Power receiver for extracting power from electric field energy in the earth
AssigneeEarth Energies, Inc.
InventorsJohn Dinwiddie, Terry L. Wright, David R. Ames
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A resonant transformer connected between a ground terminal and elevated terminal draws current from the earth's electric field through a primary winding of the transformer. An impulse generator applies a high voltage impulse to the primary winding of the resonant transformer to cause current to flow from the ground terminal through the primary winding. The flow of current through the primary winding of the resonant transformer induces a current in the secondary winding, which may be converted and filtered to a usable form, e.g. 60 Hz AC or DC.
Claims12
A power receiver for extracting electrical energy from the earth's electric field, said power receiver comprising:
- a resonant transformer connected to a ground terminal disposed below the surface of the earth;
- an impulse generator for generating and applying a high voltage electrical impulse to a primary winding of the resonant transformer to induce current flow from the ground terminal through the primary winding of the transformer, said impulse generator comprising:
- a signal generator for generating a low voltage signal;
- a step-up transformer for converting the low voltage signal to a high voltage signal;
- a spark gap connected between the step-up transformer and the primary winding of the resonant transformer to generate a spark responsive to the high voltage signal from the step-up transformer;
- and
- a power conversion circuit connected to a secondary winding of the resonant transformer to convert electrical current flowing through the secondary winding to a desired form.
A ground terminal for a power receiver, said ground terminal comprising:
- a ground shaft configured for insertion beneath the surface of the earth;
- a hollow cylinder surrounding the ground shaft and having a plurality of openings;
- and
- a plurality of ground wires connected at one end to the ground shaft said ground wires being wound around the ground shaft and having free ends protruding through respective openings in the hollow shaft so that rotation of the ground shaft relative to the hollow cylinder causes the ground wires to extend radially into the earth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.