Patent Publication Number: US-2016228906-A1

Title: Round type ferrite applicator for dipole lightning rod

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0018684 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Feb. 6, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a round type ferrite applicator for a dipole lightning rod and, more particularly, to a round type ferrite applicator for a dipole lightning rod, wherein a ferrite coating layer for increasing a corona pre-discharge current and lowering a corona discharge starting voltage with respect to a specific element forming the dipole lightning rod is formed. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In general, a lightning protection device is installed at the top of a building in order to safely discharge charges, accumulated on a thundercloud, to the earth by forming a discharge path between the thundercloud and the earth. 
     A conventional dipole lightning protection device is described below with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the conventional dipole lightning protection device includes a fixing unit  31  installed at the top of a building and connected to earth means, a rod  30  configured to have one end fixed to the fixing unit  31  electrically charged by the charges of the earth, a rod cap  32  coupled with the other end of the rod  30  and configured to guide the falling of a thunderbolt, an insulator  34  and metallic electrification plates  37  and  38  coupled with one side of the rod  30  in the length direction thereof, and electrification means  45  disposed under the electrification plates  37  and  38 . The rod  30  is embedded at the center of an electrification tube  45   a.    
     The electrification means  45  includes the electrification tube  45   a  configured to have a tubular shape, have the rod  30  penetrate the center of the electrification tube  45   a , and have a needle-shaped tip  45   b  formed on the part of the rod  30  and a first cap  45   c  and a second cap  45   d  configured to couple both ends of the electrification tube  45   a  with the rod  30 . The second cap  45   d  is closely fixed to the insulator  34  by a stopper  46 . 
     A dipole lightning protection device, such as that illustrated in  FIG. 1 , is disclosed in Korean Patent No. 0856719 that was invented by Jung Yong-ki who is the same inventor as that of the present invention. 
     However, the conventional dipole lightning protection device configured as described above is problematic in that a preliminary discharge corona discharge start voltage is irregularly generated between the electrification plates  37  and  38  (also called “discharge-assistant members”) electrically charges when a thundercloud approaches and the rod  30  connected to charges accumulated on the electrification tube  45   a  and the earth. 
     In particular, it was found that the conventional dipole lightning protection device is limited in increasing a preliminary discharge current after the preliminary discharge start. 
     Accordingly, the inventor has developed a plurality of technologies related to the dipole lightning protection device and had some patent rights regarding the dipole lightning protection device. In a process of developing various structures for rapidly discharging charges accumulated on a thundercloud to the earth after a preliminary discharge is started in a lightning protection device using a dipole, the inventor has published that the effect of “a magnetic field on the start voltage and current of a corona discharge is based on a cyclone motion according to a Lorentz force” through a collection of papers called “The effect of the magnetic fields on the corona discharge” in the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers Thesis Vol. 15 No. 3 (published on May 2001, a writer Jae-yun Park including 2 persons). Furthermore, the inventor has discovered that a magnetic field affects a corona discharge through “Analysis of the electromagnetic phenomena in vacuum interrupter with axial magnetic field type, Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Vol. 16. 2003. 10. 10” to which a technology for extinguishing an arc generated between electrodes from which a corona discharge is generated when magnetic fields are applied between the electrodes has been applied. Furthermore, the inventor discovered that a magnetic field is generated when the falling of a thunderbolt is introduced into a flat plate through “Certification of aircraft system and avionics equipment against lightning indirect effect” (Aerospace Engineering and Technology Vol. 4 No. 1, Sang-ho Han). 
     Furthermore, the inventor has discovered that a phenomenon is generated in which assuming that the size of an electrical dipole according to an electric dual layer between electrification electrodes having a dielectric interposed therebetween is “d” and a dipole moment is P(t)=q(t)d, a current considers a dipole having a current of I={dot over (q)}=p/d to be as a pair of dot charges and thus flows from one dot charge to the other dot charge. 
     Under the aforementioned theoretical backgrounds, the inventor has discovered that in such a magnetic field and dielectric, an electric dipole generated by the electric dual layer is one of factors that affect the corona preliminary discharge generated in the dipole lightning rod when a thundercloud approaches. In order to increase the corona pre-discharge current and lower the corona discharge voltage in the dipole lightning protection devices invented by and issued to the inventor, the inventor has developed and manufactured a coating layer or film made of magnetic material powder having a dielectric property and binder resin, such as epoxy. Accordingly, the inventor has discovered through several hundreds of experiments that if the coating layer is coated on the electrostatic induction body (e.g., the electrification plate or the electrification tube or both) of the dipole lightning protection device or a film layer is formed using the coating layer, the corona pre-discharge current and the corona preliminary discharge voltage are reduced. Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus capable of uniformly automating a coating task for the electrostatic induction body. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     Korean Patent No. 0856719 (Aug. 29, 2008) 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a round type ferrite applicator for a dipole lightning rod, wherein a ferrite coating layer for increasing a corona pre-discharge current and lowering a corona discharge starting voltage with respect to a specific element forming the dipole lightning rod is formed. 
     In an embodiment, a round type ferrite applicator for a dipole lightning rod may include a compression air generation unit configured to generate and charge compressed air, a flat plate type base plate extended in a specific length, a piston assembly installed in the base plate and configured to perform a straight-line reciprocating motion, a control unit configured to transfer the compressed air from the compression air generation unit to the piston assembly and to control an electric operation, a movable plate connected to the piston assembly and configured to support the bottom of a electrification tube and to have an accommodation groove for accommodating a ferrite coating pad formed in the movable plate, and an elastic pressurization means placed over the movable plate and configured to elastically pressurize the top of the electrification tube and simultaneously guide the electrification tube so that the electrification tube rotates. 
     A guide rail extended in a specific length may be formed in the base plate, and rail coupling units coupled with the guide rail may be formed in the movable plate. 
     A pair of the guide rails may be respectively installed on one side and the other side that are adjacent to each other. 
     The piston assembly may include a piston body installed on one side of the base plate in the length direction of the base plate and a piston rod coupled with the piston body and configured to perform a straight-line reciprocating motion. A detection sensor may be installed between the piston body and the movable plate and configured to detect timing at which the direction of the piston rod is changed after the detection sensor comes in contact with the movable plate moving in a straight line. 
     The elastic pressurization means may include a pressurization plate installed over the movable plate, support legs equipped with coupling means supporting the pressurization plate so that a height of the pressurization plate is controllable, elastic springs installed in the respective support legs and configured to enable the pressurization plate to elastically move up and down, and a separation prevention member installed at the back of the pressurization plate and configured to prevent the electrification tube from being laterally separated by interfering with one side and the other side of the electrification tube in the length direction of the electrification tube. 
     When viewed based on the pressurization plate, the coupling means may include a plurality of first coupling nuts installed below the pressurization plate and configured to set the height of the pressurization plate and a plurality of second coupling nuts installed above the pressurization plate and configured to control elastic pressure of the elastic springs. 
     Leg units for height adjustment may be formed in the base plate. The leg units for height adjustment may maintain a tilt angle so that the side in which the movable plate is placed is higher than the side in which the control unit is placed when the base plate is laterally viewed. 
     The round type ferrite applicator may further include a shelf frame configured to support the base plate at a location spaced apart from a ground at a specific height. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of a conventional dipole lightning protection device; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a round type ferrite applicator for a dipole lightning rod according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of  FIG. 2  which is viewed at a different angle; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial enlarged view illustrating the operation of the round type ferrite applicator for a dipole lightning rod according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a process of coupling another auxiliary electrification tube with the electrification tube of  FIG. 5  in the state in which a ferrite coating pad is wound on the electrification tube. 
     
    
    
       
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 &lt;Description of reference numerals&gt; 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 100: compression air generation unit 
                   
               
               
                   
                 200: base plate 
                 300: piston assembly 
               
               
                   
                 330: detection sensor 
                 400: control unit 
               
               
                   
                 500: movable plate 
               
               
                   
                 600: elastic pressurization means 
               
               
                   
                 610: pressurization plate 
                 620: coupling means 
               
               
                   
                 630: support leg 
                 640: elastic spring 
               
               
                   
                 650: separation prevention member 
               
               
                   
                  10: electrification tube 
                 P: ferrite coating pad 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 6 . 
     Prior to a description, it is to be noted that a ferrite coating material used in the present invention is fabricated in a square pad shape having a specific area and adhesives for adhesion have been coated on one surface of a ferrite coating pad P. 
     Furthermore, in the present invention, a term “coating” should be construed as including all of terms “cladding”, “stacking”, and “adhesion.” 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 6 , the round type ferrite applicator for a dipole lightning rod according to an embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for coating a ferrite coating material on the outer circumference surface of an electrification tube  10  that forms the dipole lightning rod. The round type ferrite applicator may be configured to include a compression air generation unit  100  configured to generate and charge compressed air, a flat plate type base plate  200  extended in a specific length, a piston assembly  300  installed in the base plate  200  and configured to perform a straight-line reciprocating motion, a control unit  400  configured to transfer the compressed air from the compression air generation unit  100  to the piston assembly  300  and to control an electric operation, a movable plate  500  connected to the piston assembly  300  and configured to support the bottom of the electrification tube  10  and to have an accommodation groove  510  for accommodating a ferrite coating pad P therein formed in the movable plate  500 , and an elastic pressurization means  600  placed over the movable plate  500  and configured to elastically pressurize the top of the electrification tube  10  and simultaneously guide the electrification tube  10  so that the electrification tube  10  rotates. 
     First, the compression air generation unit  100  generates compressed air using an externally electrified current. The generated compressed air is used to drive an apparatus using a force of pressure. 
     The compression air generation unit  100  may be configured to have a box-shaped cabinet structure having a specific size. The cabinet may include a compressor (not illustrated) for compressing air, an air storage unit (not illustrated) for storing the compressed air, and a pressure check valve (not illustrated) for checking a change of pressure within the air storage unit in real time. 
     The base plate  200  is formed of a metallic sheet extended in a specific width and length. 
     A guide rail  210  for guiding the sliding movement of the movable plate  500  is formed in a top surface of the base plate  200  according to an embodiment of the present invention. A pair of the guide rails  210  may be configured to be respectively installed on one side and the other side of the base plate  200  in the length direction thereof, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, only a single guide rail  210  may be formed at the center of the base plate  200  in the length direction thereof. 
     Furthermore, leg units  220  for height adjustment are formed in the base plate  200 . 
     Each of the leg units  220  for height adjustment may include a vertical member  221  coupled with the base plate  200  and a support  222  screwed onto the end of the vertical member  221 . 
     Furthermore, the support  222  may be made of a synthetic resin material having a high friction coefficient, such as rubber or silicon. 
     Furthermore, when the base plate  200  is laterally viewed, it may maintain an inclined structure in which one side of the base plate  200  is higher than the other side thereof in the length direction of the base plate  200  (refer to  FIG. 4 ). 
     More specifically, the base plate  200  may maintain a tilt angle so that the side in which the movable plate  500  is placed is higher than the side in which the control unit  400  to be installed in the base plate  200  is placed. The reason for this is that the ferrite coating pad P can be more smoothly attached by the rotation movement of the electrification tube  10 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the round type ferrite applicator for a dipole lightning rod according to an embodiment of the present invention may be configured to further include a shelf frame  700  for supporting the base plate  200  at the location spaced apart from the ground at a specific height. 
     The piston assembly  300  is installed in the base plate  200 . The piston assembly  300  may include a piston body  310  installed on one side of the base plate  200  in the length direction thereof and a piston rod  320  coupled with the piston body  310  and configured to perform a straight-line reciprocating motion. 
     That is, the piston rod  320  of the piston assembly  300  performs a straight-line reciprocating motion in response to air pressure supplied by the compression air generation unit  100 . 
     Furthermore, a detection sensor  330  is installed between the piston body  310  and the movable plate  500  and configured to detect timing at which the direction of the piston rod  320  is changed after the detection sensor  330  comes in contact with the movable plate  500  moving in a straight line. 
     More specifically, when the detection sensor  330  comes in contact with the movable plate  500  connected to the piston rod  320  in a process of the piston rod  320  moving toward the piston body  310 , the piston rod  320  no longer moves toward the piston body  310  and changes its direction in order to move in a straight line in an opposite direction. 
     In this case, the detection sensor  330  may be formed of a limit switch installed at a location close to the piston body  310 . 
     The control unit  400  is installed on one side of the base plate  200  in the length direction thereof, and functions to transfer the compressed air from the compression air generation unit  100  to the piston assembly  300  and to control the operations of various electric devices. 
     The control unit  400  may include a control main body  410  configured to have an installation space part formed therein, a control plate (not illustrated) mounted on the installation space part, and an operation switch  420  electrically connected to the control plate. 
     A method of performing pressure transfer and electric control using the control unit  400  is the same as or similar to that of a known control apparatus, and a detailed construction and operation thereof are omitted. 
     The movable plate  500  is connected to the piston assembly  300  and configured to move in a straight line back and forth in the direction in which the piston rod  320  moves. 
     The movable plate  500  may be a flat plate type sheet having a specific width. A space part for supporting the electrification tube  10  is provided on one side of a surface of the movable plate  500 . The accommodation groove  510  for accommodating the ferrite coating pad P is formed on the other side of the movable plate  500 . 
     More specifically, when the piston rod  320  performs a straight-line motion toward the piston main body  310  in the state in which the electrification tube  10  has been disposed on one side of the movable plate  500  and the ferrite coating pad P has been accommodated in the accommodation groove  510  on the other side of the movable plate  500 , the elastic pressurization means  600  disposed over the movable plate  500  transfers applied pressure that softly presses the top of the electrification tube  10 . In this case, the electrification tube  10  to which the pressed pressure is transferred relatively rotates with respect to the direction in which the movable plate  500  moves and moves toward the ferrite coating pad P. Accordingly, in the process of the electrification tube  10  rotating and moving, the ferrite coating pad P is naturally closely attached to the outer circumference of the electrification tube  10 . 
     Thereafter, after the ferrite coating pad P is wound on the electrification tube  10 , when the movable plate  500  comes in contact with the detection sensor  330 , the control unit  400  controls the movable plate  500  so that it backward moves in a straight line in response to the operation signal of the detection sensor  330 . At this time, the electrification tube  10  relatively rotates in an opposite direction and returns to its original location. 
     When the adhesion of the ferrite coating pad P to the outer circumference of the electrification tube  10  is completed as described above, the auxiliary electrification tube  11  having a greater diameter than the electrification tube  10  is additionally coupled with the ferrite coating pad P, thus surrounding and protecting the ferrite coating pad P so that it is not externally exposed. 
     Furthermore, rail coupling units  520  coupled in accordance with the guide rail  210  are formed on the other surface of the movable plate  500 . 
     The guide rail  210  and the rail coupling units  520  enable the movable plate  500  to perform a sliding action more easily. 
     The elastic pressurization means  600  is placed over the movable plate  500 , and functions to elastically pressurize and simultaneously guide the top of the electrification tube  10  so that the electrification tube  10  rotates. 
     More specifically, the elastic pressurization means  600  may include a pressurization plate  610  installed over the movable plate  500 , support legs  630  equipped with coupling means  620  supporting the pressurization plate  500  so that the height of the pressurization plate  500  is controllable, elastic springs  640  installed in the respective support legs  630  and configured to enable the pressurization plate  500  to elastically move up and down, and a separation prevention member  650  installed at the back of the pressurization plate  610  and configured to prevent the electrification tube  10  from being laterally separated by interfering with one side and the other side of the electrification tube  10  in the length direction of the electrification tube  10 . 
     The elastic pressurization means  600  may transfer applied pressure that presses the electrification tube  10  from top to bottom so that the electrification tube  10  moving along the movable plate  500  is relatively rotated. 
     The coupling means  620  functions to control its height in accordance with the diameter of the electrification tube  10  or control elastic pressure with respect to the direction in which the pressurization plate  500  moves up and down. 
     In this case, when viewed based on the pressurization plate  500 , the coupling means  620  may include a plurality of first coupling nuts  621  installed below the pressurization plate  500  and configured to set the height of the pressurization plate  500  and a plurality of second coupling nuts  622  installed above the pressurization plate  500  and configured to control elastic pressure of the elastic springs  640 . 
     As described above, in accordance with the present invention, the round type ferrite applicator includes the piston assembly  300 , the movable plate  500 , and the elastic pressurization means  600 . Accordingly, there are advantages in that a task for attaching the ferrite coating pad P for reducing a corona pre-discharge current and a corona preliminary discharge voltage can be automated and uniformly performed with respect to the electrification tube, and the reliability and productivity of a task can be significantly improved.