Patent ID: 8441167

Claim:
A capacitive electric current generator comprising: a capacitive generating circuit (G) arranged to be responsive to a mechanical force from a transmission to generate an electric current; and a priming charge circuit (P) comprising priming capacitors ( 102 , 103 ) mechanically coupled to the transmission to vary their capacitance and electrically connected to the capacitive generating circuit (G) to generate and deliver a priming charge to the capacitive generating circuit (G) in response to the mechanical force; wherein the priming charge circuit (P) comprises a first variable capacitor ( 102 ) in circuit with the second variable capacitor ( 103 ) and an array of switches arranged for synchronous and sequential actuation by the mechanical transmission; and wherein the capacity of the priming capacitors ( 102 , 103 ) is arranged to vary in phase in response to movement by the transmission and the switches (K) are arranged to open and close between the plates of the priming capacitors so that: in a first position of the transmission an initial charge on the priming capacitors ( 102 , 103 ) is equally dispersed between the priming capacitor plates ( 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 ), with the capacitance of the priming capacitors ( 102 , 103 ) at a minimum; and in response to movement of the transmission to a second position the switches are arranged to open to isolate the capacitor plates ( 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 ) from each other and the capacitance of the capacitor plates will be caused to simultaneously rise to maximum whereby a relatively small positive charge is isolated on one plate ( 106 ) of one priming capacitor and a negative charge (−q) on one plate of the other priming capacitor ( 105 ) while the remaining plates are substantially neutrally charged while in communication with the generator circuit ( 1 ); and further movement by the transmission ( 18 ) to a third position connects each charge bearing plate ( 105 , 106 ) of the respective neutrally charged plates ( 104 , 107 ) of the other of the capacitors, whereby the charge on the generator capacitor circuit ( 1 ) is increased, and further movement of the transmission to return to the first position with the increased charge acting as the initial charge.