Back to results
US 8,283,811 B2Granted
Atmospheric static electricity collector
AssigneeSefe, Inc.
InventorMark Ellery Ogram
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An antenna for the collection of atmospheric static electricity in which an electrically conductive hub is suspended from a balloon or blimp via a tether. The hub is either solid or uses a spoke/arm arrangement. A number of rods extend from the hub enhance the collection of atmospheric static electricity. The collected atmospheric electricity is conducted from the rods to an electrical connection where the electricity is conducted to earth via a conductive line.
Claims16
A system for collection of atmospheric static electricity comprising:
- a balloon;
- a hub that is electrically conductive and connected to the balloon by a tether, the hub having:
- two or more arms that are electrically conductive, a first end of each of the two or more arms electrically connected to the hub;
- and
- a plurality of rods, a first end of each of the rods being electrically connected to a second end of at least one of the two or more arms;
- a base unit having a spool of conductive line on a winch motor, one end of the conductive line secured to the hub, a portion of the conductive line and the hub collecting electricity in the atmosphere, the winch motor selectively extending or withdrawing the conductive line from the spool;
- a conductor having a first end electrically connected to the conductive line and a second end electrically connected to a load being powered by collected electricity from the conductive line;
- an electrical flow sensor monitoring electrical flow through the conductor and generating an electrical flow indicia indicative of the electrical flow in the conductor;
- and
- a controller to operate the winch motor to maintain the electrical flow indicia within a selected operating range.
7 more elements
A system for collection of atmospheric static electricity comprising:
- two or more arms that are electrically conductive;
- a plurality of rods, each of the plurality of rods being electrically connected to at least one of the two or more arms;
- and
- a balloon tether connected between a balloon and the two or more arms;
- a base unit having a spool of conductive line on a winch motor, one end of the conductive line secured to the two or more arms, a portion of the conductive line and the two or more arms collecting electricity in the atmosphere, the winch motor selectively extending or withdrawing the conductive line from the spool;
- a conductor having a first end electrically connected to the conductive line and a second end electrically connected to a load being powered by collected electricity from the conductive line;
- an electrical flow sensor monitoring electrical flow through the conductor and generating an electrical flow indicia indicative of the electrical flow in the conductor;
- and
- a controller to operate the winch motor to maintain the electrical flow indicia within a selected operating range.
6 more elements
A system for the collection of atmospheric static electricity comprising:
- an electrically conductive body;
- a balloon tether connected to a first side of the electrically conductive body and to a balloon;
- and
- an electrical connection connected to a second side of the electrically conductive body;
- a base unit having a spool of conductive line on a winch motor, one end of the conductive line secured to the electrical connection, a portion of the conductive line and the electrically conductive body collecting electricity in the atmosphere, the winch motor selectively extending or withdrawing the conductive line from the spool;
- a conductor having a first end electrically connected to the conductive line and a second end electrically connected to a load being powered by collected electricity from the conductive line;
- an electrical flow sensor monitoring electrical flow through the conductor and generating an electrical flow indicia indicative of the electrical flow in the conductor;
- and
- a controller receiving the electrical flow indicia and selectively operating the winch motor such that the electrical flow indicia remains within a selected operating range.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.