US1540998A - Conversion of atmospheric electric energy - Google Patents

Description

June 9, 1925. 1,540,998

. H. PLAusoN CONVERSION OF ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRIC ENERGY Filed J 13, 1921 i 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. PLAUSON CONVERSION OF ATMOSPHEPIGELECTRIG ENERGY June 9, 1 925.

ShQets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 13, 1921 IBXYEBIEU? June 9, 1925. 1,540,998

, H. PLAUSON CONVERSION OF ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRIC ENERGY Filed Jan. 1 1921/1 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 9, 1925.

H. PLAUSON CONVERSION OF ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRIC ENERGY Filed Jan, 15, 1921 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 9, 1925. 1,5403% H. PLAUSON CONVERSION OF ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRIC ENERGY Filed Jr 3, 1921 12 Sheets-Sheet s June 9, 1 925.

v H. PLAUSON CONVERSION .OF ATMOSPHERIC" ELECTRIC ENERGY Filed Jan. 13, 1921 12 Sheets-Sheet e i [M 2 21 v 27 S1 .53

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' H. PLAUSON CONVERSION OF"ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRIC ENERGY Filed Jan. 15, 1921 12 Sheets-Sheet 1337551731 HI/WM M MM v v M QWL A June 9, 1925.

' 1,540,998 H. PLAUSON CONVERSICN OF ATMQSPHERIC ELECTRIC ENERGY I Filed Jan. 13, 1921, 12 Sheets-Sheet s unu um June 9, 1925.

H. PtAUSON CONVERSION OF ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRIC ENERGY Filed Jan, 15, 1921 12 Sheets-Sheet? June '9, 1925. 1,540,993;

H. PLAUSON CONVERSION OF ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRIC ENERGY :Filed Jan. 1921; 12 Sheets-Sheet 1o 1578 51 57 Hill WWW mglo/m'mv H. PLAUSON CONVERSION OF ATMOSPHERIC ELECTBiC ENERGY v sh -1- Flleolqim 1 2.1 2 q es a June 9, 1925. 1,540,998

H PLAUSON CONVERSION OF'ATMOSPHE'R IC ELECTRIC ENERGY v Foouoo r:

/ [MAW past-ea Jane is, 1925.,

UNITED 31-13mm PLAUSON, orrnaarnune," GERMANY. Z

sum aries armosrnnnic ntn'c'rnrc ENERGY.

Application filed ianuary l a, 19 21, sr a1,1t6;"4'7,1'07. 7 i

J '0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HnRMAisN Pinrmtnv,

. Esthonian subject,- residing in Hamburg,

Germany, have; invented certain new and useful Improvements .1n .the Conversion of Atmospheric Electric Energy, of which the -fo1lowin'g is a specification.

'- or anchored kite balloons made of fabricsi "and filled with hydrogen, are in theory al- Methodsof obtaining atmospheric elec-l tricity by means of metallicnettings set with spikes which are held .by, means of ordinary readyknown. Atmospheric electricity obtaincd in this way 'hasbeen suggested to be' used in theform of direct-currentfor-the charging of accumulators. This knowledge 1 however is' at present only theoretical asthe conversion in practice has hitherto been a Y non-conducting materials which are liableito ,be tornandare' permeable to the gas; 1t 1s failure. No. means are known of protecting the apparatus from'destruction by lightning,

Theballoons used for collecting the chargemust also be made-of very large size in order to be able tofsupporttheweight of theme-Y- 5 tallic netting and the heavy .jcable connec fl ti'ons. t

Instead ofusingheavy metallic netting collectors attached to single-air b'alloons of proposed to use metallic balloon collectors which have the following important advantages i .4 (a) The metallic cases am impenetrable faces.

to h'eliumand hydrogen; the also represent;

collecting surlarge metallic weatherfproo (1)) Radio active means andthe likeniay be easily applied internally or externally; whereby the ionization is considerably 1nc'reased and therewithalsothe quantity atmospheric 'electricitycapable of 'be-ing collected' 4 (1:) Such balloon Collectors of light-metal do not require to be of large size as they have to carry only their own moderate weiglit, an d that of. the conducting cable or wire... I The entire system therefore ofi'rs litand is resistant and stable.

tlesurface for the action-of storm and wind 5 I 6) Each balloon can'be easily raised and loweredby means of a Winch so that all re pairsyrecha rging andthe like can becarried 'wt WithOUt danger during] the operation.

scribed with reference to It further proposedto use'a collecting aerial network of several separate collectors spread out inthe air. above the earth, which conductors.

-According to this'invention charges'of .at-j mospheric electricity are not directlyconverted into mechanical energy, band, 'this';-

forms themain difierence from'previ ousin ventions, butthestatic electricity which ru to earth through aerial conductorsini form of. direct current of very high =volt8ge and low current strength "is convertedl ntq -electr-o-dynamic energy in the form of-Tfhi gh frequency vibrations. "Many advantagesare toiy' circuits it is possible to obtain'elect romagjnetic waves of various amplitude and g "thereby to ncreasethe degree ofresonance: y of such current. Such resonance allows va- 5 rious' values of inductance to be chosen" whereby again the governing of the starting Y and stopping of machines drivenltli-ereby by I simply tuning the. resonance between coils of the machine and thetransformer'circuit forming the resonance can easily be ob-' tained. Further, such currents have the.

propertyofjbeiiig directly.- available for various uses; even without employing them for driving motors, of whichtliere may-be particularly mentioned, lighting, production of heat and use in electro-cheniistry.

Further, with, such currents a series of apparatus may be fed without direct current supply through conductors'and also theelectro-magnetic high frequency'icurrents' may be converted by means of'special motors adapted for electromagnetic oscillations into-mechanical energy, or finally converted I by special'macl ines into alternating current of low frequency or even into direct current ofhigh potential.

. The invention is more parti;-.ularly del the accompanying diagrams in which v Figure 1 is'an explanatory figure. Figure 2 is collectors are; interconnected by electrical I ja diagrammatic viewofthe simplest form." I

Figure 3 shows a method of converting atmospheric electrical energy for use with Figure 7 shows means whereby the spark gap length can be adjusted.

Figure 8 shows a unipolar connection for the motor.

Figure 9 shows a weak coupled system suitable for use with small power motors.

Figures 10, 1.1 and 12 show modified arran ements.-

Flgure 13 shows a form of inductive cou-' pling for themotor circuit.

Figure 14: is a modifiedform of Figure 13 with inductive coupling.

Figure 15 is an arrangement with noninductive motor.' 7

Figure 16 is an arrangement with, coupling by condenser. I

Figures 17 18 and 19 are diagrams of further modifications.

Figure 20 shows a simple form in which the aerial network is combined withspecial collectors. I

Figure 21 shows diagrammatically -an arrangement suitable for collecting large quantities of energy.

Figure 22 is a modified arrangement having two'rings of collectors.

Figure 23 shows the connections for three" rings of collectors.

Figure 24 shows a collectingballoon and diagram of its connection of condenser batteries.

Figures 25 and 26 show modified collector balloon arrangements. I

Figure 27 shows a second method of connecting conductor for the balloon aerialsp Figure 28 shows an auto-transformer method of connection. Figure 29 shows the simplest form of construction with incandescent-cathode.

Figure 30 shows a form with cigar shaped balloon.

- Figure 31 is a modified arrangement. Figure 32 shows a form with cathode and electrode enclosed in a vacuum chamber.

Figure 33 is a modified form of Figure 32. Figure 34 shows an are light collector.

Figure 35 shows such an arrangement for alternating current.

Figure 36 shows an incandescent collector with Nernst lamp.

Figure 37 shows a form with a gas flame. Figure 1 illustrates asimple diagram for convertin static electricity into dynamic energy 0 a high number of oscillations. For the sake of clearness in thedrawings an influence machine is assumed to be employed and not an aerial antenna. 13-and 14 are combs for collecting the static electricity or", the influence machine. 7 and 8 are spark discharging electrodes, 6 and 5 condensers, 9 an inductive primary coil, 10 secondary coil, 11 and 12 ends of conductors of the secondary coil 10. When the disc of the static influence machine is rotated by mechanical means, the combs collect the electric charges one the positive and the other the negative, and charge the condensers 5 and 6 until such ahi h potential is formed across the spark gap F8, that the spark gap is jumped. As the spark gap 78 forms a closed circuit with condensers 6 and'5, and inductive resistance 9, as is well known, waves of high frequenc electromagnetic oscillations will pass in t is circuit.

, o I v pl1cat1on ofthe co-efiicients of resonance .(capacity, inductance, and resistance) the high voltage of the primary circuit may be suitably converted into low. voltage and high current strength. When the oscillatory discharges in the primary circuit becomes weaker Or entirely cease, the condensers are charged again by the static electricity until the accumulated charge again breaks down the spark gap.. All this is repeated as long as electricity is produced by the static machine by employing mechanical energy.

An elementary form of the invention is shown in Figure 2 in which two spark gaps in parallel are used one of which may be termed the working gap 7 in Figure 2. whilst the second serves as a safety device for excess voltage and consists of a larger number of spark gaps than the working section, which gaps are arranged in series and are bridged by very small capacities as is illustrated in a 1),. 0,, Figure 2 which allow of uniform sparking in the safety section.

In-Figure 2 A is the aerial antennafor collecting charges of atmospheric electricity. 13 is the earth connection of the second part. of the spark gap, 5 and ,6 arecondensers, 9 a rimary coil. Now when through the aerial A the positive atmospheric electricity seeks to combine with the negative charge to earth, this is prevented by (the air gap between) the spark gaps. The resistance of the spark. gap 7 is, as shown in the drawings, lower than that of the other safety section which consists-of three'spark gaps connected in series,'and cdnsequentl a threetiinesgreater' air resistance is offere by the latter.

So long therefore, as the resistance of volta e be inorease'd by any influences so ,that it might .be dangerous for charging Without-this second spark gap, arranged the condensers and 6 or for: the coil in sulation 9 and 10 in consequence of break 1 down,- by a' correct regulation of thisspark a ap the second spark gapcan discharge free Iron; inductive efi'ects direct to earth with-.

out endangering the machine.

in parallel having. a ,higher resistance than the-working spark gap it is impossible to ollectandrender available large quantities I charges.will- -for the sake ofsimplicity be diagrammatically indicated by two semiof electrical energy; l H,

v The action of this'closed oscillation c1r cuit "consisting ofspark gap. 7 two condensers'5 and 6, primary coil 9, and also sec ondar'y. coil 10 is exactly the. same as the one described in Figure 1 with the arrangement of the static induction machine with the only difi'erence that here the second spark gap is provided. Theelectromagnetic high frequency alternating current obtained can be tapped ofi' fronr the conductors'll.

and 12 for lighting and .heating. purposes. Special kinds of motors adapted for working with these peculiarelectrical charges 'fmay be connected at 14: and I? which can high frequency oscillations.

' work with static electricity charges or with In addition to ,theuse of spark gap s;

i in parallel a second measure of security is 40- invention, in the introduction of and method 'of connecting certain protective electroalso necessary for taking off the current.

.This precaution consists according to this magnets or choking coils in the aerial. circu it' as shown by S in Figure'3.

A single electremagnet only having a core of the thinnest possible separate laminations'.

is c'onnectedwith the aeriaL.

In thecase of high voltages in the aerial network or at places wherethere are fre quent thunder storms, several such magnets may however be connectedin series.

'In the case of large units or plants sev eral electromagnets can be employed in parallel or inseriesparallel.

Th windings of these electromagnets maybe simply connected in series with. the

aerials.- In this case the winding-preferably consists of several thin parallel wires, which,

make up together, the necessary'section.

The winding may be made of primary and secondarywindingsin the. form of a transformer. The primary 'windingwill be then connected. in series with the aerial network, and the secondary winding more or .less SllOlt-CIYCUItGCl over a regulating res1st-' .recti on' as the direct current. progress is arrested by two "sparks gaps :ance or an induction coil. In theflatter caseit'ispossible to regulate to, a certain the, further. description of the connecting and constructional-diagrams the aerial elec extent the effect ,of the chokingcoils; 111 i tromagnet choke coil is indicated by a simple ring S.

Figure 3 shows the simplest way of con- 1 verting atmospheric electricityinto electromagnetic wave'energy by the use of special motors adapted for high. oscillatory c'urj rents or stati c charges of electrical energy.

Recent improvements in motors for ,work- A 'iing 'with static charges and motors Working by resonance, that is to say, having groups of tuned electromagnetic cooperating cir- .cuits renderthis possiblebutsuch do not form part of the present invention. 1 A motor adapted to operatejwith static circles land 2' and therotorof the motor by a ring M. (Figure 3.) A is a vertical aerial or aerial network. S the safety choke or' electromagnet with coil 0 as maybe seen' is connected-with the aerialfA. Ad

jacent the electromagnet" S the aerial-conductor is dlvlded into three circuits, the

.circuit 8 giving the safety spark gap, the

' two spark gaps are v also connected metal-' li cally with the earth wire. The. method of working these diagrams is as follows:

The positive atmospheric 'electric charge collected tends to COIIIblIIG WIth the negative electricity (or earth electricity) connected -with the earth wirei It travels along the aerial A through the electromagnet S witho'utbeing checked as it flows in'thesai'ne di Further, its

placed in the .way"v and the stator. condenser surfaces. The stator condenser surfaces are charged until the charge is, greater than the resistance of the spark gap-7, whereupon a spark springs overthe spark gap)? and an oscillatory charge is obtained as by means" of the motor M, stator. surfaces 1 and'2, and .spark gap 7, a closed oscillation circuit is obtained for, producingthe electromagnetic oscillations. The motor here forms the cav pacity and thene'ce'ss'ary inductance and re sistance, which, as is well known, are neces sary for converting static electricity into electromagnetic wave energy. l

The discharges formed are "converted into mechanical energy in special motors and can not reach the aerial network by reason of tends t6 flow toearth, a counter voltage is- ."the electromagnet orjchoke. If, however;

' when a spark springs over the spark gap '7.

a greater quantity of atmospheric electricity I induced in the electromagnet, which is I the formation of this opposing voltage a sufliciently high resistance is offered to the flow of atmospheric electricity direct to earth to prevent a short circuit with theearth. a

The circuit containing spark gap 8 having a different wave length which is notin reso nance with the natural fr quency of the motor, does not endanger the motor andserves as security against excess voltage,

which, as practical experiments have shown,

may still arisein certain cases, but can be conducted direct to earth through this spark p- In the diagram illustrated in Figure 4 the spark gap 7 is shunted across condensers 5 and 6 from the motor M. This construction atl'ords mainly a better insulation of the motor against excess voltage and a uniform excitation through .the spark gap 7 In Figure 5 a diagram is illustrated for transforming large current strengths which may be employed direct without motors, for example, for lighting or heating purposes. The main difference is that here the spark gap consists of a star shaped disc 7 which can rotate on its own axis and is rotated by a motor opposite similarly fitted electrodes 7. hen separate points of stars face one another, discharges take place, thus forming an oscillation circuit over condensers 5 and 6. and inductance 9 for oscillatory discharges. It is evident that a motor may also be directly connected to the ends of the spiral 9.

The construction of the diagram shown in Figure 6 permits of the oscillation circuit of the motor being connected-with an induction coil. Here a regulating inductive resistance is introduced for counter-acting excess voltages in the motor. By cutting the separate coils 9 (coupled inductively to the 1 aerial) in or out the inductive action on the motor may be more or less increased or variable aerial action may be exerted on the oscillation circuit.

In Figure the oscillation circuit is closed through the earth (E and E The spark gap 7 may be prolonged or shortened by more or fewer spark gaps being successively connected by means of a contact arm 7*.

Diagram 8 shows a unipolar connection of the motor with the aerial network. Here two oscillation circuits are closed through the same motor. The first oscillation circuit passes from aerial A through electromagnet S, point :0, inductance. 9 to the earth condenser 6 and further, over spark. gap 7 to the aerial condenser 5 and back to m. The second oscillation circuit starts from the aerial condenser 5 at the point :0 over the inductance 9 to the earth condenser 6 at the point it and through the condenser 6 over the spark gap 7 back to The motor itself is inserted between the two points of the spark gap 7. From this arrangement slightly damped oscillation wave currents are produced.

In the diagram illustrated in Figure 9a loosely coupled system of connections is illustrated which is assumed to be for small motors for measuring purposes. A indicates the aerial conductor, S the electromagnet in the aerial conductor, 9 the inductance, 7 the spark gap, 5 and 6 condensers, E the earth, M the motor, and l and 2 stator connections of the motor. The -motor is directly metallicallv connected with the oscillation circuit.

In Figure 10a purely inductive coupling is employed for the motor circuit. The motor is connected with the secondary wire 10 as maybe seen in Figure 11 in a somewhat modified diagram connection. The same applies to the diagram of Figure 12.

The diagrams'hitherto described preferi ably. allow of motors of small and'medium strength to be operated. For large aggregates, however, they are too inconvenient as the construction of two or more oscillation circuits for large amounts of energy is diflicult; the governing is still more ditlicult and the danger in switching on or off is greater.

i A means of overcoming such difficulties is shown in Figure 13. The oscillation circuit here runsstarting from the point a: over condenser 5, variable inductance 9, spark gap 7 and the two segments (3- and 4) forming arms of a VVheatstone bridge, back to :22.

If the motor is connected by brushes 3 and 4 transversely to the two arms of the bridge lUU as shown in the drawings, electromagnetic" oscillations of equal sign are induced in the stator surfaces 1 and 2 and the motor does not revolve. 4 are moved inv common with the'eonducting wires 1 and 2 which connect the brushes with the stator poles a certain alteration or displacement of the polarity is obtained and the motor commences .to revolve.

The maximum action will result if one If however, the brushes 3 and brush 3 comes on the central sparking con- 5 tact 7 andajthe other brushf l on the part 00.

. can thereby not act on the motor it is better to carry out the same system according to the diagram 14. The diagram 14: differs from the foregoing only by the motor not being directly metallicallv connected with the seg ments of.the\ commutator, but only a primary coil 9 which induces in a secondary coil 10, current which feeds the motor M and takes the placeof the rotor. By this arrangement a good transforming action is obtained, a loose coupling and also an. os

cillation circuit without a spark gap.

In Figure the motoris not purelyin-fformerf V In Figure 16 instead of an inductance a condenser. 6 is in similar manner,"and for the same object inserted between" the. seg: ments 3* and 4;. This has the advanta that the segments 3 and 4 need not f ade of solid metal but may'consist. of spiral coils" whereby .a more exact regulationlis possible v p surface's'of the motor, 5.'a condenser battery,

and further motors of high inductance-may 'be employed. a

The arrangements of' 'Figures 1 7, 18 and 19 may be employed for use with resonance and particularly with induction condenser motors; between the large stator induction condenser surfaces, small reversing pole con- "densers are connected, which, as may be seen from Figures 17-, 18 and 19 are led together to earth. Such reversing poles have theadvantage that with large quantities I of electrical energy the spark formation between the separate oscillation circuits ceases.

Figure. 19 shows a ,further method which prevents electromagnetic oscillations of high number of alternations formed in the oscillation circuit striking. back' to the aerial con-. ductor. It is based .on the wellknown principle that a mercury lamp, one electrode of which is formed of mercury, the other of solid m'etalsuch as steel'allows an electric cliargeto pass .in only one direction from the mercury to the steel and not vlce versa,

The mercury electrode of the vacuum tube N is therefore connected with the aerial conductor and the steel electrode with the oscillation circuit. From this. itresults that charges can pass'only from the aerial through the vacuum tube to the oscillation circuit, but not vice versa. Oscillations iwhi'ch are formed on being transformed in the oscillation circuit cannot pass .to the aerial conductor. v i

In practice these vacuum tubes must be connected behind an electromagnetas the latteralone afi'ords no danger of lightning.

As regardsthe use of spark gaps, all arrangements as used for Wireless telegraphy may be used. Of course the spark gapsin large machines musthave. a sufiiciently large surface. In very large stations they are cooled in liquid carbonica-cid or bettcrstill in liquid nitrogen or hydrogen; in most cases the cooling may also take place by means of liquefied low homologues of .themetal series or by means of hydrocarbons the freezing point'of which lies at between -90 C. and -40 C. The spark gap casing must also be insulated and be of protection against the the operation walls.

- nectiongrun.

sheaths preferably magnesium alloy, and'are filled with hydrogenorhelium' and are attached'to copper plated steel wires. is selected; so that the actual weight ofthe 'suilicient strength to'beiable any.

pressure which may arise; Any undesirable excess super-pressure which may be formed must be automatically let off. I havee'mployed with very goodresults mercury elec;

acid, the cooling being maintained during Figure 20 isoiie f-the si ple t farms r copstructionl ,of anaerial network in com- -shinati'on with collectors, transformers and the like illustrateddiagrammatically. E is.

"trodes which were frozen in liquidearbonic from/ the outside through the i here the earth wire,8'the-safety spark gap,

7 the working spark gap, land 2 .the stator- S the protective magnet which is connected with the coil inthe aerial conductor, A to from which, to the centre a number of con- The fjactual collectors consist of metal The size of theballoon balloon "and-the weight of the conducting wire is supported thereby. On the .top of the balloon aluminium spikes, made and gildedin a special manner hereinafter ,de-. I I

scribed, are arranged in order to produce-a conductoraClllOIl.

made of an aluminium.

v Small quantities of radium preparations, more particularly f polonium-ionium or mesothorium' ;prepara-' tions "considerably increase the ionization, and therewith the action of these collectors.

loons which are superficially metalcoated" according to :Schoops metal spraying process, may however also be employed; A'

In addition tometal balloons, fabric bal-f 4 metallic surfacemay also be produced by f lacquering with metallic bronzes, preferably 'accordingto Schoops spraying process or lacqu'ering with metallic bronze powders in two electrical series of widely different metals, because therebythe collecting effect is considerably increase I Instead of :the ordinary round balloons, elongatedflcigar shaped ones may be employed. 1 In order also to utilize the frictional energy of the wind, patches or strips of non-conducting substances which produce electricity by friction, may be attached to the metallized balloon surfaces. The wind will impart a portion of itsenergy in the form .of frictional electricity, toithe balloon casing, and thereby the collecting effect is substantially increased.

' In practice however, very high towers (up to 300 metres is fully admissible) may be employed as antennae. In these towers copper tubes rise freely further above the top of the tower. A gas lamp secured against the wind is then lit at the point of the copper tube and anetting is secured to p the copper tube over the flame of this lamp ,nected with a horizontal conductor.

to form a collector. The gas is conveyed through the interior of the tube up to the summit. The copper tube must be absolutely protected from moisture at the place at which'it enters the tower and also rain must be prevented running down the walls of the tower which might lead to a bad catastrophe. This is done by bell shaped enlargements which expand downwards, being arranged in'the tower in the form of high voltage insulators of Siamese pagodas.

Special attention must be devoted to the foundations of such towers. They must be well insulated from the ground, which may be obtained by first embedding a layer of concrete in a box form to a sufficient depth in the ground and inserting in this an asphalt lining and then glass bricks cast about 1 or 2 metres in thickness. Over this in turn there is a ferro-concrete layer in which alone the metal foot of the tube is secured. This concrete block must be at least 2 metres from the ground and be fully protected at the sides by a wooden covering, from moisture. In the lower part of the tower a wood or glass house for the large condenser batteries or for the motors may be constructed. In order to lead the earth connection to the ground water, a well insulated pit constructed of vitreous bricks, must be provided. Several such towers are erected at equal distances apart and con- The horizontal connecting wires may either run directly from tower to tower or be carried on bell shaped insulators similar to those in use for high voltage conductors. .The width of the network may be of any suitable size and the connection of the motors can take place at any suitable places.

In order to collect large quantities of electricity with few aerials it is well to provide the aerial conductor with batteries of condensers as shown in two methods of con struction in Figures 21 and 22. In Figure 2l-the batteries of condensers 5 are connected on the one hand with the aerial electricity collectors Z by the aerial conductor A, and on the other hand interconnected in mountains and one inthe plain) or even of different polarity these differences may be compensated for by connecting sufficiently large condenser batteries (5, 5, 5") by means of Maji starconductors D and D In Figme 23 a connection of three suclri'ings of collectors to form a triangle with a central condenser battery is illustrated.

The condenser batteries of such large installations must be embedded in liquefied gases or in liquids freezing at very low temperatures. the atmospheric energy must be employed for liquefying these gases. It is alsopreferable to employ pressure. By this means thecondenser surfaces may be diminished, and still allow for large quantities of energy to be stored, secure against breakdown. For smaller installations the immersing of the condensers in well insulated oil or the like, sufiices. Solid substances on the other hand cannot be employed as insulators.

The arrangement in the diagrams hitherto described was always such that the condenser batteries were connected with both poles directly to the aerial'conductors. An

In such cases a portion of improved diagram of the connections for v obtaining atmospheric electricity for the condenser batteries has however, been found to be very advantageous, this arrangement consists in that they are connected by only one pole (unipolar) to the collecting network. Such a method of arrangement is very important, as by means of it a constant current and an increase of the normal working pressure or voltage is obtained. If for example a collecting balloon aerial which is allowed to rise toa height of 300 metres, shows 40,000 volts above earth voltage, in

practice it has been found that the working voltage (with a withdrawal of the power according to the method hereinbefore described by means of oscillating spark gaps and the like) is only about 400 volts. If however, the capacity of the condenser surfaces be increased, which capacity in the above mentioned case was equal to that of the collecting surface of the balloon aerials, to double the amount, by connecting the condenser batteries with only one pole, the voltage rises under an equal withdrawal of current up to and beyond 500 volts. This can only be ascribed to the favourable action of the connecting method.

In addition to this substantial improvement it has also been found preferable to insert double inductances with electromagnets and to place the capacities preferably between two such electromagncts. It has also been found that the useful action of such condensers can be further increased if an induction coil be connected as inductive resistance to the unconnected pole of the condenser, or still better if the condenser itself be made as an induction condenser. Such a'condenser may be compared with a spring which when compressed carries in itself accumulated force, which it again gives off when released. In charging, a charge with reversed sign is fo d at Hw inc other free condenser pole, and if'through the spark gap a short c rcuit. results, 1 the accumulated energy is again given back since of course the same sign asthe collectornetwork. .The whole voltage energy in the aerial is thereby however increased. In the same space of time larger quantities of;

energy are accumulated than is the case without such inserted condenser batteriesf 'In.Figures 251 and 25 two difierent diagrams of connections are more exactly illuse;

and the diagram ofthe ccnnectionsto earth. Figure 25 four collecting balloons-and the parallel connection of the condenser'bat teriesbelohging thereto.

A is the collecting balloon inade of an aluminium magnesium alloy (electron metal,

' inagnalium) of a specific gravity of 1.8and

athickness of plate 0.1 to 0.2 mm. Inside there are. eight strong vertical ribs of T shaped section about to min, in height and'about 3mm.iin thickness with 'the pro.- jecting part directedinwa'rds (indicated bya, 7), '0, d and so forth): they are riveted to" gther to form a firm skeleton and are stiffened in a horizontal direction by two cross ribs. Thejribs are -further'connected with one another intern'allyand transverscly by external surface is obtained.

means of thin steel Wires, whereby the bal 'loon ohtainsgreat power of resistance and elasticity. Rolled plates 010.1 to 0.2 mm. in thickness made of magnaliurn alloy are then either solderedfor rivetedoh this skeleton so th'ata fully metallic casingwith smooth \Vell silvered- .o'r copper-ed aluminium plated steel wires'run from each rib to the fastening ring 2. @Frirther. the coppered steelhawser L preferably twisted out of, separate'thinwires .(shown in dotted linesin Figure 24) and 'which riust belon enough to allow theiballoon to rise in the desired height, leads toa metal roller on pulley 3 and from thenceto a winch W, I

" well insulated from the earth. By means of this winch, the balloon, wh'ichis filled with hydrogen, or helium, can be allowed to rise to a suitable height (,300to' 5,000 metres) and brought to the ground for rechargi 'ig" or repairs. H The actual current is takendirectly through a friction contact from the metal roller 3 or from the wire, or even from the much or simultaneously .from all three by means of brushes (3, 5 and 3 Beyond the brushes the conductor isv divided, the paths being firstly'over 12 to the safety spark gap 8, from thence to th'e'earth conductor E and secondly over elettromagnet S point 13, to a second loose electromagnet having an adjustable coil S then to the spark gap 7 and to the, second earth conductor E The actual working-circuit is.

formed throughthe spark gap I7 condensers" I 5 and 6, and through the primarv coil 9;

reried into high frequency electromagnetic I I OSCIlla-tIOIIS. Between the electromagnets S and S at the crossing point 13, four con-' denser batteries are introduced which are only indicated diagrammatically .in the *drawin'gscach by one condenser, Two of f-these batteries. (16 and 18) are made as plate condensers and prolonged by reigulatii'igxinhduction coilsflor s'pirals'l? and 19 while the trated, Figure 24 shows; a collecting balloon 't woothers (2-1 and 23) are induction conis connectedonly byone poleto the second- poles 17, 19, 22, 2-1 are open. In, the. 1

case of plate'condensers haying noinductive resistance an nduct on coil is lnserted; -'lhc object of-s'uch a spiral or coil is the displace periods, whilst the charging current of the condenser poles which lie free in the, air,

. works back toi thecollector aerial. The consequence of this'isthat-in discharges in the collector aerial theiback inductive action of has also been foundthat such a back action wear of the contacts.

v9 0 mentof phaseof the induction currentby ,4

has an extremely favourable effect, on the Of course the .inducj tiveetfect may be regulated at will within the limits of the size ofthe induction coil,

the length of the coil in action being adju'stable by meanso-f wire connection 'without induction (see Fig. 24, No. 20)".

S and S may also be provided with such regulating devicesfinthe case of S (illus- -trated by 11)} 'Ir femess tvoltage be formed it is conducted toearth through the wire 12 and spark'gap 8 or-through any other suitable apparatus, since this formation would be dangerous for the other apparatus.

The action of these condenser batt ries has already been hereinbefore described.

The small circles'on the collector balloon indicate places at which zinc amalgam or gold amalgam-or other photoelectric acting metals in the form of small patches in X- tremely thin layers (.01 to .05 min, in thickness) are applied to-the balloon casing of light rnetal. Such metallic patches may also be applied to the entire balloon aswell as in greater thickness to the conducting network. The capacity of the collector is thereby .co nsiderably strengthened at the surface. The greatest possible eliect in collecting may be obtained by polonium amals gains and the like. On the surface of the collectorballoon metal points or spikes are also fixed along the ribs, which spikes serve particularly for collecting the collector charge. Since it is well known that the resistance of the spikes isless the sharper the spike is, for this purpose it is therefore extremely important to .employ as sharp spikes as possible. Experiments made .as regards. these hay shown that the formation of the body of the spike or point also plays a large part. for example, spikesmade of bars or rollers with smooth surfaces, have a many times greater point resistance as collector accumulator spikes than those with rough surfaces. Various kinds of spike bodies have been experimented with for the collector balloons hereinbefore mentioned. The best results were given by spikes which were made in the following way. Fine points made of steel, copper, nickel, or copper and nickel alloys, were fastened together in bundles and then placed as anode with the points in a suitable electrolyte (preferably in hydrochloric acid or muriate'of iron solutions) and so treated with weak current at 2 to 3 voltspressure. After 2 to 3 hours according to the thickof precious metal, which must however be sufficiently firm to protect. them from atmospheric oxidation.

Such spikes act at a 20 fold lower voltage almost as well as the bestand finest points made by mechanical means. Stillbetter re sults are obtained if polonium or radium salts are added to the galvanic bath when' forming the protective layer or coating. Such pins have a low resistance at their points and even at one Volt. and still lower pressures have an excellent collector action. In Figure 24 the three unconnected poles are not connected withone another in par- That 15 quite possible ID'PIJCUCO' S", U9, S, to the connecting point 13. There the conductor is divided, one branch passing over 12 and the safety spark gap 8 to the earth at E the other over inductive resistance J and working spark gap 7 to the earth at E The working circuit, consisting of the condenser 5 and (3 and a resonance motor or a condenser motor M, such as hereinbefore described, is connected in proximity' round the sparking gap section 7 Instead of directly connecting the condenser motor of course the primary circuit for high frequency oscillatory current'may also be inserted.

The condenser batteries are connected by one pole to the annular conductor R and can be either inductionless (16 and 18) or made as induction condensers as shown by 21 and 23. The free poles of the inductionless of the induction condensers by 22 and 24.

As may be seen from the drawings all these poles 17. 22. 19, Qtmay be interconnected .in parallel through a second annular conductor without any fear that thereby the principle of the free pole connection will be injured. already set forth the parallel connection also allows of an equalization of the working pressure in the entire collector network. Suitably constructed and calculated induction coils 25 and 26 may also be inserted in the annular conductor of the free poles, by means of which a circuit may be formed in the secondary coils 27 and 28 which allows current produced in this annular conductor by fluctuations of the charges or the like appearances to be measured or otherwise utilized.

According to what has been hereinbefore stated separate collector balloons may be connected at equidistant stations distributed over the entire country, either connected directly with one another metallically or by means of intermediate suitably connected condenser batteries through high voltage conductors insulated from earth. The static electricity is converted through a spark gap into dynamic energy of :fhigh nuinber of'oscillations and may in such form be coupled as a source of energy by means of asuitable methodof connecting, various precautions being observed and with spc cial regulations. The wires leading from .the collector balloons have hitherto been loons with one another is not made as a simpleannular conductor, but preferably short circuited 1n the form of coils over a In addition to the advantages.

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