Vessel for keeping a candle burning underwater
Date
21 January 1685
Creator
Unknown, Artist
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p160
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 375mm
width (page): 239mm
width (page): 239mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Denis Papin's design of a candle that can burn underwater, shown to the Royal Society on 21 January 1685.
The equipment is 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.
Copied from the image at RBO/6/205.
The equipment is 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.
Copied from the image at RBO/6/205.
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