Claims:We Claim:
1) A lightning air terminal comprising:
a) an aerodynamic housing (101), wherein the aerodynamic housing (101) encloses:
an ozone generator (102) to generate an electric charge in response to an electrostatic and/or electromagnetic activity in atmosphere;
an acceleration plate (103) carrying a plurality of Venturi pipes (104) that accelerate the electric charge generated from the ozone generator (102) in upward direction; and
a Venturi alignment device (105) for aligning the Venturi pipes (104) with holes (106) formed on top of the housing (101); and
a plurality of guide pins (107) for directing the accelerated charge towards the holes (106);
b) a top ring (108) and a Teflon ring (109) stacked between the holes (106) for spark-gap start generation, wherein the accelerated charge exiting the holes (106) jumps above the rings (108, 109); and
c) an upper rod (110) for driving the charge towards upward direction for attracting oppositely charged electric charge flowing in opposite direction,
wherein, during increased electrostatic and electromagnetic activities in atmosphere, the ozone generator (102) generates a high voltage pulse which gets accelerated by the Venturi pipes (104) resulting in early streamer.
2) The terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ozone generator (102) includes a capacitor.
3) The terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing (101) further comprises a set of vertical slots (111) for controlling air entering the housing (101).
4) The terminal as claimed in claim 3, wherein the capacitor that collects the charges from the air and multiplies the charges to generate the high voltage pulse.
, Description:[001] PREAMBLE OF THE DESCRIPTION
[002] The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:
[003] DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
[004] FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[005] The present invention generally relates to a lightning protection system. More particularly, the invention relates to a lightning air terminal capable of realizing an early upward leader in a simple and efficient way without a need for an electric supply.
[006] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[007] When a storm is overhead, a negative charge is formed within the base of the cloud, which creates a massive electric field between the cloud and the earth. During this time a channel of ionized air, called a "leader", is initiated from the charged region in the thundercloud. Leaders are electrically conductive channels of partially ionized gas that travel away from a region of dense charge. Negative leaders propagate away from densely charged regions of negative charge, and positive leaders propagate from positively charged regions. That is the positively and negatively charged leaders proceed in opposite directions, positive upwards within the cloud and negative towards the earth. The negative leader moving down to the earth is known as downward stepped leader. As this leader gets closer to the earth, the leader increases the intensity of the electric field and induces ionization at the tip of any prominent object.
[008] The electric field is strongest on grounded objects whose tops are closer to the base of the thundercloud, such as trees and tall buildings. If the electric field is strong enough, a positively charged ionic channel, called a positive or upward streamer, can develop from these points. There may be instances when the downward leader touches an upward-moving leader completing a path of conductive 'broken down' air that connects the ground and the cloud like a big, long wire. When this connection is made, the opposing charges equalize themselves rapidly by flowing upward through this 'wire' at close to the speed of light. So, when such an electric discharge happens to a building, in the absence of a designated path to reach the ground, the electric discharge may utilize any conductor available inside a house or building. This may include the phone, cable, or electrical lines, the water or gas pipes, or (in the case of a steel-framed building) the structure itself.
[009] To avoid discharge of electric charge of lightening that causes damage to the property through which the discharge has happened, a lightning protection system is used. The objective of the lightning protection system is to ensure safety of a building and its occupants, when a lightning happens to hit the building. Most of the existing lightning protections are accomplished by providing a safe path to ground for the lightning to follow. Adding a protection system doesn't prevent a strike, but gives it a better, safer path to ground. The air terminals, cables and ground rods work together to carry the immense currents away from the structure, preventing fire and most appliance damage.
[010] Most of the existing systems are not efficient enough to achieve an early upward ladder to capture the lightning. Hence, there is need of a lightning air terminal capable of realizing an early upward leader in a simple and efficient way without the need of an electric supply, while enabling quick capture of lightning. Furthermore, there is need of a lightning air terminal that is capable of responding to sudden electrostatic or electromagnetic activity without using electronic systems.

[011] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[012] To overcome the shortcomings in the prior art, the present invention provides a lightning air terminal comprising an aerodynamic housing that encloses an ozone generator at bottom. The ozone generator generates an electric charge, and an acceleration plate above the ozone generator carries a plurality of Venturi pipes that accelerate the electric charge in upward direction. A Venturi alignment device aligns the Venturi pipes with holes formed on top of the housing. A top ring and a Teflon ring are stacked between the holes for spark-gap start generation, wherein the accelerated charge exiting the holes jumps above the rings.
[013] In one embodiment, the ozone generator includes a capacitor. During increased electrostatic and electromagnetic activities in atmosphere, the ozone generator generates a high voltage pulse which gets accelerated by the Venturi pipes resulting in early streamer. By this way an early upward leader is realized in a simple and efficient way without a need for an electric supply, while enabling quick capture of lightning. Since no electronic system is used for sensing sudden electrostatic or electromagnetic activity, need for battery is avoided, which results in a simple, lightweight and inexpensive air terminal.
[014] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
[015] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[016] The foregoing and other features of embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Elements in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale in order to enhance their clarity and improve understanding of these various elements and embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, elements that are known to be common and well understood to those in the industry are not depicted in order to provide a clear view of the various embodiments of the invention. Thus, in the interest of clarity and conciseness, the drawings are generalized in form, wherein
[017] FIGURE 1 illustrates the longitudinal sectional view of the lightning air terminal, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
[018] FIGURE 2 illustrates the top view of the lightning air terminal, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
[019] FIGURE 3 illustrates the front view of the lightning air terminal, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
[020] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[001] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments that may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable a person skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, and other changes may be made within the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is, therefore, not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention, but instead the invention is to be defined by the appended claims.
[021] The present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a lightning air terminal comprising an aerodynamic housing that encloses an ozone generator at bottom. The ozone generator generates an electric charge, and an acceleration plate above the ozone generator carries a plurality of Venturi pipes that accelerate the electric charge in upward direction. A Venturi alignment device aligns the Venturi pipes with holes formed on top of the housing. A top ring and a Teflon ring are stacked between the holes for spark-gap start generation, wherein the accelerated charge exiting the holes jumps above the rings.
[022] During increased electrostatic and electromagnetic activities in atmosphere, the ozone generator generates a high voltage pulse which gets accelerated by the Venturi pipes resulting in early streamer. By this way an early upward leader is realized in a simple and efficient way without a need for an electric supply, while enabling quick capture of lightning. Since no electronic system is used for sensing sudden electrostatic or electromagnetic activity, need for battery is avoided, which results in a simple, lightweight and inexpensive air terminal.
[023] FIGURE 1 illustrates the longitudinal sectional view of the lightning air terminal, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The terminal (100) comprises an aerodynamic housing (101) formed as a dome, a top ring (108) and a Teflon ring (109) stacked on top of the housing (101), and an upward rod (110) mounted on the Teflon ring (109). The housing (101) is formed with a set of holes (106) at top surface, as shown in FIGURE 2, and fixed to a downward rod (112) at bottom surface. The downward rod (112) is fixed on a mast or any tall structure such as building, tower and the like. The upward rod (110) is formed as a conical structure with a pointed end facing upwards.
[024] The housing (101) encloses an ozone generator (102), an acceleration plate (103), a Venturi alignment device (105) and a plurality of guide pins (107). The ozone generator (102) generates one or more electric charges in response to an electrostatic and/or electromagnetic activity in atmosphere. The acceleration plate (103) mounted on top of the ozone generator (102) carries a plurality of Venturi pipes (104). Each Venturi pipe (104) includes a broader end and a narrow end, wherein the broader end is fixed to the acceleration plate (103) and the narrow end faces upwards. Each Venturi pipe (104) receives the chargers generated by the ozone generator (102) at the broader end and accelerates in an upward direction due to Venturi effect, such that the accelerated charges leave the Venturi pipes (104) at the narrow end.
[025] The Venturi alignment device (105) is formed as a frustum of cone with a set of bores (105a) for aligning the Venturi pipes (104), wherein each bore (105a) is aligned with one of the holes (106). Each bore (105a) receives the narrow end of two Venturi pipes (104) for aligning them with the corresponding hole (106). A guide pin (107) is mounted on top of each bore (105a) for directing the accelerated charges towards the holes (106). Each guide pin (107) is fixed to a top surface of the Venturi alignment device (105) through a fastener, welding or any other means.
[026] The top ring (108) and a Teflon ring (109) are stacked on top of the housing (101), such that the rings (108, 109) are surrounded by the holes (106). The accelerated charges exiting the holes (106) jump above the rings due to spark-gap start generation by the rings (108, 109) resulting in an early streamer. Finally, the upper rod (110) acts as an upward ladder to get the charges collected at a tip (110a) of the upper rod (110) for lightning discharge.
[027] During lightning or storm conditions, a sudden electrostatic and/or electromagnetic activity occurs in the atmosphere. Such ionized air enters the terminal (100) through a set of slots (111) in the bottom portion of the housing (101), shown in FIGURE 3. The ozone generator (102) includes a capacitor that collects the charges from the air and multiplies the same to generate a high voltage pulse. The Venturi pipes (104) accelerate the pulse resulting in an early streamer, which is then directed out of the holes (106) through the guide pins (107). The pulse rapidly reaches the tip (110a) and the lightning is captured and discharged through the downward rod (112).
[028] Since the ozone generator (102) generates the high voltage pulse using a passive component i.e. capacitor, as a response to the sudden electrostatic and/or electromagnetic activity occurring in the atmosphere, the need for electronic systems for sensing electrostatic and/or electromagnetic activity is avoided, while realizing an early upward leader in a simple and efficient way, which results in reduction in size, weight and cost of the terminal (100) without compromising in quick capture of the lightning. Furthermore, the slots (111) provide control over air flow hitting the terminal, and hence enabling withstanding heavy wind load without using heavy reinforcements for stability.
[029] In one embodiment, the entire terminal (100) may be formed of SS 316 L Marine grade material to make it further light in weight and more stable. In another embodiment, the terminal (100) may be formed other lightweight and strong materials. Similarly, in other embodiments, the number of Venturi pipes (104), bores (105a) and holes (106) may vary based on the requirements.