Grounded Ring Conductor for Step Voltage Elimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Temporary structures such as tents and grandstands lack effective lightning protection solutions, leading to risks of personal injury and equipment damage from lightning strikes, as existing solutions are cumbersome and reduce the usability of these structures during thunderstorms.
Innovation Solution
A free-standing lightning protection arrangement featuring a grounded electrical ring conductor on the earth's surface, electrically connected to a lightning arrester, which creates a potential control area ensuring zero potential differences and thus no step voltage, allowing safe presence during lightning strikes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If temporary structures are protected with conventional lightning protection systems, then lightning strike protection is provided, but the structures require complex installations and structural adaptations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lightning protection system into a portable, self-contained unit that can be independently deployed without integrating into the temporary structure's framework. The lightning arrester device with its earth electrode system and potential control area formation capabilities is designed as a standalone component that can be positioned and installed rapidly on temporary structures like tents and grandstands, eliminating the need for complex structural adaptations.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If people seek safety during thunderstorms with conventional lightning protection, then personal safety is maintained, but usability of temporary structures is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the temporary structure to provide its own lightning protection services through the deployed arrester device, creating a self-service protection system. The potential control area automatically forms when the device is activated, continuously protecting occupants without requiring them to evacuate or take additional safety measures, thus maintaining full usability of the structure during thunderstorms while ensuring personal safety.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides enhanced protection against lightning strikes by eliminating step voltage and allowing safe occupancy and equipment protection without the need for complex installations or structural adaptations, enabling flexible and effective lightning protection for various temporary structures.
Implementation Method 1
a grounded electrical ring conductor lying on a surface of the earth, which surrounds the object in the manner of a potential control, the ring conductor being electrically conductively connected to the arrester
Implementation Method 2
at least one electrically conductive lightning arresting device which protrudes over the object and is electrically connected to an earth area via at least one arrester
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
The isolated lightning protection arrangement has electrically conducting lighting protection device (10), which surmounts the object and is connected with an end area (1) by a conductor in electrically conducting manner. An earthed electrical annular conductor overlying on the earth surface area (1.1), is provided, where electrical annular conductor surrounds the object in the form of a potential controller. An independent claim is included for a construction set for isolated lightning protection arrangement.