Patent ID: 8102082

Claim:
A system for collection of atmospheric static electricity comprising: a balloon; a hub that is electrically conductive and connected to the balloon by a tether, the hub having: at least three electrically conductive arms, a first end of each of said conductive arms electrically connected to said hub; and a plurality of rods, a first end of each of said rods being electrically connected to a second end of at least one of said at least three arms; a base unit having a spool of conductive line on a winch motor, one end of said conductive line secured to said hub, a portion of said conductive line and said hub collecting electricity in the atmosphere, said winch motor selectively extending or withdrawing said conductive line from said spool; a conductor having a first end electrically connected to said conductive line and a second end electrically connected to a load being powered by collected electricity from said conductive line; an electrical flow sensor monitoring electrical flow through said conductor and generating an electrical flow indicia indicative of said electrical flow in said conductor; and a controller receiving said electrical flow indicia and selectively operating said winch motor such that said electrical flow indicia remains within a selected operating range.