US 6,307,149 B1 · Non-contaminating lightning protection system

Abstract

This invention is directed towards a lightning prevention system that prevents lightning strikes by draining the ambient static charge before the electrical potential reaches the electrical breakdown point of the atmosphere. This invention suppresses the radiation of a secondary incoming radio wave (IRW) by reducing the electromagnetic interaction of an incoming IRW with components of this invention. To this end, this invention consists of a static charge dissipater and a grounding line. The static charge dissipater is a conductive tube that contains a large number of small diameter conductive wires that are partially inside the conductive tube. The single grounding line consists of an application appropriate length of small gauge wire. To prevent the radiation of a secondary IRW, ferrite beads are spaced equally along the grounding line at an application appropriate distance. The ferrite bead acts to break the effective electromagnetic length of the grounding wire into smaller segments such that the incoming IRW cannot resonate within the grounding line and thus cannot create a secondary IRW. The number of static dissipaters and grounding lines depends upon the individual structure or system being protected.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A static dissipater for dissipating ambient static charge from an atmosphere to prevent or reduce risk of a breakdown of atmospheric resistance, the static dissipater being adapted for attachment to another structure, comprising:

a base member, the base member comprising a tube, the tube having two ends, an upper end and a bottom end;
a plurality of static dissipation elements, electrically and physically connected to the upper end, the static dissipation element comprising a length of untreated wire, the untreated wire having a center point, and the plurality of static dissipation elements being bent into a uniform sphere upon installation;
and
wherein the bottom end comprises an attachment element for electrically and physically attaching the dissipater to the another structure.

1 more element

A lightning protection and radio frequency contamination elimination system for reducing or preventing lightning strikes by draining excess static charge and eliminating any resultant radio frequency contamination resulting from an interaction of incoming radio waves and the lightning protection and radio frequency contamination elimination system, the radio frequency system having a maximum radio frequency of interest, the maximum radio frequency of interest having a wavelength, the lightning protection and radio frequency contamination elimination system comprising:

a static dissipater, the static dissipater comprising a tube with an upper end and a bottom end, a plurality of static dissipation elements electrically and physically connected to the upper end, the elements comprising a plurality of lengths of untreated wires, the untreated wires being shaped into a spherical form upon installation;
and the bottom end comprising an attachment element;
grounding line, electrically and physically connected to the attachment element, the grounding line comprising a length of small gauge uninsulated, conductive wire, the grounding line having an outer diameter and a length;
a plurality of ferrite beads, the beads being physically and electromagnetically attached to the grounding line, and
a non conductive supporting structure, electrically insulated from but physically connected to the grounding line, for supporting the static dissipater in the atmosphere.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Non-contaminating lightning protection system

Life of this patent

Non-contaminating lightning protection system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17