Vessel for keeping a candle burning under water
Date
21 January 1685
Creator
Unknown, Artist
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p205
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 367mm
width (page): 233mm
width (page): 233mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Denis Papin's design of a device so that a candle can burn underwater, shown to the Royal Society on 21 January 1685.
The equipment was designed to be held by a man, with the pipes DD and GG in one hand, and operating the bellows with the other hand.
AA is a glass vessel.
B is a candle burning in the vessel.
CC is a cover exactly fitted to the said vessel.
DDDD is a crooked pipe that makes the communication between the said vessel and a pair of vessels.
FF is a pair of bellows with two valves, one in E, and the other in F, fitted to let the air pass from the vessel AA and keep it from returning.
GG is a straight pipe to let out the air from the vessel AA when new air comes in from the bellows.
HHHH is a metal plate to fasten the cover CC to the vessel AA.
LL is a plate to keep the wind that comes through the pipe DD from blowing out the candle.
The equipment was designed to be held by a man, with the pipes DD and GG in one hand, and operating the bellows with the other hand.
AA is a glass vessel.
B is a candle burning in the vessel.
CC is a cover exactly fitted to the said vessel.
DDDD is a crooked pipe that makes the communication between the said vessel and a pair of vessels.
FF is a pair of bellows with two valves, one in E, and the other in F, fitted to let the air pass from the vessel AA and keep it from returning.
GG is a straight pipe to let out the air from the vessel AA when new air comes in from the bellows.
HHHH is a metal plate to fasten the cover CC to the vessel AA.
LL is a plate to keep the wind that comes through the pipe DD from blowing out the candle.
Object history
At the meeting of the Royal Society on 21 January 1685, ‘Dr. Papin shewed a convenient way of keeping a candle burning under water’ (Birch 4:360). The account and figure are printed in Birch 4:360-61.
Related fellows
Denis Papin (1647, French) , Natural philosopher
Associated place