US367435A

US367435A - Thieds to john o brien and ephraim e

Info

Publication number: US367435A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1887-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 1904-08-02

Description

BEST AVAlLABLE COP (No Model.) 2 SheetS-Sheet 1. D. OBRI EN. LIGHTNING ARRESTER FOR PROTECTING OIL TANKS. No. 367,435.- Patented Aug. 2, 1887.

\l 0 WITNESSES:

INVE NTOR N. PETERS. PmvLM-qnpbor. Wishingwn. 174 C.

BEST AVAILABLE COP (No Model.) 2 Sheets-.Sheet 2.

D. O BRIEN. LIGHTNING ARRESTE R- FOR PROTECTING OIL TANKS.

No, 367,435. Patented Aug. 2, 1887.

N. PETERS. mahm Wanhhtm QC.

UNITED STATES DAVID OBRIEN, OF PHILADELPHIA,

BEST AVAILABLE cop PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR or Two" THIRDS TO JOHN OBRIEN AND EPHRAIM E. \VEAVER, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

LIGHTNING-ARRESTER FOR PROTECTING" OIL-TANKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters 1 atent No. 366,435, dated August 2, 1887.

Application filed March 8, 1881'. Serial No. 230,105. (No model.) I

To all whom, it may concern: Beit known that I, DAVID OBRIEN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county oflhiladelphiaand State ofPenn- 5 sylvania, have in'vented'certain new and useful Improvements in Lightning-Arresters for Protecting Oil-Tanks, of which the following is a my balloon is further furnished with a hygrometer for indicating the moisture in the air, and with four or more guy-ropes for holding it in position. 1

20 \In the drawings, Figure lis a side elevation of a balloon furnished with my lightning collectors-and conductors, the metal plate ontop of the balloon being shown in section; Fig. 2,

a side view of the metal plate and terminals;-

2 Fig. 3, a plan of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a plan of ring to which the netting-and guy-ropes-are attached; Fig. 5, apla'n of ring to which the main conductors are attached, and Fig. 6 a side view of Fig. 5.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several views.

A is the balloongvhich is constructed in the ordinary manner, and which isinflated with any suitable gas.

B is the netting of the balloon, which is attached to a ring, 0, of some nonconducting material.

' is a metallic plate, which is placed upon the top of the balloon,and which is preferably 0 furnished with several projections, E, to which the main conductors are secured.

F are terminals riveted to plate D, the points of which are gold-plated.

G is some nonconducting material asbes- 5 tus, for instance-which is placed between balloon A and plate D.

H are the main conductors, consisting of heavy wire, preferably cop [)81,Wl1l0h lead from the projections E on plate D to a ring of some conducting material, I.

Jisa conducting-wire, which leads from ring I to a drum,- K, around which it passes. This drum K is furnished with a crank, L, and is supported upon anaxle which is held in metal bearings M, through which the electricity is conducted to the ground.

N are-cables, one end of which are attached to. the non-conducting ring 0, and the other ends of which are secured to cleats or rings 0 in the ground. v

l? is a hygrometer,which may be carried by or suspended from-either of the rings 0 or I.

R are wires connecting hygrometer P with a call-bell; S. p

The balloon is placed so that it is above t1 tank or tanks to beprotected, and is held position by four guy-ropes, N. The balloon is raised until it is in adamp atmosphere, which is indicated by the hygrometer I? through the electric wires R andbell S. Any form of hygrometer may be used. \Vhen the balloon is in a damp atmosphere thebell Sdoes not ring: but should the atmospherebecome dry the bell rings,when the balloon is raised until said bel ceases to ring.

The hygrometer illustrated in the drawings consists of a cord, a, one end of which is fastened to a pin, b, and the other end of which carries a weight, 0, to which one of the wires Ris attached. The cord apasses over pulleys d. e is a contact-pointto which the other wire R -is attached. In a dry atmosphere the cord at stretches and a contact'between point e and weight 0 is made, causing bell S to ring. In a damp atmosphere the contact is broken and the bell ceases to ring.

The conducting-wire J which leads from ring I, passes around drum K. When the balloon is lowered, the slack of wire J is wound upon this drum.

I claim- '1. Thehereindescribed device for protecting oil-tanks from lightning, consisting of a balloon carrying lightning collectors and conductors leading to the earth, and furnished'with guy-ropes, substantially as set forth.

I BEST AVAlLABLE COP 2. The combination of balloon A, netting B, and ring 0, plate D, with terminals F, non-con 1 and ring 0, plate D, with terminals -F, non-conducting substance G, conductors H, ring I, con 4 1 (luetingsubstance G, conductors H, ring I, conduetor J, guy-ropes N, hygrometer P, wires R, I 5 lductor J,and guy-ropes N, substantially as and and bell S, all substantially as and for the pur- 5 -for the purposes set forth. poses set forth.

, 3. The combination of balloon A, netting B, In testimony whereof I al'lix my signature in and ring 0, plate D, with terminals F, non-conthe presence of two witnesses. ducting substance G, conductors H, ring I, con- I ductor J,- drum K, crank L, supports or bear- DAVID O BRIEN' i 10 ings M, and guy-ropes N, substantially as set \Vitnessesz' forth. CHAS. H. KLINE, 4. Thecombi'nation of balloon A,'notting B, i JOHN OOYLE.