Patent GB-304831-A (GB)
Title: Electric artificial rainmaking and weather regulating apparatus
IPC: A01G15/00
Filed: 1927-10-27
Abstract: 304,831. Wallach, K. Oct. 27, 1927. Atmospheric electricity, utilizing.-In electric artificial rain-making and weather-regulating apparatus of the kind wherein lightning-rod and charge-diverting members carried on spaced towers are electrified to cause an electric discharge to occur and lower the temperature to bring about condensation of clouds, provision is made for connecting at will the lightning-rod and charge-diverting members through current rectifying and transforming means to accumulators, whereby electricity from the clouds or atmosphere may be stored. The apparatus comprises opposed lightning-rod and charge-diverting members 74, 73, carried by spaced towers 11, 12, a source S of electrical energy, accumulating and storage batteries 90, electric connections and circuit changers between the members 74, 73 and the source of energy S and the batteries 90, earthing connections 51 and lightning protectors 60, 61 connected with the circuit changers, quartz mercury-vapour lamps 44 on the towers, and current rectifiers 81 and transformers 77, 78, 83, 85 and 84, 86 in the storage battery circuit. An insulation panel 14 is mounted in a protecting hoursing at a distance from the towers and supports the circuit changers &c. The source of alternating current S is connected by wires 17 with an induction coil 18, 19 the secondary current of which passes through a rectifier 22, wires 23, and the circuit changers to the charge-emitting or lightning rods 74. Each circuit changer comprises a base block 24, Fig. 2, and an outer block 28, horizontal metal bars 26 in the block 24 vertical bars 30 in the block 28, and pins to fit into openings in the blocks and establish connection between any of the vertical bars 36, the pins being provided with porcelain handles 33, and the bars 26, 30 with binding screws 35 and openings 34 to receive wires. Connected to the bars 26 in order are the wires 23, wires 36, and wires 51. The earthing wires 51 lead into a well 52 and the wires 36 lead to the main transformer 77, 78. From the intermediate transformers 83, 85, 84, 86 lead distributing wires 87, 88 connected with the storage units 90. The two units 90 may be connected together by inserting a switch plug 94. Any one of three wires 43, 50, 91 may be connected with the storage units by inserting a plug 37 in a three-way switch 39. The units 90 may be charged from an external source through the wires 91. The wires 43 lead through choke coils 47 and resistance coils 48 to the lamps 44 from which wires 49 lead back to the wires 87, 88 and the storage units 90. By means of the wires 50 the energy of the storage 90 mav be utilized for other purposes. The two lower bars 26 may be connected through a switch 57 to the lower plate 60 of a lightning protector, the upper plate 61 of which is connected to the lower ends of the vertical bars 30. The plates 60, 61 Fig. 4, are serrated or corrugated, and the plate 60 is adjustable by means of screw 64 passing through the supporting-bracket 65. Turning of the plate 60 is prevented by guide pins 68, 69 one of which is graduated to indicate the adjustment of the' plate 60. From the upper ends of the bars 30 insulated wires or cables 71 lead to the vertical rods 74 and the diverging charge-diverting members 73 mounted on insulation blocks 46, Fig. 5, at the top of the angle-iron towers 11, 12. The members 73, 74 each consist of a round bar having a tapered or conical end 75. They may be insulated to near the free ends. The towers 11, 12 may be provided with steps or rungs, and may be adjustable. A published abridgment of Canadian Specification 270,317 is referred to.