Abstract: Underwriters Laboratories lists lightning protection components as described in their UL 96, Third Edition Publication. The present invention improves on the basic lightning rod systems. The improvement provides a multiplicity of points extending in all directions from the top of a supporting rod which is designed to fit the conventional lightning rod mounting bases. The points are separated and configured to produce maximum ionization current commensurate and configured to carry an above average lightning strike current flow. The result is a hybrid lightning air terminal and lightning prevention system module named the Spline Ball Terminal (SBT). The SBT partially equalizes the charge differential between the protected site and the cloud thereby preventing many strokes from occurring. If a high energy stroke does enter the protected zone, then the SBT acts like a traditional UL approved lightning rod, but with much greater efficiency.

Abstract: Simple lightning rod systems divert a lightning stroke away from a protected facility. They do nothing to prevent a lightning stroke from occurring. The present invention represents the state of the art improvements in lightning prevention systems. These prevention systems are termed dissipating systems because they neutralize the charge differential between the cloud and the protected facility before the flashover point occurs. The flashover point is seen as lightning. The present dissipative systems leak off the charge differential slowly before the flashover point is reached. The present invention pinpoints the critical design parameters for the optimization of dissipative array systems. The critical design parameters include the number, size and spacing of both the ionizer points and their conductive wires. These Dissipation Array Systems (DAS) provide up to 100% prevention protection from lightning strokes.

Abstract: A clamp is disclosed for securing pipe to a surface. The clamp comprises a body for retaining the pipe therein. The body has at least two ends and at least one of the ends is securable to the surface by a fastener. In one embodiment, the ends are in the form of outwardly extending flanges with preformed holes for fastening. The body also includes a clasp which is adapted to releasably secure an electrical wire to the clamp. In one embodiment the clasp is a resilient cantilever having a rest position and being biased towards said rest position upon being displaced therefrom.

Abstract: An electrical dissipator comprising a multiplicity of fine electrically conductive wires having their proximate ends fitted into a hole in an electrically conductive base member and secured therein by crimping to securely grip the ends of the wires. One embodiment of the base member comprises a hollow tube allowing connection over an existing traditional lightning rod. In another embodiment, the base member comprises a solid rod or hollow tube having its proximal end threaded to allow the traditional lightning rod to be unthreaded from its threaded base and replaced. In a third embodiment, the base member comprises an apertured flange for bolting to the structure to be protected from lightning.

Abstract: A lightning conductor having an electrically conductive surface element insulated from an earth rod. The surface element is substantially continuous, but has an aperture defining an air gap. The air gap is located near the top of the earth rod. In atmospheric conditions existing before lightning discharges, arcing occurs between the surface element and the earth rod. This creates plasma about the tip of the earth rod, leading to upward leader formation. A high impedance static drain may be connected between the surface element and the earth rod.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for protecting against lightning. An atmospheric potential tapping member is disposed for this purpose in the atmospheric field prone to lightning to collect a voltage (U.sub.c) which, before there is a real threat of the lightning striking, has a value which remains within a lower voltage range (U.sub.b) a capacitor is progressively charged with the voltage U.sub.c and a few tens of microseconds before there is a real threat of the lightning striking a given place, the atmospheric field will undergo a sudden increase and will therefore influence, relatively in the same way, the voltage collected which will rise up to and into a range (U.sub.h) of voltages greater than that (U.sub.b) where it was situated up to then. This potential gradient is detected with respect to time, and the evolution of the potential gradient (dv/dt) detected with respect to time is monitored in this upper range (U.sub.h) of voltages.

Abstract: Lightning conductor with a piezoelectric device for starting the corona effect. A lightning conductor pole rests on a support fixed by means of a ball. Under the action of the wind, the pole moves out of the vertical position until a shoulder abuts against a flange of the support. With the wind continuing to act on the pole, the latter exerts a considerable force on the support and the reaction force or torque is transmitted to the piezoelectric device by means of the ball.

Abstract: A lightning deterrent device is described which consists of a brush-like conductive structure particularly suited to be mounted on the top of a transmission tower. The device includes a central core formed into an annulus having a diameter sufficient to contain the vertical sides of the tower. The central core mounts a plurality of conductive wires captured therein at their midpoints. Sufficient wires are used to form a brush-like structure. The maximum number of wires is 250 per inch. The wires are preferably 10 inches long and have a diameter of about 0.014 inch. The device has been found to reliably protect against lightning strikes, and in the case of a television transmission tower, increase the signal by over 25 miles.

Abstract: A lightning rod structure comprises a steel rod for connection to the ground, the rod extending upwardly from a central hub, and the structure further including an accelerator associated with the hub. The accelerator includes upper metal deflector arms radiating from the hub and each formed with a series of holes, and further arms of dielectric material radiating from the hub below the deflector arms. The further arms carry upwardly extending exciter needles centered on the holes in the upper arms. In use, a potential difference is created between the rod which is positively charged and the needles which become negatively charged.

Abstract: In this device a point (100) is brought to a high tension potential by a generator (300). The grounding in case of lightning is effected by a rod (210) brought to the potential of the earth. A spark-gap device is constituted by the base (120) of the point and a crown (240) connected to the rod (210). According to the invention, to protect the dielectric interval of this spark gap, the base of the point is extended downwardly by a flared skirt (130) that covers the crown (240), at least partially, the visible portion (231) of the insulating sheath (230) is hollowed so as to remove its surface (232) from the armatures of the spark gap and there is given to the interior of the skirt (130) a surface condition that makes it possible to avoid any punctual deformation of the electric field.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lightning conductor with a piezoelectric device for initiating the corona effect.It comprises a metal rod terminated by a tip and connected to the ground by an electric conductor. In the vicinity of the tip are provided one or more electrodes, which are electrically connected to one or more piezoelectric crystals, on which a means exerts a mechanical pressure. This makes it possible to raise the electrodes to an adequate potential for producing charged particles in the vicinity of the tip.

Abstract: An electrically conductive device (6) is positioned in the vicinity of a lightning rod point (1, 2), where it is electrically isolated from the lightning rod (1) and the ground conductor (3). This device (6) comprises a first component (7) extending radially from the lightning rod (1) and having terminal spikes (8, 9, 10) for facilitating the adjustment of said component to the potential of the surrounding atmosphere. The device (6) also comprises a second component (11) terminated by an electrode (12), which is positioned at a sufficiently short distance from the lightning rod (1) and in such a manner that a discharge takes place between the electrode (12) and the lightning rod (1) as a result of the voltage developing across the gap between said conductive device (6) and the lightning rod (1).The advantage of the system is that the efficiency of the lightning protector is greatly improved by comparison with lightning protectors provided with a radio-active source, while operating without such a source.

Abstract: A device is described for substantially reducing the radio interference and audible noise caused by the corona appearing on the surface of electrically conductive members supplied with a high electric voltage. The device comprises an electrically conductive mounting portion to be mounted on the surface of the live member in electrical contact therewith and at least one electrically conductive projecting portion projecting therefrom in directions substantially normal to said surface of the live member. The end of the projecting portion remote from the mounting portion has a radius of curvature which is small relative to its length, the dimension of the projecting portion being optimized such that, during use of the live member, said end of the projecting portion is located in a well-defined zone of electrical field around the live member where a unique relatively non-disturbing ionization mode is produced.