US3821603A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrostatic discharging system
Assignee: CIERVA J DE
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Filing: 1973-02-20
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Granted: 1974-06-28
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Expires: 1993-02-20
Abstract
Abstract The electrostatic environment inside an oil carrier tank is measured through a sensor which produces an alternating current output signal which is fed separately to two power units, one of which produces a signal if the polarity of the field sensed is positive and the other of which produces a signal if the polarity of the field sensed is negative, each circuit amplifying its specific signal to a predetermined level. The parallel circuits are connected to a high voltage circuit which produces an electrostatic field having a predetermined polarity and a magnitude which is proportional to the electrostatic field sensed. The generated electrostatic field is applied to an ionizer nozzle through which water is sprayed into the tank. The water is electrostatically charged by the nozzle to have a polarity opposite to the polarity sensed by the sensor and effectively neutralizes the electrostatic charge within the tank.
Inventors
- 👤 La Cierva J De
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:00
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B57/00; B05; B05B; B05B5/00; B05B5/025; H; H05; H05F; H05F3/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A discharging system for use in neutralizing an electrostatic field inside a liquid fuel container comprising means for sensing the magnitude and polarity of the electrostatic field within the container and for producing a first output signal representative of the magnitude and polarity of the electrostatic field sensed, a first circuit responsive to the first output signal for producing a second output signal when the polarity of the field sensed is positive, a second circuit responsive to the first output signal for producing a third output signal when the polarity of the field sensed is negative, means responsive to the second and the third output signals for producing a high voltage, electrostatic potential proportional in magnitude to the electrostatic field by the sensor and having a predetermined polarity, and means for applying this high voltage, electrostatic potential to water particles sprayed into the container to electrostatically charge the water particles with a polarity opposite to that sensed by the sensing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A discharging system for use in neutralizing an electrostatic field inside a liquid fuel container comprising means for sensing the magnitude and polarity of the electrostatic field within the container and for producing a first output signal representative of the magnitude and polarity of the electrostatic field sensed, a first circuit responsive to the first output signal for producing a second output signal when the polarity of the field sensed is positive, a second circuit responsive to the first output signal for producing a third output signal when the polarity of the field sensed is negative, means responsive to the second and the third output signals for producing a high voltage, electrostatic potential proportional in magnitude to the electrostatic field by the sensor and having a predetermined polarity, and means for applying this high voltage, electrostatic potential to water particles sprayed into the container to electrostatically charge the water particles with a polarity opposite to that sensed by the sensing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
193 words
A discharging system as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for electrostatically charging the spray of water comprises a source of water under pressure, an ionizer nozzle having a hollow cylindrical body for receiving the pressurized water from the source, an inner core contained in the cylindrical body, the core being helically grooved around its periphery to impart a rotaTing motion to the water, the cylindrical body having an exit opening downstream from the entrance of the pressurized water and the core, the exit opening being encircled by an insulated, enveloping metal cone which is connected to the means for producing the high voltage electrostatic potential whereby the rotating water expelled through the exit opening forms a hollow cone within the enveloping insulated metal cone and having a wall thickness which diminishes outwardly to the point where the wall of water finally breaks into particles charged with a polarity opposite to that of the high voltage electrostatic potential to which the metal cone is connected, the broken away particles of charged water thereafter being carried by their own momentum into the interior of the container to neutralize the electrostatically charged atmosphere therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
99 words
A discharging system as recited in claim 2 wherein the enveloping metal cone comprises an insulating and mechanically resistant substrate, a plurality of conductor rings deposited on the substrate and having a high specific resistance, and a plurality of high value resistors interconnecting the rings and encapsulated within the cone, the resistance of the rings and of the resistors being great enough to prevent current from flowing in the cone which would otherwise be sufficient in magnitude to sustain corona arcing from the cone, and means for connecting the rings through the resistors to the high voltage, electrostatic potential.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
164 words
A discharging system as recited in claim 1 wherein the sensing means comprises a first and a second vane, means for coaxially and rotatably mounting the first and the second vanes inside the container, means for rotating the vanes relative to each other at a predetermined speed, each of the first and the second vanes having a predetermined number of spaced apart segments, means for shielding the first and the second vanes such that the first vane is continuously exposed to the electrostatic field within the container and the second vane is periodically exposed by the spaces between the segments of the first vane as the first and the second vanes are rotated relative to each other, and means connected to the first and the second vanes for amplifying the voltage difference between the vanes induced by the electrostatic field within the container and for producing the first output signal representative of the magnitude and the polarity of the electrostatic field within the container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A discharging system as recited in claim 4 wherein the means for rotating the first and the second vanes counterrotates the first and the second vanes and wherein each of the first and the second vanes has four 45* segments.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
118 words
A discharging system as recited in claim 4 wherein the amplifying means connected to the first and the second vanes includes an integrated amplifier connected to the second vane, a first coil having one lead connected to the output of the integrated amplifier, means for mounting the integrated amplifier and the first coil for rotation with the second vane, a second coil, means for mounting the second coil adjacent the first coil such that the first and the second coils are magnetically coupled, means connected to the second coil for amplifying the signal magnetically induced in the second coil by the first coil and means for grounding the first vane and the other lead of the first coil.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
104 words
A discharging system as recited in claim 4 further comprising means for generating an alternating current reference signal whose frequency is synchronized with the rotation of the first and the second vanes in such a manner that the alternating signal has substantially zero voltage potential at the moments in time when segments of the second vane are shielded from the electrostatic field within the container by the segments of the first vane, and wherein the first and the second circuits both include means responsive to the reference signal for comparing the phase of the first output signaL with the phase of the reference signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A discharging system as recited in claim 4 wherein the means for shielding the first and the second vanes includes an electrode and means for applying a high voltage to the electrode to impress a test electrostatic charge on the first and the second vanes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A discharging system as recited in claim 4 further comprising means for cleaning the first and the second vanes with high pressure streams of water and compressed air.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A discharging system as recited in claim 1 wherein the system is powered by a hydraulic turbine mounted in the immediate vicinity of the liquid fuel container.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
168 words
A system for neutralizing an electrostatic charge existing inside a tank designed to contain liquid fuel comprising means for sensing the existence, magnitude and polarity of the electrostatic charge present inside the tank and for generating a first signal representative of the magnitude and polarity of the electrostatic charge sensed, means for amplifying the first signal, means for generating a reference signal, means for comparing the phase of the amplified first signal with that of the reference signal to determine the polarity of the electrostatic charge existing in the tank and for generating a resulting D.C. voltage proportional in magnitude to the tank''s charge and with the same polarity as the tank''s charge, a high-pressure ionized water sprayer for spraying water into the interior of the tank, means for applying the D.C. voltage to the water sprayer so that the water spray will carry a charge of polarity opposite to that of the electrostatic charge existing in the atmosphere inside the tank and thereby neutralize the electrostatic charge.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
168 words
A system for neutralizing an electrostatic charge existing inside a tank designed to contain liquid fuel comprising means for sensing the existence, magnitude and polarity of the electrostatic charge present inside the tank and for generating a first signal representative of the magnitude and polarity of the electrostatic charge sensed, means for amplifying the first signal, means for generating a reference signal, means for comparing the phase of the amplified first signal with that of the reference signal to determine the polarity of the electrostatic charge existing in the tank and for generating a resulting D.C. voltage proportional in magnitude to the tank''s charge and with the same polarity as the tank''s charge, a high-pressure ionized water sprayer for spraying water into the interior of the tank, means for applying the D.C. voltage to the water sprayer so that the water spray will carry a charge of polarity opposite to that of the electrostatic charge existing in the atmosphere inside the tank and thereby neutralize the electrostatic charge.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-27 | 1977-12-27 | 1978-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-27 | 1981-12-27 | 1982-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-27 | 1985-12-27 | 1986-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |