UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ll1XOLA. 'l'EBLA, OF NEW YOBJ[, lIf. Y.

LIGH'l'lIiING-PlLOTECTOB..

1,266,175.

BpecUlcatlOJl of Letten PateJlt.

Patented May 14:, 1918.

AppUcaUOJl tIed KaT 8, 1918. Serlal.o.9I,I3O.

To all 'whom it may concern: small radius, f!r pointed, and it is pursuant

Be it known that I, NmoLA TEsu, a citi- to a misapplication of these, and other, zen of the United States, residing at New truths that the commercial lightning rod of York, in the county and State of Wew York, today is made very slender ana pcinted, My have invented certain new and useful Im- invention, on the cOntrary, while taking provements . in Lightning - Protectors, of cognizance of these truths, correctly. applies which the following is a full,clear, and ex- them in the provision of a lightning proact cTescription. . " tector that distinctively attordS anelevated

The .objeet of the present invention is to terminal having its outer conductingbounprovide lightning protectors of .a novel and daries arranged on surfaces of la:rge radii improved design strictly in conformity with of curvature on two dimensions .. The printhe true character of the phenomena, . more ciples which underlie my inventionandcor~fficient in act!on, a.nd far more dependable rect application of which dictate the form In safe-guarding Ide and property, than and manner of installation of my protector, those heretofore employed. . I will now explain in contrast WIth-the can-

To an understanding of the nature of my ventional pointed lightnin~ rod. '. .

h'lvention and its basic distinction from the In permitting leakage into the air the lightning rods of common use, it is nee- needle-shaped lightning-rod is pop~arly esSary briefly to explain the principles upon believed to perform two functions: one to which my protector is designed as contrast- -drain the ground of its negative electricity, ed with -those underlying the now-prevail-' the other to neutralize the positive Qf the ing type of lightning rod. clouds. To some degree. it does both. But

Since the mtroduction of the lightning a systematic study of electrical disturbances rod by Benjamin Franklin in the latter in the earth has made it palpably ,evident part of the eighteenth century, its adoption that the action of Franklin's conductor, as us a means of .})rotection against destructive commonly interpreted, is chiefly illusionary. atmospheric discharges has been practically Actual measurement proves the quantity of universal. Its e!ticacy, to ac~rtain degree, electricity escaping eyen from many points, hns been unquestlOn. ably established through' to be entirely insignificant when compared statistical records but there is generall, with that induced within a considerable terprevalent, nevertheless, a singular thooreti- restrial area, and of no moment whatever in, cal fullllcy as ·to its operation, and. ~ts con- the. process of dissipation. ' But it is true struction is radically defective in one -fea- that the ne~ativel)j,charged air in the viturc, namely. its typical pointed terminal. cinity of the roo', rendered conductive In my lightning protector I avoid points, through the influence of the same, facilitates, and . use an entirelydi'tterent type of ter- the' passage of the bolt. Therefore it Inminal., creases the prohl\bility of a lighting_ dis-

According to the prevailing opinion, the charge' in its vicinity. The fUndamental virtue of the Franklin type of lightning rod facts underlying this type of lightning-rod is lurgel y based on the property of points or 111'6: First, it attracts lightning, so that it shur'peclges to give ott electricity into the will be struck. oftener than would be the air. As shown liy Coulomb, the quantity of building if it, were not present; second, it i-lectricitv per unit area, designated by him renders harmless most, but not all, of the "(·lectrical density" increases as the radius discharges . which it receives; third, by renof curvature of the surface is reduced. Sub- dering the. air conductive,· and for other s~(ll1<'n~ l~' it was proved, by mathematical l'eaSO!lS, iti~ sometimes the cause of damage 1I1Illl)'SIS, that the accumulated charge ere- to. neighboring objects; and fourth, on the l.l.h'(l lin outward normal force equal 'to 2~1t who~e, its power of preventing injury pr~Ihnes the square- of the .density, and expert- dominates, more or less, over the hazards It ment has demonstrated that when the latter invites.

exceeds Ilppl'oximlltely20 C. G. S. units, a My protector, by contrast, is founded on StJ-t>:IIU('l' or coronnfs formed.. From these principles diametrically opposite. Its terohservations 110(1 deductions it is obvious minul hns 1\ ]nrg(> surface. It secures 0. Yery that such may happen at 1,1 comparatively low density and preserves the insulating Iow pressure if the conductor is of extremely qualities of the ambient medium, thereby

B

1,266,176

minimizing leakage] snd in: thus acting as a being struck is decreased by the pr~nce of quasi-repellent to mcrease enormously the my protector, whereas It wo~d be mcreased safety factor; . . ':. . by the presence of the Franklin rod, for rea-

For the best-and most economical installa- sons .that I will now . explain. .

'tion"ofprotective devices according to 'my An undarstanding of but part of the invention, those factors and phenomena tb.&t truths relative ·to electrical discharges, a.nd ~cta.te ~, number of protectors and 'phIS- their misapplication due to the want of ical qualities' of the apparatus must be . fuller appreciation -has d~ub~less been regrasped by the installing. engineer, and pre- sponsible for the Franklin .lightmng rod liminarily, for full' unaersta.nding of the taking. its con:~entio~al pointed ~orm, but principles of. my invention, these shoJlld betheoretlCal considerations, and the lm~rtant

briefly explained.· discoveries . that . ha ~e bee~· made jn the,

. Eeonomical installation of rourse, de- course of investigations with a ~vll'eless mands that the protective ~pability of any transmitter of great. activity by which arcs given eqUipment be not neOOlessly greater . of a volume and tension comparable ~~ those than is. required. to meet the .maximnm ex-· ~urrmg m n~ture were obtained (Prob-' pectancies under the conditions surrounding lems of Increa.smg Human Energy" C ent"",.y the"particular building to be protected, and Magaaine J!lne 1900 and Patents 645,576, these depend, partially as I shall show, '649,621,787,4:12 and 1,119,732) at once estabupon the character of the landscape proxi- lish the fallacy of the hitherto prevailing mateto the buildinz site. . . notion on which the Franklin type' of .rod

. In~e drawingsl.~i~ 1 to 4. inclusive, i~ based, show the distincti~e novelty of my arediagi'ams ~UlSlte to illustration of the ijgh~rung protector, II;Ild gu~de the ~nstrucfacts and conditions relevant to the deter- tor in the use of my invention,

mination of specific installations of my in- In Fig. 2, 5 is a small sPhere in contact .,:entio~ and :f~~ 6 to. Sillustrate construe- with a large one, 6, partly shown, .It can

· ~OD and aPlllicatlOn of the protectors.' Spa- be proved by the theorr ofelectnc Images cl6cally:' .' . . that when the two bodies are charged the

'Fig: 1 is a .Iandscape suited for purpose mean density on the small one will be only

of·e:g>la.nation; Figs. 2,3 and 4 are theoreti- r ..-

cal.diagrams; Figs. 5 and 6 i1lu~trate forms , "6. -1.644.93

oflDlproved protectors ; and Figs. 7 and S .

show buildings equipped with the same. times greater than that on the other, (See

.In Fig. 1,1 represents-Lord Kelvin's "re- '''Electricity o:rul Magnetiam" by . Clerk dueed" area,of the region, which is virtually. Maxwell).' In Fig. 3, the two spheres 7 and part of the extended uttru1lled ocean-surface. S are placed some distance apart and con~See "PatJ.er8 ~ ~lectro8t~ic8 and Magnet- nected through .8.. thin wire 9. This system '18:""" by. Sir Wdlia.m ::r:homson).Under o~-ha~ been exclt:t:d ~.before, the denSlty on dmary weather conditions, when the sky IS the'small sphere IS likely to be many times ~~r, the. total 8lD.O~t of . electricity dis- that on the IaT~e' ~ne. Since both are nt tributed .over the land IS nearly the. sa!lle.8.]I the s~ potentIal It fo1:Jows directly .that that which would be' contained- WIthin Its the densities on them will be mversely as horizontal projection, But in times of their radii .of curvature, If the density of storm, owi~ to the inductive action of the 7 be designated as d and the radius r, ihen clo:uds,an unmense charge may be,accu- the charge 9.=~d, the potential p=41trd mulated in th~ locality." t!lt densi,t~ :beingand the outward force, normal to the surgreatest at the mOl!t ele~ated-'portlOns of face,.l='hd2• Asbefo~e stated, when d ~e. groun~ .• .Assummg.~ls, under the' con- s~p'asses 29 c .. G: S. units, the force f beditiops existing at anymoment, -let another comes suffiCIently mtense to break down the spherical surface 2, .concentric with the . dielec.tric an'll a streamer 'or corolla appears, earth, be drawn-e-whlch may-be calledfelee- IIi. this case p:.....S<hN-. Hence, with Ii sphere trieal. niveau'v=-sucb .that the- quantities. of one 'centimeter radius disruption would: stored over and under it are equal. In other'. take puce ata potential- p=801t:-251.328 words, . .thei~algebraic s~ taken x:~a.tively E: S. units, or 75,398.4 volts. In reality, the to the lmAgmarysuriace, m·the POSItIve and, discharge occurs at a lower pressure .as l\

· ~~ative sense, is nil. . Objects above the . Consequence of uneve~ dist~!bu.tion on' the !llveau" .!'re exposed to ever so much more' small sphere, the density bemg greatest on ~ thaI?- those below,·_Th.us, a building at· the side turned. away from the large one.

_ 3,:on a SIte .of eXce$Siv~ density, is apt w.:be,1 In this re:>p~t the behavior of a P?inted . hit sooner or later, while one in a depression conductor lEI lust the reverse. Theoret;Ically. 4,w~ere the charge per unit area. is very it mig!It erroneously be inferred. from the

· small, is . almost. e~tirely safe. It 'follows pl:ece<ling,.t~at sharp projections would perthli.t}he onebuilding 3.requlresIlloreex-. nut, .. electnclty.to escapeat the lowest poten.sive equipment than does the ot.heJ·. In tentials, but-thisdoes not follow. The reu~th in~ances, ho"W'ever,th~ probability:of. son wi~l be.clearfrom an inspection: of Fig.

4:, in which such a needle-shaped. conductor stantiate the desirability of establishing 10, is illustrated, a minute portion of its pro~tion by avo~ding such drainage. '~e tapering end being 'marked 11';, Were this deDSltyatthe pointed end ,·should be Inportion removed from the large pa.rt.l0,.nd :verseJ.yas'the radius of curvature of the el~tri~lly colll}ec~ with the same t!rr0ugh surface, ibut. such 'a,condition' is unrealizable. an mliiutely thin WlI'e, the charge would be Suppoee Fig. 4: to represent. 8. conductor of given off readily. . But the presence of 10 radius "100 ,times that of the needle; then. has the effeCt of redu~ing':the .. cap~ifY· of altho~h:, its· surface ~ unit len~ ~ 11, so that a much ,higher pressure 'IS re- greli.ter tn the. same radio, the capacity 18 quired to raise ,the density to·the critical only .double, Thus, whil~ twice the quanvalue.. The larger the body, t1!..e more, pro- tity of ,81ectHcity is stored, the d~nsity -on nounced is this in1luence, which is also de-: -the rod is put one-fiftieth of that on the nee-, pendent on configuration, and, is mar.imum'die, from wliieh. it follows that the' latter for a sphere. When th.esame is of· eon- isfo- more efficient.· But the emissive power siderable size it' takes a much greater alee- of any 'such conductor is· circumscribed. tromotive force than under ordinar! circum- Imagine tluLt the "~in~" (in ~alit~ bl~ stances to pr'oouce streamers from the pomt. or rounded) en4,becontmuously reduced m To expla~ this .pparentanomaly attention size Boas to appr.o~ the ideal more and is called to Fig. S.·If ~he radii of the two' ,mo~. D~g ~e proo.essofreduct~o~j the spheres, 7 and.S; be designated ,.-.00 ,R.re- derunty will;be mcreasmg 8;8 the . radius. of spectIvely, their ehar~es q and'Q -and the c'?i""!ature getS smallert but ~n a proportion distance between their centers D, the po- distinctly .Iess than. linear; on 'the . o~er

'. d . Q, -' . hand; the area of the ~me end, that .is,

tentIal at,7, ue to Q lS:rr But-7, owmg tq the I!8Ction tru:0ug~ which .th~ c:h8!g~ passes

. , out mto the aIr~ will be dimlIl.lshing as the.

the metallic' connection 9, is at the potential square of the radius. This relation 8;lone

Q -imposes a definite limit to the performance

. 1£-;' of a pointed' coriductort and it should 'be

noticed that ilie 'electrOc:te-resistance would When D is comparable to R, the medium be augmented at 'the same. mile. . Further. surrounding the small sphere will ordinarily -more, the. 6mcacy. of the rod is muchim-be at a potential not~u<:h dHferent from , paired through potential du~ to. the cha~ge that of the lattez: and inillions of volts. may of the. groundz as has heel! mQi~ted WIth have to be applied before streamers ISSUe, reference- to FIg; S. Practical estimates of . even from sharp. protruding edges. 'It is the electrical quantities concerned hi Daturar important to bear this in mind, for the disturbances show, moreover, how absolutely earth is but a vast conducting globe. It impossible. are the functions attributed. to' follows that a pointed lightning-rod must thepointed lightning conductor. A si~le be run far above ground i~. order i".? operate cloudmay C?nta~n 2XI012 C. G. S. ut;titS, or at all, and from the fo~gomg It will be ap- more,mducmg m the earth an equivalent parent that the pointing of the end! for sup- amount, which a number of Iightning rods posed ~issjy~ eff~t, is in part neutralized" C?uldnot . ne~tralize in msft,· years. Parby the mcreasmg SIZe below the extreme end, ·ticularly to instance conditions that Dlay and the larger the rod, for reduction of elee- . have to be met, reference is made, to the trode resistance, the more pronounced is this' Electrical World of March 5; 1904,wlierein ~ounter-inftuenc~ .. ~or these reaoons i~ is it appears that upon one ,o~sion. a}?proxiImportant to . bear rn mind thatsufficlent mately 12,000 strokes occurred WIthin two thickness of therod for very low electrode- hours within .. radiusof,:less than 50 kilo-resistance is rather' incompatible with 'the meters frorn t~ plsee of observation. . , high emissive capability sought in the nee- But although the pointed Iightning-rod dle-like Franklin-rod, but, as hereinafter is" quite ineffeetivein the one respect noted, set for~h, it !s wholly ?esirable i~ the use if has ~he property of attracting Iightning of 'my invention, wherein the terminal con-: to a high degree.l. firstly on account of Its struction .is. intended for' suppression of 'shape and 'seoon~y because it ion~zes .and charge-emission rather than to foster . It. renders 'conductive the surrounding aar,

The notion that Franklin's device would This has been unquestionably' established in be effective in dissipating ~rial char~es long continued tes~,with the ~irel~ transmay be traced to early expenments WIth mitter above-mentioned, and m this feature static frictional machines, when a, needle Iies the chief disadvantage of the Franklin was found capable of quickly drainillg an type of apparatus.

insulated electrified body. But the inappli-. . All of, the foregoing serves to show that cahility of this fact to the conditions of since it is utterly impracticable to effect an lightning protection will be evident from equalization of charges emissively through examination of the simple theoretical prin- pointed lightning-rods under, the conditions ciples involved, which at the same time sub-. presented by the vast forces of nature. great

improvement lies in the -attainment of-a protectors if equipped with suitable devices minimized . probability ·of lightning st~ke or designed in conformity with this Invento the area.. to be yrotected. coupled WIth tion, Still another modification is illustrated . adequate conductiVIty to render harmless in Fig. 8 in which,·· instead of one, . fOur thos&strokes that ma.y, notwithstanding, grounaed bars.are provided with as many occur. •... spun shells or attachments 18, with the Db-

Furthermore,·e. correct·~ppliC&tion of the VIOUS object of reducing the risk.

truths the.t have thus been explained with· From the foregoing It will be clear that in reference to the familia.r pointed type of all cases the terminal prevents leakage of lightning-rod not only subst&ntia.tes the electricity and e.ttendant ionize.tion of the tlieoretice.lp1'.Oprietyof the form "in which I air, It is immaterial ~ this end whether it develop my improved . lightning protector, is insulated 'or not. ~~uld it be struck the but willlee.d the insta.lling en~ properly current will pass readily to the ground either to take cognisance of those conditions due directly or, as in Fig. 5, through a. 6JI1&l1 airto location of the 'building, with respect to gap between. 12 and 14. But such an accisurrounding. earth . forme.tions and other dent is rendered extremely improbable owb,ui1di?gs, probabilities .of max!n}um poten- ,ing to the fa:c~ ~at there. ~ eV'eztwhere tial-differenoes and charge-densities to be ex- . points and projections on which the terrespected under the prevailin8' atmospheric trial charge. attains a. high density and where conditions of the site, and desirable electrode the a.ir is ionized; Thus the action of the imresistance a.nd capacities of the protectors proved protector is equivalent to a. repeUant installed. . ". . force. This being so, it is not Jlecessary to

The improved protec.tor, as ab~ve stated; suppor(it lit a grea.t height, b~~e ground behaves m .. manner Just opposite to the connection should be made WIt· the usual Franklin type and is incomparably sa.fer for care and the conductor leading to 't must be this reason. The result is secured by the use of as small a self-induction and resistanceas

of a'terminal or conducting surface-of large practicable. . .

radius of curvature and sufficient area to I claim as my invention:

make the density very small and thereby 1. A lightning protector consisting of an

prevent the leakage of the charge and the elevated terminal, having its outer conductIOnization of the air. The device may be ing boundaries a.rra.nged on surfaces of la~ greatll varied in size and shape but it is ea- radii of curvature in both dimensions, and a sentia that all its outer conducting elements grounded conductor of sma.ll self-induction, should be disposed along an ideal enveloping as set forth .

. surface of large radius and tha.t they should 2. A lightning. protector composed of n.

have a considerable total a.rea.. metallic shell of large radius of curvatare,

In ~ig. 6, Fig. 6, Fig. ! and .Fig. 8, di1l'er~ and.a grounded :conductor .of small. self-inent . kinds of such terminals and arrange- . ductlon, as described, ..

ments of-same are illustrated, In Fig. 5,12 3. Ap,{>aratus for protection against atis a cast Or spun: metal Shell of ellipsoidal mosphenc discharges comprising an earth outlines, having on its under. side a. sleeve connection of small resistance, a conductor with. a bushing 13 of porcelain or other in- of small self-induction and II. terminal carsulating material, ada..{lted to be <slipped ried by the same and having a large radius tightly on a rod 14, which may be an or(ij- of eurvatare .in two dimensions as, and for

nary lightning conductor. Fig. 6 shows a the P11rpOS6 set forth.·· :'

terminal 15 made up -of rounded or flat 4. In appa.ratus for p~tection a.gainst atmetal bars ra.diatin~ from a central hub mospherie discharges an insulated metallic which is supported directly-on a similar ;~shel1 of large radius of curvature supported and in electrlcal contact WIth the same. The by a. grounded conductor and separated from special object of this type is to reduce the the same through a small air-gap as, and for

wind ~ista:nce but it is essential that the the purpose described. . . ..

bars. ha. ve a. sulncient area to insure small 5. A ·ligh~g protector. comprising, in d~nsity, and also. tha.t they are close enough combina~ontan eleva.ted terminal of large to make the aggregate capacity' nearly equal area. and radius of curvature in two dimento that of a continuous shell 01 the same out- sions, and a grounded conductor of small

side dimensions. In Fig. 7 a cupola-shaped self-induction, as set forth. .

am} .ea~ed roof is, carried by &. chiml?-ey, . 6, In appara.tus for protection against, serYlJlg m this way the twofold practical . hghtrnng discharges, the combination of an purpose of 'hood and protector. Any,kind elevated metallic roof of large area and ~)f ~let:all}lay be used in itsconstruction but radius of curvature in- two dimensionS, and It IS indispensable that Its outer surface 1\ grounded conductor. of amall iself-induc-

should be fr~ of sharp edges and projec- tion and resistance, as described. .

t.lon~ from which streamers might emanate. 7. As an article of manufacture 11 meIn likemanner mum.ers, funn~ls ILl.HI VC!lts h~lJic sh~lI of large radius of curvature promuy be transformed into eft'cctlYe lightning vided with a sleeve adapted for attachment

to a lightning rod as, and for the purpose set forth.

8. .A. lightning protector comprising an ellipsoidal metallic shell and a grounded conductor of small self-induction, as set forth.

9. In npparatus for protection against at ..

1,266,176

mospherie discharges a cupols-shaped ' metallic terminal of smooth outer surface, in combination with a grounded conductor of small self-induction and resistance, as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, NIKOLA TESLA.

N. TESLA.

LIGHTNING PROTECTOR.

AI'I'LICATION fiLED lAY 6. nu.

1,266,175.

r=:.; ~

J-~ 'i.:-: .j

Patented May 14,1918.

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