Lightning diverter system and methods

Abstract

A lightning diverter system is disclosed including an outer rod having a first outer rod segment, a second outer rod segment, and a housing cabinet; and an inner rod having a first inner rod segment and a second inner rod segment. The second inner rod segment is in attachment with the second outer rod segment. The inner rod and the outer rod are concentric and configured to move between a rod extended configuration and a rod retracted configuration. A conductive break is in attachment with the outer rod and the inner rod. The lightning diverter system further includes a sensor configured for monitoring an environmental parameter and sending a first signal to a processor configured for determining if the environmental parameter fails satisfy an environmental parameter threshold and sending a second signal to move the lightning diverter system between the rod retracted configuration and rod extended configuration.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A lightning diverter system comprising:
 a. a housing cabinet having an opening on an upper end of the housing cabinet;   b. an outer rod comprising a first outer rod segment, a second outer rod segment, and the housing cabinet;   c. an inner rod comprising a first inner rod segment and a second inner rod segment;
 i. wherein the second inner rod segment is in attachment with the second outer rod segment; 
 ii. wherein the inner rod and the outer rod are concentric and configured to move between a rod extended configuration and a rod retracted configuration; 
   d. at least one sensor configured for monitoring at least one environmental parameter and sending at least one first signal to at least one processor configured for:
 i. receiving the at least one first signal from the at least one sensor; 
 ii. determining if the at least one environmental parameter fails satisfy at least one environmental parameter threshold; 
 iii. sending at least one second signal to at least one of a plurality of electrical components in electrical communication with the at least one processor; 
   e. a first threaded section on an inward facing surface of the opening of the housing cabinet; and   f. a second threaded section on an outward facing surface of the first outer rod segment configured to threadedly engage with the first threaded section.   
     
     
         2 . The lightning diverter of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a. a conductive break in attachment with the outer rod and the inner rod; 
 b. a third threaded section on an inward facing surface of the first outer rod segment; and 
 c. a fourth threaded section on an outward facing surface of the second outer rod segment configured to threadedly engage with the third threaded section. 
 
     
     
         3 . The lightning diverter of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a. a motor in electrical communication with the at least one processor; and 
 d. a power source. 
 
     
     
         4 . The lightning diverter system of  claim 3 , wherein the motor drives a gear in engagement with at least one of the inner rod and the outer rod such that when the gear is rotated the inner rod and the outer rod move between the rod extended configuration and the rod retracted configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The lightning diverter system of  claim 4 , wherein the gear is in attachment with the inner rod. 
     
     
         6 . The lightning diverter system of  claim 5 , wherein the inner rod is substantially disposed within the outer rod. 
     
     
         7 . The lightning diverter system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer rod comprises a first conductive path to a ground, and the inner rod comprises a second conductive path to the ground. 
     
     
         8 . The lightning diverter system of  claim 7 , where an upper portion of second outer rod segment is connected by a fastener to an upper portion of second inner rod segment. 
     
     
         9 . The lightning diverter system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one environmental parameter comprises a static charge within a predetermined area. 
     
     
         10 . The lightning diverter system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one environmental parameter threshold comprises a maximum static charge within the predetermined area. 
     
     
         11 . A lightning diverter system comprising:
 a. a housing cabinet having an opening on an upper end of the housing cabinet;
 i. wherein the housing cabinet comprises a first threaded section on an inward facing surface on the opening of the housing cabinet; 
   b. an outer rod comprising a first outer rod segment, a second outer rod segment, and the housing cabinet;
 i. wherein the first outer rod segment comprises a second threaded section on an outward facing surface of the first outer rod segment and a third threaded section on an inward facing surface of the first outer rod segment; 
 ii. wherein the second threaded section is configured to threadedly engage the first threaded section; 
 iii. wherein the second outer rod segment comprises a fourth threaded section on an outward facing surface of the second outer rod segment configured to threadedly engage the third threaded section; 
   c. an inner rod comprising a first inner rod segment and a second inner rod segment;
 i. wherein the second inner rod segment is in attachment with the second outer rod segment; 
 ii. wherein the inner rod and the outer rod are configured to move between a rod extended configuration and a rod retracted configuration; 
   d. a conductive break between the outer rod and the inner rod;   e. wherein the outer rod comprises a first conductive path to a ground; and   f. wherein the inner rod comprises a second conductive path to the ground.   
     
     
         12 . The lightning diverter system of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a. at least one sensor configured for monitoring at least one environmental parameter and sending at least one first signal to at least one processor configured for:
 i. receiving the at least one first signal from the at least one sensor; 
 ii. determining whether the at least one environmental parameter fails satisfy at least one environmental parameter threshold; and 
 iii. sending at least one second signal to at least one of a plurality of electrical components in electrical communication with the at least one processor. 
 
 
     
     
         13 . The lightning diverter system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one environmental parameter comprises a static charge within a predetermined area. 
     
     
         14 . The lightning diverter system of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one environmental parameter threshold comprises a maximum static charge within the predetermined area. 
     
     
         15 . A lighting diverter system comprising:
 a. an outer rod comprising at least a first partially tubular shaped body, an opening on a top portion of the outer rod, and a first threaded section on an inward facing surface of the opening; and   b. an inner rod comprising at least a second partially tubular shaped body and a second threaded section on an outward facing surface of the inner rod configured to threadedly engage with the first threaded section of the outer rod; wherein the inner rod and the outer rod are concentric and configured to move between a rod extended configuration and a rod retracted configuration.   
     
     
         16 . The lightning diverter system of  claim 15  comprising a conductive break in attachment with the outer rod and the inner rod. 
     
     
         17 . The lightning diverter system of  claim 15  comprising at least one sensor configured for monitoring at least one environmental parameter and sending at least one first signal to at least one processor configured for:
 i. receiving the at least one first signal from the at least one sensor; 
 ii. determining if the at least one environmental parameter fails satisfy at least one environmental parameter threshold; 
 iii. sending at least one second signal to at least one of a plurality of electrical components in electrical communication with the at least one processor. 
 
     
     
         18 . The lightning diverter system of  claim 15  wherein the outer rod is grounded. 
     
     
         19 . The lightning diverter system of  claim 15  wherein the inner rod is grounded. 
     
     
         20 . The lightning diverter system of  claim 15  wherein the inner rod comprises an opening on a top portion of the inner rod and wherein the lightning diverter system further comprises a second inner rod concentrically disposed within the rod such that the second inner rod telescopically engages the inner rod.