Ionic wind machine

Claim 2

A wind machine comprising: means for forming an electrically conductive air permeable plane, means spaced from said plane for containing a fluid, an electrically conductive fluid in said containing means, and means coupled to said fluid and plane for establishing an electrical field therebetween.

Claim 3

A wind machine according to claim 1 wherein said means forming an electrically conductive plane comprises an open wire mesh.

Claim 4

A wind machine according to claim 1 including means for replenishing the fluid in said containing means.

Claim 5

A wind machine according to claim 1 including means for continuously replenishing said fluid.

Claim 6

A wind machine according to claim 1 wherein said containing means comprises an elongated trough extending parallel to said plane.

Claim 7

A wind machine according to claim 4 wherein said trough has a teardrop shaped cross section with its longest cross sectional dimension perpendicular to said plane and its narrower end adjacent to said plane, said narrow end of said trough defining an elongated slit.

Claim 8

A wind machine according to claim 4 wherein said trough has a teardrop shaped cross section and is substantially closed and has a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings therealong adjacent to said plane.

Claim 9

A wind machine according to claim 1 wherein said means for forming an electrically conductive plane includes an open wire mesh, said containing means comprising a plurality of laterally spaced elongated troughs lying in a plane parallel to the plane containing said wire mesh and extending over an area substantially coextensive with the area of said mesh.

Claim 10

A wind machine according to claim 8 including a a means for replenishing the fluid in said troughs, said replenishing means including a reservoir for said fluid, said troughs lying in communication with said reservoir.

Claim 11

A wind machine according to claim 8 including an air duct, said mesh and said troughs extending across said duct generally patterned to the longitudinal axis of said duct, said mesh being formed by continuous belt of flexible screen material, a portion of said belt extending externally of said duct, and means external to said duct for cleaning said belt.

Claim 12

A wind machine according to claim 10 wherein said cleaning means comprises a brush engageable with said belt.

Claim 13

A wind machine according to claim 10 wheRein said belt is mounted on rollers whereby it may be continuously moved through said duct.

Claim 14

A wind machine according to claim 1 wherein said fluid comprises water.

Claim 15

A wind machine comprising an air duct, an electrically conductive mesh extending across said duct and forming a reference potential plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of said duct, a strand spaced from said mesh and lying wholly in a second plane transverse to said longitudinal axis, said strand extending over an area in said duct substantially coextensive with the area of said mesh in said duct, a reservoir for containing a liquid carried by said machine, an electrically conductive liquid in said reservoir, means for coating said strand with said electrically conductive liquid, and means external of said duct for establishing an electrical connection to said liquid coated strand and said mesh, said mesh extending over substantially the entire cross sectional area of said duct whereby substantially all air passing through said duct encounters said mesh.

Claim 16

A wind machine comprising an air duct, an electrically conductive mesh extending across said duct and forming a reference potential plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of said duct, a strand spaced from said mesh and lying wholly in a second plane transverse to said longitudinal axis, said strand extending over an area in said duct substantially coextensive with the area of said mesh in said duct, a reservoir for containing a liquid carried by said machine, an electrically conductive liquid in said reservoir, means for coating said strand with said electrically conductive liquid, and means external of said duct for establishing an electrical connection to said liquid coated strand and said mesh, said mesh extending over substantially the entire cross sectional area of said duct whereby substantially all air passing through said duct encounters said mesh.

Claim 17

A wind machine according to claim 14 wherein a portion of said strand is immersed in the liquid in said reservoir, and means for moving said strand through said reservoir whereby the entire strand is coated with liquid.

Claim 18

A wind machine according to claim 15 wherein said strand is continuous, a plurality of bearings adjacent each of the opposite sides of said duct, the strand being wrapped about said bearings whereby the strand forms a plurality of laterally spaced generally parallel rows thereof in said second plane.

Claim 19

A wind machine comprising an air duct, an electrically conductive mesh extending across said duct and forming a reference potential plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of said duct, a corona wire spaced from said mesh and lying substantially in a second plane transverse to said longitudinal axis, said wire including a condutive liquid susceptible of molecular breakdown under the influence of a corona discharge whereby said conductive liquid contributes to the quantity of ions adjacent said wire during a discharge, and means external of said duct for coupling said mesh and corona wire to a source of electrical potential of sufficient strength to produce a corona discharge between said wire and said mesh.

Claim 20

A wind machine comprising an air duct, an electrically conductive mesh extending across said duct and forming a reference potential plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of said duct, a corona wire spaced from said mesh and lying substantially in a second plane transverse to said longitudinal axis, said wire including a condutive liquid susceptible of molecular breakdown under the influence of a corona discharge whereby said conductive liquid contributes to the quantity of ions adjacent said wire during a discharge, and means external of said duct for coupling said mesh and corona wire to a source of electrical potential of sufficient strength to produce a corona discharge between said wire and said mesh.