An Electrostatic Field
Power Generating System
Author Unknown
ABSTRACT
Externally charged electrodes of an electrostatic generator induce charges ofopposite polarity on segments of a pair of confronting stators by means ofelectric fields within which a pair of rotors are confined during rotation tovary the charge binding field linkages between confronting rotors and stators bya shielding action of the rotors in a plane perpendicular to the field flux. Ahigh electric potential difference, induced between the stators resulting fromsuch rotation of the rotors, is transformed by an output circuit into a reducedDC voltage applied to a load with a correspondingly increase current conductedtherethrough.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the generation of electrical power by conversion ofenergy from an electrostatic field. The conversion of energy from a staticelectric field into useful electrical energy by means of an electrostaticgenerator is already well known as exemplified by the disclosures in U.S. PatNos. 2,522,106, 3,013,201, 4,127,804, 4,151,409, and 4,595,852. Generally, theenergy conversion process associated with such prior art electro- staticgenerators involves the input of mechanical energy to separate charges so that aconsiderable portion of the output is derived from the conversion of mechanicalenergy. It is therefore an important object of the present invention to providean electro- static generator in which electrical power is derived from the energyof static electric field with minimized input of mechanical power.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, static electric fields areestablished between electrodes externally maintained at charge levels of oppositepolarity and a pair of internal stator discs having segmental surfaces that aredielectrically spaced to confine thereon charges induced by the electric fields. A pair of rotor discs are rotated within continuous electric fields in planesperpendicular to the field flux to locationally vary the charge linkageestablished by the electric fields between the electrodes and stator discs. Suchchanges in charge linkage are effected by rotation of electrically conductivesegments of the rotor angularly spaced from each other to partially shield thestator discs from the electric fields. The segments of each rotor disc havecharged faces confronting the electrodes in its field to shield the stator discover a total face area that is one-half the total area of the confronting segmentsurfaces on the stator disc to which the induced charges are confined. Chargeson the rotors and stators are equalized by electrical interconnectionsestablished through the rotor shafts. The stator discs are electricallyinterconnected with an electrical load through an output circuit transforming ahigh potential between the stator discs into a reduced DC voltage to conduct acorrespondingly multiplied current through the load.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES
These and other objects and features of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the preferredembodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings in which likeparts or elements are denoted by like reference numerals throughout the severalviews of the drawings and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a simplified electrical circuit diagram corresponding to the energyconversion system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side section view of anelectrostatic generator embodying the system in FIG. 1 in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 3 and 4 are partial section views takensubstantially through planes indicated by section lines 3-3 and 4-4 in FIG.
2. FIGS 5A and 5B are schematic partial laid out top views of theelectrostatic generator of FIGS. 2-4 under static and dynamic chargedistribution conditions, respectively.
FIG. 6 is an electrical circuit diagramof the output circuit of the generator shown in FIG. 2 in accordance with oneembodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 diagrammatically depicts theenergy conversion system of the present invention generally referred to byreference numeral 10. As diagrammed in FIG. 1, the system includes a pair ofelectrostatic fields 12 and 14 established by electrostatic charges of oppositepolarity applied to electrode plates 16 and 18 from some external energy source. Thus, the electrostatic field 12 is established between electrode 16 and a statordisc 20 while the electrostatic field 14 is established between electrode 18 anda stator disc 22. In accordance with the present invention, electrostatic chargelinkages established by the flux of the fields between the electrodes and statorsare periodically varied by displacement within continuous energy fields 12 and 14in response to rotation of their common rotational axis and the field flux aswill be hereinafter described. The rotors are mechanically interconnected withan electric motor 28, as diagram- matically illustrated in FIG. 1, for rotationabout the common rotational axis. Electrical energy may be extracted from theelectric fields 12 and 14 during rotation of the rotors 24 and 26 by motor 28through an output circuit generally referred to by reference numeral 30. Theoutput circuit 30 as shown, in FIG. 1 in a simplified fashion, includes two pairof current conducting diodes 32A, 32B, 34A, and 34B. The diodes of each pair areoppositely poled and each pair is connected in parallel to one of the stators 20and 22. The diodes of each pair are also electrically connected across anelectrical load represented by resistors 36A and 36B with capacitor networks 38Aand 38B interconnected between each pair of diodes by means of which the voltagepotential between the stators 20 and 22 is reduced in favor of an increasedcurrent through the electrical load.
Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 in particular, a physical embodiment of theenergy conversion system diagrammed in FIG. 1 is shown. The electrodes 16 and 18are in the form of circular plates or discs made of an electrically conductivemetal having external surfaces 40 and 42 adapted to be charged from the externalsource as aforementioned. The internal surface 44 of electrode 18 is therebyadapted to maintain a positive charge opposite in polarity to the negative chargeof the electrode 16 which is maintained in a stable ion form within a dielectricsurface portion 46 of the electrode 16. The energy conversion system may beenclosed within an outer housing 48 to which the electrodes 16 and 18 aresecured.
With continued reference to FIG. 2, the stators 20 and 22 mounted by housing48 in axially fixed spaced relation to the electrodes 16 and 18 are provided withbearings 50 and 52 establishing the afore- mentioned common rotational rotor axisjournaling a powered shaft assembly having electrically conductive shaft sections54 and 56 to which the rotors 24 and 26 are respectively connected. In theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the drive motor 28 is mechanicallyinterconnected with the shaft sections 54 and 56 through an electricallynonconductive shaft section 58 of the power shaft assembly for simultaneousrotation of both rotors 24 and 26 at the same speed and in the same directionabout the common rotational axis perpendicular to parallel spaced planes withwhich the electrode and stator discs are aligned. The electrically conductiveshaft sections 54 and 56 are respectively keyed or secured in any suitablefashion to hub portions 60 and 62 or the rotors and are provided with flangeportions 64 and 66 forming electrical wipers in contact with confronting surfacesof the stators 20 and 22, which are inductively charged by the static electricfields 12 and 14 to equal levels of opposite polarity.
As more clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotor 24 has a plurality ofangularly spaced, field linkage controlling segments 68 projecting radiallyoutwardly from the hub portion 60. Each rotor segment 68 is made of anelectrically conductive metal having a face 70 on one axial side confronting theadjacent electrode 16. The faces 70 confronting the electrode 16 are chargedpositively by the electric field 12 extending between the dielectric surfaceportion 46 of electrode 16 and the stator disc 20. While the electric field 12projects through the spaces 72 between the rotor segments 68, the rotor segments68 themselves shield portions of the stator disc 20 from the electric field.
The rotor 26 is similarly formed with rotor segments 74 angularly spaced fromeach other by spaces 76 through which the electric field 14 extends between thepositively charged surface 44 of electrode 18 and the stator 22. The rotorsegments 74 of rotor 26 as shown in FIG. 2, are provided with dielectric surfaceportions 78 confronting the internally charged surface 44 of electrode 18. Whilethe rotor segments 74 are negatively charged by the electric field 14 within thesurface portions 78, they also shield portions of the stator disc 22 from theelectric field as in the case of the rotor segments 68 hereinbefore described. The internal dielectric surface portion 46 of electrode 16 and dielectric surfaceportions 78 of rotor 26 act as a stabilizer to prevent eddy currents and leakageof negative charge. Further, in view of the electrical connections establishedbetween the rotors and the stator discs, the charge on each stator is equalizedwith that of the charge on its associated rotor.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the stator disc 20 includes a plurality of segments82 to which charges are confined, closely spaced from each other by dielectricspacers 80. The segments 82 are electrically interconnected with the rotorsegments 68 through rotor shaft section 54. Similarly, the segments 84 of thestator 22 are electrically interconnected with the rotor segments 74 throughrotor shaft section 56. The stator segments 82 and 84 are therefore also made ofelectrically conductive metal. Each of the segments 82 of stator 20 iselectrically interconnected through the output circuit 30 with each of thesegments 84 of the stator. The stator discs being fixedly mounted within thehousing 48, centrally mount the bearings 50 and 52 through which the electricallynonconductive motor shaft section 58 is journaled as shown in the embodiment ofthe invention illustrated in FIG. 2. Further, the total area of the chargedsegment surfaces on each of the stator discs is greater than the total area ofthe faces 70 or 78 on the segments of each associated rotor disc 24 or 26. According to one embodiment, the total charged stator surface area is twice thatof the rotor face area.
According to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 6, the outputcircuit 30 includes the two oppositely poled capacitive circuit networks 38A and38B connected across each aligned pair of stator segments 82 and 84 on thestators 20 and 22 by means of the oppositely poled diodes 32A and 34A. Each ofsuch capacitive circuit networks includes a capacitor 86, the opposite sides ofwhich are connected by oppositely poled diodes 88 and 90 to positive and negativeload terminals 92 and 94 across which a suitable electrical voltage isestablished for operating an electrical load. The diode 88 is connected to thejunction 102 between diode 104 and one side of capacitor 106. The diode 88 isalso connected to the junction between one side of capacitor 100 and the diode32A. The diode 90, on the other hand, is interconnected with the junction 96between diode 108 and capacitor 100. Also, diode 90 is connected to the junctionbetween the other side of capacitor 106 and the diode 34A. The foregoing circuitarrangement of capacitive network 38A is the same as that of network 38B by meansof which aligned pairs of the stator segments 82 and 84 have the electricalpotentials therebetween transformed into a lower voltage across the loadterminals 92 and 94 to conduct a higher load current.
FIG. 5A illustrates the distribution of charges established in the electricfields 12 and 14 between the electrodes and stators under static conditions inwhich each of the rotor segments 68 and 74 is positioned in alignment with one ofthe stator segments 82 and 84 to thereby shield alternate stator segments fromthe electric fields. The charges established by the electric fields aretherefore confined to the faces of alternate stator segments confronting theelectrodes and are equalized with the charges established on and confined to theshielding faces of the rotor segments confronting the electrodes by virtue of theelectrical interconnection between the rotors and stators as aforementioned. Asdepicted in FIG. 5B, when rotation is imparted to the rotors, the charge linkagesestablished by the electric fields between the electrodes and alternate statorsegments 82 or 84 are interrupted by the moving rotor segments 68 or 74 so thatpreviously shield stator segments become exposed to the fields to reestablishfield energy linkageswith the associated electrodes. Such action causes electrical potentials to beestablished between the stator segments 82 and 84.
It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the electrostaticenergy fields 12 and 14 of opposite polarity are established maintained betweenthe externally charged electrodes 16 and 18 and the internally charged stators 20and 22 under static conditions as depicted in FIG. 5A. During rotation, therotors 24 and 26 continuously disposed within such energy fields 12 and 14, exertforces in directions perpendicular to the field flux representing the energylinkages between electrodes and stators to cause interruptions andreestablishment of energy linkages with portions of different stator segments asdepicted in FIG 5B. Such energy linkage locational changes and the chargebinding and unbinding actions between electrodes and stators creates anelectrical potential and current to flow between stators through the outputcircuit 30. Thus, the output circuit when loaded extracts energy from theelectric fields 12 and 14 as a result of the field linkage charge binding andunbinding actions induced by rotation of the rotors. The stator segments 82 and84 shielded from the electric fields by the moving rotor segments 68 and 74 asdepicted in FIG. 5B, have electric potentials of polarity opposite to those ofthe external electrodes 16 and 18 because of the field linkage charge unbindingaction. Previously shielded stator segments being exposed to the electric fieldsby the moving rotor segments, have the same electric potential polarity as thoseof the external electrodes because of field linkage binding action. Since theforces exerted on the respective rotors by the electric fields 12 and 14 ofopposite polarity act on the common rotor shaft assembly perpendicular to saidfields, such forces cancel each other. The energy input to the system maytherefore be substantially limited to mechanical bearing losses and windageduring conversion of electrostatic field energy to electrical energy as well aselectrical resistance losses and other electrical losses encountered in theoutput circuit 30.
Based upon the foregoing operational characteristics, rotation of the rotorsin accordance with the present invention does not perform any substantial workagainst the external electric fields 12 and 14 since there is no net change incapacitance thereby enabling the system to convert energy with a reduced input ofmechanical energy and high efficiency, as evidenced by minimal loss of charge onthe electrodes. It was therefore found that working embodiments of the presentinvention require less than ten percent of the electrical output energy for themechanical input. Further, according to one prototype model of the invention, arelatively high output voltage of 300,000 volts was obtained across the stators. By reason of such high voltage, an output circuit 30 having a voltage reducingand current multiplying attribute as hereinbefore described was selected so as torender the system suitable for many practical applications.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of theinvention. Further since numerous modifications and changes will readily occurto those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to theexact construction and operation shown and described, and, accordingly, allsuitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within thescope of the invention.
What is claimed is:
- An energy conversion system including a pair of electrodes maintainedelectrostatically charged at substantially equal potentials of opposite polarity,stator means mounted in operatively spaced relation to said electrodes forinducement therein of charges of opposite polarity through electric fieldsestablished by said equal potentials, power driven rotor means continuouslydisposed within said electric fields for receiving charged induced by saidelectric fields, means electrically connecting said rotor means to the statormeans for equalizing of said induced charges there- between, field linkagecontrol means for movably shielding the stator means from the electric fieldsduring rotation of the rotor means and output circuit means operatively connectedto the stator means for extracting therefrom an operating voltage in response tomovement of said shielding of the stator means.
- The system is defined in claim 1 wherein said stator means includes a pairof axially spaced stator discs respectively linked electrostatically to theelectrodes by said electric fields, the rotor means including a pair of rotordiscs respectively disposed axially between the electrodes and the stator discs.
- The system as defined in claim 2 wherein said field linkage control meanscomprises angularly spaced segments on the rotor discs having charged facesshielding portions of the stator discs from the electrodes.
- The system as defined in claim 3 wherein each of the stator discs includesangularly spaced surface portions confronting the angularly spaced rotor segmentsand dielectric means between said surface portions for confining the inducedcharges thereto, the surface portions of the stator discs and the charged facesof the rotor segments being unequal in area.
- An energy conversion system including a pair of electrodeselectrostatically charged to substantially equal potentials of opposite polarity,stator means mounted in operatively spaced relation to said electrodes forinducement therein of charges of opposite polarity through electric fieldsestablished by said equal potentials, said stator means including a pair ofaxially spaced stator discs respectively linked to electrodes by said electricfields, power driven rotor means continuously disposed within said electricfields for receiving induced charges thereon, means electrically connecting saidrotor means to the stator means for transfer of said induced chargestherebetween, said rotor means including a pair of rotor discs respectivelydisposed axially between the electrodes and the stator discs and field linkagecontrol means for variably shielding the stator means from the electric fieldsduring the rotation of the rotor means, said field linkage control meanscomprising angularly spaced segments on the rotor discs having charged facesshielding portions of the stator discs from the electrodes, each of the statordiscs including angularly spaced surface portions confronting the angularlyspaced rotor segments and dielectric means between said surface portions forconfining the induced charges thereto, the surface portions of the stator dischaving areas twice that of the area of the charged faces of the rotor segmentsand output circuit means operatively connected to the stator means forestablishing an operating voltagein response to said variation in the shielding of the stator means by the rotormeans.
- The system as defined in claim 5 including a power shaft assembly on whichthe rotors are mounted for simultaneous rotation, said electrical connectingmeans being formed by electrically conductive sections of said shaft assembly.
- The system as defined in claim 6 wherein the charged faces of the rotorsegments on one of the rotors is formed by dielectric material within which theinduced charges of negative polarity are confined in stable ion form.
- The system as defined in claim 7 wherein said output circuit means includesa pair of DC voltage terminals, a capacitive network, and current blocking diodemeans coupling the network to the terminals and to each of the surface portionsof the stator discs for multiplying current conducted between the stator discswhile reducing potentials therebetween to a value equal to the operating voltageacross the DC voltage terminals.
- The system as defined in claim 2 wherein each of the stator discs includesangularly spaced surface portions confronting the rotor and dielectric meansbetween said, surface portions for confining the induced charges thereto.
- The system as defined in claim 9 where in said output circuit meansincludes a pair of DC voltage terminals, a capacitive network and currentblocking diode means coupling the network to the terminals and to each of thesurface portions of the stator discs for multiplying current conducted betweenthe stator discs while reducing potentials therebetween to the operating voltageacross the terminals.
- The system as defined in claim 1 including a power shaft assembly on whichthe rotors are mounted for simultaneous rotation, said electrical connectingmeans being formed by electrically conductive sections of said shaft assembly.
- The system as defined in claim 3 wherein the charged faces of the rotorsegments on one of the rotors is formed by dielectric material within which theinduced charges of negative polarity are confined in stable ion form.
- The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said stator means and said rotormeans respectively have faces confronting each of the electrodes, and dielectricsurface means coating those of the confronting faces on which the charges ofnegative polarity are induced and maintained in a stable ion form for preventingeddy currents and charge leakage.
- The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the stator means and the rotormeans have faces continuously exposed to said electric fields on which thecharges of negative polarity are induced, and stabilizer means for preventingleakage of the induced charges through said faces.
- The system as definedin claim 14 wherein said stabilizer means comprises dielectric material on saidfaces maintaining the negative charges therein in stable ion form.
- In an energy conversion system having an electrode of one polaritymaintained at an electrostatic potential, a stator and a rotor disposed within anelectric field established between the electrode and the stator by said potentialon the electrode, means mounting the rotor for rotation continuously within theelectric field and means electrically interconnecting the rotor and the statorfor equalizing electrostatic charges established thereon opposite in polarity tosaid one polarity, the rotor having charged surface means partially shielding thestator from the electric field for producing an electric potential on the statorin response to rotation of the rotor causing movement of the charges establishedby the unshielded electric field.
- The system as defined in claim 16 wherein the stator includes means forconfining electrostatic charges established to surfaces of greater total areathan that of the charged surface means of the rotor.
- The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said stator means is mounted infixed parallel spaced relation to the electrodes and said rotor means isrotatable about a rotational axis perpendicular to said electrodes.
- In an electrostatic generator having a pair of axially spaced electrodeswith electric fields therebetween establishing corresponding capacitances, apower driven rotor and means for electrically interconnecting the rotor with oneof the electrodes of said pair during rotation of the rotor, the improvementresiding in means fixedly mounting both of the electrodes of said pair, saidelectric fields being established and maintained by means respectively applyingcharge producing potentials of substantially equal and opposite polarity to theother of the electrodes of said pair for cancellation of forces exerted by saidelectric fields on the rotor, means mounted by the rotor for partial shielding ofsaid one of the electrodes from said electric fields and means responsive torotation of the rotor for extracting an output voltage generated on said one ofthe electrodes by movement of said partial shielding thereof during maintenanceof the corresponding capacitances established by the electric fields.
UNITED STATES PATENT - HYDE Patent Number .: 4,897,592 Date of Patent : Jan. 30, 1990 "ELECTROSTATIC ENERGY FIELD POWER GENERATING SYSTEM" Inventor ......: William W. Hyde, 1685 Whitney, Idaho Falls Id. 83402 Appl. No. .....: 211,704 Filed .........: Jun. 27, 1988 1st Cl. .......: H02N 1/08 U.S. Cl. ......: 322/2 A; 310/309 Field of Search: 322/2 A; 310/309 References Cited U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 2,522,106 9/1950 Fetici ............ 310/309 3,013,201 12/1961 Goldie ............ 322/2 A 4,127,804 11/1973 Breaux ............ 322/2 A 4,151,409 4/1979 O'Hare ............ 250/212 4,595,852 6/1986 Gundlach .......... 310/309 4,622,510 11/1986 Cap ............. 322/2 A X Primary Examiner - R.J. Hickey Attorney, Agent, or Firm - Fleit, Jacobson, Cohn, Price, Holman & Stern
[ Free Energy ][ Sumeria ]
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