Patent ID: 7855476

Claim:
A mechanism to tap an electrical source comprising: a) a lighter than air balloon suspended in the atmosphere; b) a base unit having a spool of conductive line on a winch motor, one end of said conductive line secured to said lighter than air balloon, a portion of said conductive line collecting electricity in the atmosphere, said winch motor capable of selectively extending or withdrawing said conductive line from said spool; c) an insulator electrically isolating said conductive line from ground; d) 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; e) 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, f) 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.