Abstract:
A device collects electrostatic charge from the atmosphere and stores the electrostatic charge for further use. The device includes a primary array including a plurality of electrically-conducting collectors, a plurality of electrically-conducting inductors, a charge regulator, and a charge storage device. A secondary array can be added to improve the efficiency of the primary array.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 61/408,973 filed Nov. 01, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for collecting excess electrostatic charge from the environment. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for collecting excess electrostatic charge from the environment and storing the electrostatic charge for dispersal or further use. 
         [0003]    The buildup of static electricity frequently occurs in many different natural and commercial environments. People and objects may build up a high voltage charge. In addition, the air may acquire an undesirable charge. Unfortunately, when a person gets close to another person and/or an object, the difference in the voltage charge produces an undesirable discharge in the form of a spark. Sparks may be lethal to individuals and sensitive machines in some industrial environments. 
         [0004]    Current devices for electrostatic charge collection typically rely on electrically-powered systems which operate at high voltages and are ineffective in actually collecting ion charges for controlled dispersal. 
         [0005]    As can be seen, there is a need to provide a reliable device for electrostatic charge collection that operates at low voltage. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In one aspect of the present invention, a device for collecting electrostatic charge includes an array having a plurality of electrically-conducting collectors to collect the electrostatic charge, a plurality of electrically-conducting inductors electrically coupled to the electrically-conducting collectors, a charge regulator coupled to the electrically-conducting inductors, a charge storage device coupled to the charge regulator, a plurality of brushes for transferring collected electrostatic charge from the electrically-conducting collectors to the charge storage device; and a plurality of charge equalization wires coupled to the plurality of brushes. 
         [0007]    In another aspect of the present invention, a second collector/inductor assembly can be connected to the first collector/inductor assembly, where each assembly includes an array having a plurality of electrically-conducting collectors to collect the electrostatic charge, a plurality of electrically-conducting inductors electrically coupled to the electrically-conducting collectors, a plurality of brushes for transferring collected electrostatic charge from the electrically-conducting collectors to the charge storage device; and a plurality of charge equalization wires coupled to the plurality of brushes. 
         [0008]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective front view of a device for collecting electrostatic charge from the atmosphere according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention showing a primary assembly and a secondary assembly; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective top view of a device for collecting electrostatic charge from the atmosphere according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of the device of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of the device of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0014]    Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
         [0015]    Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a rotating device for collecting electrostatic charge from the atmosphere and storing the electrostatic charge for dispersal or further use. 
         [0016]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrates the device  10  for collecting electrostatic charge including an array having a plurality of electrically-conducting collectors  12  to collect the electrostatic charge, a plurality of electrically-conducting inductors  14  electrically coupled to the electrically-conducting collectors  12 , a charge regulator  26  coupled to the electrically-conducting inductors  14 , a charge storage device  28  coupled to the charge regulator  26 , a plurality of brushes  22  for transferring collected electrostatic charge from the electrically-conducting collectors  12  to the charge storage device  28 ; and a plurality of charge equalization wires  24  coupled to the plurality of brushes  22 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the device  10  may include a primary collector/inductor assembly  16  and a secondary collector/inductor assembly  18  mounted on a common shaft  20 . In one embodiment, the primary collector/inductor assembly  16  and secondary collector/inductor assemblies  18  may be directly connected by using rotational bearing assemblies attached to each end of the primary collector/inductor assembly  16  and the secondary collector/inductor assembly  18 . 
         [0018]    The collectors  12  may have different shapes. In one embodiment, the collectors  12  may have a cylindrical, rectangular, pyramidal, planar, or elongated shape. The collectors  12  may be placed parallel to each other and arranged at approximately equal distances from an axis of rotation of their aggregate collector/inductor assemblies  16  and  18 . In one embodiment, the collectors  12  may be made of metal, composites, alloys, graphite, or any other conductive materials. The collectors  12  may have a solid body or a hollow body. 
         [0019]    The exemplary invention embodiment shown as device  10  may include a plurality of inductors  14 . The inductors  14  may be operatively connected to the collectors  12  to extract charged ions from the ambient environment. In one embodiment, the inductors  14  may have a length greater than twice the radius of rotation of the rotating array with the plurality of conductors  12 . 
         [0020]    The charge regulator  26  may be a standard commercially-available charge regulator. In one embodiment, the charge regulator  26  may be a spark gap. The charge regulator  26  may include electrical components that limit the voltage build-up in the rotating device  10  and the charge storage device  28 . 
         [0021]    A plurality of brushes or brush equivalents  22  may be used to transfer accumulated charges between the collectors  12  and inductors  14  during the operation of the device  10 . The number of brushes  22  may be determined by the implemented configuration. In one embodiment, the device  10  may include four brushes  22 . 
         [0022]    The charge equalization wire  24  may momentarily connect two of the collectors  12  under the influence of two inductors  14 . This wire may allow the transfer of charge between oppositely-charged collectors  12  at appropriate times in the collector assembly  16  during the operation of the device  10 . 
         [0023]    When the collector  12  and inductor  14  assemblies of the device  10  are counter-rotated relative to each other by any appropriate means, the ion extraction process may be a normal result of the rotation of the device  10 . The collection and removal of the charge may be achieved by the unique combination of accepted electrostatic engineering principles and the new component configuration to create an electrostatic collection system which may be capable of low-voltage electrostatic ion collection capabilities. 
         [0024]    The device  10  may be placed in a selected environment which contains excess electrostatic charge. The operation of the device  10  may be initiated by applying mechanically rotational power to the collector and/or inductor assemblies  12  to initiate the charge collection process, which continues until the rotation stops. The resulting operation may cause a transfer of the excess charge to the charge storage device  28  where it can be immediately dispersed and/or collected. 
         [0025]    The elements of the device  10  may be in a number of different configurations which may operate at different efficiencies. The size, shape, physical relationships, and materials employed may be configured to have an apparently different appearance when actually they are alternative implementations of this invention. 
         [0026]    The device  10  adapted to rotate for collecting electrostatic charge may be considered to be based on classic electrostatic accumulation principles, but is configured to operate at significantly lower voltages, thus requiring fewer operating components. These improvements may allow major simplifications in the construction and maintenance of the device  10  and its associated systems, reducing initial production costs, operational power requirements, and ongoing maintenance costs. 
         [0027]    The present invention has been successfully demonstrated at the bench-scale level. 
         [0028]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.