Static eliminator

Claim 2

A static eliminator comprising: a cable including a central conductor adapted for connection to a source of alternating high potential and a thick cylindrical insulating sleeve around the conductor; a plurality of conductive members each including an elongate thin walled channel generally half-cylindrical in cross section, said channel having an outer surface, an inner surface conforming to the outer surface of said insulating sleeve, opposed axially extending edges along junctures of said inner and outer surfaces which edges are spaced to afford free movement of the inner surface of the channel into engagement with the cable in a direction radial of said cable, and a needle connected to said channel and projecting outwardly from said outer surface, said needle being disposed to project generally radially away from said cable when the inner surface of said member is disposed against said insulating sleeve; and an elongate clip formed of a flexible resilient electrically insulating material having a curved wall generally C-shaped in cross section, said curved wall having axially spaced openings adapted to receive the needles of said conductive members with said channels spaced axially along the clip, and said clip being positioned over the channels of said conductive members with said needles in said openings and over said cable with the opposed ends of said wall in engagement with said cable to releasably retain said clip and said conductive members in spaced relationship axially along said cable with the inner surfaces of said conductive members contacting the outer surface of said insulating sleeve.

Claim 3

A static eliminator according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the channel of each of said conductive members has an area of at least 50 square millimeters.

Claim 4

A static eliminator according to claim 1, wherein the channel and needle of each of said conductive members are formed from the same piece of sheet metal with said needle being a generally V-shaped portion of said sheet metal bent to project outwardly of the portion of said sheet metal curved to form said channel.

Claim 5

A static eliminator according to claim 1, wherein said means for securing said conductive members to said cable further comprises a second elongate clip of a flexible resilient electrically insulating material comprising a curved wall with a generally C-shaped cross section, the curved wall of said second clip being positioned around the side of said cable opposite said clip formed with said openings with opposed end portions of the curved walls of said clips engaging each other.

Claim 6

A static eliminator according to claim 1, wherein said static eliminator further comprises a rigid conductive tube around said portion of said cable and said conductive members, said tube having an aperture positioned around the longitudinal axis of each of said needles; and said clip has longitudinally extending radially outwardly projecting ribs adapted to engage the inner surface of said tube to position said cable portion and conductive members within said shield.

Claim 7

A static eliminator comprising: a cable including a central conductor adapted for connection to a source of alternating high potential and a thick cylindrical insulating sleeve around the conductor; a plurality of conductive members each formed from a single piece of sheet metal and including an elongate thin walled channel generally half-cylindrical in cross section, said channel having an outer surface, an inner surface of at least 50 square millimeters conforming to the outer surface of said insulating sleeve, opposed axially extending edges along junctures of said inner and outer surfaces which edges are spaced to afford free movement of the inner surface of the channel into engagement with the cable in a direction radial of said cable, and a needle projecting outwardly from said outer surface, said needle being a generally centrally located V-shaped portion of said sheet metal bent to project outwardly of the portion of said sheet metal forming said channel and disposed to project generally radially away from said cable when the inner surface of said conductive member is disposed against said insulating sleeve; and an elongate clip formed of a flexible resilient electrically insulating material having a curved wall generally C-shaped in cross section, said curved wall having axially spaced openings adapted to receive the needles of said conductive members with said channels spaced axially along the clip, and said clip being positioned over the channels of said conductive members with said needles in said openings and over said cable with the opposed ends of said wall in engagement with said cable to releasably retain said clip and said conductive members in spaced relationship axially along said cable with the inner surfaces of said conductive members contacting the outer surface of said insulating sleeve.

Claim 8

A static eliminator comprising: a cable including a central conductor adapted for connection to a source of alternating high potential and a thick cylindrical insulating sleeve around the conductor; a plurality of conductive members each formed from a single piece of sheet metal and including an elongate thin walled channel generally half-cylindrical in cross section, said channel having an outer surface, an inner surface of at least 50 square millimeters conforming to the outer surface of said insulating sleeve, opposed axially extending edges along junctures of said inner and outer surfaces which edges are spaced to afford free movement of the inner surface of the channel into engagement with the cable in a direction radial of said cable, and a needle projecting outwardly from said outer surface, said needle being a generally centrally located V-shaped portion of said sheet metal bent to project outwardly of the portion of said sheet metal forming said channel and disposed to project generally radially away from said cable when the inner surface of said conductive member is disposed against said insulating sleeve; and an elongate clip formed of a flexible resilient electrically insulating material having a curved wall generally C-shaped in cross section, said curved wall having axially spaced openings adapted to receive the needles of said conductive members with said channels spaced axially along the clip, and said clip being positioned over the channels of said conductive members with said needles in said openings and over said cable with the opposed ends of said wall in engagement with said cable to releasably retain said clip and said conductive members in spaced relationship axially along said cable with the inner surfaces of said conductive members contacting the outer surface of said insulating sleeve.

Claim 9

A static eliminator according to claim 6, wherein said static eliminator further comprises a rigid conductive tube around said portion of said cable and said conductive members, said tube having an aperture positioned around the longitudinal axis of each of said needles; and said clip has longitudinally extending radially outwardly projecting ribs adapted to engage the inner surface of said tube to position said cable portion and conductive members within said shield.