Creator of the incandescent lamp. Little "sun". How Alexander Lodygin was the first to create an incandescent lamp Alexander Lodygin inventor

- Russian inventor and electrical engineer. He created an electric incandescent lamp with a tungsten filament. It was he who first proved the viability of using a refractory metal conductor as a luminous element for electric light bulbs.

Alexander Nikolaevich was born October 6, 1847 in the village of Stenshino, Tambov region, in a very old and noble noble family. At the age of 12, he entered the Tambov Cadet Corps, and then the Moscow Junker School. In 1867 He graduates from college, having received the education of a military engineer. After this, his short military career begins. After serving his mandatory service (3 years), Lodygin left the army and plunged headlong into engineering developments, for which he had an undoubted inclination.

In 1870 He develops a heavier-than-air aircraft, while at the same time beginning experiments to improve the incandescent lamps created at that time. As for the aircraft, although it turned out to be quite functional, it did not find approval from the Russian government, and then from the French. From 1871 to 1874 Lodygin is a free student at the St. Petersburg Institute of Technology and at the same time demonstrates incandescent lamps. For his developments, he initially uses metal filaments, but they quickly burn out and Lodygin turns his attention to carbon rods. In 1872 Alexander Nikolaevich applies for a patent for his incandescent lamp with a carbon rod, and only two years later he receives it. The St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences even awarded him the Lomonosov Prize.

Before 1884 Lodygin fruitfully works not only on improving incandescent lamps, but also on the development of diving equipment. He cooperates with various Russian factories and participates in electrical exhibitions. For his engineering developments he receives the Order of Stanislav, III degree - a rare award for Russian inventors. In 1884 mass arrests of revolutionary-minded members of various organizations forced Lodygin to leave Russia and move first to France and then to America. In Paris, he organizes the production of incandescent lamps according to his own calculations. In 1993 he again returns to experiments with metal filaments, but this time from refractory metals - tungsten, chromium and titanium. A year later he organized his own lamp company, Lodygin and de Lisle.

In the USA, he creates new lamps based on refractory metals and builds a plant for the electrochemical production of tungsten, chromium and titanium. He develops electric furnaces for melting and hardening metals, producing phosphorus and silicon.

It cannot be said that it was Alexander Nikolaevich who was the sole father of the discovery of the electric light bulb. Its creation is a whole chain of events and inventions of various scientists and inventors. But it was Lodygin who first proposed and actually began to use tungsten filaments, which are still used today. In addition, it was he who suggested using not a straight thread, but a thread twisted into a spiral. It was he who came up with the idea of ​​pumping air out of the flask and filling it with an inert gas. It was his inventions that became the impetus for the creation of modern incandescent lamps.

Biography Alexander Nikolaevich Lodygin was born in the village of Stenshino, Tambov province. He came from a very noble noble family. His family, like the Romanov family, traced its origins to Andrei Kobyla. Alexander Nikolaevich Lodygin was born in the village of Stenshino, Tambov province. He came from a very noble noble family. His family, like the Romanov family, traced its origins to Andrei Kobyla. In 1859, Lodygin entered the Tambov Cadet Corps. He studied to become a military engineer at the Moscow Junker School, which he graduated in 1867. In 1870 he moved to St. Petersburg. In 1859, Lodygin entered the Tambov Cadet Corps. He studied to become a military engineer at the Moscow Junker School, which he graduated in 1867. In 1870 he moved to St. Petersburg.

After retiring, he began to develop an incandescent lamp circuit. After retiring, he began to develop an incandescent lamp circuit. As a volunteer, he attended classes in physics, chemistry, and mechanics at the Technological Institute. As a volunteer, he attended classes in physics, chemistry, and mechanics at the Technological Institute. In conducted experiments and demonstrations of electric lighting with incandescent lamps at the Admiralty, Galernaya Harbor, on Odesskaya Street, and at the Technological Institute. In 1872 he applied for and received a patent. In conducted experiments and demonstrations of electric lighting with incandescent lamps at the Admiralty, Galernaya Harbor, on Odesskaya Street, and at the Technological Institute. In 1872 he applied for and received a patent. Initially, Lodygin tried to use iron wire as a filament. Having failed, he moved on to experiments with a carbon rod placed in a glass container. Initially, Lodygin tried to use iron wire as a filament. Having failed, he moved on to experiments with a carbon rod placed in a glass container.

In 1872, Lodygin applied for the invention of an incandescent lamp, and in 1874 received a patent for his invention and the Lomonosov Prize from the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. Lodygin patents his invention in many countries: Austria-Hungary, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Sweden, Saxony, and even India and Australia. Later he founded the company “Russian Electric Lighting Partnership Lodygin and Co.” In 1872, Lodygin applied for the invention of an incandescent lamp, and in 1874 received a patent for his invention and the Lomonosov Prize from the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. Lodygin patents his invention in many countries: Austria-Hungary, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Sweden, Saxony, and even India and Australia. Later he founded the company “Russian Electric Lighting Partnership Lodygin and Co.” Since 1878, Lodygin has been back in St. Petersburg, working at various factories, improving his diving apparatus, and working on other inventions. Since 1878, Lodygin has been back in St. Petersburg, working at various factories, improving his diving apparatus, and working on other inventions.

For participation in the Vienna Electrotechnical Exhibition, Lodygin was awarded the Order of Stanislav, III degree, a rare occurrence among Russian inventors. For participation in the Vienna Electrotechnical Exhibition, Lodygin was awarded the Order of Stanislav, III degree, a rare occurrence among Russian inventors. Honorary electrical engineer ETI since 1899. But in 1884, mass arrests of revolutionaries began. He decides to go abroad. The separation from Russia lasted 23 years. Lodygin works in France and the USA, creates new incandescent lamps, invents electric furnaces, electric cars, builds factories and subways. Of particular note is the patents he received during this period for lamps with filaments made of refractory metals, sold in 1906 to the General Electric Company. Honorary electrical engineer ETI since 1899. But in 1884, mass arrests of revolutionaries began. He decides to go abroad. The separation from Russia lasted 23 years. Lodygin works in France and the USA, creates new incandescent lamps, invents electric furnaces, electric cars, builds factories and subways. Of particular note is the patents he received during this period for lamps with filaments made of refractory metals, sold in 1906 to the General Electric Company.

In 1884, he organized the production of incandescent lamps in Paris and sent a batch of lamps to St. Petersburg for the 3rd Electrical Engineering Exhibition. In 1884, he organized the production of incandescent lamps in Paris and sent a batch of lamps to St. Petersburg for the 3rd Electrical Engineering Exhibition. In 1893, he turned to a filament made of refractory metals, which he used in Paris for powerful lamps of 100...400 candles. In 1893, he turned to a filament made of refractory metals, which he used in Paris for powerful lamps of 100...400 candles. In 1894, he organized the lamp company Lodygin and de Lisle in Paris. In 1900, she participated in the World Exhibition in Paris. In 1906, in the USA, he launched a plant for the electrochemical production of tungsten. In 1894, he organized the Lodygin and de Lisle lamp company in Paris. In 1900, she participated in the World Exhibition in Paris. In 1906, a plant for the electrochemical production of tungsten, chromium and titanium was launched in the USA. chromium and titanium. Another important invention was the development of electric resistance and induction furnaces for melting metals, selenite, glass, hardening and annealing steel products, and producing phosphorus and silicon. Another important invention was the development of electric resistance and induction furnaces for melting metals, selenite, glass, hardening and annealing steel products, and producing phosphorus and silicon.

In 1895 Lodygin married journalist Alma Schmidt, the daughter of a German engineer. In 1895 Lodygin married journalist Alma Schmidt, the daughter of a German engineer. They had two daughters, Margarita and Vera. They had two daughters, Margarita and Vera. The Lodygin family moved to Russia in 1907. Alexander Nikolaevich brings a whole series of inventions in drawings and sketches. The Lodygin family moved to Russia in 1907. Alexander Nikolaevich brings a whole series of inventions in drawings and sketches. Lodygin teaches at the Electrical Engineering Institute and works in the construction department of the St. Petersburg Railway.

The First World War changes all plans, Lodygin begins to work on a vertical take-off aircraft. After the February Revolution of 1917, the inventor did not work well with the new government. Financial difficulties force the Lodygin family to leave for the USA. The First World War changes all plans, Lodygin begins to work on a vertical take-off aircraft. After the February Revolution of 1917, the inventor did not work well with the new government. Financial difficulties force the Lodygin family to leave for the USA. In March 1923, Lodygin died in Brooklyn. In March 1923, Lodygin died in Brooklyn.

Inventions 1. Incandescent lamp. 1. Incandescent lamp. 2. In 1871, Lodygin created a project for an autonomous diving suit using a gas mixture consisting of oxygen and hydrogen. Oxygen was to be produced from water by electrolysis 2. In 1871, Lodygin created a project for an autonomous diving suit using a gas mixture consisting of oxygen and hydrogen. Oxygen was supposed to be produced from water by electrolysis

3. A. N. Lodygin showed the advantages of using metal, in particular tungsten, wire for making an incandescent body and thus laid the foundation for the production of modern, much more economical incandescent lamps than carbon lamps of the early period. 3. A. N. Lodygin showed the advantages of using metal, in particular tungsten, wire for making an incandescent body and thus laid the foundation for the production of modern, much more economical incandescent lamps than carbon lamps of the early period. 4. A. N. Lodygin prepared the way for the successes of P. N. Yablochkov and, undoubtedly, had a strong influence on T. A. Edison and D. Swan, who, using the principle of operation of an incandescent lamp, approved by the works of A. N. Lodygin, turned this device into a consumer item. 4. A. N. Lodygin prepared the way for the successes of P. N. Yablochkov and, undoubtedly, had a strong influence on T. A. Edison and D. Swan, who, using the principle of operation of an incandescent lamp, approved by the works of A. N. Lodygin, turned this device into a consumer item.

The history of the light bulb is a whole chain of discoveries made by different people at different times. But Lodygin’s merits in this area are especially great. He was the first to propose using tungsten filaments in lamps (in modern light bulbs the filaments are made of tungsten) and twisting the filament in the shape of a spiral. He was also the first to pump air out of lamps, which increased their service life many times over. The history of the light bulb is a whole chain of discoveries made by different people at different times. But Lodygin’s merits in this area are especially great. He was the first to propose using tungsten filaments in lamps (in modern light bulbs the filaments are made of tungsten) and twisting the filament in the shape of a spiral. He was also the first to pump air out of lamps, which increased their service life many times over. Another invention of Lodygin, aimed at increasing the service life of lamps, was filling them with inert gas. Another invention of Lodygin, aimed at increasing the service life of lamps, was filling them with inert gas. The light bulb does not have one single inventor.

Conclusion The goal set at the beginning of the work has been achieved. Having studied the life path of a wonderful scientist, inventor and simply inquisitive and versatile person, which is A.N. Lodygin, we realized that the Tambov region gave the world a great man of whom we are truly proud. The goal set at the beginning of the work has been achieved. Having studied the life path of a wonderful scientist, inventor and simply inquisitive and versatile person, which is A.N. Lodygin, we realized that the Tambov region gave the world a great man of whom we are truly proud. And we are also proud that our homeland, the Tambo land, is so fertile in every sense of the word. And we are also proud that our homeland, the Tambo land, is so fertile in every sense of the word.

Literature and resources: Literature and resources: 1. Encyclopedia “Cyril and Methodius” 2. Great Soviet Encyclopedia. M: 1981 3. Ershov A.P. Computerization of school and mathematical education, Mathematics in school Tambov region. City information directory html

On May 20, 1873, St. Petersburg residents were lucky enough to look at the first electric illumination right on the street. Inventor Alexander Lodygin demonstrated his invention - an incandescent lamp, replacing several kerosene burners in the lanterns on Odesskaya Street with electrical appliances of his own design.

These were the first lamps in the world, similar to those that are now burning in our apartments everywhere. They were glass flasks, each with two electrodes and one incandescent element fixed between them. The lamps burned for two hours. They could be turned on and off.

the site recalls how the demonstration of electric flashlights took place, and explains why the American Edison, and not Alexander Lodygin, is considered the inventor of the incandescent lamp.

Unflickering Light

Nowadays you won’t surprise anyone even with laser shows on the walls of the General Staff of St. Petersburg. And that May evening, a lot of people gathered on Odesskaya Street to look at the eight miracle lanterns, burning with a bright, flickering-free light, in which one could read newspapers as if during the day. People actually brought newspapers with them, walked away from the lanterns and approached them, checking how much light there was enough to distinguish the printed letters.

Alexander Lodygin, meanwhile, mentally calculated the profits that his invention could bring. In 1874, he received a patent for his incandescent lamp and the Lomonosov Prize from the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. Then the scientist patented the lamp in Austria-Hungary, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Sweden, Saxony, and even in India and Australia, but, unfortunately, not in the USA. Later he founded the company “Russian Electric Lighting Partnership Lodygin and Co.” to continue development and improve his lamp.

Dream Shard

Hereditary nobleman Alexander Lodygin, although he did not follow in the footsteps of his ancestors and left military service early, still did not part with the military path. He got a job as a hammer hammer at the Tula Arms Plant and there he began to develop his first invention - an electric plane. A military flying machine equipped with an electric motor. It was supposed to be something between a balloon and a helicopter. The French, who were fighting with the Prussians, became interested in the invention, but by the time Lodygin reached Paris, the war had come to an end. The inventor was left without money and without a realized dream.

It is not known what prompted him to further improve just one part of the electric plane - an incandescent lamp, which he planned to use during night flights. Maybe it was a desire to grab onto a fragment of a dream, or maybe just curiosity, the excitement of a natural scientist. And Lodygin began his experiments. Knowing about the experiments of Vasily Petrov, who discovered the electric arc back in 1802, Alexander Nikolaevich took a different path - he began to sort out incandescent elements and the environments in which they can be used. So I came to a carbon rod attached to copper electrodes in a glass flask, from which the air had previously been evacuated. The lamp was invented.

But unfortunately for Lodygin, literally side by side with him, another Russian inventor, Pyotr Yablochkov, conducted his experiments with an electric arc. And soon Yablochkov’s arc lamps eclipsed the light of incandescent lamps, but only because Lodygin lacked funds and did not know how to advertise himself. They simply forgot about him.

Beat Edison

Thomas Edison's incandescent lamp. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

Lodygin finally left the competition in the lamp business in 1879, when the American Edison appeared on the world stage with his incandescent lamp. But Thomas Alva Edison, the same age as Alexander Lodygin, struggled with his invention, presumably, for at least six years. The Russian pioneer of electric street lighting sent his patent application to the United States as early as 1873, but could not find the money to pay the necessary fees. It is logical to assume that it was then that Edison received some information about the breakthrough of his counterpart from the distant Russian Empire.

And Lodygin, having actually lost another dream, continued to work. He lived in St. Petersburg, improved the diving apparatus, and worked on other inventions. For participation in the Vienna Electrotechnical Exhibition, Lodygin received the Order of Stanislav, III degree.

In 1884, Alexander Nikolaevich moved to France, then to the USA. There he invents new incandescent lamps, electric furnaces, electric cars, builds factories and the subway. In the USA, he won one important, but unnoticed victory by the world community over businessman Edison. Lodygin in 1906 sold his patents for improved lamps with filaments made of refractory metals to the General Electric Company. As they say, he beat Thomas Alva cleanly on his own field.

In 1907, Alexander Nikolaevich returned to Russia, taught, introduced technologies for melting and welding metals, was engaged in the electrification of the country, and during World War I worked on a helicopter prototype. But after the February Revolution of 1917, he emigrated again, because... does not find a common language with the new government.

Streets of burning lanterns

Many have forgotten the merits of Alexander Lodygin. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

In the triumphant year of 1873, Lodygin shed light not only on one of the shortest streets of St. Petersburg, but also illuminated the entire future of Russia.

Who knows if Edison would have had his own light bulb without his experiments? What about Ilyich?

What would happen to the GOELRO plan? What would the series “Streets of Broken Lanterns” be called today? What pictures would shine on the façade of the General Staff on New Year's Day?

On May 20, not everyone who came to look at the heavenly light hidden in glass understood what kind of invention it was.

But the newspaper articles describing that event did not lie: today St. Petersburg is really flooded with the bright light of electric lights.

First, the darkness cleared over Odessa Street, and in 1879 - over the Liteiny Bridge and the Neva... So gradually the light of Lodygin came to every home of our vast country.

Today we will tell you who actually invented the incandescent lamp, Thomas Edison or Alexander Lodygin.

Thomas Alva Edison

American inventor and entrepreneur who received 1093 patents in the United States and about 3 thousand in other countries of the world; creator of the phonograph; improved the telegraph, telephone, cinema equipment, developed one of the first commercially successful versions of the incandescent electric lamp. It was he who suggested using the word “hello” at the beginning of a telephone conversation. In 1928 he was awarded the highest US award - the Congressional Gold Medal. In 1930 he became a foreign honorary member of the USSR Academy of Sciences.

And Alexander Nikolaevich Lodygin

Russian electrical engineer, one of the inventors of the incandescent lamp.

Born in the village of Stenshino, Lipetsk district, Tambov province. He came from a very old and noble noble family.

His parents were poor nobles. According to family tradition, Alexander was supposed to become a military man, and therefore in 1859 he entered an unranked company (“preparatory classes”) of the Voronezh Cadet Corps, which was located in Tambov, then was transferred to Voronezh with the characteristic: “kind, sympathetic, diligent.”

In 1870, Lodygin retired and moved to St. Petersburg. Here he is looking for funds to create the flying machine he had planned with an electric motor (electric aircraft) and at the same time begins his first experiments with incandescent lamps.

He also worked on a diving apparatus project. Without waiting for a decision from the Russian War Ministry, Lodygin writes to Paris and invites the republican government to use the aircraft in the war with Prussia. Having received a positive answer, the inventor goes to France. But the defeat of France in the war stopped Lodygin’s plans.

incandescent lamp

The notorious “Thomas Edison light bulb” was actually invented by Russian engineer Alexander Nikolaevich Lodygin.

Returning from Paris to St. Petersburg, he attended classes in physics, chemistry, and mechanics at the Technological Institute. In 1871-1874 he conducted experiments and demonstrations of electric lighting with incandescent lamps at the Admiralty, Galernaya Harbor, on Odesskaya Street, and at the Technological Institute.

In 1872, Lodygin replaced plant fibers in incandescent lamps with carbon rods, and in the 90s he proposed making filament from tungsten. Three years later, the first public demonstrations of incandescent electric lamps suitable for practical use took place. But these lamps burned for only 40 minutes. Vasily Fedorovich Didrikhson, one of Lodygin’s employees, proposed pumping air out of the lamps, as a result of which the life of the lamps increased to almost 1000 hours of operation.

In 1872, Lodygin applied for the invention of an incandescent lamp, and in 1874 he received a patent for his invention (privilege No. 1619 dated July 11, 1874) and the Lomonosov Prize from the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. Lodygin patented his invention in many countries: Austria-Hungary, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Sweden, Saxony, and even India and Australia.

In 1873, in St. Petersburg on Peski (the area of ​​modern Soviet streets), Lodygin made the first experiment in street lighting using an electric incandescent lamp. But Lodygin’s affairs did not receive financial support from the state.

The company he created together with his friend and assistant Didrikhson, “Russian Electric Lighting Partnership Lodygin and Co,” soon went bankrupt. In the 1870s, Lodygin became close to the populists. In 1875-1878 he spent in the Tuapse colony-community of the populists.

Although Thomas Edison began his experiments with an electric incandescent lamp only in 1878. he had the worldwide support of American financiers, in particular John Pierpont Morgan. Together with him, he created the Edison Electric Lighting Company with a capital of 300 thousand dollars. Edison improved Lodygin's invention, creating a modern lamp shape, a screw base with a socket, a plug, a socket, and a fuse. And today, when the word comes about Edison, looking back, you understand that everything turned out this way because Lodygin did not receive funding from the state. But the fact is that the incandescent lamp was created not by Thomas Edison, but by the Russian engineer Alexander Nikolaevich Lodygin himself.

Source – Wikipedia, magazine Mysteries of History, author of the text – Anna Semenenko.

Thomas Edison, incandescent lamp and Alexander Nikolaevich Lodygin updated: October 25, 2017 by: website