Lightning protection systems

• US 6,674,625 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2001
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Storm Shelter Corporation
• Original Assignee: The Storm Shelter Corporation
• Inventors: Page, J. Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Toatley, Jr., Gregory J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Isabel
• Application Number:
  US09/868,290
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 361/119, 361/111, 361/118, 361/59, 324/72
• US Class Current: 361/117
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/16 Measuring atmospheric potential differences, e.g. due to electrical charges in clouds measuring potentiels in general G01R
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/26 using dynamo-electric motor for storing energy in a spring motor H01H3/30
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/22 of short duration, e.g. lightning
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 5/005 responsive to ionising radiation; Nuclear-radiation circumvention circuits radiation detectors G01T; nuclear-explosion detection G21J5/00

Abstract

A lightning protection system including a monitoring system (10) for detecting dangerous atmospheric conditions within specific geographic zones, a transmission system (12) for sending control codes, and multiple circuit connection/disconnection devices (16) for electrically connecting to electronic equipment to be protected. The lightning protection system (10) protects electrical and electronic equipment (18) by detecting and locating dangerous atmospheric conditions in a particular geographic area and transmitting broadcast control commands to electrical circuit connection/disconnection devices (16) in the geographic area, which have a receiver for receiving the broadcast control commands and an interruption mechanism (16) for disconnecting and reconnecting the electrical equipment from external conductors in response to the control commands. The monitoring system (10) may consist of multiple detectors located in different geographic areas. The monitoring system (10) may also be external to the region receiving the control commands. In the external monitoring system configuration, a centralized monitoring system detects and locates the dangerous atmospheric conditions and transmits this information to the transmission system. The transmission system then transmits control commands to the electrical circuit connection/disconnection devices.

Claims

1. A lightning protection system, comprising:

a. a regional transmitter for transmitting a control signal;

b. a plurality of receivers for receiving the control signal and generating a switching signal; and

c. at least one interruption device connected to each receiver for interrupting at least one electric circuit in response to the switching signal from the receiver to which it is connected.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the control signal is an infrared signal.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the control signal is a radio frequency signal.

4. A lightning protection system, comprising:

a. a weather monitoring system for detecting dangerous atmospheric conditions in a geographic area;

b. a plurality of regional transmitters for transmitting control signals to at least the geographic area when the weather monitoring system detects dangerous atmospheric conditions in the geographic area;

c. a plurality of receivers within the geographic area for receiving the control signals and generating switching signals; and

d. at least one interruption device connected to each receiver for interrupting at least one electric circuit in response to the switching signal from the receiver to which it is connected.

5. The system in claim 4 wherein each of the plurality of regional transmitters transmit control signals to a different geographical subset of the plurality of receivers.

6. The system in claim 4 wherein each of the plurality of regional transmitters transmit control signals to a different geographical subset of the plurality of receivers using a common control signal.

7. The system in claim 4 wherein the weather monitoring system receives locations of dangerous atmospheric conditions from a weather notification service.

8. The system in claim 7 wherein the weather notification service is a national weather service and a weather monitoring and notification service.

9. An apparatus for protecting electrical and electronic equipment having at least one electrical input for connecting to at least one external electrical conductor, comprising:

a. a first electrical contact for electrically connecting the apparatus to the external electrical conductor;

b. a second electrical contact for electrically connecting the apparatus to the electrical input;

c. a receiver for receiving control signals; and

d. an interruption device having a cylindrical insulative block and at least one electrical conductor therethrough for electrically connecting the first and second electrical contacts and rotating the block substantially 90 degrees in response to the control signals such that the first and second electrical contacts are not electrically connected.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the external electrical conductor provides electrical power.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising an uninterruptable power supply electrically connected between the second electrical contact and the interruption device for supplying auxiliary power to the electrical input.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising an electrical surge suppressor connected in series with the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a device for measuring the surge suppression characteristics of the electrical surge suppressor and indicating when the surge suppression characteristics reach a predetermined minimum level.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the electrical surge suppressor employs a replaceable modular metal oxide varistor.

15. A method for a telecommunications service provider to provide lightning protection services, comprising:

a. providing lightning protection service subscribers with an electrical circuit connection/disconnection device for receiving control signals and interrupting the electrical connectivity between electrical equipment and at least one external conductor;

b. monitoring weather in a vicinity of a geographic area;

c. sending the control signals to electrical circuit connection/disconnection devices of subscribers in the geographic area when dangerous atmospheric conditions are near the geographic area; and

d. charging subscribers for lightning protection services during time periods within which service is provided.

16. A method of protecting electrical equipment from electrical surges and disturbances carried on external conductors, comprising:

a. detecting the presence of dangerous atmospheric conditions in a specific geographic area;

b. transmitting control signals to electrical circuit connection/disconnection devices in the specific geographic area, the devices having receivers receiving the control signals and disconnecting the electrical equipment from the external conductors in response to the control signals.

17. A method of protecting electrical equipment from electrical surges and disturbances carried on external conductors, comprising:

a. receiving notification of the location of dangerous atmospheric conditions in a specific geographic area;

b. transmitting control signals to electrical circuit connection and disconnection devices in the specific geographic area, the devices having receivers for receiving the control signals and disconnecting the electrical equipment from the external conductors in response to the control signals.

18. An apparatus for protecting electrical and electronic equipment having at least one electrical input for connecting to at least one external electrical conductor, comprising:

a. a first electrical contact connected to the external electrical conductor;

b. a second electrical contact connected to the electrical input;

c. a receiver for receiving control signals;

d. a disk with a perimeter having a plurality of insulative tabs that are separated by a plurality of spaces and attached to the perimeter of the disk; and

e. a rotating mechanism for positioning the insulative tabs between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact in response to the control signals.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the external electrical conductor provides electrical power.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising an uninterruptable power supply electrically connected between the second electrical contact and the interruption device for supplying auxiliary power to the electrical input.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising an electrical surge suppressor connected in series with the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a device for measuring the surge suppression characteristics of the electrical surge suppressor and indicating when the surge suppression characteristics reach a predetermined minimum level.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the electrical surge suppressor employs a replaceable modular metal oxide varistor.