GB2402061A

GB2402061A - A lightning conductor for use by pedestrians

Info

Publication number: GB2402061A
Application number: GB0312336A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Franklin Steel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-05-30
Filing date: 2003-05-30
Publication date: 2004-12-01
Also published as: GB0312336D0

Abstract

A lightning conductor comprises an electrode 1 and a ground engaging earthing element 4. The device may be incorporated into an umbrella, with the conductor passing down the shaft of the umbrella and through an insulated handle to earth. A similar system may also be used in conjunction with a golfing trolley; the trolley being fitted with an extendable mast which is telescopic or foldable. A further embodiment may involve the conductor from the umbrella connected to the golf trolley and earthed by a trailing conductor. The conductor could be attached to the umbrella as an attachment fitting to the tip of the umbrella with the conductive strap trailing over to the top of the canopy to the ground.

Description

240206 1 Lightning Protection for Golfers and Other Umbrella Users This

invention relates to the provision of lightning protection for people who are out of doors.

Lightning presents a significant risk to life in certain weather conditions when in the open. This is true, for example, when storms appear during play on a golf course. There may be insufficient time or realisation of danger to retire to a safer place.

Weather conditions can cause charge to build up in the atmosphere.

When the voltages become great enough, the insulating nature of the air is broken down so that discharge occurs to the ground. This phenomenon is known as lightning. The current tends to take the path of shortest air gap, usually bridged by water droplets in the form of rain.

Lightning will be attracted to higher points which provide a path to ground which is more conductive than free air. People in open areas provide such a path and are therefore at risk of being struck by the lightning.

The use of a conventional umbrella increases the risk by raising the height of the conductive path which includes the person. The lightning will tend to discharge through the umbrella, down the arm, via the body and legs to the ground beneath. The voltages are such that the electricity will arc through minor insulators such as clothing.

According to the present invention, one or more conductive paths are provided to divert most of the lightning's current away from the person.

The conductive paths may be through a dedicated mast or incorporated into an umbrella, whereupon the current is directed away from the person through a conductor resting on the ground. - 2

Specific embodiments will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an umbrella in use which has a conductive path to earth; Figure 2 shows in cross-section a carrying handle for a protected umbrella; Figure 3 shows how a golf trolley can be enhanced for lightning protection; Figure 4 shows part of an attachment for a trolley combining a mast and insulating pulling handle; Figure 5 shows a combination of umbrella and trolley offering lightning protection; and Figure 6 shows how a lightning protector could be added to a standard umbrella.

In one embodiment, an umbrella provides the lightning protection with the aid of a conductor to ground. In figure 1, lightning is attracted to projection 1, whereupon it is conducted through shaft 2, inside an insulating carrying handle 3, and to ground via a further conductor 4. The construction of the umbrella is largely standard, using conductive or insulating materials as appropriate to provide a path for the electricity which is substantially lower resistance than via the person holding it.

Some insulation along this path is acceptable provided it is more readily broken down than paths through the person holding the umbrella. - 3

The handle should provide effective insulation since currents through the arm to the upper body are a serious danger. Water running down the shaft and over the handle is therefore a risk. As protection against this, an optional enhancement is to create a gutter at the top of the carrying handle 3 to deflect such water through the inside of the handle. The general shape of the handle would preferably be such that a band would normally remain dry and therefore more insulating. Figure 2 shows the cross-section of one such implementation where the handle 3 is screwed to the umbrella shaft 2, with gutter 5, dampness resistant area 6 and channel for water drainage 7.

The conductor 4 could be constructed in a variety of different ways.

Preferably it would have sufficient flexibility for it to hang and rest on the ground as the user's hand height varies in relation to the ground and movement is made in changing directions. It could, for example, be in the form of a chain where gravity holds the links in close contact with each other so that any air gaps between the links are readily broken down by a lightning strike. When deployed, the conductor needs to have electrical contact with the shaft 2 and ultimately the end projection 1. This may be achieved through a permanent fixture or disconnectable fixing.

It would be desirable for the conductor 4 to be insulated on its outside.

However, even if current does pass into the legs or lower body, the dangers would be considerably lower than if the current had first passed through the head or upper body. The links of a chain would preferably have an insulating layer on the outer edges with the inner surfaces exposing the main conductive material for contact with adjacent links.

Links towards the end of such a chain would preferable be uninsulated also on the outside for more reliable contact with the ground. - 4

Other constructions of the conductor 4 are possible, preferably with the properties of flexibility, adequate current carrying capacity and maintained contact with the ground when deployed and in use.

When not in use, the conductor 4 could be stored in a variety of ways.

One possibility is to stow the conductor in a hollow centre of the shaft 2 such that it can be drawn out for lightning protection. Another possibility would be to use it as a carrying handle around the outside of the closed umbrella to the projection 1. In this latter case it may be preferable to fold the conductive strap to create a carrying strap of a more convenient length. Yet another possibility would be to have a fully detachable conductive strap for fitting only when required.

Another embodiment of a lightning protector for golfers is illustrated in figure 3. A mast 8 is attached to or forms part of a conductive golf trolley such that it reaches substantially higher than the person pulling the trolley. Also attached to the trolley is conductor 11 which makes contact with the ground when being pulled. Mast 8 and conductor 11 may also, or alternatively, be connected by a dedicated conductor. The pulling handle 9 is designed to resist the bulk of the lightning strike's current from flowing through the user.

The mast 8 may be telescopic, foldable or otherwise constructed for ease of storage when not in use. It may also be an integral part of the trolley or detachable.

The mast may, for example, have a fixing arrangement allowing it to be attached to a variety of trolley designs, and be supplied as part of a kit to add lightning protection to standard trolleys. Figure 4 shows a conductive fixing arrangement using a clamp 13, which preferably includes the means (not shown) for breaking through surface treatment of the - 5 conductive frame 10 of the host trolley. Mounted on the fixing block 12 are the mast 8 and an additional pulling handle 14 which provides a level of insulation which may not be available on the original trolley. The handle 14 preferably includes a facility 15 for keeping an area dry and therefore better insulated from the conductive path for lightning strikes.

The arrangement would preferably be used in conjunction with a conductor attachment 11. The additional pulling handle may alternatively be an attachment separate from the mast.

In a further embodiment, a combination of umbrella and golf trolley jointly provide protection from lightning strikes. Figure 5 shows such a combination where the user is carrying an umbrella essentially similar to that in figure 1 and described earlier. The conductive strap 16 connects instead to the trolley 10, although this may optionally be detachable to take the form 4, shown in figure 1, to retain protection when moving away from the trolley. The trolley would preferably be fitted with a conductive strap 11 and insulated pulling handle 9. The inclusion of a mast 8 is optional when an umbrella is providing a path for lightning strikes past the user to the trolley.

In the final embodiment described here, lightning protection is provided as an attachment to a standard umbrella. The attachment 17 in figure 6 has a friction fit to the tip of the umbrella and retains one end of the trailing conductor 18. Both ends of the conductor are exposed, and preferably insulated between. The upper end is brought to the upper surface of attachment 17 to attract nearby lightning strikes, while the lower exposed end is allowed to rest on the ground. Alternatively, the lower end could be connected to a trolley fitted with a trailing conductor resting on the ground. The attachment provides electrical insulation between the conductor and umbrella and is optionally in the form of a spool on which the conductor may be wound when not in use. An - 6 alternative way of storing the conductor when the umbrella is not in use is to form it into a carrying strap.

Claims

Claims: 1. An elevated electrical conductor, movable by a pedestrian,

providing a current path to ground for a lightning strike through a contact resting on the ground, with sufficient electrical insulation from the pedestrian to cause a substantial part of the resulting current to bypass the pedestrian.
2. A conductor as claimed in Claim 1, wherein part of the conductor is supported by an umbrella such that no low electrical resistance paths are formed to the surface of the handle.
3. A conductor as claimed in Claim 2, which is designed to be attached to otherwise standard umbrellas.
4. A conductor as claimed in Claim 1, wherein part of the conductor is incorporated into an umbrella.
5. A conductor as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the contact resting on the ground is connected to the umbrella using a trailing conductor.
6. A conductor as claimed in Claim 1, wherein part of the conductor is erected as a mast on a trolley to be pulled by the pedestrian.
7. A conductor as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the contact resting on the ground is attached to a trolley using a trailing conductor, the trolley to be pulled or operated by the pedestrian.
8. A conductor as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the trailing conductor is connected to a supported conductor as claimed in Claims 2 or 3, or an umbrella as claimed in claim 4.
9. A conductor as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the connection to the trailing conductor uses the trolley framework for support or as part of the conductor.
10. A conductor as claimed in Claims 2 or 4, wherein the insulation from the pedestrian is incorporated in the handle of the umbrella.
11. An insulated handle as claimed in Claim 10, which includes a channel for fluids to pass through the handle without contacting the pedestrian.
12. A conductor as claimed in Claims 6, 7, 8 or 9, wherein the insulation from the pedestrian is incorporated in the pulling handle of the trolley.
13. An insulated handle as claimed in Claims 10, 1 1 or 12, which includes one or more features to maintain a substantially dry area on the surface of the handle in the event that water falls onto or runs over the 1 5 handle.
14. A conductor as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, trailing conductor as claimed in Claim 5, or connection between an umbrella and trolley as claimed in Claims 8 or 9, which is detachable from the umbrella.
15. A conductor as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, trailing conductor as claimed in Claim 5, or connection between an umbrella and trolley as claimed in Claims 8 or 9, which can be used as a carrying handle when the umbrella is closed. q
16. A trailing conductor as claimed in Claim 5, or connection between an umbrella and trolley as claimed in Claims 8 or 9, which can be stowed inside the umbrella when not in use.
17. A trailing conductor as claimed in Claim 7, which is detachable from the trolley.
18. A mast as claimed in Claim 6, which is detachable from the trolley.
19. A mast as claimed in Claims 6 or 18, which is foldable, telescopic or otherwise collapsible.
20. An insulated handle as claimed in Claim 12 or 13, which is removable from the trolley.
21. A mast as claimed in Claim 6, and an insulated handle as claimed in Claim 12 or 13, which are together removable from the trolley.
22. A mast as claimed in Claims 6, 18 or 19, an insulated handle as claimed in Claims 12, 13 or 20, a combination of mast and handle as claimed in Claim 21, a trailing conductor as claimed in Claims 7, 8, 9 or 17, or a connection to, or conductor supported by, an umbrella as claimed in Claims 8 or 9 which are designed to be attached to otherwise standard trolleys.