United States Patent (19) 11) Patent Number: 4,897,592

Hyde 45) Date of Patent: Jan. 30, 1990

54 ELECTROSTATIC ENERGY FIELD POWER Primary Examiner-R. J. Hickey
GENERATING SYSTEM Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fleit, Jacobson, Cohn, Price,
Holman & Stern
76 Inventor: William W. Hyde, 1685 Whitney,
Idaho Falls, Id. 83402 (57 ABSTRACT
21 Appl. No.: 211,704 Externally charged electrodes of an electrostatic gener
22 Filed: Jun. 27, 1988 ator induce charges of opposite polarity on segments of
a pair of confronting stators by means of electric fields
51 Int. Cl." ............................................... HO2N 1/08 within which a pair of rotors are confined during rota
52 U.S. C. .................. ... 322/2A; 310/309 tion to vary the charge binding field linkages between
58) Field of Search ........................ 322/2A; 310/309 confronting rotors and stators by a shielding action of
56 References Cited the rotors in a plane perpendicular to the field flux. A
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS high electric potential difference induced between the
stators resulting from such rotation of the rotors, is
2,522,106 9/1950 Felici ................................... 310/309 transformed by an output circuit into a reduced DC
3,013,201 12/1961 Goldie .... ... 322/2 A voltage applied to a load with a correspondingly in
4,127,804 11/1973 Breaux .... ... 322/2 A
4,151,409 4/1979 O'Hare .... ... 250/212 crease current conducted therethrough.
4,595,852 6/1986 Gundlach ... 310/309
4,622,510 1/1986 Cap ................................. 322/2AX 19 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets

12
32B
U.S. Patent Jan. 30, 1990 Sheet 1 of 3 4,897,592
FG.
U.S. Patent Jan. 30, 1990 Sheet 2 of 3 4,897,592
FIG 2
48 4 26 44
777,777 ZZZZZZZ AZ7.ZZZZZZZZZZ

N N

AZZZZZZY

68 22 74

FIG 3 FG. 4
U.S. Patent Jan. 30, 1990 Sheet 3 of 3 4,897,592

8O 82 84
 4,897,592
1 2
FIGS. 3 and 4 are partial section views taken substan
ELECTROSTATIC ENERGY FELD POWER tially through planes indicated by section lines 3-3 and
GENERATING SYSTEM 4-4 in FIG. 2.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic partial laid out top
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 5 views of the electrostatic generator of FIGS. 2-4, under
This invention relates to the generation of electrical static and dynamic charge distribution condictions,
respectively.
power by conversion of energy from an electrostatic FIG. 6 is an electrical circuit diagram of the output
field. circuit of the generator shown in FIG. 2, in accordance
The conversion of energy from a static electric field O with one embodiment.
into useful electrical energy by means of an electrostatic DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
generator is already well known in the art as exempli
fied by the disclosures in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,522,106, EMBODIMENT
3,013,201, 4,127,804, 4,151,409 and 4,595,852. Gener Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 dia
ally, the energy conversion process associated with 15 grammatically depicts the energy conversion system of
such prior art electrostatic generators involves the input the present invention generally referred to by reference
of mechanical energy to separate charges so that a con numeral 10. As diagrammed in FIG. 1, the system in
siderable portion of the output is derived from the con cludes a pair of electrostatic fields 12 and 14 established
version of mechanical energy. by electrostatic charges of opposite polarity applied to
It is therefore an important object of the present 20 electrode plates 16 and 18 from some external energy
invention to provide an electrostatic generator in which source. Thus, the electrostatic field 12 is established
electrical power is derived from the energy of static between electrode 16 and a stator disc 20 while the
electrostatic field 14 is established between electrode 18
electric fields with a minimized input of mechanical and a stator disc 22. In accordance with the present
power. 25 invention, electrostatic charge linkages established by
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION the flux of the fields between the electrodes and stators
In accordance with the present invention, static elec are periodically varied by displacement within continu
tric fields are established between electrodes externally ous energy fields 12 and 14 in response to rotation of
rotors 24 and 26 aligned with planes perpendicular to
maintained at charge levels of opposite polarity and a 30 their common rotational axis and the field flux as will be
pair of internal stator discs having segmental surfaces hereinafter described. The rotors are mechanically in
that are dielectrically spaced to confine thereon charges terconnected with an electric motor 28, as diagrammati
induced by the electric fields. A pair of rotor discs are cally illustrated in FIG. 1, for rotation about the com
rotated within continuous electric fields in planes per mon rotational axis. Electrical energy may be extracted
pendicular to the field flux to locationally vary the 35 from the electric fields 12 and 14 during rotation of the
charge linkage established by the electric fields between rotors 24 and 26 by motor 28 through an output circuit
the electrodes and stator discs. Such changes in charge generally referred to by reference numeral 30. The
linkage are effected by rotation of electrically conduc output circuit 30 as shown, in FIG. 1 in a simplified
tive segments of the rotor angularly spaced from each fashion, includes two pair of current conducting diodes
other to partially shield the stator discs from the electric 32A, 32B and 34A, 34.B. The diodes of each pair are
fields. The segments of each rotor disc have charged oppositely poled and each pair is connected in parallel
faces confronting the electrodes in its field to shield the to one of the stators 20 and 22. The diodes of each pair
stator disc over a total face area that is one-half the total are also electrically connected across an electrical load
area of the confronting segment surfaces on the stator represented by resistors 36A and 36B with capacitor
disc to which the induced charges are confined. 45 networks 38A and 38B interconnected between each
Charges on the rotors and stators are equalized by elec pair of diodes by means of which the voltage potential
trical interconnections established through the rotor between the stators 20 and 22 is reduced in favor of an
shafts. The stator discs are electrically interconnected increased current through the electrical load.
with an electrical load through an output circuit trans Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 in particular, a
forming a high potential between the stator discs into a 50 physical embodiment of the energy conversion system
reduced dc voltage to conduct a correspondingly multi diagrammed in FIG. 1 is shown. The electrodes 16 and
plied current through the load. 18 are in the form of circular plates or discs, made of an
electrically conductive metal having external surfaces
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES 40 and 42 adapted to be charged from the external
55 source as aforementioned. The internal surface 44 of
These and other objects and features of the present electrode 18 is thereby adapted to maintain a positive
invention will become apparent from the following charge opposite in polarity to the negative charge of the
description taken in conjunction with the preferred electrode 16 which is maintained in a stable ion form
embodiments thereof with reference to the accompany within a dielectric surface portion 46 of the electrode
ing drawings in which like parts or elements are de 60 16. The energy conversion system may be enclosed
noted by like reference numerals throughout the several within an outer housing 48 to which the electrodes 16
views of the drawings and wherein: and 18 are secured.
FIG. 1 is a simplified electrical circuit diagram corre With continued reference to FIG. 2, the stators 20
sponding to the energy conversion system of the pres and 22 mounted by housing 48 in axially fixed spaced
ent invention. 65 relation to the electrodes 16 and 18 are provided with
FIG. 2 is a side section view of an electrostatic gener bearings 50 and 52 establishing the aforementioned
ator embodying the system of FIG. 1 in accordance common rotational rotor axis journaling a powered
with one embodiment of the invention. shaft assembly having electrically conductive shaft sec
 4,897,592
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tions 54 and 56 to which the rotors 24 and 26 are respec segments of each associated rotor disc 24 or 26. Accord
tively connected. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. ing to one embodiment, the total charged stator surface
2, the drive motor 28 is mechanically interconnected area is twice that of the rotor face area.
with the shaft sections 54 and 56 through an electrically According to the embodiment of the invention illus
nonconductive shaft section 58 of the power shaft as trated in FIG. 6, the output circuit 30 includes the two
sembly for simultaneous rotation of both rotors 24 and oppositely poled capacitive circuit networks 38A and
26 at the same speed and in the same direction about the 38B connected across each aligned pair of stator seg
common rotational axis perpendicular to parallel spaced ments 82 and 84 on the stators 20 and 22 by means of the
planes with which the electrode and stator discs are oppositely poled diodes 32A and 34A. Each of such
aligned. The electrically conductive shaft sections 54 10 capacitive circuit networks includes a capacitor 86, the
and 56 are respectively keyed or secured in any suitable opposite sides of which are connected by oppositely
fashion to hub portions 60 and 62 of the rotors and are poled diodes 88 and 90 to positive and negative load
provided with flange portions 64 and 66 forming electri terminals 92 and 94 across which a suitable electrical
cal wipers in contact with confronting surfaces of the voltage is established for operating an electrical load.
stators 20 and 22, which are inductively charged by the 15 The diode 88 is connected to the junction 102 between
static electric fields 12 and 14 to equal levels of opposite diode 104 and one side of capacitor 106. The diode 88 is
polarity. also connected to the junction between one side of
As more clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotor 24 capacitor 100 and the diode 32A. The diode 90, on the
has a plurality of angularly spaced, field linkage con other hand, is interconnected with the junction 96 be
trolling segments 68 projecting radially outwardly from 20 tween diode 108 and capacitor 100. Also, diode 90 is
the hub portion 60. Each rotor segment 68 is made of an connected to the junction between the other side of
electrically conductive metal having a face 70 on one capacitor 106 and the diode 34A. The foregoing circuit
axial side confronting the adjacent electrode 16. The arrangement of capacitive network 38A is the same as
faces 70 confronting the electrode 16 are charged posi that of network 38B by means of which aligned pairs of
tively by the electric field 12 extending between the 25 the stator segments 82 and 84 have the electrical poten
dielectric surface portion 46 of electrode 16 and the tials therebetween transformed into a lower voltage
stator disc 20. While the electric field 12 projects across the load terminals 92 and 94 to conduct a higher
through the spaces 72 between the rotor segments 68, load current.
the rotor segments 68 themselves shield portions of the FIG. 5A illustrates the distribution of charges estab
stator disc 20 from the electric field. 30 lished in the electric fields 12 and 14 between the elec
The rotor 26 is similarly formed with rotor segments trodes and stators under static conditions in which each
74 angularly spaced from each other by spaces 76 of the rotor segments 68 and 74 is positioned in align
through which the electric field 14 extends between the ment with one of the stator segments 82 and 84 to
positively charged surface 44 of electrode 18 and the thereby shield alternate stator segments from the elec
stator 22. The rotor segments 74 of rotor 26 as shown in 35 tric fields. The charges established by the electric fields
FIG. 2, are provided with dielectric surface portions 78 are therefore confined to the faces of alternate stator
confronting the internally charged surface 44 of elec segments confronting the electrodes and are equalized
trode 18. While the rotor segments 74 are negatively with the charges established on and confined to the
charged by the electric field 14 within the surface por shielding faces of the rotor segments confronting the
tions 78, they also shield portions of the stator disc 22 electrodes by virtue of the electrical interconnection
from the electric field as in the case of the rotor seg between the rotors and stators as aforementioned. As
ments 68 hereinbefore described. The internal dielectric depicted in FIG. 5B, when rotation is imparted to the
surface portion 46 of electrode 16 and dielectric surface rotors, the charge linkages established by the electric
portions 78 of rotor 26 act as a stabilizer to prevent eddy fields between the electrodes and alternate stator seg
currents and leakage of negative charge. Further, in 45 ments 82 or 84 are interrupted by the moving rotor
view of the electrical connections established between segments 68 or 74 so that previously sielded stator seg
the rotors and the stator discs, the charge on each stator ments become exposed to the fields to reestablish field
is equalized with that of the charge on its associated energy linkages with the associated electrodes. Such
OtOr. action causes electrical potentials to be established be
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the stator disc 20 includes 50 tween the stator segments 82 and 84.
a plurality of segments 82 to which charges are con It will be apparent from the foregoing description
fined, closely spaced from each other by dielectric spac that the electrostatic energy fields 12 and 14 of opposite
ers 80. The segments 82 are electrically interconnected polarity are established maintained between the exter
with the rotor segments 68 through rotor shaft section nally charged electrodes 16 and 18 and the internally
54. Similarly, the segments 84 of the stator 22 are elec 55 charged stators 20 and 22 under static conditions as
trically interconnected with the rotor segments 74 depicted in FIG. 5A. During rotation, the rotors 24 and
through rotor shaft section 56. The stator segments 82 26 continuously disposed within such energy fields 12
and 84 are therefore also made of electrically conduc and 14, exert forces in directions perpendicular to the
tive metal. Each of the segments 82 of stator 20 is elec field flux representing the energy linkages between
trically interconnected through the output circuit 30 60 electrodes and stators to cause interruptions and rees
with each of the segments 84 of the stator. The stator tablishment of energy linkages with portions of differ
discs being fixedly mounted within the housing 48, ent stator segments as depicted in FIG. 5B. Such energy
centrally mount the bearings 50 and 52 through which linkage locational changes and the charge binding and
the electrically nonconductive motor shaft section 58 is unbinding actions between electrodes and stators cre
journaled as shown in the embodiment of the invention 65 ates an electrical potential and current to flow between
illustrated in FIG. 2. Further, the total area of the stators through the output circuit 30. Thus, the output
charged segment surfaces on each of the stator discs is circuit when loaded extracts energy from the electric
greater than the total area of the faces 70 or 78 on the fields 12 and 14 as a result of the field linkage charge
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bindinbg and unbinding actions induced by rotation of pair of rotor discs respectively disposed axially between
the rotors. The stator segments 82 and 84 shielded from the electrodes and the stator discs.
the electric fields by the moving rotor segments 68 and 3. The system as defined in claim 2 wherein said field
74 as depicted in FIG. 5B, have electric potentials of linkage control means comprises angularly spaced seg
polarity opposite to those of the external electrodes 16 5 ments on the rotor discs having charged faces shielding
and 18 because of the field linkage charge unbinding portions of the stator discs from the electrodes.
action. Previously shielded stator segments being ex 4. The system as defined in claim 3 wherein each of
posed to the electric fields by the moving rotor seg the stator discs includes angularly spaced surface por
ments, have the same electric potential polarity as those tions confronting the angularly spaced rotor segments
of the external electrodes because of field linkage bind 10 and dielectric means between said surface portions for
ing action. Since the forces exerted on the respective confining the induced charges thereto, the surface por
rotors by the electric fields 12 and 14 of opposite polar tions of the stator discs and the charged faces of the
ity act on the common rotor shaft assembly perpendicu rotor segments being unequal in area.
lar to said fields, such forces cancel each other. The 5. An energy conversion system including a pair of
energy input to the system may therefore be substan 15 electrodes electrostatically charged to substantially
tially limited to mechanical bearing losses and windage equal potentials of opposite polarity, stator means
during conversion of electrostatic field energy to elec mounted in operatively spaced relation to said elec
trical energy as well as electrical resistance losses and trodes for inducement therein of charges of opposite
other electrical losses encountered in the output circuit polarity through electric fields established by said equal
30. 20 potentials, said stator means including a pair of axially
Based upon the foregoing operational characteristics, spaced stator discs respectively linked to the electrodes
rotation of the rotors in accordance with the present by said electric fields, power driven rotor means contin
invention does not perform any substantial work against uously disposed within said electric fields for receiving
the external electric fields 12 and 14 since there is no net induced charges thereon, means electrically connecting
change in capacitance thereby enabling the system to 25 said rotor means to the stator means for transfer of said
convert energy with a reduced input of mechanical induced charges therebetween, said rotor means includ
energy and high efficiency, as evidenced by minimal ing a pair of rotor discs respectively disposed axially
loss of charge on the electrodes. It was therefore found between the electrodes and the stator discs and field
that working embodiments of the present invention linkage control means for variably shielding the stator
require less than ten percent of the electrical output 30 means from the electric fields during rotation of the
energy for the mechanical input. Further, according to rotor means, said field linkage control means compris
one prototype model of the invention, a relatively high ing angularly spaced segments on the rotor discs having
output voltage of 300,000 volts was obtained across the charged faces shielding portions of the stator discs from
stators. By reason of such high voltage, an output cir the electrodes, each of the stator discs including angu
cuit 30 having a voltage reducing and current multiply 35 larly spaced surface portions confronting the angularly
ing attribute as hereinbefore described was selected so spaced rotor segments and dielectric means between
as to render the system suitable for many practical ap said surface portions for confining the induced charges
plications. thereto, the surface portions of the stator disc having
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the areas twice that of the areas of the charged faces of the
principles of the invention. Further since numerous rotor segments and output circuit means operatively
modifications and changes will readily occur to those connected to the stator means for establishing an oper
skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention ating voltage in response to said variation in the shield
to the exact construction and operation shown and ing of the stator means by the rotor means.
described, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications 6. The system as defined in claim 5 including a power
and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the 45 shaft assembly on which the rotors are mounted for
scope of the invention. simultaneous rotation, said electrical connecting means
What is claimed is: being formed by electrically conductive sections of said
1. An energy conversion system including a pair of shaft assembly.
electrodes maintained electrostatically charged at sub 7. The system as defined in claim 6 wherein the
stantially equal potentials of opposite polarity, stator 50 charged faces of the rotor segments on one of the rotors
means mounted in operatively spaced relation to said is formed by dielectric material within which the in
electrodes for inducement therein of charges of oppo duced charges of negative polarity are confined in sta
site polarity through electric fields established by said ble ion form.
equal potentials, power driven rotor means continu 8. The system as defined in claim 7 wherein said
ously disposed within said electric fields for receiving 55 output circuit means includes a pair of dc voltage termi
charged induced by said electric fields, means electri nals, a capacitive network, and current blocking diode
cally connecting said rotor means to the stator means means coupling the network to the terminals and to
for equalizing of said induced charges therebetween, each of the surface portions of the stator discs for multi
field linkage control means for movably shielding the plying current conducted between the stator discs while
stator means from the electric fields during rotation of 60 reducing potentials therebetween to a value equal to the
the rotor means and output circuit means operatively operating voltage across the dc voltage terminals.
connected to the stator means for extracting therefrom 9. The system as defined in claim 2 wherein each of
an operating voltage in response to movement of said the stator discs includes angularly spaced surface por
shielding of the stator means. tions confronting the rotor and dielectric means be
2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said 65 tween said surface portions for confining the induced
stator means includes a pair of axially spaced stator charges thereto.
discs respectively linked electrostatically to the elec 10. The system as defined in claim 9 wherein said
trodes by said eletric fields, the rotor means including a output circuit means includes a pair of dc voltage termi
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nals, a capacitive network, and current blocking diode rotor for rotation continuously within the electric field
means coupling the network to the terminals and to and means electrically interconnecting the rotor and the
each of the surface portions of the stator discs for multi stator for equalizing electrostatic charges established
plying current conducted between the stator discs while thereon opposite in polarity to said one polarity, the
reducing potentials therebetween to the operating volt rotor having charged surface means partially shielding
age across the terminals. the stator from the electric field for producing an elec
11. The system as defined in claim 1 including a tric potential on the stator in response to rotation of the
power shaft assembly on which the rotors are mounted rotor causing movement of the charges established by
for simultaneous rotation, said electrical connecting the unshielded electric field.
means being formed by electrically conductive sections O
17. The system as defined in claim 16 wherein the
of said shaft assembly. stator includes means for confining electrostatic charges
12. The system as defined in claim 3 wherein the established to surfaces of greater total area than that of
charged faces of the rotor segments on one of the rotors the charged surface means of the rotor.
is formed by dielectric material within which the in 18. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said
duced charges of negative polarity are confined in sta 15
stator means is mounted in fixed parallel spaced relation
ble ion form.
13. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said to the electrodes and said rotor means is rotatable about
stator means and said rotor means respectively have a rotational axis perpendicular to said electrodes.
faces confronting each of the electrodes, and dielectric 19. In an electrostatic generator having a pair of axi
surface means coating those of the confronting faces on 20 ally spaced electrodes with electric fields therebetween
which the charges of negative polarity are induced and establishing corresponding capacitances, a power
maintained in a stable ion form for preventing eddy driven rotor and means for electrically interconnecting
currents and charge leakage. the rotor with one of the electrodes of said pair during
14. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the rotation of the rotor, the improvement residing in
stator means and the rotor means have faces continu means fixedly mounting both of the electrodes of said
ously exposed to said electric fields on which the pair, said electric fields being established and main
charges of negative polarity are induced, and stabilizer tained by means respectively applying charge produc
means for preventing leakage of the induced charges ing potentials of substantially equal and opposite polar
through said faces. v ity to the other of the electrodes of said pair for cancel
15. The system as defined in claim 14 wherein said 30 lation of forces exerted by said electric fields on the
stabilizer means comprises dielectric material on said rotor, means mounted by the rotor for partial shielding
faces maintaining the negative charges therein in stable of said one of the electrodes from said electric fields and
ion form. means responsive to rotation of the rotor for extracting
16. In an energy conversion system having an elec an output voltage generated on said one of the elec
trode of one polarity maintained at an electrostatic po 35 trodes by movement of said partial shielding thereof
tential, a stator and a rotor disposed within an electric during maintenance of the corresponding capacitances
field established between the electrode and the stator by established by the electric fields.
said potential on the electrode, means mounting the 2x x: k k re

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