the City of London, and of St.
Petersburgh, in the Empire of Russia, send greeting.
at any
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Stanislas Wikentjevitsch Konn, Her special
licence that I, the said Stanislas Wikentjevitsch Konn, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Stanislas
Wikentjevitsch Konn, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPLIANCES FOR THE PRODUCTION AND
MAINTAINING OF LIGHT BY ELECTRICITY,” communicated to me from abroad
by Alexandre Nicolaevitsch Ladiguine, of Saint Petersburgh, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Stanislas Wikentjevitsch
Konn, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent..
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Stanislas Wikentjevitsch Konn, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say :-
Hitherto the ordinary manner of producing the electric light has been

page_text: with each other, when the intense heat produced by the chemical
reaction caused by the contact of the electricity with the oxygen of the
atmosphere brought about the ignition of the carbon and the production
of intense heat.
This Invention consists in a novel method of producing the electric
light by taking advantage of the property possessed by the electric
current of pumping, so to speak, the conductors, whereby many of the
disadvantages of the former method are avoided. The current instead
of by a chemical reaction causing the ignition of the conductor points,
merely carries a portion of the conductor to a red heat by the simple
action of caloric.
One or more conductors, which are preferably graphite, are enclosed
in a species of lantern hermetically closed and filled with nitrogen
or other gas that does not support combustion, and are main-
tained therein by any convenient method of support. To produce the
electric current an ordinary magneto-electric machine, such as those of
Wild, Noble, and others is employed, and the current is led into the
lantern by means of a wire to one of the graphite conductors (when the
lantern contains more than one), and in passing through the conductor
the electricity heats it to redness and causes it to give out a brilliant
light. The current is then led to the second graphite conductor, and
passing through that producing a similar effect is led to a third, and so
on until all the conductors in the particular lamp have been illuminated,
when the current is led to those in the next lamp, and so on to the
end of the series, which may consist of hundreds of conductors or
lamps. .
If it should be desired not to illuminate some of the lanterns of the
series, an arrangement is provided to each of them, whereby this can be
effected.
By this method of producing the electric light a continuous and
steady illumination in one or any number of lamps is effected, a great
economy is produced by the non-consumption of the conductor, and a
flame which is not injurious to the eyes is obtained.
The Invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying
Drawings, and by the following detailed description thereof.
Figures 1 and 2 are views of a lantern, with respectively one and two
of the carbon stems arranged in the interior; Figure 3 is an outside

page_text: view of the lantern with two stems; Figure 4 is a plan view of the
same; Figure 5 is a plan view taken through the line A, B, of Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a plan view taken through the line C, D, of Figure 1, while
Figure 7. is a separate view of the carbon stem which I prefer to use
for these sorts of lanterns. The stem is composed of graphite or a
composition of the usual description compressed or formed with a
reduced diameter at or near its central part, as at b, the ends. c, c, being
of larger diameter and clipped or held in socket frames d, d, which pass
through the lantern ends e, e, and are connected to the circuit wires
from the magnets or from the battery. Any number of the carbon
stems can be employed in the same lantern, and the current of electricity
may be made to pass from one stem to another, until the whole or any
two or more of them are charged for lighting as desired. The lanterns
are composed of the two ends e, e, the lips of which receive the glass f
of the required shape, and in such a manner that the whole can be
hermetically closed for preventing electrical contact with the atmosphere,
which is essential for the purposes of practically carrying the Invention
in effect, and in order to fulfil this object more completely the lanterns
are charged with nitrogen or other gas which does not support com-
bustion.
In some cases I connect the two wires or frames of neighbouring
stems by a claw attachment 9 (Figures 2 and 3), which is free to be
turned on its pin or stud / for its claw to engage over or upon the pin
or stud i of the other, and I establish the continuity of the electric
current from one frame to the next by that means.
In other cases, if desirable, I fit a metallic strip or wire k to the two
ends of the lanterns, as in Figure 1, to put the two ends in con-
nection.
To ensure the passage of the electric current in the proper direction,
I insulate the lantern ends by means of glass or other non-conductable
body arranged upon the socket frames, so as to close the openings
through which the stems are inserted, as will be understood.
Figure 8 is a section, and Figure 9 a plan view with the top cap
removed of another form of lamp or lantern. In this lamp the carbon
stem is V shaped, the electric current passing down one side and up the
other side of the V, the light being formed at the angle at the bottom.
This stem is suitably supported and enclosed in a glass lamp or case

page_text: filled with nitrogen, or gas incapable of supporting combustion as before,
and the current of electricity is applied, as in the first instance, or in any
convenient manner.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
Firstly. The production of light by electricity from carbon stems
enclosed in a case charged with a non-supporter of combustion, and
hermetically closed, substantially in the manner herein-before described.
Secondly. The apparatus shewn in Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying
Drawings, in which light is produced by electricity from carbon stems
hermetically closed in a vessel charged with a non-supporter of com-
bustion, as described.
And Thirdly. I claim the modified arrangement of carbon stem de-
scribed and shown with reference to Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Stanislas Wikentjevitsch Konn,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of June,
bustion, as described.
And Thirdly. I claim the modified arrangement of carbon stem de-
scribed and shown with reference to Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Stanislas Wikentjevitsch Konn,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of June,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
STANISLAS WIKENTJEVITSCH KONN. (L.S.)