Atmospheric Static Electricity Collector

Abstract

An antenna for the collection of atmospheric static electricity in which an electrically conductive hub is suspended from a balloon or blimp via a tether. The hub is either solid or uses a spoke/arm arrangement. A number of rods extend from the hub enhance the collection of atmospheric static electricity. The collected atmospheric electricity is conducted from the rods to an electrical connection where the electricity is conducted to earth via a conductive line.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A system for collection of atmospheric static electricity comprising:
 a balloon;   a hub that is electrically conductive and connected to the balloon by a tether, the hub having two or more arms that are electrically conductive, a first end of each of the two or more arms electrically connected to the hub, the hub further having a plurality of rods, a first end of each of the rods being electrically connected to a second end of at least one of the two or more arms;   a winch motor having a spool of conductive line, one end of the conductive line secured to the hub, a portion of the conductive line and the hub collecting electricity in the atmosphere, the winch motor selectively extending or withdrawing the conductive line from the spool;   a conductor having a first end electrically connected to the conductive line and a second end electrically connected to a load being powered by collected electricity from the conductive line;   an electrical flow sensor monitoring electrical flow through the conductor and generating an electrical flow indicia indicative of the electrical flow in the conductor; and   a controller to operate the winch motor to maintain the electrical flow indicia within a selected operating range.   
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of rods has a rounded second end. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein at least two rods are attached to the second end of each of the two or more arms. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 17 , further comprising an electrically conductive rim connected to a second end of the two or more arms. 
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 20 , wherein at least a portion of the two or more electrically conductive arms are connected substantially at right angles to an exterior of the electrically conductive rim. 
     
     
         22 . A system for collection of atmospheric static electricity comprising:
 two or more arms that are electrically conductive;   a plurality of rods, each of the plurality of rods being electrically connected to at least one of the two or more arms; and   a balloon tether connected between a balloon and the two or more arms;   a winch motor that extends or withdraws a spool of conductive line, one end of the conductive line being secured to the two or more arms, an extended portion of the conductive line and the two or more arms being adapted to collect electricity in the atmosphere;   a conductor having a first end electrically connected to the conductive line and a second end electrically connected to a load being powered by collected electricity from the conductive line;   an electrical flow sensor monitoring electrical flow through the conductor and generating an electrical flow indicia indicative of the electrical flow in the conductor; and   a controller to operate the winch motor to maintain the electrical flow indicia within a selected operating range.   
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 22 , wherein each of the plurality of rods has a rounded end distal from the electrically conductive arm. 
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 23 , further including a balloon tether connection secured to the first end of the two or more arms. 
     
     
         25 . The system according to  claim 24 , further including an electrical connection secured to the first end of each of the two or more arms. 
     
     
         26 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the at least two rods attached to the two or more arms includes three or more rods. 
     
     
         27 . The system according to  claim 25 , further including an electrically conductive rim connected to a second end of the two or more arms. 
     
     
         28 . The system according to  claim 27 , wherein the plurality of arms are electrically connected to the electrically conductive rim. 
     
     
         29 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of rods are connected to an exterior of the electrically conductive rim substantially at right angles thereto. 
     
     
         30 . A system for the collection of atmospheric static electricity comprising:
 an electrically conductive body;   a balloon tether connected to a first side of the electrically conductive body and to a balloon; and   an electrical connection connected to a second side of the electrically conductive body;   a winch motor that selectively extends or withdraws a spool of conductive line, one end of the conductive line secured to the electrical connection, a portion of the conductive line and the electrically conductive body collecting electricity in the atmosphere, the winch motor selectively extending or withdrawing the conductive line from the spool;   a conductor having a first end electrically connected to the conductive line and a second end electrically connected to a load being powered by collected electricity from the conductive line;   an electrical flow sensor monitoring electrical flow through the conductor and generating an electrical flow indicia indicative of the electrical flow in the conductor; and   a controller receiving the electrical flow indicia and selectively operating the winch motor such that the electrical flow indicia remains within a selected operating range.   
     
     
         31 . The system according to  claim 30 , wherein the electrically conductive body comprises:
 an electrically conductive hub;   at least three electrically conductive arms, each of the arms connected at a first end to the hub; and   an electrically conductive rim connected to the second end of each of the at least three arms.   
     
     
         32 . The system according to  claim 31 , further comprising a plurality of electrically conductive rods, a first end of each of the rods connected to the rim and extending therefrom substantially at rights angles thereto.