June 9, 1925.

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CONVERSION

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H PLAUSON OF ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRIC ENERGY

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June 9, 1925.

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CONVERSION OF ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRIC ENERGY
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June 9, 1925.

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Filed Jan. 13, 1921

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Patented June 9, 1925...

1,540,998

UNIT'ED STA'TES PATENT"OFFICE.

HER:rU.NN PLAUSON, OF ,HAMBURG, .GERMANY. ENERGY -. CONVERSION OF ATlttOSPHERICELECTRIC Applicatilln filed lanuary 13, 1921,. .SeriaINo,437,107.

1'0 alinohom it 'may concern: It i~ further 'proposed to. useacollecting 66' Be it known that I, HERMA~N PtAUSON, aerial network of several separate collectors .Esthonian subject; residing in Hamburg, spread out in. the air ~b()ve.he earth, w-hich t Gerniany, have. invented certain new .and collectors are interconnecfed byelelltrical ~ useful Improvements in .the Conversion of co.nducto.rs.· .. '.. .. Atmospheric Electric Eneq{y, of which the Acco.rding tothisinvention chal'ges'o£at': 60" following is a specification.' . mospheric electricity are not directly "conMethods. of obtaining atmospheric elec- verted iritQ mechanical. energy,and this' tricity by. means of metallic nettings set with . fo.rms.the main difference from previous. in •• 10 spikes which are held by. meansof.ordinary ventions,.but thestatic electricityWhichrup¥(,'.· 0.1' anchored kite balloonsmade of fabrics to. 'earth thro.ugh aerialco.nductors jn.~e.~5 "and filled with hydrogen, are in theory .li.l~ .'form of directcurrent of 'Veryhigh.'volt~;; . ready known. Atmospheric electricity. ob- and .low current.strengthis·co.n.vert.edillW>, tained in this way has been suggested tobe,electro.-dynamic energy-in the form Qr'high l~ .used in the form of direct current. for· the frequency .vibrations, '.Many advantages are charging of accumulators, Thisknowledge the~eby obtained and. allqisadvan~ll.ges 70 however is at present only theoretical as the avo.~ded,.. ...,. .: . .... ..•••... . . conversion inpl'actice has hitherto. been a ,The yery'higli vo.ltageo.fstaticelectricity failure '. No.~!ms are known orprotectirig of a low current.jstrength can be'converted' , 20 the apparatus fromdestruction by lightning, by.this inventio.nto. voltagesmoresuitable The balloons used for .collecting the' charge for technical-pucposes and. of: gi'eater'cllr-1:i · must also.be made of-very hi.rgesize ill order rent strength. By-the use o.fClosedoscilla" to be able to support the weight of the me- tory' circuits it. is possible to obtaiIlelE~ct,ro" taIlic nettinga,nd' the heavy ..cable' eonnec- magnetiG waves of-various amplitude and 25' tions, thereby to. increase the degree ofreso.Ilance Instead of.using heavy metallic netting.ss of such current, Such'r~o.nahceallo.w:s va- 86 collectors attached to. single-air balloons of rious values of inductance' to be chosen · non-conducting materials which are liable to ",hereby again the governing o.f.thestartihg .beto.,rI,1andare permeable to. the gas, it ·is and stopping of n1achinesdriventliereby by 30 proposed to use metallic balloon 1;o.llectors simply tuning the resonance. between coils which havethe following .important.advanof the machine and the hans former circuit 8;i~ tuges. .. fOl~mingthe resonance' can easily be ob. ta). The metallic.cases ..are impenetrable tained. Further,·· such' currents '.have the to helium' and hydrogen; they also.represent property OfbeiRg directly available for va35 large metallic weathel'-pro.ofco.Ilecting sur- rious uses, even without employing them for faces. . " . .' driving motors.iof which, there maybe par- no (b) Radio. activemeansand, the like may ticuladymentioned, lighting, production of be easily applied internally or externally;" heat and use in electro-chemistry.. .... " .. whereby the ionization is considerably in-. Fmther,.withsuch currentsaseriesof ap40 creased' and therewith also. thequantity o.f. paratusrnay b~fedwithQutdjrect current atmosphcricelectriclty-capable ofbeing col- supply through tconductors and also the 05 .• lected.· electro.-magnetic high, frequi.mQy'··currents . (c) Such ballooncollectors of. light metal may be converted by means of 'special motors dO'riot require to. be 6f large size as they adapted for electro-magnetic oscillations 45 have to carry only their own+moderate intd'mechlj.nicalenel'gy, or fi,nally converted '.v~iglit,and that (j,£ the concluding. cable 0.1' by special machines into. alternating current 100 WIre. . of low frequency or even into direct current (d) The entire system therefo.re offers Iit- of high potential. .' . '. .. . . tle surface for the action of storm and wind, Th~·.invention is more. parti(,ularly .deso and is resistant and stable. '. ' >cs~ribed wi.th reference tothe accompanying (e) Each hallooncanbe easily raised and dIa~r~ms .Ill. whlCh;-. .... ..' '.' 105 · lowered-by m~ans of a wI~ch so.that all reF~gure 11~an e~planato.ry,figu.re. l)all's,.rechal'gmg andth:hke can be.carrjed . FIgure 2 1~ .a. diagr-ammatic view of the ou~.'JYltho.ut dangerdnrll1g. the. operation; .SImplest form,
v " '... '. ... '.

1,640,998

10

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30

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Figure 3 shows a method of converting and not an aerial antenna, 13· and 14 are atmospheric electrical energy for use with combs for collecting the static electricity of motors. the influence machine, 7 and 8 are spark Figure 4: is a diagram showing the use of discharging electrodes, (j and 5 condensers, protective means. . 9 an inductive primary coil, 10 secondary 70 Figure 5 is a diagram of an arrangement coil, 11 and 12 ends of conductors of the secfor converting largecurrent strengths. 'ondary coil 10. When the 'disc of the static Figure (j is a diagram of an arrangement influence machine is rotated by mechanical including controlling means. means, the combs collect the electric charges Figure 7 shows means whereby the spark one the positive and the other the negative, 711 gap length can be adjusted, .. and charge the condensers 5 and 6 until such Figure 8 shows a umpolar eonnectlOn for a high .potential is formed across the spark the motor. gap '(-8, that the spark gap is jumped. As Figure 9 shows a weak coupled system the spark gap 7-8 forms a closed circuit suitable for use with small power motors. with condensers 6 and' 5, and inductive re- 80 . Figures 10, 11 and 12 show modified ar- sistance 9, as is well known, waves of high rangements. frequency electromagnetic oscillations WIll FIgure 13 shows a form of inductive cou- pass in this circuit. . .. pIing for themotor circuit. The high frequency of the oscillations Figure 14 is a modified form of Figure 13 produced in the primary· circuit induces 85 with inductive coupling. : waves 'of the same periodicity in the secFigure 15 is an arrangement with non- ondary circuit. Thus in the primary cirinductive motor. cuit electromagnetic oscillations are formed Figure 16 is an arrangement with cou- by the passage of the spark over the spark pIing by condenser'. . gap and these waves .are maintained by fresh Uti Figures 17,18 and 19 are diagrams of fur- charges of static electricity. ther modifications. By suitably selecting the ratio between the Figure 20 shows a simple form in which number of the coils in the primary and secthe aerial network is combined- with special ondary circuits with regard to a correct' apcollectors. plication of. the co-efficients of resonanceuv Figure 21 shows diagrammatically an ar- (capacity, inductance, and resistance) the rangement suitable for collecting large high voltage of the primary circuit may be quantities of energy. . suitably converted into low. voltage and high Figure 22 is a modified arrangement hav- current strength. _ ing two rings of collectors. . When the oscillatory discharges in the pri- Jon Figure 23 shows the connections for three mary circuit becomes weaker Or entirely rings of collectors. cease, the condensers are charged again by Figure 24 shows a collectingbaUoon and the static electricity until the accumulated diagram of its connection of condenser bat- charge again breaks down the spark gap .. teries. . All this is repeated as long as electricity is 10;; Figures 25 and 26 show modified collector produced by the static machine by employballoon arrangements.. . mg mechanical energy. Figure 27 shows a second method-of conAn elementary form of -the invention is necting conductor for the balloon aerials.· shown in Figure 2 in which two spark gaps Figure 28 shows an auto-transformer in parallel are used one of which may he 110 method of connection. termed the working gap 7 in Figure 2, whilst Figure 29 shows 'the simplest form of COll-' the second serves as a safetv device for exstruction with incandescent cathode. cess voltage and consists' of larger number Figure 30 shows a form with cigar shaped of spark gaps than the working section, balloon. which gaps are arranged in series and are 115 . Figure 31 is a modified arrangement. bridged by very small capacities as is illus. Figure 32 shows a form with cathode and trated in aI' b1, ell Figure 2 which allow of electrode enclosed in a vacuum chamber. uniform sparking in the safety section. Figure 33 is a modified form of Figure 32. In' Figure 2 A is the aerial antenna for Figure 34 shows an arc light collector. collecting charges of atmospheric electricity. I~O Figure 35 shows such an arrangement for 13 is the earth connection of the second part alternating current. . of the spark gap, 5 andf are- condensers, 9 a Figure 36 shows an incandescent collector primary coil. NoW'when through the aerial with Nernst lamp. , A the positive atmospheric electricity seeks Figure 37 shows a form with a gas flame. to combine with the negati ve charge to earth, 12.-, Figure 1 illustrates asimple diagramfor this is prevented by (the air gap between) converting static electricity into dynamic the spark gaps. The resistance of the spark. energy or a high number of oscillations. gap 7 is, as shown in the drawings, lower For the sake of clearness in thedrawings an than that of the other safety section which influence machine is assumed to be employed consists-of three .spark gaps connected in 130

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1,540,998 .

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anceor an induction coil. In the<,·ikttei;· " air resistance ISoffered by the latter. '. case .it· is. possible to regulate tq" a ceI:~ill So long therefore, as the resistance of extent the effectof the choking coils, : In ' 'the spark .gap 7 if?not overloaded, so that ' the further. description. of theiconnecting I the other spark gaps have an equal resist- and constructional diagrams the aerial elec- 70 ance with it 'the discharges take place on'ly~ tromagnot choke coil is indicated by a over spark gap. 7. Should however the simple ring S. ". ,. '. voltage be increased. by any influences. so .,Figure. 8 shows the simplest way' of con,that: It "mIght, be dangerous for charging verting atmospheric electricity. into electro10 the condensers 5 and 6 or for the coil in- magnetic wave energy by the use of special .75 sulation 9 and 10 consequence of break motors • adapted for high. oscillatory curdown; by a correct regulation of this spark re~ts or static charges of electrical energy. gap the second spark gap can discharge free Recent .improvements in motors for .workfrom inductive effects direct to earth with-. ingwitli static charges and motors working 15 Otitendangering the 'machine. ' , . by resonance, that is to say, having groups 80 , Without,thissecond spark gap, arranged of tuned: electromagnetic cooperating cir,\' in' parallel having ahigher resistance than. cuits render this possible but such do 110t the working spark gap it is impossible to form part Qf the. present invention. . .' collectand render available large quantities' . A motor adapted to operate with static !O of electrical energy: ' .' " charges. will-for the sake of simplicity be 85 The action of thisclosed oscillation cir- , diagrammatically indicated by two semicuitconsistdngof.sparkgap 7, two condens- circlesI-and 2 and the, rotor of the motor e1'8'5 and 6, primary coil 9, and also sec" by a ring M. (Figure 3.) A is a vertical ondary coil 10 is exactly the same as the aerial or. aerial network. S lhesafety 21i one described in Figure 1 with the arrangechoke or electromagnet with coil 0 as may 90 inent of the static induction machine with be seen is connected with the aerial A. Adthe. only difference that' here the second jacent the. electromagnet'S the aerial iconspark gap is provided .. 'The electromagnetic ductal' is divided into three ,circuit!;!, the high frequency alternating current obtained .eircuit 8 giving the safety spark gap, the 30 can be tapped off from the conductors 11 circuit 7 with the working spark gap, and 95 and 12£01' lighting and .heating. purposes. then a circuit including the stator terminal Special. kinds of motors adapted forwark- 1, the rotor and stator terminal 2 at which ing with. these ipecnliar electrical charges aconnectionis made to the earth wire; The may be connected at 14 and 15 which can' two spark gaps are .also connected metal35 work with static electricity charges or with lically with the earth wire. The method of 100 high frequency oscillations. -.' . working these diagrams is as follows: . In addition lothe use of spark gaps The positive atmosp?eric ;electric charge in-parallel a second measure of security is collected tends to combine WIth the negative also necessary for taking off the current. electricity (or earth eledricity) connected 40,. This precaution consists according to this wit? the earth wire.· It .travels along the 10;; . invention, in the introduction of and method. aerial A. through the electromagnet S withof connecting certain vprotective electro- out.being checked as it flowsinthe.same dimagnets or choking' coils in the aerial cir- .reotion as the direct current. Further it'; cuit as shown by Sin Figure '3. progress is arrested by two sparks gaps A single electromagnet only having a core placed' in the way and the .stator condenser 110 of the thinnest possible separate laminations .surfaces. The stator condenser surfaces are is connected with the aerial. charged until the'charge isgreatel' thun In the case of high voltages in the aerial the resistance of the spark gap 7, whereu pOll network or at places where there 'are fre- a spark springs overthe:sparkgap7 and an 60 querit thunder storms.jseveral such magnets oscillatory charge is obtaineda$by means 115 may however be connected in series. ..of the motor. M, stator. surfaces 1 and 2, anrl 'In the caseoflarge units .or plantssev- spark gap 7, a' closed oscillation circuit 18 eral electromagnets can be employedinpar-' obtained for producing the electromagnetic allel or in~eriesparallel. oscillations.. The motor here'.forms the ca55 Th(\- windings of these,elect:t:omagnets pacity and thenecessaryinductance and re- 120 may be simply connected in series' with the sistance,which, as is well known,are necesaerials. In this case the winding preferably sary for convertingstatieelectricity into consists of several thin parallel wires, which. electromagnetic wave energy. . make np together, the necessary section. .' .The discharges formed areconverted into 60 The winding may be made of primary mechanical energy in specialmotors and can 125 and secondary. windings, in the form of a not reach the aerial network, by reason of transformer. The primary 'winding will be the electromagnet or. choke; .if, however then connected in series with the aerial net- whena spark springs over the spark gap 7 work, and the secondary winding more or a greater.quantity of atmospheric electricity (I'i . less short-circuited over a regulating resist- tends to flow to .earth, a counter voltage .Is, 130
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in

1,1S40,998

induced in the electromagnet, which is the spark gap '7 back to Xl. The motor itself greater the more rapidly and strong 1 the is inserted bet-ween the two points of the y flow of current direct to the earth is. By spark gap 7. From this arrangement slightthe formation of this opposing voltage it ly damped oscillation wave currents are pro5 sufficiently high resistance is offered to the duced. 70 flow of atmospheric electricity direct to In the diagram illustrated in Figure 9a earth to prevent a short circuit with the' loosely coupled system of connections is Hearth._ lustrated which is assumed to be for small The circuit containing spark gap 8 having motors for measuring, purposes. A indi10 a different wave length which is not. in resocates the aerial conductor, S the electromag- 7G nnnce with the natural fr-quency of the net in the aerial conductor, 9 the inductance, motor, does not endanger the motor and '/ the spark gap, 5 and 6 condensers, E the serves as security against excess voltage, earth, M the motor, and 1 and 2 stator conwhich, as practical experiments have shown, nections of the motor. The motor is di15 may still arise in certain cases,but .can be rectly metallically connected with the oscil- 80 conducted direct to earth through this spark lation circuit.' " , gap. • In Figure 10 a purely inductive coupling In the diagram illustrated in Figure 4 the is employed for the motor circuit. The mospark gap 7 is shunted across condensers 5 tor is connected with the secondary wire 10 20 and 6 from the motor M. This construction as may -be seen in Figure 11 in a somewhat 85 affords mainly a better insulation of the modified diagram connection. The same motor against excess voltage and a uniform applies to the diagram of Figure 12. , excitation through the spark gap 7'. The diagrams hitherto described preferIn Figure 5 a diagram is illustrated for ably allow of motors of small andrnedium 25 transforming large current strengths which strength to be operated. For large aggre- 90 may be employed direct without motors, for gates, however, they are too inconvenient as example, for lighting or heating purposes. the construction of two or more oscillation The main difference is that here the spark circuits for large amounts of energy is diffigap consists of a star shaped disc 7 which cult; the governing is still more difficult and 30 can rotate on its own axis and is rotated by the danger inswitching on or off is greater. IHl a motor opposite similarly fitted electrodes 'A means of overcoming such difficulties is '(n. 'When separate points of stars face one shown in Figure 13. The oscillation circuit another, discharges take place, thus forming here runsstarting from the point x over conan oscillation circuit over condensers 5 and 'del~ser 5, variable inductance 9, spark gap 35 6, and inductance 9 for oscillatory discharges. '/ andrhe two segments (aa and 4n) form- 100 It is evident that a motor may also be c1i- ing arms of a 'Wheatstone bridge, back to x. rectly connected to the ends of the spiral 9. If the motor is connected by brushes 3 and The \ construction of the diagram shown 4 transversely to the two arms of the bridge in Figure 6 permits of the oscillation circuit as shown in the drawings, electromagnetic' ~:) of the motor being connected, with an in- oscillations of equal' sign are induced in the 105 duction coil. Here a regulating inductive stator surfaces 1 and 2 and the motor does resistance is .introduced. for counter-acting not revolve. If however. the brushes 3 and excess voltages in the motor. By cutting the 4 are moved in common' with the' conduct. separate coils D (coupled inductively to the ing wires 1 and 2, which connect the brushes 43, aerial) in or ont the inductive action on the ,with the stator poles a certain alteration or 110 motor may be more or less increased or displacement of the polarity is obtained and variable aerial action may be exerted on the the motor commences to 'revolve. oscillation circuit. The maximum action will result if. one \ In Figure '( the oscillation circuit is closed brush 3 comes on the central sparking conGO through the earth (Eand El)' The spark tad 7 and.the other brush 4 on the part x. 115 gap 7 may be prolonged or shortened by They are however, usually in practice not more 0'1' fewer spark gaps being successively brought on to the central contact '/ but only connected bv means of a contact arm T". held in the path of the bridge segments 4n DiagramS shows a unipolar connection of and B»in order not to connect the spark gaps u5 the motor with the aerial network Here with the motor oscillation circuit. " 120 two oscillation circuits are closed through . As however, the entire oscillation energy the same motor, The first oscillation circuit, can thereby not act on the motor it is bette"r passes from aerial A through electromagnet to carry out the same system according to the S, point x, inductance, 9a to the earth con- diagram 14. The diagram 14 c1iffers from 60 denser (j and farther, over spark gap 7 to the foregoing only by the motor not being 123 the aerial condenser 5 and back to x. The directly metallically connected with the segsecond oscillation 'circuit starts from thements of, the, commutator, but only a priaerial condenser 5 at the point Xl over the mary coil 9 which induces in aseconc1ary inductance 9 to the earth condenser 6 at the coil 10, current which feeds the motor M Gii point 0::3 and throngh the 'condenser 6 over and takes the placeof the rotor. By this 130

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1,640,998

arrangement ago9d transforming action is sufficient strength to be able to .resist any obtained, a loosecoupliIlg and also all. 08- pressure which may arise. Any undesirable cillation circuitwithout a spark gap.. ..·•.•..... .: •· excess super-pressure which may be formed · In Figure 15 the motor is not purely-in- must be automatically let ofI', 1have 'em~ 5 ductively as in J4,but, directly metallically ployed with very good results mercury elec-TO branched off from the primary coil lat IV trodes which_w(jre frozen. in liquid.carbonic ; and ai) after the principle of the auto-trans- acid, the. cooling being maintained during former. theoperation fron;t:the outsidethrough the In Figure 16 instead of an inductance a walls. .... '. . 10 condenser 6 is in similar mannervand-for FigUre 20. is oneofthe simplest forms of 7G· the same object inserted between the seg" c09stftiction ,of an aerial network in comments 3" and 4&. 1'his has the advan~---t5ina~ion, withcolleciprs, transformers an.d 't~at t~e segments 3a and 4a 1?-eed n?~a~e the like Illustrat~d diagrammatically. E IS. of solid metal but may consist of spiral coils here the earth-wire, 8 the ..safety sparkgap, 15 whereby .a more exact regulation is possible 7 the w.orking spark gap, land 2 the stator' 80 and further motors of high inductance may . surfacesof.the.motor, 5 a condenser battery, be employed. .." .' S .theprotective magnet which is connected The arrangements of Figures 17, 18 and' with the coil in the aerialconductor,A.l to 19 may be employed for use with resonance A10 aerial antenneawith collecting balloons, eo and particularly with induction condenser N horizontal collecting or connectingw:ires .85 motors; between the large stator induction from which, to the centre it number' of concondenser surfaces, small reversing pole con- nectioI}l?;.ritn.· .' ..... densers are connected, which, as may beseen,The;C,actuaI collectors consist of metal from Figures 17, 18 and 19 are led together sheat~s preferably made of an .aluminium . 25 to earth. Such reversing poles ..have the· magnesium alloy, and are filled with hydro- 90 advantage that with' large quantities. of gen or helium and are attached to copper electrical energy the spark iformation bee plated steel wires. The size of the balloon' tween the separate oscillation circuits ceases. is selected, so that the actual weight of the Figure 19 shows a .furthermethod which balloon and the weight of the conducting 30 ,prevents electromagnetic.oscillations of high wire is supported thereby. . On the .top of 95 number of alternations formed in the oscil- the balloon aluminium spikes, made· and lation circuit striking back to the aerial con- gilded in a special· manner hereinafter' deductor. It is based .on the well .known prin- scribed, are arranged in order to produce it ciple that a mercury lamp,one electrode 'of conductor action. . Small quantities of' 35 which is formed of mercury,--theotherof radium preparations, more particularly 100 solid metal such as steel-allowsan electric polonium-ionium orinesothoriumpreparacharge. to pass in only one.:direction 'tro~ tionsconsi~er.ably increase the ionization, the mercury to' the steel and not vice versa, and therewith the action of these collectors. The mercury electrode of the vacuum tube . Inaddition to metal balloons, fabric hal- . 40 N is therefore connected with the aerial loons which are superficially metal coated 105 conductor and the steel electrode with the according to Schaop's metal spraying proc~ oscillation circuit. From this it results that ess, may however also be employed. A charges can pass only from the aerial metallic surface may-also be produced by through the vacuum tube to the oscillation .lacquering with metallic bronzes,preferably 45 circuit,bnt not. vice versa. .Oscillations 'according to Schoop's spraying process or no .which are formed on being transformed in' lacquering with metallic bronze powders in the oscillation circuit cannot-pass to the two electrical series of widely different aerial conductor. metals, because thereby the collecting effect In practice these vacuum tubes must be is considerably increased. . "".1 . 50 conneeted behind an electromagnet .as the' -Tnstead of the ordinary round balloons, 115 latter alone affords no 'protection against the elongated .cigar shaped ones may be emdanger of lightning, ployed. In order also to utilize the fnicAs regards. the use of spark gaps, all tional energy o~ the wind.patches .or strips arrangements as used for wireless teleg- of non-conduetmg substances which pro,35 raphy may be used. OfCOlll'Se the spark duce electricity by friction, may be at~ached 120 g,aps in large machines must have. a suffi- t~ the. m~talhzed ball~on. surfaces, The cientlylarge surface. In very large stations wind WIll Impart a portion of ItS energy In they are cooled in liquid carbonic acid or the form of frictional electricity, to the Letter still in liquid nitrogen orhyclrogen; balloon easing, and thereby the collecting 00 in most eases the cooling- may also take effect is substantially increased.. 125 place by means of liquefied low homologues In practice .however, very high towers of the'metal series or by means of hydro- (up to 300 metres is fully admissible) may carbons the freezing point of which lies at be employed-as antennse. In these towers between -90° C. and -40°0. The spark copper tubes rise freely further above the 6.5 gap casing must also be insulated and be of top of the tower. A gas lamp secured 130

1,1)40,998

against the wind is then lit at the point of the copper tube and a nettin~ is secured to the copper tube over the flame of this lamp to form a collector. The gas is conveyed 5 through the interior of the tube up to the summit, The copper tube must be absolutely protected from moisture at the place at which. it enters the tower and also rain must be prevented running down the walls ~10 of the towel' which might lead to a bad catastrophe. This is done by bell shaped enlargements which expand downwards, being arranged irrthe tower in the form of high voltage insulators of Siamese pagodas. 15 Special attention must be devoted to the foundations of such towers. They 'must be well insulated from the ground, which may be obtained by first embedding a layer of concrete in a box form to a sufficient depth 20 in the ground and inserting in this an asphalt lining and then glass bricks cast about 1 or 2 metres in thickness. Over this in turn there is a ferro-concrete layer in which alone the metal foot of the tube is 25 secured. This concrete block must be at least 2 metres from the ground and be fully protected at the sides by a wooden covering, from moisture. In the lower part of the tower a wood or glass house for the large 30 condenser batteries or for the motors may be constructed. In 'order to lead the earth connection to the ground water, a well insulated pit constructed 'Of vitreous bricks, must be provided. Several such towers are 35 erected at equal distances apart and connected with a horizontal conductor. The horizontal connecting wires rimy either run directlv from tower to tower or be carried on bell shaped insulators similar to those in 40 use for high voltage conductors. The width of the network may be of any suitable size, and the connection of the motors can take place at any suitable places. .In order to collect large quantities of, 45 electricity with few aerials it is well to provide the aerial conductor with batteries of condensers as shown in two methods of construction in Figures 21 and 22. In Figure 21 -the batteries of condensers 5 are eon50 nected on the one hand with the aerial elec'tricity collectors Z by the aerial conductor A, and on the other hand interconnected in series with an annular conductor from which horizontal conductors run to the con55 necting points C to which the earth wire is connected. Figure 22 shows a similar arrangement. Should two such series of antenna; rings be shown by a voltmeter to have a large difGO ference of potential (for example, one in the mountains and one in the plain) or even of (Efferent polarity these differences may be compensated for by connecting sufficiently large condenser batteries (5, iia, 5b) by means 6,) of Maji star conductors D and D'. In Fig.

ure 23 a connection of three suchvings of collectors to form a triangle with a central condenser battery is illustrated. ' The condenser batteries of such large installations must he embedded in liquefied 70 gases or in liquids freezing at very low temperatures. In such cases a portion of the atmospheric energy must be employed for liquefying these gases. It is also-preferable to employ pressure. By this means the 75 condenser surfaces may be diminished, and still allow for large quantities of energy to be stored, secure against breakdown. For smaller installations the immersing o£ the condensers in well insulated oil or the like, 80 suffices. Solid substances on the other hand cannot be employed as insulators. The arrangement in the diagrams hitherto described was always such that the condenser batteries were connected with both S5 poles directly to the aerialconductors, An improved diagram of the connections for obtaining' atmospheric electricity, for the condenser batteries has however, been found to be very advantageous, this arrangement DO consists in that they are connected by only one pole (unipolar) to the collecting. network. Such a method of arrangement is very important, as by means of it a constant current and an increase of the normal work- !l5 ing pressure or voltage is obtained. If for 'example a collecting balloon aerial which is allowed to rise to, a height of 300 metres, shows 40,000 volts above earth voltage, in practice it has been found that the working JOO voltage (with a withdrawal of the power according to the method hereinbefore described by means of oscillating spark gaps and the' like) is only about 400 volts. If however, the capacity of the condenser sur- ]05 faces be increased, which capacity in the above mentioned case was equal to that of the collecting surface of the balloon aerials, to double the amount, by connecting the condenser batteries, with only one pole, the J In voltage rises under an equal withdrawal of current up to and beyond !'lOO volts. This can only be ascribed to thefavourable action of the connecting method. In addition to this substantial improve- 11:' merit it has also been found preferable to insert double inductances with clectromajrnets and to place the capacities preferably between two snch electromagnets. It has also been found that the useful action of such condensers can be further increased if an induction coil be' connected as inducti \'C resistance to the unconnected pole of the condenser, or still better if the condenser itsel:E be made as an induction condenser. Such a condenser may be compared with a spring which when compressed carries in itself accumulated force, which it again gives off when released. In charging, a charge with reversed sign is fWn'l"rl nt th"

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other free condenser pole, and ifthrough the having an adjustable coil S2, then to the spark gap a short CIrcUItresults, the accu- spark gap . 'l and to the second earth COll-. mulated energy is again given back. since' ducton-E'', '. The actual working' circuit ris now new quantities of energy are induced formed through the spark gap'l, condensers 5 at the condenser pole .connected with the 5 and 6,. and through the primary coil 9; 70 conductor network, which in fact .charges -here the static electricity formed by oscilwith opposite signs to that at the free con- latory discharges is. accumulated •and cone denser pole. The new induced charges have. vertod into high:frNjUCIE'Yelectromagnetic o:f course the same sign as the collector net- oscillations, Between tbe electromagnets 81 iu work. The whole voltage energy. in. the. nnrl S2at the crossing point 13, .four con- 75 aerial is thereby however increased. In the. ·.denser 'batteries are introduced whrch are . same space of time larger quantities oL'ollly indicated. diagrammatically in. the energy are acoumulated-fhaniis the-case 'dntwings~ach by one condenser... Two of withoutsuch insertsd condenser batteries. theSe batteries{16 and 18)·are made plate 15 . 'In.Figlil'es 24 and 25 two-, different. dia-,condenSeTsandprolonged by regtilfltingil1" 80 grams o:fconnections are more ~xactly lllug~4uCtioncoilsor spil1lls'17 and 19 while the trated, Figure 24 shows a collecting bali®n; two others (21 and- 23)' are induction eon'and the diagram ofthe connections to earth.denl'l~rs.Asmay'he seen from theilrawihgs Figure 25 four collecting balloons.and the eacl}:ofthe.four condenser.batteries 1e, IH, • eo pa~allel eom;ection ofctlre condenser bat:-21..£~lis conriectedonlyhyollcpr)leto the st; teriesbelonging thereto. . _' •. .. ' ' ' aetlIiL.orJ;o the collector conductor, The A is' the ..collecting balloon made' of- an. secondpoles 11, U\ 22, 2-1a,reopen. In t11e, aluminipmmagnesiunl. alloy (e_Iectronmetal, cas~of pla~ <;<>nden.sersh!ly.in~noindllc~!ve magnalium ) of a specificgravity of 1.8 and resistance an induction COllISmserted.lhe . 2.i a thickness of plat,e,O.l to 0.2 mm, .Inside t.objeet ofsuch a spiralor coil is the displ;ace-' ~o there are. eight. strong vertical ribs of T mentof phaseo:fthe induction current.by Ji~ shaped section about 10 to20mrn, in height periods, whilst· the charging. current of the andubout 3 mm..inthiekness with the pro" condenser poles<which lie free in the air-, jecting part directed inwards (indica'ted by works backtothe·Colledor aerial. Th« coil~,o0, u,»; dand so forth ):; they are riveted to- sequence of thisisfhat in discharges ill the .lJ5 gether to form a firm skeleton andare stiff- cQl1edor aerial the back inductive action of eneel in a horizontal direction by two cross the-free poles allows. a higher voltage to be ribs. 'I'heiribs are-further connected with .maintained. in •• the aerial collecting COTIone another internally and transversdybyductor than would otherwise be the ease. It ::5 means of thin steel wires, \\'hereby tliebal-. has also been :found that such a backuction 100 loon obtains. grea:tpuwerof resistance and has an I,;'xtremelyftwourable effort. on fhe .elasticity. Rolled plates of '0.1to 0.,2 mm. in wear of the contacts. Of course the .inducthickness made of magnalillmaUoy are then' tive cffrct may be regulated at will within either soldered or riyetecl~n this skeleton the limits of tliesize of the induction coil, ' ,:0 so that a inily metallic casing- with smooth the Iength of the coil in art ion being ad- 105 external surface is obtained. Well silvered. justablebymeansof wire connectionwithorcoppered aluminium plated steel wires run . out 'induction (see Fig. 24,N o. 2\). . from each rib to the-fastening ring 2. Fur81 and 82 may also he provided with such ther, the coppererl steel liaws-r L preferably l'egulatingdeviciesul the ease of 82 {illus/;, twisted out of separate thin wires. (shown in trated by 11}... Ii .excessvoltage he formed 110 dotted IinesinF'igure 24) and 'which J:l1~st it is conducted to e!lrth through the wil'e :12 he 10llg enough to allow the-balloon to 1'1Se and spark gap 8 o~,throngh any other suitin the desired height, leadsto.a metal roller able apparatus, since this forrriat.ion would or, pulley 3 and from thence to a WiI1ChW, be dangerous for the other apparatus. ,'(1 . well insulated from theearth .. By means of The action of these.condenser hutt'-'rieshas I J 5 this winch, the balloon, whichis filled 'with already been hereinbefore described. hY~lrogen,or helium, can' be allowed to rise The smallcircles 'on the collector balloon to 11 suitable height (.300t{) 5,000 metres) indicate places at which zinc nmalgam-or and brought to the ground for recharging gold amalgam or other photoelectric' acting ,,3 or repairs.' metals in the form of small patches in ex- 12.lI The actual current is taken directly tremely thin layers (.01 to .05 mm ill through a friction contact from tho metal thickness) are applied to·the balloon: casing roller 3 or from the wire, or even from the of light metal. 81ichmetallic patches may winch or simultaneously from all three-by also be applied the entire balloon as well GO means of brushes (3, 3a and 3b). Beyond as in greater thickness to the conducting 125 the brushes the conductor is divided, the network. The capacity of the collector is paths being :~firstly over 12 to the safety thereby considerably strengthened at the spark gap 8, from thence to the .earth con- surface. The grea.test possible effect in colductor and secondly over electromagnet lectingma.ybe obtained bvpolonium amal(j,) 8\ point 13, to a second loose electromagnet gams and the like. ,On the surface of the 130

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c~llector Lalloon metal points 01' spikes are, also fixed along the ribs, which spikes serve particularly for' collecting the collector charge. Since it is well known that the resistallce of the spikes is less the sharper the spike is, for this purpose it is therefore extremely important to employ as sharp spikes as possible. Experiments made ns regar~ls these have. shown that the formation of the body of the spike or point also plays a large part. for example, spikes made of bars or rollers with smooth surfaces, have a many times greater point resistance as collector accumulator spikes than those with rough surfaces. Various kinds of spike bodies have been experimented with for the collector balloons hereinbefore mentioned. The best results were given by spikes 'which were made 1Il the following wav. Fine points made of steel, copper, nickel, or copper and nickel alloys, were: fastened together in bundles and then placed as anode with the points in a suitable electrolyte (preferably in hydrochloric acid or muriate' of iron solutions) and so treated with weak current at 2 to 3 volts pressure: .After 2 to 3 hours according to the thickness of the spikes or pins the points become extremely sharp and the bodies of the spikes have a rough surface. The bundle can then be removed and the acid washed off with water. The spikes are then placed as cathode in II bath consisting of solution of gold, platinum, iridium, paladium or wolfram salts or their compounds and coated at the cathode galvanicallY' with a thin layer of precious metal, which' must however be sufficiently firm to protect. them from atmospheric oxidation. . Such spikes act at a20 fold 101\'ervoltage almost as well as the best and finest points made bv mechanical means. Still better resnlts are obtained if' polonium or radium salts arc added to the gah-anic bath when forming the protective layer 01' coating. Such pins have a low resistance at their points and even at one volt and still lower' pressures have an excellent collector action. In Figure 24 the three unconnected poles are not connected with' one another in parallel. That is quite possible in practice without aHering the principle of the tree pole: It is also preferable to interconnect in parallel to a common collector network. a series of collecting aerials. Fianre 2f) shOlysCa diagram for such an installation. AI, A\ A3, A4 arc fonrrnotul collector balloons with .goldior 'platinum coated spikes which are electrolytically made in the presence of polonium emnuntions or radium salts, which spikes or needlcs are connected overf'our electro-magnets S", S~, s-, S", through ,111 annular conductor R. From this annular conductor four wires run over four further electromagnets· Sa,

S\ Se, s-, to the connecting point 13. There the conductor is divided, one branch passing over 12 and' the safety spark gap 8 to the earth at Et, the other over inductive resistance J and working spark gap 7 to the earth 70 at E2. The working circuit, consisting of the condenser 5 and G and a resonance motor or a condenser motor nI, such as hereinbefore described, is connected in proximity round the sparking gap section 7. 7:3 Instead of directly connecting tlje condenser motor of course the primarycircuit for high frequency oscillatory currentrnny also be inserted. The condenser batteries are connected by 80 one pole to the annular conductor R and can be either. inductionless (lG and 18) or made as induction condensers as shown by 21 and 23. The free poles of the inductionless -condensers are indicated by 17 and 19, those 8;3 of the induction condensers by 22 and 24. As may be seen frqrn the drawings all these poles 17. 22, 19, 24' may be interconnected in parallel through a, second annular COl1dnctor without any fear that thereby the ()(} principle of the free pole connection will be injured. In addition to the advantages. already set forth the parallel connection aLo all OIl'S of an equalization of the work-. ing pressure in the entire collector network. us Suitably constructed and calculated induetion coils 25 and 26 l1111ylso be inserted in a the annular conductor of the free poles, by means of which a circuit may be formed in the secondary coils 27 and '28 which al- JOO lows current produced in this annular conductor by fluctuations of the charges or the like appearances to be measured or otherwise utilized. According to what .has been hereinbefore 105 stated separate collector balloons may be connected at equidistant stations distributed over the entire country, either connected directly with one another metallically or by 'means of intermediate suitably connected 110 condenser batteries through ,liigh voltage conductors insulated from earth. The static electricity is converted through a spark gap into dynamic energy of aJiigh number of oscillations and may in such form lUi be coupled as a source of energy by means of a suitable method of connecting, various precautions being observed and with spocial regillations .. The wi I'rs lead in" from .the coiiector balloons have hit.hert~ been 12(1 connected through an annular conductor without this endless connection, which can be regarded as an endless induction coil, being able to exert any action on the whole 12!! conductor svstem, It has no~~'been found that it the network conductor connecting the aerial collector balloons with one another is not made as a simple annular conductor, but preferably short circuited in the form or coils over a 130

condenser battery or spark gap or through network coil. As the same,alternating field thermionic tubes or valves or audions, then is further transmitted to the aerial balloon, the total collecting network' exhibitsquite the resistance of its points is thereby connew properties. The' collection of atmos- siderably reduced, whilst the collector acII pheric electricity is thereby not only in- tion is considerably increased. A further 70 creased but an alternating field may be eas- advantage is that positive electrons which ily produced in the collector ·network. collect on the metal surfaces during the con-' Further, the atmospheric/,electrical forces version into dynamic current produce a soshowing themselves in.tlie;higher regions called. drop of potential' of the collector 10 may also be directIyobtained by induction. area. As an alternating field is present, the 75 In Figures 26 and 28 a. form of construction negative ionssurrounding th~ collector suris shown 0;11 the basis of which thElfllft!ier faces, when discharge of the collector. surfoundations of-the method will be more pare. faces takes place produce by the law of inticularly explained. ' duction, an induction.of reyersed sign on Iii 'In Figure 26 1,2,3,4 are metal collector the collector-surface and soforth {that is 80 balloons, 5,6,'7,8 their metallic aerial con- to say again a positive charge). In addiductors and I the actual collector network. tion to the advantages hereinbefore set forth, This consists of five coils and is .mounted on the construction of connecting conductors in high voltage insulators in the air, on high coil form when of sufficientlyJarge diam20, voltage masts (or with a suitable construe- eter, .allows of a, utilization of energy .aris- 85 tion of cable embedded in the earth), One ing in higher regions also in the simplest coil has it diameter of 1 to 100 km, or more. way. .As is well, known electric discharges 8 and 81 are two 'protective electromagnets, f!equentl;y ta,keplace'itt very great eleva" F, the second safety section agai,nst excess tions WhIChma,ybeobserve:d, such as St. 25 voltage, E its earth' conductor and El the Elmo's fires', or", northern. lights. 'These ~ earth conductor of the working section. energy quantities 'have 'not been able to .be , When an absorption of static atmospheric utilized up ton,ow. '" By this invention all electricity is effected' through the four bal- these kinds of energy, ,as they are of an loon collectors, the.current in order to reach electromagnetic nature and the direction of 30 the earth eonnectionE1must flow spirally the axis of the,~611ectotcoilsstands at-right 95 through the collector network over the elec- angles to the earth's surface, can be more or tromagnet S, primary induction coil 9, con- less absorbed in' the same way as a receiver ductor 14, anode A of the audion tube, in- in wireless telegraphy absorbs waves coming candescent cathodeK, as the way over the from a far distance. With a large diameter 35 electromagnet and-safety spark gap F offers of the spiralit is possible to connect large 100 considerably greater resistance. Owing to surfaces and thereby to take up also "large the fact that the accumulated current .flows quantities of energy.. , " in one direction, an, electromagnetic alterIt is well known that. large wireless. stanatin'g.~eld is produced in the interiorof tions in=the summer months, and also in 40 the collectorIletw()li1rcoiI,wher'eby whole the tropics 'are very frequently unable to lOIS the freeelectro~s.ar~djrec.te~more or less into receive the signals in consequence of interthe interi()r 'oftheC()jl...Anincreased ioni- ruptions which are caused by atmospheric .zation.()f.We ..atlllosPA~reisthereforeproelectricity, and this takes place with vertical duced. 'IuC()nseqlltmce.()f.thisthe points coils of only 40 to 100 m. diameter. If on 45 mounted ont1l'ecol~tOr ballo(:>llshow a the contrary horizontal coils of 1to 100 km. 110 considerably reduced.:r~istance·and there- diameter .be employed very strong currents fore increasedstatic·,(lha~ges.between, the may De obtained through discharges which points on-the palloonandthesurrounding are constantly taking place in the atmosatmosphere areprod.uced. 'The ,,' esult: of ,phere.:P.articularly. in th~ tropics or still r 50 this is a considerably increased collector ef· ' bet~:r. in thepoJar regions where the 115 fect. . .: north",., ~,.i?ligh,tsareconstantly 'present, large A second effect which could not be ob- qUan.~ItIesO£. energy may probably be obtained otherwise is obtained by the electro- tained in this way. A coil with several magnetic .alternating field which running windings should act the best. In similar 55 parallel to the earth surface, .acts more or ma~merany alter.3;tion .ofthe earth mag- 120 less witha'.(iiminishing or increasing effect netism should act inductively on such a coil. on the earth magnetic field, whereby in the It is not at all, unlikely that earthquakes case of fluctuations in the current a return and spots on the sun will also produce. an induction current of reversed sign is always induction in such collector coils of sufficient 60 produced in the collector coil by earth mag- size. Insimilarinanner this collector con- 12;) netism. Nowif, however.:a constantly pul- ·ductor will react on earth currents more sating continuous alternating field' is pro- particularly when they are near the surface duced as stated m the above collector net- of the earth or. even embedded in the earth. work I, an alternating current of the same By combining the previous kind of current 65 periodicity is produced also in the collecting collectors so far as they are adapted for 130

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the improved system with the improved pos- positively charged and vice versa. This sibilities of obtaining current the quanti- necessary difference of phase may be obties of free natural energy which ate to be tained by most varied connections, for exobtained in the form of electricity are con- ample, byplacing the oscillation circuit in 5 sider ably increased.. .. the grid circuit or by separating the oscil- 7{) In order to produce in the improved col- Iation circuit and inductive coupling from lector coil uniform current oscillations of the anodes and the grid circuit and so forth. an undamped nature so-called audion high A second important factor in this way of vacuum or thermionic tubes of suitable con- converting static atmospheric electricity into 10 nection are employed instead of the pre- undamped oscillations IS that care must be 75 viously ·lmown spark gaps (Fig. 26, Nos. taken that the grid and anode voltages have 9~18). The main aerial current flows a certain relation to one another: the latter through electromagnet S (which in the case may be obtained by altering the coupling of a high number of alternations is not con- and a suitable selectionof the self induction 15 nected here but in the earth conductor /E1) in the grid circuit, or as shown by dotted 80 ahd may be conveyed over the primary coils lines 18, 17, 16 by; means of a larg~r or in the induction winding through wire .~4 smaller number of condensers. of suitable to the anode A of the .high vacuum grid size connected in series; in this case the tube. Parallel with the induction resistance battery B1 may be 'omitted. With a snit20 9 a regulating capacity of snitable size, such able selection of the grid potential a glow 85 as condenser 11 is inserted. In the lower discharge takes place between the grid g part of the vacuum grid tube is arranged and the anode A; and accordingly at the the incandescent filament or the cathode K grid there is a cathode drop and a dark which ·is fed through a battery B. From space is formed. The size of this cathode 25 the battery B two branches run, one to the drop is influenced by the ions which .are 90 earth conductor .E1 and the other through emitted in the lower space in consequence battery B1 and secondary ooil Ifl to the grid of shock ionization of the incandescent anodeg in the vacuum tube. By the method cathodes K and pass through the grid in of connections shown iri dotted lines, .ade- the upper space. On the other hand the 30 sired voltage at the grid electrode g .may number of the ions passing through the grid 05 also be produced through the wire 17 which is dependent on the voltage between the grid is branched off from the main. current con- and the cathode. Thus if the grid voltage ductor through switches 16 and some small undergos periodic fluctuations (as in the condensers (a, b, (J, d) connected in series, present case) the amount of the cathode ;:;; and conductor 18, without the 'battery Bl drop at the grid fluctuates and consequently 100 being required. . .the internal resistance of the tube COITeThe action of the 'entire system is some-. spondingly fluctuates, so that when a back what as follows:. coupling of the feed circuit with the grid On the coimecting conductor of the aerial circuit takes place, the necessary means are 40 collector network being short circuited to afforded for producing undamped oscilla- 105 . earth, the condenser poleLl is charged and tions and of taking current, according to 1'0slightly damped oscillations are formed in quirements from the collecting conductor. the short circuited existing oscillation cirThe frequency of the undamped oscillncuit formed of the condenser 11 and self tions produced is with a suitably loose cou45 inductance 9. In consequence 'of the cou- pling equal to the self frequency of the 110 pling through coil 10, fluctuations of voltage oscillation circuits 9 and 10. By a suitable take, place in the grid circuit 15 with the selection of the self induction of the coil 9 same frequency, which; fluctuations in turn and capacity 11 it is possible to extend from influence the strength of the electrode cur- frequencies which produce electromagnetic 50 rent passing through the high vacuum am- oscillations of only a few metres wave I ij plyfying tube and thus produce current flue- length down to the lowest practical altertuations of the samefrequency in the anode nating current frequency. For large instal" circuit. A permanent supply of energy to the lations a suitable. number of frequency prooscillation circuits 9 and 10 consequently ducing tubes in the form of the well known 55 takes place, until a 'condition of balance is high vacuum transmission tubes of .5 to 2 120 set up, in which the consumed oscillation kw, in size may be connected in parallel so energy is equal to that absorbed. Thereby that in this respect no difficulty exists. constant undamped oscillations are now proThe use of such tubes for producing unduced in the oscillation circuits 9-11. damped oscillations, and also the construe<10 ' For regular working of such oscillation tion and method of inserting such trans, 125 producers high vacuum strengthening tubes mission tubes in an accumulator or dynamo are necessary and it is also necessary that circuit is known and also that such oscillathe grid and anode voltages shall have a tion producing tubes only work well at voltti5 phase difference of 180 so' that if the grid ages of 1,000 up to 4,000 volts, so that on is negatively charged, then the anode is the contrary their use at lower voltages is 130
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· 1,&40,998,,)

'11

considerably more difficult.. By the use of fication of the potential of the condenser 19 high voltage static electricity this method .is produced. The consequence of this is of producing undamped oscillatioris as com- that oscillations arise in the coil shaped pared with that through spark gaps must producer network. These oscillations in5 be regarded, as an ideal solution particu- duce a current in the seeondarycircuit II, 70 larly for small installations of outputs of which has a smaller number of windings from 1 to 100kw. and a less resistance, the voltage of which, By the application of safety spark gaps,according totheproportionof the number with interpolation of elecsro-magnets.inot of windings and of the ohmic resistance, 10 only is short 'circuiting avoided hilt also is considerably lower whilst the current 75 the taking up of current is regulated. Os- strength is greater. cillation producers inserted in the above way In order to convert the current thus ob.. form a constantly acting electromagnetic tained mtocuerent of an undamped charalternating field in the collector coil, where- a~ter,andto tune its wave lengths, a. su!fi15 by as already stated, a considerableaccumuciently large regulatable capacity 20 IS Ill- SO lating effect takes place. The withdrawal serted between the .ends 12uncl ·13 of the wire or working wire is connected at 12 and secondary conductor II.. Here also current 13, but current maybe. taken by means of maybe taken without an earth conductor, a secondary coil which is firmly or movably but it is advisable to insert a safety spark 20 mounted in any suitable way inside the large gapEvand to connect. this with the earth 85 collector coil, i.e. in its.' electromagnetic over an electromagnet S2. alternating field, so long as the.directionof The producer network may be connected its axis runs parallel with that of the main with the working network II over an induecurrent collecting coil. tionless condenser 21 or over an induction 25 In producing undamped oscillations of a condenser 22, 23. In this case the secondary 90 high' frequency (50,000 per second. and conductor is unipolarly connected With the more) in the oscillation circuits 9 and 11, energy conductor. electromagnets'S and Sllhust be inserted if In Figure 28 the corinectingconductor bethe high frequency oscillations .are not to tween the separate accumulator balloons is :\0 penetrate the collector coil, between .the os- carried out according to ' the autotrans_05 cillation producers and the collector coil. former principle. The collecting coil conIn all other cases they are connected shortly nects fouraeriaLballoonsl,2,-c3,4, the windbefore the earthing (asin Figs. 27 ana-wr ings of which are not made sidE) side hut by In. Figure 27 a. second method of construe- one above the other. In Figure 28 the-col- 100 35 tion of the connecting conductor of thebal- lector coil 1 is shown with a thin line, the loon aerials is illustrated in the form ofa metallically connected prolongation coils II coil. .Th~ main difference consists. in that with a thick line. Between the ends P and in addition to the connecting conductor I IJ10ftheenergy network I a regulating another. annular conductor. II is inserted capacity 19 is inserted. The wire P is con- 105 40 parallel ·to.theformer'on the highvolta~e nected with the output wire and with the masts jn the air (or embedded as a cablein spark gap F. the earth) but both in the form of a coil. - As transformer of the atzilospheric elec- , The connecting Wire of the balloon aeria.ls tricitj an arrangement is employed which is indicated as a primary conductor and also consists in using rotary pairs of condensers llO 45 as a current producing network; the other in which the one stator surface B is eonis' fhe consumption network and is not in nected with. the main current, whilst. the unipolar connection with. the current Pro- other A is connected with the.earth nole, ducing network.. Between these pairs of short circuited conIn Figure 27 the current producing net- densers are caused to rotate from which the 115 50 work 1 is shown with three balloon collec- converted current can be taken by means of tors 1, 2, 3 and aerial conductors 4, 5, 6; it is two collector rings and brushes, in the form short circuited through condenser 19 and of an alternating current, the frequency of inductance 9. The oscillationformingcirwhich is dependent on the number of balcnit consists in this diagram of spark gap loons and the revolutions of the rotor. As 120 55 t, inductance 10, and condenser 11; the the alternating current :formed in the rotor earth wire E, is connected to earth over can act, in' this improved method of-conelectromagnet S'. F is the safety spark gap' nection described in this invention, through which is also connected to earth through a coils 10 on the inductance 9, an-increase or second electromagnet S at E, On connect- diminution of the feed current in 1 can be 125 .60 ing up the condenser circuit 11 this is obtained according to the direction of the charged over the spark gap f whereby an current by back induction. Current osciloscillatory discharge is 'formed. , This dis- lations.of uniform rhythm thereby result in charging' current acts through inductance. the coil shaped windingsof the producer 10 on the inductively coupled secondary 9, net-work, ' 130 (ia whereby in the producing network & modiAs the ends of this conductor are short cir-

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cuited-through the regulatable condenser 19 tions distributed over the entire country or. 65 these rhythms produce short circuited' lln- may be connected by interpolation of suitdamped oscillations in the energy conductor, able condenser batteries by means of high the periodicity and wave lengths of which' voltage conductors. The static electricity is ;, oscillations can be adjusted according- to converted through a spark gap into dynamic desire by altering the capacity 19 to a given energy of a high number of oscillations, and 70 wave length and therewith also to a given could then in such form, with a suitable frequency. These currents may also be em- arrangement of the connections, observing ployed in-this form directly as working cur- various measures of precaution, be employed 10 rent through the conductors -IPand III. as source of e.ner?!yaftm; separate or special By. inserting the condenser 20 a connection regulation. 75 between these conductors may also be made, According to this invention in order to inwhereby harmonic oscillations of desired crease the collecting effect of the balloon in wave length are formed. By this means the aerial collector conductor of in the earth 15 quite new effects as regards current distribu- wire, radiating collectors are employed. tion are obtained. The withdrawal of cur- These consist either' of incandescent me.t'a.l 80 rent can even take place without direct wire or oxide electrodes in the form of vacuum connection if, at a suitable point in the in- grid tubes, or electric arcs (mercury and the terior of the producing network < quite i111-.like electrodes) Nernst lamps,. or finally 20 materially whether this has a diameter of flames of various kinds maybe simply con1 or 100 km.) a coil tuned to these wave nected with the respective conductor. 85 lengths and of the desired capacity is firmly It is well known that energy can be drawn· or movably mounted in the aerial conductor off from a cathode consisting of an inc anin such away that its axial direction is in descent body 'opposite an anode charged 211 parallel with that of the collector coil. In with positive electricity (vacuum grid tube). this case a current is induced in the produc- Hitherto however, a cathode was always first no ing network, the size of which is depend- directly placed opposite an anode, and secent on the total capacity and resistance and ondly the system always consisted of n. also on the periodicity employed. A possi- closed circuit . . 30biIity is thereby afforded in future, of takNow if we dispense with the ordinary ing energy from the producer network by ideas in forming light or flame arcs in which !Hi wireless means. As therebv in addition to a cathode must always stand directly oppoatmospheric electricity also magnetic earth site an anode, and if we place an incandescent currents and the energy from the higher at- cathode opposite an anode charged to a high 35 mosphere (at least partially) may be simul- potential or another body freely floating 111 taneously 'obtained, this last system for col- the ail', or regard the .incandescent cathode ]00 lecting the atmospheric energy is of particu- .only as a, source of unipolar discharge Iar Importance for the future. (which represent group and point dis. Of course everywhere instead of spark charges in electro-static machines similar to 40 gaps suitable grid vacuum tubes may be em- unipolar discharges) ;--it may be ascertained ployed as producers for undamped oscilla- that incandescent cathodes and less perfect- ]05 tions. The separate coils of the producer ly all incandescent radiators, flames and the net-work .wi.th large diameters may be con- like admit of ~relatively large cui-rent densinected WIth one another through separate ties and allow large quantities of. electric 4.5 conductors all in parallel or all in series or energy to radiate into the open space in the in groups in series; By regulating the nurn- form of electron streams as transmitters. no bel' of oscillations and also the extent of the The object of this invention is asdescribed voltage more or less large collector coils of below, if such incandescent oxide electrodes this kind may be employed. The coils mayor other incandescent radiators 01" flames are sn also be divided spirally over the entire sec- not freely suspended in space but connected tion. The coils may be carried out in annu-_ metallically with the earth .so that they can ]15 'lar form or also in triangular, quadrangular, be charged with negative terrestrial elechexagonal or octagonal form. tricity, these radiatorspossess the property Of course wires may be carried from a suit- of absorbing -the free positive electrical ii~ able place to the centre or also laterally charges contained in the air space surroundwhich serve the current waves as guides. ing them (that is to .say of col1ecting them 120 This is necessary when the currents have to . and conducting them to earth). They can he conducted over mountains and valleys therefore, serve as collectors and have, in and so forth. In all these cases the current comparison to the action of the spikes, or IJtJ must be converted into a current of suitable points, avery large radius of action R; the periodicity. effective capacity of these collector is much 125 As already hereinbefore menti~med sepa-. greater tha~ the geometrical.capacity (Ro-) rate collecting balloons may be directly me- calculated 111 an electro-static sense. tallically interconnected at equidistant "staNow as oUI'earth is surrounded as is well

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18

and the gravitation a diminution of the electric energy of theearth field is not to be feared. The energies which the incandescent coltN lectors would withdraw from the earth field. ah 5 can only cause by the withdrawal of motor 70 of the earth field according to' the .latest work a lowering of the earth temperature .. investigations, is in summer .about60 to (temperature' TE=300) and reducethis to 100 volts and in winter 300 to 500voIts pel' that-of the world space (T-:-O) by using metre of difference in height (M.),a simple the entire energy. This is however not the 10 calculation gives the-result that when such a case as the earth does not represent a cos- 75 radiation collector or flame collector is ar- micallyentirely insulated system. On the ranged for example on the ground; and a contrary there isconveyed.to-the same acsecond one is mounted vertically over it at cording to the' recent value. corrected by a distance of 2,000 metres and both are con- Ferryifor the solar constants through the 15 nected by a conducting cable, there is adifradiation from the sun an energy of 18,500 80 ference of potential in summer of about XI01°kw. Acc()rdingly any' lowering' of 2,000,000 volts and in winter even of 6,000,- the earthtemperature (TE) without a simul000 volts and more. taneous .lowering of the sun's temperature According to ·Stefan Boltzmann's law of (Ts) would contradict Stefan Boltzmann's 20 radiation, the quantity of energy which. an law of radiation. . 85 incandescent surfa~' (temperature T) of 1 S==6'(Ts4_'TE4). sq.cm. radiates in a unit of time into the open air (temperature To) is expressed by From this it, must be concluded that if the the followingformula.: . earth .temperature (TE) sinks, the total 25. radiation S absorbed by the earth increases, 90 S=6 (T'~T'o) watt/sq. em. and further also that the secular speed of and the universal radiation 'Constant 6is cooling 'Of the earth is directly dependent : according to the 1ateStresearches of Ferry on that of the sun and the other radiators (Annalesde Chimieetde physique 17 page cosmically coupledwith the sun and is con30 267 (1909») equal to6;30XlO-12 wattjsq, em. nected most closely with these. 95 Now if an incandescent surf~ce-Ntl sq. . The incandescent. radiation . collectors em, shows, as compared with.t:Qesll1:,l'ound- may, according to this invention, be eming space a periodic fall ofpotentitd it ployedfor collectingatmospherie electricity radiates .(independent of thecurrentdirecif they (1) are charged with the negative .. 35 tion,that is to say of the sign) in accord- earth. electricity (that is. to say when they 100 ance with the abo;veformula, for example at are directly connected by means oia metala temperature of 37250 C. an Elnergyof 1.6 lie conductor with the earth) and (2) if kw. per sq. em." per second. AsfpJ;"tp,e la;rge capacities ..(metal surfaces) chargerl radiation the same valuecau' be calcUlated WIth electricityare mountedopposite them 40 for the collection' ofeilergy, but reversed. as.positive poles'in the air. This is regard- 105 Now ascarbon electrodes at the temperature ed as the main feature of the present inof the electric arc support on the current vention as without these inventive ideas it basis a current density up to from 60 to 65 would not be possible to collect with an illamperes per sq. cm. no difficulties willresu1t ,candescent collector, sufficiently large quan45 in this direction in employing radiating col- tities of the electrical charges contained 110 lectors as accumulators. . . in the atmosphere as technology requires; If the earth be regarded as a cosmically the radius of action of the flame collectors insulated condenser in the sense of geometri-. would also be too small, especially if it b~ cal electro-statics m there results from the considered. that the very small surface den50 geometric (compare Ewald Rasch, "das sity (energy density) (6 about=2X7 . 109 115 elektrische Bogenlicht" (The electric arc St. E. per sq. cm.) does' not allow of large light) page 169) capacity of the' earthacquantities of charge being absorbed from cording to Chwolson: . the atmosphere; ,. . For negative charging 1.3XI06, Coulomb m) Calculated according to Poisson's cal55 For negative potential V=IOXI08 volts.. culation ; 120. From this there results however,.EJT~24.7 l~ V=~4"~; as here the alteration of the X1024 watt/Sec. Now if it is desired to potential or potential gradients only takes make a theoretic short circuit through an place in the direction of the normal, this earthed flame collector this would represent calculation assumes the simple. form 125 60 an electric total work. of about 79,500 1 8~ 10 10 kilowatt years. As the earth must be' 0::=471"X ' 8n2 regarded as a rotating mechanism which is thermo - dynamically, electromagnetically, It has indeed already been proposed to and also kinematically coupled with the sun employ flame collectors for collecting at66 and stars system by cosmic radiations and mospheric electricity and it is known that 110

known, with an electro-staticfield difference of potential

av

14

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their collecting effect issubstantially greater opposite the points. It is however, not known that the quantities of current which could hitherto be obtained are too small for I') technical purposes. According to my experiments the reason for this is to be found ill the too small capacities of the collector conductor poles. If such flame or radiating collectors have no or only small posi10 tive surfaces, their' radius of action for large technical purposes is too small. If' the incandescent collectors be' constantly kept in movement in the air they may collect more according to the speed of the 15 movement, but this is again not capable of being carried out in practice. By this invention the collector effect is considerably increased by a. body charged with a positive potential and of the best 20 possible capacity being also held floating (without direct earth connection) opposite such an incandescent collector which is held floating in the air at a desired height. If for example, a collecting balloon' of sheet 25 metal or of metalized balloon fabric be caused to mount to 300 up to 3,000 metres in the air and as positive pole it is brought opposite such a radiating collector connected by a conductor to earth, quite differ30 ent results are obtained. The metallic balloon shell (with a -large surface) is charged to a high potential by the atmospheric electricity. This potential is greater the higher the collecting balloon 35 is' above 'the incandescent collector. The positive electricity acts eoncentratedly on the anode floating in the air as it is attracted through the radiation shock ionization, pro-: ceeding from the incandescent cathode. 40 The consequence of, this is that the radius' of action of the incandescent cathode collector is considerably increased and thereby, also the collecting, effect of the collecting balloon surface. Further the large ca45 pacity of the anode floating in the air plays therefore an important part because it 111lows of the taking of large charges, and thereby a more uniform current is obtained even 'when there is a large consumption: 50 this cannot be the case with small surfaces. In the present case the metallic collecting balloon is a PDf' tive anode floating in the air and the end of the earth conductor of this balloon serves as positive pole sur55~ace opposite th~ surface ?f' t~e radiating incandescent cathode,' which III turn IS charged with negative earth electricity being conductingly connected to earth. The process may be carried out by two 60 such contacts (negative incandescent oathode and anode end of a capacity floating in the all') a condenser and an inductive resistance being switched on in parallel, whereby simultaneously undamped 989i1J3!y cs tions may be formed.

In very large installations it is advisable to connect two such radiating collectors in series. Thus an arc light incandescent cathode may be placed below on the open ground and an incandescent cathode which 70 is heated by special electro-magnetic currents be located high in the air; Of course for this the special vacuum Liebig tubes with or without grids may also be employed. An ordinary arc lamp with oxide electrodes may 75 be introduced on the ground and the positive pole is not directly connected with the collecting balloon, but through the upper, incandescent cathode or over a condenser. The .metho-l of connecting the incandescent so cathode floating in the air may be seen in Figs. 29-33. . B is the air balloon, Ka Cardan ring (connection with the hawser) C the balloon, L a good conducting cable, P a posi- 85 tive pole, N n~gative incandescent cathode, and E earth conductor. Fig. 29 .represents the simplest form of construction. If electric oscillations are produced below on the ground by means of no a carbon arc lamp or in other suitable way a considerably greater, electric resistance is opposed to that in the direct way by inserting an electrical inductive resistance 9. Consequently between P and N. a voltage is 05 formed, and as, over Nand P only an induetionless ohmic resistance is present, a spark 'will spring over so long as the separate ind'uction co-efficients and the like are correetly calculated. The consequence of this iOO is that the oxide electrode (carbon or the like) is rendered incandescent and then shows as incandescent cathode an increased collecting effect. The positive poles must be substantially larger than the negative in ]05 order that they may not also become incandescent. As they are further connected with the' large balloon area which has a large capacity and is charged at high voltage, an incandescent body which is held floating 110 in the air and a positive pole which can collect large capacities is thereby obtained in the simplest way. The incandescent cathode' is first caused to' become incandescent bv means-of separate energy produced on the 115 earth, and then maintained by the energy collected from the atmosphere. , 'Fig. 30 only shows the difference that instead of a round balloon a cigar shaped one (of metal or metalized fabric) may be em- 120 ployed and also a condenper 5 is inserted between the incandescent cathode and' the earth conductor -so that a short circuited oscillation circuit over P. N5 and 9 is obtained. This has the advantaze that quite 125 small quantities of electricity cause the cathode to become incandescent and much .Iarger cathode bodies may be rendered incandescent. I~this ~Qrw.- f construction Qoth t4~in- ISO.~ o

16 candescent cathode and also the positive between the two poles 1 and 2. As the electrode, may be enclosed in a' vacuum cathode 2' is c6nnectedwith the negatively chamber as may be seen in Fig. 32. A cable charged earth, and therefore always ncts,:as, L is carried well insulated through the a'negativepole, a form of rectification of I) cover of a vessel and ends in a condenser the riJternating current produced by. the 7( disc f5. The cover is arched in order to dynamo 3 is' obtained, the second half of keep off the rain. The vessel is ent.irely or the period is always suppressed. The workpartially made of magnetic metal and well ing circuit may be. carried out in the same insulated inside and outside. Opposite the way as in Fig. 34;' the working spark gap 10 disc 5 another disc 6 and on this again a. 7 may however be dispensed with, and in- 75 metallic positive pole of the vacuum tube' stead thereof between the points 1L and 111, a g with the incandescent cathode (oxide condenser 5 and an induction resistance 9 electrode)' N is arranged. The negative may be inserted from which the current is electrode is on the one hand connected with taken inductively. ., ' 15 the earth conductor E, and on. the other Fig. 36 represents a form of construction 80 hand with the inductive, resistance 9 which' similar to Fig. 34 only that here instead of ,is also connected with the cable I .. with the an, arc lamp a Nernst incandescent body' positive pole and wound .round 'the ,vessel in is .employed, The Nernst lamp is fed coils.. The action is ,exactly the same as through the battery 3. The working section 20 that in Fig. 29 only instead ofa,n open ~- is connectedl with the negative pole, the 85 candescent cathode one enclosed in vacuo IS safety spark .gap with the poles. , The employed. As in such coll~ctors only sma:ll working spark gap 7 mayal~o be dispensed ., bodies can be brought to incandescence ill with and the current for It taken at 12 large installations a plurality of such over the oscillation circuit 5, 11 (shown in ~5 vacuum tubes must be in~ertedin proxi~ity dotted lines}.. 90 to one another. Accordmg to the p~evlOus Flame collectors (FIg. 37) may also be constructions Figs ..·31 and 33aro quite self employed according. to this invention. The evident without further explanations. wire network 1 is connected with the aerial Figs. 34-:-37 represent further diagrams collector conductor A and the burner- with 30 of connections over radiating and flame col- the earth. 'At the upper end of the latter, 95 lectors, and infact, how: they are to be ar- long points are provided which project into ranged, on the ground. .. . ". the flame. The positive electrode is connectFIg. 34 shows an arc .light collect.orwlthed with the nezative over Ii, condenser 5 and oxide electrodes Tor directicurrent and-Its theinduction gull 9 with the earth. 35 'connection 0; Fig. ?5 a similar one for alterThe novelty in 'this invention is firstly, 100 natmg current, FIg. 36.an incandescent col- the u'Seof incandescent cathodes OPPOSIte l~ct?r with a.Nernst lamp and Fig. 37 a positive pol~s whic1:. are connected, with similar on~ ;VIth a gas flame. .. 'large .metallic capacities asauto~atlC colThe J?OSlt.Ivepol~ 1 of the radiating col- lecting surfaces. (2)" the connection. of the 40 lectors IS always directly connected to the,' incandescent cathodes with the earth where- lOG aerial collecting conductor A. In Fig. 34 . by in addition to the electricity conveyed this is further connected over the condenser . to 'them from the battery or machine which battery 5 with' a second positive electrode causesfhe incandescing, also the negative 3., The direct current dynamo b produces charge of the earth potential is conveyed, 45 current which flows over .between th,.e elec- and (3) the connecticn of th~ positive and llO trodes 3 and 2 as ani arc hght. On the for- nezative poles of the radiating collectors mation of an arc the negative incandescent ov~ra condenser circuit alone or with the electrode 2 absorbs electricity from the posi- introduction of a .suitable inductive resisttive poles standing opposite it and highly ance, whereby simultaneously an oscillatory 115 50 charged with atmospheric electricity. and oscillationcireuit may be ·obtained. The conveys the-same to the w!)rking circuit, collectinceffect is by these methods quite The spark gap 7,Jnductive resistance 9 and consider:blyincreased.. ' induction coil 10 are likethe ones previousI declare that what I claim is:ly described. The protective electromagnet 1. An electrical energy generating system, 55 S guards the installation against earth cir- comprising a conducting surface- for static 120 cuiting, the safety spark gap 8' from ex- charges, means to support same at a distance cess voltage or overcharging.. above the earth, a conductor leading to the In Fig. 35 the connection is sofar altered earth level, a spark.gap associated with said that the alternating current dynamo feeds conductor to convert electrostatic charges 125 60 the exciting coil, 11 of the induction. con- into electromagnetic high frequency oscilladenser. 12 is its negative and 13 its posi- tions means to supply said electromagnetic tive pole; if the coil 3 on the magnet core energy to a net work, and a spark gap of of the dynamo is correctly calculated and greatly increased relative resistance in paralthe periodicity of the alternatingcurront is leI therewith. 65 sufficiently high, an arc light can be formed 2. An electrical energy generc.c>;

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comprising. a conductor, means to support same above the earth level, an inductance therein, a spark gap associated with said conductor, a second spark gap of much :3 higher l'elati ve resistance in parallel therewith and an energy receiving circuit coupled with the spark gap of lesser resistance. :1. An electrical energy generating system comprising a collecting surface, means to 10 support same above the earth level, a conductor connecting said collecting surface with the earth level, a choke in said conductor, an electromagnetic resistance converting electrostatic energy to electromng15 netic energy, a safety higher resistance in parallel therewith and a net work coupled . with the conversion resistance of lesser value. 4. An electrical energy generating. system 20 comprising electric conductors spaced above the earth to form electrorr.agneticoscillat'ing circuits, conductors connecting to earth level, electrostatic to electromagnetic energy conversion means therein, a safety high elec25 trostatic resistance in parallel therewith and means to alter the electromagnetic characteristic of the circuits. . 5. An electrical energy generating system comprising in combination a static collect:10 ing surface arranged above the earth, conductors connecting to earth level, a pair of

spark gaps in parallel of different electrostatic resistance, a utilization. net work shunted across the .spark gap of lesser resistance.and an electromagnetic choke in said conductors. 6. An' electrical energy generating system comprising all open circuit energy collecting aerial, a pair of sparking gaps in parallel of widely different resistance, connected thereto and a closed electric oscillation circuit in shunt across the gap of lesser resistance 7. An electrical energy generating system comprising an open circuit energy collecting aerial, a pair of sparking gaps. in parallel of widely different resistance connected thereto, a closed electric oscillation circuit in shunt across the gap of lesser resistance, a plurality of electrostatic collecting surfaces, means to connect. said collecting surfaces in parallel in groups and means to connect said groups symmetrically with said aerial. . In' witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name this 30 day of Dec., 1920, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

35

4.0

45

5(

1111

HERMANN PL.A..USON.
Witnesses: H. F. ARMSTRONG,

W, H.

BEESTON.