Lightning conductor and circuit includes parallel discharge gap and current control circuit regulating current prior to lightning strike

摘要

The lightning conductor comprises a main body (1,2) which is electrically conducting. The body is connected to earth via a main discharge gap formed by an isolating ring (6) and via a current limiting circuit (4) which controls the discharge current flowing through the conductor body. This minimizes the flow of discharge current when a lightning strike is not imminent, and allows the current flow to be established just before a lightning strike occurs. The lightning conductor comprises a main body (1,2) which is electrically conducting. This includes a cylindrical section (2) and a tapered conical section (1) threaded together and designed to emit discharges. The body is connected to earth via a main discharge gap formed by an isolating ring (6). The conductor body is also connected to earth in parallel with the main discharge gap, via a current limiting circuit (4) which controls the discharge current flowing through the conductor body. The effect of the circuit is to minimize the flow of discharge current when a lightning strike is not imminent, and to allow the current flow to be established just before a lightning strike occurs. The discharge circuit allows an ambient electrostatic field to be discharged at a current flow which is below a predetermined threshold.