US3896342A - Construction of radioactive lightning arresters - Google Patents

Construction of radioactive lightning arresters Download PDF

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Publication number
US3896342A
US3896342A US278446A US27844672A US3896342A US 3896342 A US3896342 A US 3896342A US 278446 A US278446 A US 278446A US 27844672 A US27844672 A US 27844672A US 3896342 A US3896342 A US 3896342A
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United States
Prior art keywords
radioactive source
radioactive
support
brush
rotating means
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Expired - Lifetime
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US278446A
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English (en)
Inventor
Puget Enrique Fornes
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NUCLEAR IBERICA SA
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NUCLEAR IBERICA SA
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G13/00—Installations of lightning conductors; Fastening thereof to supporting structure
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G13/00—Installations of lightning conductors; Fastening thereof to supporting structure
    • H02G13/80—Discharge by conduction or dissipation, e.g. rods, arresters, spark gaps

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A radioactive, ionizing lightning arrester, or conductor is provided with at least one brush attached to an anemometer type mechanism in such a way that the radioactive source of the arrester 111 be automatically cleaned as the wind blows.
  • the arrester is provided with a discontinuous meteal surface which is spaced apart from and surrounds the radioactive source, and which is further electrically insulated from the remainder of the device so that it acts as an accelerating anode.
  • FIGA A first figure.
  • This invention relates to improvements in the construction of radioactive, ionizing lightning arresters, or conductors and more particularly to improvements in lightning arresters of the type which comprise a radioactive source emitting alpha particles in one or more nuclei disposed on the outer surface of a support in the form of a body of revolution which is mounted concentrically about a metal bar or rod which is connected to earth.
  • This invention has the object of obtaining a greater ionization power both economically and safely, as well as the ability of ensuring said high capacity of ionization along with a very long useful life of the lightning arrester. This object is achieved simultaneously and conjointly by the three following measures:
  • alpha-particle-emitting sources which, being sealed as necessitated by the safety measures required for its use, process a high power of ionization for the exterior emission of alpha particles in sufficient quantity and with the greatest possible energy.
  • a device intended to accelerate the primary ions produced by the collision of the alpha particles with the air particles This device consists of a discontinuous metal surface, like a grid or grating, concentrically situated around the sourceholder support at a suitable distance therefrom in accordance with the maximum travel of the alpha particles in the air.
  • the metal surface is electrically insulated from the rod connected to earth by means of several supports made of suitable insulating material, and accordingly there is created a potential at the metal surface in respect to the earth, which potential is particularly high in the presence of a storm cloud, thus acting as an accelerating anode of the ions produced.
  • the accelerating anode thereby produced first prevents the recombination of the ions of different signs in the vicinity of the ionization zone, thus increasing the action of the actual electrostatic field existing between the cloud and the earth. Second the accelerating anode increases the production of secondary ions by collision of the primary ions with other molecules in the air.
  • the main feature of this invention is that the great majority of the acceleratedions pass through the accelerator anode, which is due to its grating-like form, that is its discontinuous surface, in the same way in which electrons pass through the grid of a thermionic valve. Otherwise the ions would cause the formation of an ion cluster around said anode, in accordance with a known phenomenon, thus nullifying potential difference present and therefore the effect previously described.
  • a mechanism for continual self-cleaning of the source the mechanism being mounted on the lightning arrester.
  • This mechanism utilizes the action of the wind against a number of cups arranged at the end of a number of arms joined to the outer body of a special, self-lubricated high-durability bearing, whose inner body is mounted onthe rod of the lightning arrester.
  • Hanging from the rotating unit is an arm provided at its free end with a wiper or brush made from a soft and durable material, the wiper or brush adapted to slide smoothly over the radioactive source.
  • the other end of the arm that is the end not carrying the wiper or brush, rocks on a pivot in such a way that the action of the centrifugal force of rotation causes it to lift when the force of the wind exceeds a certain perdetermined value.
  • the brush operates for sufficient time necessary to keep the source clean and avoids wear on the source.
  • the maximum penetration of the alpha particles into a medium is only about 0.03 mm. This means that a layer of dust, or another similar deposit, of this thickness would completely nullify the effectiveness of the ionizing lightning arrester, which would then act as a conventional Franklin lightning arrester.
  • the source has to be air-tight, sealed and attackproof from atmospheric agents, as well as having high specific activity.
  • alpha emitters which meet the aforesaid conditions, constituted by radionuclides such as radium- 226 (Ra 226) and americium-24l (Am 241), which emit alpha particles with average energies of 4.8 MeV and 5.5 MeV, respectively, their half-lives being 1,620 years and 458 years, respectively.
  • a source metal band formed by a substrate or matrix of noble metal or alloys thereof (silver, gold, palladium etc. on to which there is applied a dispersion of an insoluble, non-volatile composition of said radio-elements, sintered in gold or other noble metal at high temperature, then proceeding with a subsequent coating by lamination and/or electroplating of a sealing lamina of noble metal or alloys thereof and lastly a layer of hard, inoxidizable metal such as nickel, with the purpose of preventing wear of the first lamina.
  • Said laminas form a protective unit with a high degree of safety but of a suitable thickness to allow alpha particles to pass in large quantities and with high energy.
  • This invention is not restricted to the use of the indicated radionuclides radium-226 and americium 241, it being possible to utilize any which in the future might appear to be advantageous and suitable.
  • the characteristics of the radioactive source as a whole, such as has been described, are not affected by the use of a particular radionuclide.
  • the activity, in curies, necessary to attain a given radius of protection of the lightning arrester, will be different for each radioelement, depending on the respective capacity of ionization, is. on the pairs of ions produced per curie of activity.
  • FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a lightning arrester built in accordance with the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-section of a variant of embodiment
  • FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show different forms of embodiment of the accelerating anode.
  • the lightning arrester or conductor a rod 1 which is connected to earth and which is terminated at its upper end in a point 2 which constitutes the pick-up point.
  • the rod 1 is mounted in a support or base 3 carrying the radioactive source 4 which, in the instance described, takes the form of a band mounted above the support 3 and firmly connected thereto.
  • the bearing 5 may be of high-durability and selflubricated in order to reduce the maintenance of the unit.
  • a cap 10 which prevents the entry of water and dust into said bearing.
  • the arm 8 pivots about a spindle 11 so that when the cups and arms 6 rotate at high velocity owing to the action of the wind, the brush 9 is separated from the radioactive source by centrifugal force when the wind velocity exceeds a certain predetermined value. In this way there is prevented unnecessary wear of the radioactive source.
  • the lightning arrester is also provided with a discontinuous metal surface 12 in the form of a grid or grating, situated concentrically around the support or base 3 carrying the radioactive source 4 at a suitable distance therefrom calculated according to the maximum travel of the alpha particles in the air.
  • This discontinuous plate 12, which constitutes the accelerating anode, is attached to the support 3 by means of a number of arms 13 made of insulating material, for
  • the support or base 3 is fixed to the rod 1 by any suitable system, for example, by means of arms 14.
  • the discontinuous plate 12 can have, as shown in FIG. 1, the apertures 15 of elongated, square or circular shape, as represented in FIGS. 3 and 4. This plate can also take the form of a meshwork, like that in FIG. 5.
  • FIG. 2 there is shown a second variation of the invention, in which the parts or elements corresponding to the lightning arrester in FIG, 1 are designated with the same reference numerals.
  • the support or base 3 is frustoconically shaped where the radioactive source 4 is mounted.
  • the shield 12 which constitutes the accelerating anode is likewise frustoconically shaped, parallel and concentric with the base 3.
  • the cups 7 can adopt the shape of spherical or elliptical caps or simply plain blades. Although the actuating device of the anemometer type has always been shown mounted on the rod 1, it could also be mounted on the actual base or support of the radioactive source.
  • the radioactive source may be continuous or discontinuous and mounted on the base by means of a dovetail joint or by any other system.
  • a radioactive lightning arrester apparatus comprising: a rod connected to the earth; a support mounted concentrically about the rod; a low energy radioactive source comprising one or more cores or nuclei disposed on said support; rotating means rotatably mounted on said rod; a plurality of arms radially emerging from said rotating means, each arm provided atits free end with a cup against which the wind acts in order to cause said rotating means to continually rotate when the wind blows; at least one link means movable with and extending from said rotating means; and a brush carried at the free end of each link, each brush situated facing the radioactive source so that said brush contacts the radioactive source to clean it as said rotating means rotates.
  • Theapparatus of claim 1 further comprising a discontinuous surface shaped in the form of a grid, said surface positioned around and spaced from said support, said surface facing at least that portion of the supsource when the wind is of a high velocity.

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  • Elimination Of Static Electricity (AREA)
  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
US278446A 1971-08-07 1972-08-07 Construction of radioactive lightning arresters Expired - Lifetime US3896342A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ES394004A ES394004A1 (es) 1971-08-07 1971-08-07 Perfeccionamientos en la construccion de pararrayos radiac- tivos.

Publications (1)

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US3896342A true US3896342A (en) 1975-07-22

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US278446A Expired - Lifetime US3896342A (en) 1971-08-07 1972-08-07 Construction of radioactive lightning arresters

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US (1) US3896342A (es)
JP (1) JPS5751238B2 (es)
AR (1) AR200846A1 (es)
AU (1) AU473577B2 (es)
BR (1) BR7205041D0 (es)
ES (1) ES394004A1 (es)
FR (1) FR2149926A5 (es)
GB (1) GB1391300A (es)
ZA (1) ZA725348B (es)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4583702A (en) * 1982-12-14 1986-04-22 United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Lightning protection for aircraft radomes
US5040923A (en) * 1987-05-15 1991-08-20 Iev International Pty. Limited Apparatus for the preventing of marine growth of offshore structures
US5127601A (en) * 1989-01-23 1992-07-07 Lightning Diversion Systems Conformal lightning shield and method of making
US20040216765A1 (en) * 2003-04-30 2004-11-04 Frenette Henry E. Automated chimney cleaning apparatus
CN109085445A (zh) * 2016-08-18 2018-12-25 赵万云 避雷器试验装置

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5291539A (en) * 1976-01-23 1977-08-02 Carpenter Roy B Method of controlling state of atmosphere
JPS5319543A (en) * 1976-08-07 1978-02-22 Kato Giichirou Lightning preventive device
JPS587038B2 (ja) * 1976-08-21 1983-02-08 加藤 儀一郎 落雷予防装置
JPS5328250A (en) * 1976-08-28 1978-03-16 Kato Giichirou Lightning preventing device
GB2132027B (en) * 1982-12-14 1986-09-17 Atomic Energy Authority Uk Lighting protection for aircraft radomes

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US201615A (en) * 1878-03-26 Improvement in insulators for telegraph-wires
US1778891A (en) * 1928-07-23 1930-10-21 Everett G Earnhardt Lightning throw-off device
US2128408A (en) * 1935-08-12 1938-08-30 Internat Holding Radial Radioactive protective apparatus, such as lightning arresters and hail protectors
US3662083A (en) * 1969-04-15 1972-05-09 Detude De Lenergie Nucleaire E Lightning conductor

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US201615A (en) * 1878-03-26 Improvement in insulators for telegraph-wires
US1778891A (en) * 1928-07-23 1930-10-21 Everett G Earnhardt Lightning throw-off device
US2128408A (en) * 1935-08-12 1938-08-30 Internat Holding Radial Radioactive protective apparatus, such as lightning arresters and hail protectors
US3662083A (en) * 1969-04-15 1972-05-09 Detude De Lenergie Nucleaire E Lightning conductor

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4583702A (en) * 1982-12-14 1986-04-22 United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Lightning protection for aircraft radomes
US5040923A (en) * 1987-05-15 1991-08-20 Iev International Pty. Limited Apparatus for the preventing of marine growth of offshore structures
US5127601A (en) * 1989-01-23 1992-07-07 Lightning Diversion Systems Conformal lightning shield and method of making
US20040216765A1 (en) * 2003-04-30 2004-11-04 Frenette Henry E. Automated chimney cleaning apparatus
CN109085445A (zh) * 2016-08-18 2018-12-25 赵万云 避雷器试验装置
CN109085445B (zh) * 2016-08-18 2020-12-08 杨聪 避雷器试验装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ZA725348B (en) 1973-04-25
ES394004A1 (es) 1977-05-16
FR2149926A5 (es) 1973-03-30
JPS4825848A (es) 1973-04-04
AU473577B2 (en) 1976-06-24
JPS5751238B2 (es) 1982-10-30
BR7205041D0 (pt) 1973-06-07
AR200846A1 (es) 1974-12-27
GB1391300A (en) 1975-04-23
AU4530172A (en) 1974-02-07

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