Energy transfer apparatus

Apparatus for effecting electrostatic transfer of energy to a target comprising, a plurality of electrically conductive longitudinally spaced apart points facing the target, means electrically connecting said points together, at least two elongated spaced apart grid wires of electrically conductive material in spaced relation to said points and electrically insulated therefrom, said grid wires being arranged symmetrically to the points and of equal spacing therefrom and disposed between the points and the target, means for supporting said points and grid wires in electrically insulated relationship from each other and to permit independent expansion and contraction of the points and grid wires, and a source of high voltage low amperage direct current connected across the points and grid wires.

Apparatus for electrostatically accelerating the transfer of energy from an energy source to a target wherein the apparatus is in spaced relation from the target, said apparatus comprising a plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive probe strips, each strip including a plurality of spaced apart pointed projections in facing relation to the target, a plurality of grid wires of electrically conductive material arranged between the probe strip points and the target, said grid wires including at least one pair associated with each probe strip, said grid wires of each pair being equally spaced apart and equally spaced from said probe strip points, means for supporting said probe strips relative said grid wires in electrically insulated relationship from each other and to permit independent expansion and contraction between the probe strips and grid wires, and a source of high voltage low amperage direct current connected between the probe strips and grid wires.

The method of effecting energy transfer to a target which comprises the step of arranging a plurality of electrically conductive points in facing relationship to the target, disposing electrically conductive grid wires between said points and target, electrically insulating the points from the grid wires, and connecting a high voltage low amperage direct current source across the points and grid wires.

Apparatus for effecting electrostatic transfer of energy to a target comprising, a probe of electrically conductive material having a pointed end, at least two spaced apart grid wires of electrically conductive material in spaced relation to said probe pointed end and electrically insulated therefrom, said wires being arranged symmetrically to the probe pointed end and of equal spacing therefrom and disposed between said probe pointed end and the target, means for supporting said probe and wires in electrically insulated relationship from each other, and a source of high voltage low amperage direct current connected across the probe and wires.