Environmental control apparatus

Claim 2

Environmental control apparatus comprising at least one electrode mounted in an habitable enclosure, a direct current source connected to said electrode for producing a direct current electric field in said enclosure, said direct current source having one output connected to ground, the flux lines in said field extending generally between a position adjacent the floor and another position adjacent the ceiling of said enclosure, a pulse generator connected to said direct current source for adding its pulses to the direct current output of said source, said pulses having a relatively low frequence, said pulse generator including means for limiting the increments in field strength created by said pulses to 15 percent of the direct current field strength.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 including means for setting the frequency of said pulses at from one to twenty pulses per second.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 including additional means coupled to said direct current source for producing time-dependent, abrupt alterations of the characteristic of said electric field in said enclosure.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the time interval between successive ones of said alterations is at least 1 minute.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 3 including means coupled to said pulse generator for temporarily disabling said pulse generator to create pulse bursts of a pre-determined time duration.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 4 in which said time interval is a least 60 times longer than the time duration of one cycle of said pulses.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 3 in which said additional means includes a timer.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 7 in which said direct current source includes a means for gradually adjusting the direct current potential.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 8 comprising a timer for producing time-dependent signals, and means responsive to said signals for controlling said direct current potential adjusting means.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 3 including means for adjusting the magnitude of said electric field with respect to time, comprising a means for storing data, producing contrOl signals, and delivering said control signals to said adjusting means to control the adjustments thereof in accordance with time.

Claim 12

Environmental control apparatus comprising at least one electrode mounted in an habitable enclosure, a direct current source connected to said electrode for producing a direct current electric field in said enclose, said direct current source having one output connected to ground, the flux lines in said field extending generally between a position adjacent the floor and another position adjacent the ceiling of said enclosure, and pulse generator means connected to said electrode for causing the strength of said field to vary periodically with respect to time at a relatively low frequency, said electrode having a linear configuration to produce a magnetic field component in said enclosure when current flows through said electrode, said linear electrode having two terminals, one receiving the pulses imposed on the direct current voltage by said pulse generator, and the other being connected to said grounded output of said direct current source via a current-limiting circuit, said current-limiting circuit comprising a resistor and a condenser connected in parallel with the resistor, the time constant of said circuit being adapted to the frequency of the pulses delivered by said pulse generator.

Claim 13

Environmental control apparatus comprising at least one electrode mounted in an habitable enclosure, a direct current source connected to said electrode for producing a direct current electric field in said enclose, said direct current source having one output connected to ground, the flux lines in said field extending generally between a position adjacent the floor and another position adjacent the ceiling of said enclosure, and pulse generator means connected to said electrode for causing the strength of said field to vary periodically with respect to time at a relatively low frequency, said electrode having a linear configuration to produce a magnetic field component in said enclosure when current flows through said electrode, said linear electrode having two terminals, one receiving the pulses imposed on the direct current voltage by said pulse generator, and the other being connected to said grounded output of said direct current source via a current-limiting circuit, said current-limiting circuit comprising a resistor and a condenser connected in parallel with the resistor, the time constant of said circuit being adapted to the frequency of the pulses delivered by said pulse generator.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 11 in which said electrode has a coiled shape.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 11 in which said electrode consists of a wire coiled to form a plane spiral.

Claim 16

Environmental control apparatus comprising at least one electrode mounted in an habitable enclosure, a direct current source connected to said electrode for producing a direct current electric field in said enclosure, said direct current source having one output connected to ground, the flux lines in said field extending generally between a position adjacent the floor and another position adjacent the ceiling of said enclosure, and pulse generator means connected to said electrode for causing the strength of said field to vary periodically with respect to time at a relatively low frequency, said electrode having a linear configuration to produce a magnetic field component in said enclosure when current flows through said electrode, said linear electrode having two terminals, one receiving the pulses imposed on the direct current voltage by said pulse generator, and the other being connected to said grounded output of said direct current source via a current-limiting circuit, said current-limiting circuit comprising a gas discharge tube connected in series with a current-limiting resistor, the time constant of said circuit being adapted to the frequency of the pulses delivered by said pulse generator.

Claim 17

Environmental control apparatus comprising at least one electrode mounted in an habitable enclosure, a direct current source connected to said electrode for producing a direct current electric field in said enclosure, said direct current source having one output connected to ground, the flux lines in said field extending generally between a position adjacent the floor and another position adjacent the ceiling of said enclosure, and pulse generator means connected to said electrode for causing the strength of said field to vary periodically with respect to time at a relatively low frequency, said electrode having a linear configuration to produce a magnetic field component in said enclosure when current flows through said electrode, said linear electrode having two terminals, one receiving the pulses imposed on the direct current voltage by said pulse generator, and the other being connected to said grounded output of said direct current source via a current-limiting circuit, said current-limiting circuit comprising a gas discharge tube connected in series with a current-limiting resistor, the time constant of said circuit being adapted to the frequency of the pulses delivered by said pulse generator.