초록 ▼

An apparatus provides lightning protection for the radome of an aircraft, or the like, by providing an electrically discontinuous path having a plurality of separated electrically conductive segments that upon exposure to a high voltage field, form an inonization channel in the air above the segment

An apparatus provides lightning protection for the radome of an aircraft, or the like, by providing an electrically discontinuous path having a plurality of separated electrically conductive segments that upon exposure to a high voltage field, form an inonization channel in the air above the segments. The conductive segments are so formed that the gap separating adjacent segments is narrower along the outer, exposed surfaces of the segments than is the case between surfaces of the adjacent segments anchored to a dielectric material. Such a design ensures the electrical separation of adjoining segments while permitting the breakdown voltage between adjacent exposed surfaces to be minimized. Additionally lowering of the breakdown voltage can be obtained by providing a sequence of parallel secondary conductive segments that are separated from the primary conductive segments by a dielectric material and are so positioned as to underlie the gaps between primary segments, with an electrical connection through the separating dielectric material connecting each of the primary segments to its corresponding secondary segment.

대표청구항 ▼

A lightning diversion strip comprising: a dielectric substrate supporting a plurality of conductive segments on a surface thereof, each said segment comprising a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer, said first conductive layer of one segment spaced apart from the first conductive la

A lightning diversion strip comprising: a dielectric substrate supporting a plurality of conductive segments on a surface thereof, each said segment comprising a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer, said first conductive layer of one segment spaced apart from the first conductive layer of an adjacent conductive segment by a first gap having a first width determined by the distance between adjacent first conductive layers, said first gap filled with a non-conductive material, said second conductive layers spaced apart by a second gap having a second width less than said first width, a portion of each said second conductive layer formed over said non-conducting material in said first gap so that a junction between said non-conducting material and said first conductive layers is covered by said second conductive layer, said second width of said second gaps selected so that ionization occurs between adjacent second conductive layers in the presence of high voltage electricity during a lightning strike, said ionization providing an electrically conductive path across the tops of said second conductive layers to thereby conduct current caused by said high voltage electricity along said electrically conductive path.